Title: Mayor Pro Tempore

Municipality: Apex

Positions Interested In: Second Vice President; At Large - Elected Officials

Q&A's:

TELL US WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION AT THE LEAGUE. IN PARTICULAR, SPECIFY GOALS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH AS AN OFFICER OR BOARD MEMBER AND INDICATE HOW, IF ATTAINED, THEY WILL HELP TO ACHIEVE VISION 2030 – THE LEAGUE’S FUTURE VISION OF HOW CITIES AND TOWNS WILL OPERATE IN 2030?

I am interested in serving in a leadership position with the North Carolina League of Municipalities because I believe local governments are entering a period where expectations from residents are rising faster than the tools many municipalities have to meet them. The League is uniquely positioned to help cities and towns bridge that gap, and I would welcome the opportunity to contribute both my on-the-ground experience as an elected official and my professional background in technology to that effort.

One of my primary goals as a board member would be to expand the use of technology to improve citizen engagement and transparency. In my role on Town Council, I have developed and deployed tools such as Peak News Network and related interactive platforms that make complex local government information more accessible, whether through data visualizations, simplified policy explanations, or interactive input tools. These efforts are designed to meet residents where they are and lower the barrier to participation. At the League level, I would work to help identify, promote, and scale similar approaches across municipalities of all sizes, particularly for smaller towns that may not have the internal capacity to build these tools themselves. This directly supports Vision 2030’s emphasis on using technology to enhance service delivery and citizen engagement.

A second goal would be to strengthen trust and communication between local governments and their residents by promoting clearer, more proactive engagement strategies. I have found that when information is presented in a way that is timely, understandable, and interactive, it not only improves participation but also reduces misinformation and builds confidence in local decision making. Through the League, I would support the development of best practices, templates, and shared resources that help municipalities communicate more effectively and demonstrate their value to their communities, aligning with Vision 2030’s focus on reinforcing the importance of local government to quality of life.

Additionally, I am interested in helping municipalities better leverage data to inform decision making and resource allocation. From budget engagement tools to project prioritization platforms, there is significant opportunity to move toward more data-driven governance that is also transparent to the public. I would advocate for initiatives that help municipalities adopt these practices in a practical and scalable way, ensuring that innovation is not limited to larger or more resourced communities.

If selected, I would approach this role with a focus on sharing what is working, learning from other communities, and helping the League translate innovative ideas into tools that can be broadly adopted. By advancing technology-driven engagement, improving communication, and supporting data-informed governance, I believe I can help move municipalities across North Carolina closer to the Vision 2030 goal of being more responsive, collaborative, and effective in serving their residents.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL. YOU MAY WANT TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON YOUR SERVICE ON THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNING BODY, OTHER RELATED BOARDS AND SPECIAL AREAS OF INTEREST?

I currently serve on the Town Council for Apex, North Carolina, since 2019 where I have had the opportunity to work on a wide range of policy, infrastructure, and community-focused issues in one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. My experience has required balancing long-term planning with immediate operational needs, while maintaining a strong focus on transparency and responsiveness to residents.

On Council, I have been actively involved in complex and often high-profile issues, including addressing utility billing system challenges following a cybersecurity incident, coordinating major infrastructure projects with state partners such as NCDOT, and advancing land use policy discussions related to emerging industries like data centers. In each of these areas, I have focused on clear communication, thoughtful policy development, and ensuring that community input meaningfully informs decision making.

A significant area of interest for me has been improving how municipalities engage with residents. I have developed and implemented a range of communication and engagement strategies designed to make local government more accessible, including interactive budget tools, data visualizations, and regular outreach that breaks down complex topics into clear, understandable information. These efforts are aimed at lowering barriers to participation and building greater trust between residents and their local government.

In addition to my Council responsibilities, I regularly collaborate with advisory boards, staff, and community stakeholders to help shape policy outcomes and ensure a well-rounded perspective in decision making. I have also supported efforts to modernize internal processes and explore the use of technology to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.

Professionally, my background in technology has strongly influenced my approach to governance. I bring a focus on data-driven decision making, scalable solutions, and user-centered design, all of which are increasingly important as municipalities grow in complexity.

Overall, my experience as a municipal official has been defined by a commitment to transparency, innovation, and collaboration, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that residents are informed, engaged, and able to meaningfully participate in shaping their community.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND/OR COMMUNITY OR CIVIC ACTIVITIES?

My educational background combines both technical and business training, which has been valuable in my approach to municipal leadership. I earned a Master of Business Administration in IT Management from Western Governors University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Rochester Institute of Technology. This combination of education has given me both a strong technical foundation and an understanding of organizational strategy, finance, and operations.

Professionally, I work in the technology sector at Microsoft, where I focus on building and supporting scalable systems. My work emphasizes data-driven decision making, reliability, and user-centered design, all of which translate directly into my approach to public service. I regularly apply these principles to municipal challenges, particularly in areas such as transparency, process improvement, and leveraging technology to better serve residents.

In addition to my professional career, my primary civic involvement is my service on the Town Council for Apex, North Carolina. In this role, I serve as Chair of the Council’s Planning Committee and Finance Committee, where I help guide discussions on land use policy, long-range growth, budgeting, and fiscal stewardship. These leadership roles have provided direct experience in aligning community priorities with responsible financial planning and sustainable development.

On Council, I engage closely with residents, staff, and community stakeholders on a wide range of issues, from infrastructure and land use to public communication and service delivery. Prior to my Council service, I served on my homeowners association board, where I gained experience in community governance, budgeting, and addressing neighborhood-level concerns.

I have also served as Chair of Wake County Complete Count Committee during the 2020 Census, where I helped lead countywide efforts to ensure a complete and accurate count. That role involved coordinating with local governments, community organizations, and outreach partners to improve participation, particularly among historically undercounted populations. It reinforced the importance of data accuracy, broad community engagement, and collaborative leadership across jurisdictions.

In addition, I have served on the legislative committee of the North Carolina League of Municipalities for the past two sessions, where I have contributed to discussions on statewide policy priorities affecting municipalities. This experience has provided valuable insight into the intersection of local governance and state policy, and the importance of strong municipal advocacy.

I also participate in broader community engagement efforts, including outreach with local groups and opportunities to speak with students and civic organizations about how local government functions.

Across my educational, professional, and civic experience, I bring a focus on problem solving, collaboration, and continuous improvement. I am particularly interested in how municipalities can better integrate technology and data into their operations while maintaining strong community connections and trust.

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HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING NCLM EVENTS OR COMMITTEES?

• CityVision Annual Conference
• Town & State Dinner or Town Hall Days
• Legislative Goals Planning Events or Process
• Legislative Policy Committee

PLEASE PROVIDE ANY OTHER INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE THE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER?

I live in the greater Raleigh area, and could be an asset to the League should we need membership or leadership on site for committee hearings, etc.