About Me
I grew up in Saline and am a 1990 graduate of Saline High School. I faced my share of difficulties going through school, it did not come easy for me. Having dyslexia created many challenges. I read slower than most, but the help I received at Saline not only helped me to become a life-long learner, the Saline staff also gave me the confidence I needed to overcome my difficulties.
After my wife and I started a family, we moved back to Saline. We knew this is where we wanted to raise our kids and the school system we wanted them to attend.
I have been the President & Co-Owner of a small business in Saline since 1991 and truly enjoy being an active part of this wonderful city.
I'm proud of this community, I'm proud to call Saline my home, I'm proud to have two children in this district, and I want to use my voice as a Board Member to continue to work toward making our schools a better place for all of our children and families.
I first began sitting on the Saline Board of Ed in 2015. I served as the Vice President of the Board in 2016, as the President in 2017 & 2018, and I am currently serving as the Secretary. My Grandpa, Hugh Austin, presided over and sat on the Saline Board of Education in the 1960s-70s and his Dad, my Great Grandpa, sat on the Board as well. I'm proud to be following in their footsteps and hope to continue to do so.
Photo Credit: Images of America - Saline by Susan Kosky
My Values
Faith, love, integrity, fortitude, perseverance, honesty, and self-sacrificing are some of the words that I think of when I think of who I am or who I want to be. My belief in God has helped me through some of the most difficult times in my life, it's who I am, it is where my values come from. I am not perfect, and that's okay, that is how we can learn and grow together. We all have different stories in life, we are all beautifully different, and that is what makes us beautiful together!
Family & Fun
There is no greater joy for me than to be a husband and father. My family is my everything, they are why I work so hard, and they are why I want to continue to serve on the Saline Area School Board. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. The joy of seeing your kids grow up and forge their path in life, through academics and extracurricular activities, is so fulfilling. As a family we love spending time together up north relaxing, while we leave some of our stresses of life back home. I enjoy almost anything that involves the outdoors - hunting, trail riding, boating, pretending I'm young enough for the Tough Mudder competition - I'm willing to try almost anything once.
Work
After graduating from SHS in 1990, I began college and had a desire to one day become an architect. Just like so many things in life, different opportunties arose. While going to school I started a small business as a way to fund my education. As time went on I found I had an important decision to make - continue with college or focus on my business. I chose the latter and forged through with my business. This has given me the unique attribute of perseverance. As a business owner I have had to make difficult decisions, make payrolls and, most importantly, understand the needs of others and meet those needs. My business partner, Brandon Hertel, & I received the Large Business of the Year Award from the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce in 2019 and it is was such an honor to be recognized by our community.
After being in business for nearly 30 years, I still enjoy working outside and getting my hands dirty! The workload in the office doesn't always permit it, and my body reminds me every time I work in the field that I'm not 20 years old anymore, but I still enjoy getting out and working with our crews whenever I can. My favorite part of my job is plowing snow. There are few things more peaceful than running a loader through a desolate parking lot at 3:00 in the morning as the snow flies and the winds howl around me.
Over the years my mindset on our business has changed. In the early days, Brandon & I were getting into business to make money, to pay for college and to make ends meet as two struggling college kids. Over the years the opportunities our business affords us have shifted and we not only focus on signing jobs but we are focused on our staff and our community and we are grateful to be able to occasionally make some positive changes. In 2018 our business began donating the labor and materials to bring color and vibrancy to the Michigan Avenue median planters in downtown Saline. This community has always been great to us and we're glad to be able to give back in this small way.