I'm a husband, father, lawyer and candidate for trustee on the Chilliwack Board of Education.

My wife and I have four children, who range in age from 5 to 19 years old. My oldest child is at Trinity Western University working toward a Bachelor of Education, with plans to become a teacher.

Professionally, I'm a partner at Cleveland Doan LLP, practicing commercial litigation. That work is fundamentally about untangling complicated problems. I have a calm and patient demeanour, which allows me to listen carefully, identify the important issues and find workable common ground between parties who disagree. I believe a board of education is at its best when it can do the same: listen well, work together, and keep the focus on students.

In my earlier years, I grew up in the Lower Mainland before my parents moved to the Cariboo in British Columbia to run a cattle ranch. I spent several years living and working on my parents’ ranch. My ranch days were characterized by long days and the practical, fix-it problem solving that ranch life demands. I later returned to the Lower Mainland during my university years.

Family is a large part of the picture for me. One of seven children, I am now an uncle to 17 nieces and nephews ranging in age from 3 to 34. The close-knit extended family makes for a full table at holidays and a fairly wide view of how children change from year to year.