I grew up in Anna, IL. In 1982 I graduated from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, then attended the University of Tennessee - Martin where I received a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science in 1986. After graduation, I moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area where I worked for GTE Directories Corporation and Bell-Helicopter Textron in their Information Technology Help Desks. In late 1989 my wife, Marla, and I returned to this area when I took a job working for Health Services Corporation of America (now known as Vizient) in Cape Girardeau.

In 1995 I went to work for the State of Illinois on what would become the Illinois Century Network, a project designed to bring high-speed Internet to K-12 schools, higher education institutions, public libraries and municipal governments throughout Illinois. In 2002 I was hired as the Technology Director for Marion Unit #2 Schools, the largest school district in Southern Illinois. After nearly 10 years at Marion, I came to Southeast as the Help Desk Supervisor in the fall of 2012.

Marla and I live in Anna, in the same neighborhood where I grew up. We have one daughter, Chloe (SEMO '2016) and a miniature Australian Shepherd, Thor. I am active in my church, First Evangelical Presbyterian, and a cigar club that I founded, the Refugee Cigar Club which has over 50 members from Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Colorado.