UAA College of Business and Public Policy

I grew up in Indiana, just outside of Chicago. My wife is originally from Juneau, Alaska, so after I graduated from university I moved up here to be with her and haven’t left since.

I completed a finance degree from Indiana University. It wasn’t a very difficult decision because I had to put myself through school and so my two options were Indiana University or Purdue, since those were in state.

I am currently the Vice President of Finance and Administration at Alaska Gasline Development Corp. Prior to that, I was the Deputy Commissioner for the State of Alaska, Department of Revenue. I have been working in finance since the beginning of my career. I didn’t really have any specific mentor/trainee relationships over the course of my career but I was fortunate enough to have various great supervisors who taught me a lot.

To me, leadership is about being able to assess unique situations and making difficult decisions. I realized I could lead from my time in the Boy Scouts. I was one of the youngest Eagle Scouts, and I learnt a lot about self sufficiency and personal management.

There will always be obstacles, no matter what you do in life. What’s important to remember is that there is always a solution. You need to view obstacles as learning opportunities instead of letting them discourage you or hold you back. I’ve inherited obstacles in every role I’ve ever worked, and at the level I’m at now it is usually dealing with challenging employees.

It may sound a little cliché but my biggest inspiration is my parents. My dad was employed in a steel mill and he worked hard to provide for us, and I think watching him really embedded the values of hard work and good work ethic in me.

Don’t be afraid to lead. It’s okay to make mistakes and to learn from those mistakes. The important thing is that you keep moving forward and growing and learning.