Leave it better than you found it

At my first campout, I heard my Scoutmaster say: "leave it better than you found it".  He may have only intended for us to clean our campsite, but it took on a bigger meaning to me.  As I heard Mr. Hansford say it again and again, "A Scout leaves it better than they found it" became my 13th point of the Scout Law.  Now it is my mantra in my career, my family and life.  

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I was born and raised in Southeastern Ohio, by a single mom.  She got me into Cub Scouting after my dad passed away.  I remained in Scouting, and loved it, even though I was too distracted of a kid to achieve the rank of Eagle.  I was also into sports, where I went on to run track and cross country at the collegiate level. 

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My love of endurance sports continued on with marathons, triathlons, trail ultras, open water swims and cycling.  I even completed a trail marathon a week after my last treatment for stage 3 cancer.  As an avid mountain biker, I am on the Scouting America Wheels and Boards Committee, where I help develop cycling programing for Scouting America.

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After a Scouting hiatus, I became the canoeing instructor at Chief Logan Scout Reservation.  Camp staff was a life-changing experience, where I discovered a lot about myself and picked up a love of service to Scouting.  Upon graduation from the University of Rio Grande, I tried a couple conventional careers, until I discovered professional Scouting. 

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As a professional with Scouting America, I dedicate myself to bringing more people and resources to the movement. For the last 27 years, I have served and learned from volunteers in seven councils throughout the United States. During that time, we have grown membership, revenue, and program quality in every place I served. In the process, I have been involved in every program aspect of Scouting, including Summer Camp Director, COPE Director, training staff advisor, Jamboree, Philmont, Day Camp, and advising the Council Commissioner, just to name a few. 

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My family is a Scouting family.  Christa, my awesome wife of 24 years, serves as assistant Scoutmaster and the Scoutreach program lead for the Tidewater Council.  Jensen is our 17-year-old Eagle Scout, Sea Scout, and summer camp staffer.  He is on the robotic, and swim teams, and is now looking for a college to study mechanical engineering.  Emiri, my 13-year-old daughter is a Star Scout and an accomplished artist, whose work has won various competitions.  In addition to her artistic accomplishments, she has been recognized for her academic excellence as well.  She swims, plays volleyball and the piano.  Emiri also likes to care for animals, and would have her own zoo, if we let her!

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Our love of the outdoors goes beyond Scouting, we love to camp, hike, mountain bike, road trip, garden, draw, and try our hand at musical instruments.  Tagging along is our sweet but mischievous dogs Topo, and Hazard.  

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