I joined the Durand Fire Department in 2001. I was approached by previous longtime WSFA President and Durand Fire Chief, Lawrence “Pit” Plumer, about joining the department. He was doing fire inspections of the Pepin County Government Center where I worked for the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office. He said it was a great group of guys and he thought I would fit right in. Joining the department has been one of the greatest things to happen to me and I’ve never looked back. The fire department has become a second family that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I was elected to the WSFA Board of Directors in 2022 and am hoping as a member I can carry on all the great work that Pit has done for the WSFA and the Wisconsin Fire Service.

 I completed Entry level Firefighter almost immediately and have since gone on to become a Certified Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Officer I, and Instructor I with the State of Wisconsin. In 2013 I completed classes from the National Fire Academy and various Wisconsin Technical Colleges in Fire Origin/Investigation and Arson Investigation and became the fire department and Pepin County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigator. I have served time as a 2nd Lieutenant on the fire department and currently hold the department’s Secretary position.

 I am currently employed by the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office where I have held positions as a Communications/Corrections Officer and Deputy Sheriff. I am the department’s firearms instructor and scenario instructor. I also serve as one of the department’s Field Training Officers.

 I am supported by my awesome wife Susan, who allows me to do all the things I love, and my son Sawyer. We love to travel, fish, hunt, camp, and spend time outdoors with our dogs. In my spare time, I also coach youth football and basketball and instruct for the Chippewa Valley Technical College.