How long have you lived in Nederland?

I was born at home on Caribou Rd and my family moved down to Boulder when I was 7. I moved back up here in 2021 with my family and couldn’t be happier.

Briefly describe your current career and home life?

I am a software engineer, but have worked in the past as ski patrol, carpenter, search & rescue and graphic designer. My wife is very involved in the community, working at the Library, and sitting on the Mountain Coalition for Youth and Mental Health Task Force boards in addition to running her own company. We have a 13-year-old son who is a 7th grader at Nederland Middle School.

Briefly describe your educational and professional experience and explain how your skill set can best serve the Town of Nederland.

I have a degree in Environmental Science from CU where I studied snow hydrology and water resource management. As a lead software engineer, I spend a lot of time solving complex problems across teams of people. Most of my career has been spent running my own web development agency which was structured as a cooperative business. We had several clients in the state and municipal government levels as well as small businesses and large corporations. These experiences have given my a broad toolbox of skills to listen to people and coordinate to create results. Additionally, my education background should help to give me some context to the current water issues facing the town.

In your words please explain why you wanted to run for this position.

I have been encouraged by several people (including some in town government) to run for the BOT for quite a while. As I became more aware of the complexity and impact of the issues we are currently facing I decided that this was an important time to do something meaningful for my hometown.

Of the major projects/issues currently facing the BOT (Bobcat Ridge annexation, downtown redevelopment, TEENS, Inc. child care proposal, suggestions for code change to come from the comprehensive plan update, suggestions for streets improvements to come from the multimodal transportation plan, the Chipeta Park pump track, tourism initiatives, water and sewer infrastructure, securing water rights, the keeping animals ordinance, the commitment to Proposition 123 and affordable housing development, an interconnected trails system, etc.) which would you make your top priorities?

It is difficult to tease out any top issue as many of them are interconnected and all have importance for the town. I would like to work to bring as many of these issue forward in a way that they compliment and support each other.

Who, if anyone, would you consider a mentor or figure who inspired you to run for this position? How did they inspire you?

Several of the current BOT members and Mayor Billy have been inspirations for me. Additionally, my son has repeatedly expressed his love for Nederland and his community of friends. I really want this place to be the best it can be for the next generation so they are happy and proud to stay here (or come back later in life).

Have you ever, or are you currently, serving on any boards for any nonprofit organizations? If not, what organizations, or causes, have you considered joining?

This is my first experience.

Of Nederland’s various boards and subcommittees (Board of Zoning Adjustment, Nederland Downtown Development Authority, Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Board, Planning Commission, Sustainability Advisory Board, Youth Advisory Board), which would you be most interested in serving as liaison for and why? (Mayoral candidates please answer hypothetically)

PROSAB, Planning or Sustainability are all of interest to me.

Taking into consideration that the community is outspoken against tourism but the Town budget is seemingly reliant on tourism revenue, as Mayor/Trustee, how would you mitigate tourism-based initiatives as they come up on the agenda?

I accept that a solid chunk of our economy is dependent on tourism. I also believe we can find ways to reduce the negative impacts of tourism on our community and also increase the revenue that those visitors bring in.

Have you reviewed the 2024 Strategic Plan? Of the listed priorities for 2024 which are most important to you as a resident of Nederland? In your opinion as a resident of Nederland is there a priority for the Town that was not listed in the Strategic Plan?

Yes I have. I think the town has done a good job of laying out their priorities, which should help the current and future boards maintain some continuity of priorities. I certainly support the priority of securing our town water rights and supply (#2). It’s not fancy, but it’s a critical part of our infrastructure. Also sustainable development and planning (#3) are very relevant at this time between downtown, childcare center and Bobcat ridge. As a resident improving our infrastructure and general quality of life in town would also be really nice.

The Town of Nederland, having committed to Proposition 123, is required to provide 13 affordable housing units in three years. What are your suggestions for how to achieve this goal? Do you believe that the Boulder County requirements for what constitutes affordable housing is acceptable for Nederland?

On this issue I feel that I have much to learn. I see the need for affordable housing, and look forward to hearing from people and learning more about solutions that will work for our community.

How familiar are you with the Town of Nederland’s 2024 budget? How would you mitigate a discussion or action item on your agenda that is of concern to the community but is not prioritized in either the budget or the 2024 Strategic Plan?

It is important that we as board members listen to the community and remain flexible to new issues that arise. Of course we don’t have the budget to do everything we want to do or address every concern, but balancing long-term priorities with new issues will be part of good governance.

In relation to the several proposals on the BOT’s table that involve large development projects either in the heart of downtown Nederland or sprawling just beyond our borders, requiring annexation, the term “responsible growth” has been used liberally. How do you describe responsible growth for Nederland?

We should try to maintain the inherent character of our town and guide the inevitable growth and progress that comes in such a way that it supports our residents and our community.

Which of the above do you want included in the profile that is public?

None please.