After a stint in the U.S. Navy and nonprofit work in leadership and community development in California’s Central Valley, I now live and write in Roanoke, Virginia. I’m a capacity development specialist with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, coaching rural communities in asset based economic revitalization strategies.

I’m an eagle scout. I played Miles Standish in my third grade Thanksgiving pageant. I volunteer in the community and served on the Roanoke Arts Commission for 11 years.

I’m a blue devil (Duke) and an anteater (UC Irvine), and I even graduated from a school with no mascot (Hollins). I like Virginia and its people, and I’m still thankful.

I write and a little of it has been read. Maybe more someday.  Some pieces have received recognition:

• Bay to Ocean Fiction Award, 2010
• Tennessee Writers Alliance Short Fiction Award, 2006
• Nimrod’s Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction, mention, 2006
• James Andrew Purdy Prize for Fiction, 2005

Professionally, I enjoy my work, and I try to do it well.

• Award of Excellence, Artisan Center of Virginia, 2014
• Employee of the Year, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, 2014
• Agency Nominee, Virginia Governor’s Innovation Award, 2014
• Agency Nominee, Virginia Governor’s Customer Service Award, 2013
• Perry F. Kendig Award: Young Professional Arts Supporter, (video), 2011
• Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) Fellowship; Tuscany, Italy, 2002
• Team acknowledgement: Leadership Education Award (HTN10M), California Chapter American Planning Association Project Award, 2000
• Sustainable Communities Leadership Program (SCLP) Fellowship, 1999
• NEXUS Research Grant—Sense of Place and Sense of Community in Irvine, CA, 1998-1999
• Navy Achievement Medals: Sustained optimal customer support, 1994; Holy Loch deactivation, 1992
• US Navy, ROTC Full Scholarship, 1986
• Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America, 1986