Be Good, Do Good

“To be good, and do good, is the whole duty of man comprised in a few words” -Abigail Adams

My parents taught me that it is our duty to give back to your community. My dad Rocky served for many years on the Reddick Library board. He has volunteered time and effort to many other organizations. My mom Christine is one of the founders of the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum and has served on their board for over 25 years. She’s currently on the City’s Preservation Committee and served years as an organizer for both the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.

I have been a member of Ottawa Noon Rotary for twelve years and served on their board for six years. During that time, I was the Club President in 2016-2017 and also served as the Secretary and Treasurer. I deeply identify with Rotary’s Motto of “Service above Self” and I choose to take Rotary out into the world with me.

Over the past 16 years I’ve served on many committees and boards including the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce board and Membership and Public Policy committees, the Ottawa Network of Young Executives board, the “Black and White Ball” Committee for the Starved Rock Regional Center for Childhood Development, and an Executive Director for the Starved Rock Country Festival of the Arts in 2019.  In 2022 I became Chairman for the City of Ottawa’s Flood Mitigation Committee where my Agency has served since 2013.

I was a committee member for the City of Ottawa’s “Morel Festival” where I created and organized the first Annual Homebrew Festival that brought craft beer enthusiasts to our community from as far away as Springfield, Indiana and Wisconsin

In 2017 I co-founded Run Starved Rock Country NFP which hosts the annual Starved Rock Country Marathon. Over the last five years we’ve donated thousands of dollars towards local projects encouraging Endurance Tourism like the re-watering of the I&M Canal and the refurbishing of the Starved Rock State Park trails and pathways.

Currently I’m a board member of the Ottawa Township High School Foundation and the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation. Both organizations are close to my heart because they are the embodiment of what it can mean to give back to your community.

This year I was also humbled to receive the Ethyl M. Strong “Ambassador of the Year Award” in recognition of my commitment, dedication, and tireless efforts of service as an Ambassador for Ottawa. 

At home our motto is “Be Good, Do Good”. I remind my daughters each morning as they head off to school. Eleanor spearheaded a project in 2021 to bring permanent Chess tables to Washington Park and with her sister Iris, hosts biweekly “Chess n’ Checkers in the Park.” As a family we love our community. It’s why I’ve continued to volunteer my time and efforts and my wife Amy spends much of her free time maintaining the gardens and flower beds around the Vietnam Veteran’s War Memorial and along Main Street where we live.

I plan to continue to serve our community and I’m thankful for the relationships I’ve made. I hope you will vote for me in April 2023.