Caring for the Ouachita River and its tributaries is a passion of mine. The water has always had a calming effect on me. In the 1980's I served in the U.S. Coast Guard. My last duty station was on the Chesapeake Bay. My service and time on the Chesapeake Bay was a big influence on me. Following my Coast Guard Service, I worked in emergency management throughout the 1990s and early 2000's. In 2007, I established my disaster management practice.
After many years of traveling, servicing some of the biggest disasters of our time, I moved to Arkansas to enjoy the outdoors and think about it. On most weekends I could be found hiking, kayaking and exploring. In 2012, I deployed to New Jersey in response to Superstorm Sandy. I loved New Jersey and New York City.
In 2013, I flew home to West Monroe, La for the birth of my grandson. I never left West Monroe where I continue my disaster management practice. I still think about the Chesapeake Bay. As those memories fade, my focus has shifted to making sure my generation does right by our grandkids.
Following the Great Flood of 2016, our community worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a report "A Deeper Look at the Ouachita River." This is a high value report for our community and another big influence on me.
We will be good stewards of the land, water and air.
In my travels across the county servicing the big disasters of our time, I always made time to visit the boardwalk, port, riverfront, lake or beach. In the evenings mostly. A habit I developed at my last U.S. Coast Guard Station when I needed to relax.
Whenever I hear a Bruce Hornsby tune it takes me back to the Chesapeake Bay.