MY CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I started working for Walmart in 1982 when I was 17 years old at $3.35 per hour. I was the high school kid who ensured the shopping carts were kept off the lot so valued customers could enjoy their shopping experience. I advanced through the management ranks, and when I joined Chattanooga in 1996, I was given the responsibility to significantly expand the company in the Southeast Tennessee area, including Western North Carolina and Northern Georgia.
We began with older and outdated Walmart stores, and I was part of the team to transition those stores into Walmart Supercenters. We started with four stores, and now there are 13 within Hamilton County. My job was assisting in choosing strategic locations, which involved thinking about infrastructure and what a store would need in 15 or 25 years from now.
This experience in long-term strategic planning and infrastructure development proved invaluable when I began serving as your Hamilton County Commissioner four years ago. The same skills I used to evaluate locations and apply intentional planning at Walmart have helped me make informed decisions about our county's development, budget management, and infrastructure needs. Over the past four years, I've applied that business perspective to help guide our county through complex challenges.
For years, I have overseen total store operations of all Walmart stores within the Southeast Tennessee Area.
MY COMMUNITY SERVICE AND FAMILY BACKGROUND
My wife Denise and I are very involved in multiple charitable activities in Hamilton County. We believe in getting up every day and serving our community in some way. Among the many organizations we have supported, I'm honored to have served with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office over the past 20 years as a patrol reservist. I've also supported Erlanger's efforts to get the Kennedy Children's Outpatient Center built and supported our business community through the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors. I've given time to other causes and organizations that are critical in our community like United Way, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and Salvation Army.
Throughout my four years as your commissioner, Denise and I have continued this commitment to giving back to our community, it's truly our passion. You'll find us at church every weekend, and when we have time, we like taking road trips to visit extended family.
Over these four years, we've had the privilege of getting to know so many of you, and we would be deeply honored to have your vote again so we can continue serving together!
“Giving back to our community is truly our passion.”
