My parents were born and raised in Utah and went to college at Utah State. Upon graduation my father joined the Air Force and eventually serviced for thirty years including wartime service overseas. Growing up, I lived in several homes in California, Nebraska, Ohio, and Texas as my dad was posted around the country. My three brothers and I enjoyed sports, scouts, music, and many outdoor activities
growing up. As a young man, I lived in Provo and attended BYU where I studied Business and Accounting. I took two years off to serve in the Guayaquil Ecuador mission, and then returned to finish my studies and married the love of my life, Melanie Jensen thirty years ago. We next moved our small family so I could attend the University of Texas Law School. During law school, I served with the District Attorney's office in the Children's Protective Services Division, and completed an Internship for Justice Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court.
My professional career includes twenty-five plus years:
- Representing fortune 500 and other large businesses in the purchase and sale of companies and divisions;
- Negotiating complex financing and construction projects for power plants, pipelines, manufacturing facilities and other major projects; and
- Negotiating loan syndication and corporate finance structures for US and international companies. Our three older children have been attending BYU and our youngest Athena is in high school. Served as Chair of Provo District 1 Neighborhood Executive Board,
- oversaw neighborhood input on zoning changes, land use, and other issues for about 1/5th of Provo. Key items helped with in community include:
- Supported matching grant applications for local park.
- Worked to stop efforts by a developer to build a higher density of multi-family project that violated the development agreement that same developer had previously signed.
- Worked to resist efforts to get waiver allowing an oversized electronic sign in neighborhood where it was not permitted by zoning and is being broadly opposed by the community for the light pollution, nuisance, and other harms caused to that mixed residential/commercial neighborhood.
- Supported development that received 100% support from all who attended the District 1 neighborhood meeting.
- Helped organize meetings and community support to protect and preserve the Bridal Veil Falls area when it was threatened by potential commercialization and other potential poor decisions by local government. Community Involvement:
- Coached girls' basketball teams for several years and other youth sports teams.
- Served as a scoutmaster and as a cub scout leader in various units over the years.
- Served in various roles in my church.
- Served in neighborhood emergency response and safety organizations.
- Completed the Provo Citizens Police Academy program to better support and understand our local police and the important work they do.
- Completed "Provology" course in multi week study of the branches and operation of Provo's government.
