About ME
I was born and raised in Wisconsin. I had the privilege of being raised in a fairly affluent community although my family was not wealthy. My schooling would have been in an all-white context, with little exposure to those of other races. I have no regrets about my upbringing and context. It is largely what has shaped me. As a matter of fact, because of my upbringing, many of the thoughts and ideas I have today came from that context.
I married the love of my life, Kym in 1996. We have been married for 21 years and my love for her has never been stronger than it is. It continues to grow daily; she is really special.
We have had so many ups and downs through 21 years. The reality is that our marriage is grounded in Christ and that has brought us through both the great and not so great. False expectations seem to destroy relationships yet Jesus never had false expectations, only unconditional love.
In my professional life, I worked my way from washing cars at a car dealership to being the Parts and Service Director at the age of 23, started a financial services company at the age of 25. During those eleven years, I received several top performer awards as well as business leader awards as I led an office of representatives. We had plenty of ups and downs during that time and learned how to work hard and how to get results. I then started an advertising/marketing company geared to help small businesses with their marketing and advertising. Because of the need, we started a web development business which brings us to current. We do business in 11 states with hundreds of clients.
My wife and I started a ministry called C2k Ministries Inc. The mission is to be an engine for spiritual and social change. We are focused on kids. We find that most students struggle socially and spiritually. Our organizaation provides the resources and relationships necessary to help them overcome those chanllenges. The outcome is producing strong and successful leaders.
We started RE>Direct which is a holistic afterschool program that currently serves 20 students in the North Bolivar School District which is located in Bolivar County, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.
In 2012, Kym and I moved to Mound Bayou, MS, which is the oldest, all black community in the United States, founded by ex-slaves in 1887. Back in 1997, Kym started volunteering in Mound Bayou through St. Gabriel Mercy Center. Since then we have developed great relationships and felt God calling us to move. In 2012, we packed up everything we have and moved 700 miles from all that we knew.
Besides RE>Direct, I coach youth baseball in our town, I have coached football for both JV and Varsity, with friends we planted the first multi-ethnic church in the Mississippi Delta called Crosstown Fellowship Church where I am the worship pastor, and we have several other things that we are working on to make a difference in our communities.
I am an innovator and creator, commonly referred to as an “architect of change.” I have strong leadership skills that have been proven to help others develop. I am not good at many things but there are a few that God has wired me in. I have a voice and I am using that to effect change in spiritual and social situations. God has designed something better. We need to unpack that and press in.