Background & Challenges
I’ve been with SURVICE since 2007. I work at the Michigan Area Operation as the Area Operation Manager. After graduating from Ball State University in 1999 with a degree in natural resources and environmental management, I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, where I served as a Ground Supply Officer. I served with operational units, including a headquarters battalion, artillery battalion, and a force reconnaissance company.
Accomplishments
My service in the Marine Corps was recognized with a Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and two Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals. My military career also contributed extensively to my knowledge base/understanding of how the Department of Defense functions and how to communicate effectively with all SURVICE customers.
I attribute a large part of my success to my parents, who pushed me to achieve my full potential, even when I wasn’t always motivated.
My parents were both born and raised in Indiana. My father served in the Air Force as a Sheet Metal Mechanic and subsequently worked for the United States Postal Service for over 40 years, retiring as the Regional Computer troubleshooter. My mother worked as an Ophthalmic Technician for many years. They lived through many events in history, which were groundbreaking steps in ensuring all people have the same opportunities, including Brown vs. Board of Education and the Civil Rights Movement.
I have been married since 2016 to my wife Nicole, and we have a seven-year-old son, Easton, and a dog named Truffle.
What Black History Month Means to Me
Black History Month highlights the many significant contributions that Black Americans have made to the growth and success of our country, including groundbreaking achievements in science, medicine, technology, military service, inventions, and civil rights advances. A quote by civil rights leader Rosa Parks resonates with me: “I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.”
