I grew up in Port Alberni and during that time I was involved with the local baseball program as a player and with the softball program as a coach. I graduated from Alberni District Secondary School in 1986.

I attended Malaspina College, the University of British Columbia (Vancouver), Camosun College (Victoria) and University of Victoria where I finished with a Bachelor of Education with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. I have a Master's in Leadership and Administration from Gonzaga University.

I currently teach at Ballenas Secondary in the Mathematics department. I coached numerous softball teams while in Port Alberni. I have also coached numerous volleyball teams during my time at Ballenas Secondary School. I have had the opportunity to take some volleyball teams to B.C. Provincial Championships and return with a Bronze medal and a fifth place finish on separate occasions.

I began my Karate training at the University of Victoria in 1995. I had the opportunity to train for three months but then had to discontinue training. I did not take up Karate again until the fall of 2007 here at Shima Karate.