What did you do after Valley? Where did your life take you? 

After graduating I relocated to Illinois, I worked for a roofing company and in various restaurant positions before joining the United States Navy, where I served four years as a Navy Corpsman. I later moved to Michigan, where I volunteered as a firefighter. After returning to Arizona, I began my career in the concrete industry as a concrete truck driver with Rock Solid. I have been with the company for nearly 20 years and have advanced to my current role as a Batch Plant Operator, overseeing plant operations and coordinating the batching and loading of concrete trucks.

Tell us a little about your daily work:

I oversee daily batch plant operations and supervise a team of concrete mixer drivers. Operate and monitor plant equipment, coordinate the batching and loading of concrete trucks, and ensure accurate and efficient production. Manage incoming raw materials and maintain adequate inventory of supplies and products necessary for continuous plant operation. Responsible for overall plant performance, production efficiency, and maintaining a safe and organized work environment.

What’s one surprising thing we don’t know about you?

Served my church through ministry and outreach, including serving as a team leader on multiple mission trips to Fiji. Led teams in supporting the construction of a community dedicated to providing a safe, supportive environment for girls who have experienced human trafficking and their children.

While you were at VCS, which teachers, coaches or classmates had the biggest impact on you?

I would say Coach Broek. In addition to overseeing our sports teams, he made us feel valued as students and individuals. He went beyond athletics to show us that we mattered, creating an environment where we felt supported, encouraged, and respected. His influence extended beyond the playing field, reminding us that being a good coach is about more than winning games; it’s about building character, developing relationships, and making a lasting impact on the lives of young people.

How do you stay connected with your friends from Valley and with VCS?

Still today my closest friends are those I went to Valley with.

What’s one lasting memory you have of VCS?

The first three graduating classes were small, but that’s what made them so special. We weren’t just classmates; we were friends, a close-knit group that felt more like family.

Do you have any advice for current students?

Don’t let these years be defined by selfies, likes, or the number of followers you have. Let them be defined by the lives you touch, the friendships you build, and the memories you make. Be present. Put the phone down, look each other in the eyes, and truly enjoy the moments you’ve been given. Time moves faster than we realize, and the moments we take for granted today often become the memories we cherish tomorrow.

Treat one another with respect. Give grace when it’s needed, show compassion when someone is struggling, and remember that everyone is fighting a battle you may know nothing about. Be the person who lifts others up instead of tearing them down. Serve others without expecting anything in return. Choose kindness when it’s easier to judge. And above all, fight for love, stand for what’s right, and leave people better than you found them.

At the end of the day, it won’t be the likes, the followers, or the things we owned that matter most. It will be the love we shared, the lives we impacted, and the difference we made in this world.

Be present. Be kind. Serve others. Love fiercely. Make your years count.