Candidate for
Board Member; Hartnell Community College District; Trustee Area 1

From humble beginnings

I grew up in a blue collar family in the mid-west. My father was a welder, my mother held various jobs from factory worker to retail before injuring her back on the job. I delivered papers, worked in cornfields, mowed lawns, and shoveled snow off sidewalks to earn money starting at a young age.

I spent 6 years in the Marine Corps and participated in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. I earned 2 Letters of Commendation, 3 Meritorious Masts, The Navy Achievement Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal with 2 stars, National Defense Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and other various awards.

After the Marines I worked my way from bank teller and Wal-Mart chashier to electronics technician at Dole Fresh Vegetables.

Over the next 8 years while continuing to work full-time I started taking classes at Hartnell College which I used to get into the University of Phoenix and completed my Bachelor of Science Degree in Business/Management.

Once I received by degree I worked as Maintenance Manager at Gilroy Foods in King City, Engineering Manager at Birds Eye Foods in Watsonville, Maintenance Manager for Earthbound Farm, and am currently the Utilities Manager at Fresh Express, Inc.

In December of 2006 my wife and I opened Untamed Foods Panini Bar and Cafe at 8 West Gabilan St. in Salinas. We've joined the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce and I was recently appointed to the Oldtown Salinas Association Board of Directors. I believe Salinas is a great city with a lot of potential and continue to do my best to help it grow.