For over 20 years I've led programs, partnerships, marketing campaigns, and the operations behind them to connect education to employment, with a special focus on small, rural, and historically underserved communities.
Behind each number is a team of talented colleagues and dedicated community partners.
Years connecting education, employers, and communities
National grant projects managed with multi-million dollar budgets
Growth in schools participating in our Indigenous Education Initiative grant
Survey responses from 45 states that helped secure a Gates Foundation grant
Average yearly growth in applications from national marketing campaigns
Net Promoter Score maintained across 20+ grant partners
Use the gallery cards below to view some of my work products, reports, and highlights.
Workforce, marketing, and community development leader with over 20 years of experience connecting people to good jobs through employer partnerships, campaigns, and place-based community initiatives.
My work spans community development, K-12 and higher education, workforce training, health, and the environment. I started in South Memphis, organizing with more than 30 local partners and building community gardens and mentoring programs that widened access to healthy food and quality education. At TNTP I led state and federal education initiatives, from Native educator pathways in New Mexico to a talent diagnostic for the Bureau of Indian Education. At the National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree I coordinated a national network of colleges and universities, and today I build healthcare and skilled trades training at Columbia State Community College alongside regional health systems and employers. Along the way I have kept marketing and operations close to the work: campaigns, websites, video, and reports, plus the project platforms, budgets, and SOPs that keep teams and partners on track. In every role, I strive to turn data and community voice into programs that last.
I grew up in a small agricultural community that taught me the importance of caring for people and land. My mother was an elementary school teacher, and my father managed a rural electric cooperative and led a regional economic development initiative. Their work shaped how I see the connections between education, community development, and stewardship.
At Harding University I earned a degree in business and marketing. Mentors there pushed me to look past the usual career paths and think about how those skills could serve communities like the one I grew up in.
My wife and I moved to Memphis after college. I spent five years in community development and community organizing in South Memphis, learning about the barriers families face in reaching healthy food and quality education, and finding out how much I love leading teams. From there I joined TNTP, where I spent 15 years on talent, recruitment, and partnerships with state and federal leaders across the country.
Today we live in Columbia with our two daughters and our dog, Dude. After working with colleges across rural America at the National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree, I now lead workforce programs in my own community. Outside of work, you'll find me tending our garden, hiking around Middle Tennessee, or cheering on our daughters at their soccer games and cheerleading events.
Letters from managers, colleagues, and partners. Choose a name to read the full letter.
I'm always glad to talk about programs, partnerships, campaigns, and new ways to connect people with good work. You can reach me at: