I had the blessing of growing up in a Christian family in Grand Rapids, MI and remember accepting Christ at an early age and then spending jr. high and high school learning what it meant to actually live out my faith.  In college one way I did that was to help out my church as a youth group leader and I began to love working with teenagers.  I decided to become a teacher and majored in Secondary education with a goal of becoming the type of teacher that would impact his students both inside and outside the classroom. 

In the fall of 1995, I was invited to come to the Dominican Republic to be a teacher at Santiago Christian School.  I wanted to go overseas for a short term mission trip “adventure” in my mind, but a full year seemed like a lot longer than I was looking for.  In the end, I agreed to come for four months and be a long term substitute for them--- little did I know how much God had in store for me.  I soon fell in love with the school and my students and couldn’t leave when my four months was up.  Shortly after I arrived, Young Life began a club at our school and I became a volunteer leader in order to live out being a teacher who would impact his student’s lives. 

I taught for 6 years at SCS and then spent 2 more years there as the Middle school principal, volunteering with Young Life the entire time.  When I was ready to leave the school and move on, I was invited to come on Young Life staff to work with the SCS club and with Nationals for Vida Joven Dominicana.  I resisted for several months, but finally realized it was where God wanted me to be.  I have worked for Young Life the past four years now and have really enjoyed being part of the team here in the Dominican Republic.  I took over as National Director for Vida Joven Dominicana when Arturo Paulino left in February of 2007. 

My wife Jenn and I met at Santiago Christian School and were married in July of 2005.  She teaches third grade at the school and volunteers with the club that serves SCS kids.