Candidate for
Board Member; Mount Diablo Unified School District

I am a native Californian and was raised attending public elementary, junior high and high schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was the beneficiary of great public school teachers and great opportunities, such as being a member of the varsity basketball team. In addition, I earned an Eagle Scout award with the Boy Scouts of America. My eagle scout project consisted of creating, organizing and overseeing a tutoring program for elementary school students.

After high school graduation, I attended two universities and earned three educational degrees: a bachelor of science degree (finance) from Brigham Young University, a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Texas, and a Juris Doctor Degree from Brigham Young University. I also served as a volunteer in the Munich, Germany area for one and one-half years and became somewhat fluent speaking the German language at that time.

My wife and I were married in 1984 and we have been blessed with six children--all of whom have attended or are currently attending Mount Diablo USD schools. Our older four children moved on to university work after graduating from high school, each focusing their study in different areas. My oldest daughter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and is currently in an Master of Business Administration program. My oldest sons are studying engineering, communications and chemistry (respectively) in their university work. My oldest three children completed volunteer service for one and one half or two years in the Philippines, Romania and Philadelphia. My fourth child currently, serves in Puerto Rico. My daughter speaks a Philippine dialect, and two of my sons speak Romanian and Spanish, respectively. My youngest two children attend Concord High School and El Dorado Middle School. I believe all students should learn to succeed in their school work to prepare for life and to volunteer service to others who may not live in the fortunate circumstances which we enjoy.

While earning an MBA at the University of Texas, I worked full time in a controllers group at Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys Corporation). My responsibilities at Burroughs included financial analysis, preparing and overseeing budgets, credit and collections matters and responsibilities over company resources and equipment. I believe such practical and educational experience in finance and business administration are essential to address current problems facing Mount Diablo USD at the Board level.

After I received my MBA degree, I started and ran a company which received and completed a government research contract performing work in Arizona as one means of earning my way through law school. During summers between law school, I also worked for an attorney here in the Bay Area to earn my way through law school while providing for my family including, by gradation, had increased to three children.

Out of law school, I worked for a sole practicing attorney in San Francisco and then opened my own law office in Walnut Creek. During this period, we resided in Walnut Creek. I then joined the law firm Littler Mendelson in its Walnut Creek office where I have worked for over 18 years.

As noted elsewhere in this voter guide, I have dedicated thousands of hours of work in support of our youth and other volunteer causes in the MDUSD community, particularly since 1996. It has been a pleasure to do so.