2027 Director Ballot

I would love to serve on the Milton Hershey Alumni Association Board of Directors because of the deep gratitude I have for Milton Hershey and Catherine Hershey. The school had such a profound impact on my life. I am passionate about giving back to a community that helped shape my values, growth, and success. With my background in project management, leadership, and mentoring, I hope to support our alumni community while helping others feel connected and encouraged. I especially want to serve fellow alumni as they navigate life’s opportunities and challenges, continuing the spirit of service that defines MHS.

I would like to serve on the board to help keep Milton Hershey’s legacy alive, help family, and friends that are still in the school and the future generations of the school. I would also like to be on the board for the fact of agricultural is important to Milton Hershey when he was alive and it is important to me and it should be one of the foundations of Milton Hershey and I would like to keep that foundation alive as much as possible.

I would like to establish and lead the first-ever Military, First Responder, and Law Enforcement Subcommittee for Milton Hershey School — a dedicated support network for all past and present students who have chosen to serve our nation and our communities.

Throughout my career, including my service in the U.S. Army and multiple overseas deployments, I’ve seen firsthand what these professions demand — the discipline, the sacrifice, and the challenges that young men and women often aren’t fully prepared for. Over the years, I have guided dozens of Milton Hershey students, both alumni and current students, as they explored military, public safety, and law enforcement careers. Many MHS graduates ultimately choose these paths, and one way or another, they step into roles that carry immense responsibility.

Because of my background and the work I’ve done through my nonprofit, I feel a personal obligation — a duty — to prepare any and all Milton Hershey students who pursue public or community service. I want to be part of their journey, ensuring they have the best chance to succeed and grow, both professionally and personally, without being taken advantage of or misled by the system.

Students consistently reach out with the same questions, the same uncertainties, and the same desire to prepare the right way. This subcommittee would provide them with structured mentorship, career guidance, and a trusted community of alumni who have walked the same path. It fills a gap that has existed for years and ensures that our students enter service with clarity, confidence, and support.

Since November of 2024 I’ve been pretty much wheelchair-bound. I’ve been conducting most of my business remotely from my office in my condo. I dedicate about 20-25 hours a week to running my insurance business, sometimes with meetings in-person and outside of my office for broker’s meetings and trainings. However, I’m well set up to participate on the board remotely via phone, email and using online audio/visual meeting tools with Zoom and the like.

Being a board member sounds like a really worthwhile experience. And I’d have the time to devote to helping out. Besides, it would broaden my horizons with my alumni brothers and sisters and give me a closer sense of belonging with MHSAA, the school and the students. Given the opportunity I’m positive I’d be an asset working within an MHSAA committee or two.

I am grateful for the foundation that Milton Hershey School provided me, and I carry a deep respect for the values and opportunities it instilled . I would like to serve on the School Board to give back to the community that shaped me and to share experience and perspective I’ve gained over the years. My goal is to help ensure that today’s students receive life changing opportunities that I did and they would grow to appreciate their time they spent as a Spartan more and more over time; Just as I do now.

I seek your vote for the MHSAA Board as a measure of service to return MHS investment in me by serving our global Spartan family.

I would be honored to contribute to our collective alumni impact as Milts, by expanding professional networks and career pipeline services for alumni, and building inclusive, collaborative relationships across different generations of Spartans— especially those located in the Western U.S. I would also like to work as part of the Board’s collaboration with the Graduate Programs for Success (GPS) division to expand alumni career transition options, and access to mental health resources during times of hardship.

I have great potential to serve (give back) to MHS & the time on my hands to do it, now that I am happily retired.

MHS groomed me, body & mind, to be self-confident, self-reliant, & therefore an easygoing Spartan, always ready to help the other guy back on his feet. The guidance received & the skills which MHS home life & schooling instilled helped me enormously to excel & succeed in life.

As an educator across the decades & at many institutions of higher learning, I was deemed a natural by my superiors & fellow educators, & I always enjoyed a rapport with my students, who ranged in age from roughly 17 to 70. In a word, I was popular, so my classes always filled up.

In this way, I am a very effective & dynamic public speaker, & an excellent writer. Combined with my technological expertise, I possess all the tools to be an exceptionally effective “influencer”, to use today’s word for it.

I am physically fit & willing to travel. As I have family & therefore a place to stay in Hershey, I am able to remain in town for periods of time as needed.

Thank you for your time & consideration. And thank you for your vote!

I feel as an alumnus, I can bring to the board an area of expertise from past and current exposure as a board member to both for-profit and non-profit professional organizations. I have been able to acquire excellent interpersonal, communication and administrative skills that I feel will be helpful to our MHS Alumni Association’s board. The past 26 years of exposure to the various committees both non and for-profit, has taught me the various attributes that are needed as a contributing board member and I look forward to being able to utilize those skills for our association.

On January 2, 1969, I entered MHS student home Dogwood with house parents Ralph and Claribel Fink. Being at MHS through those informative years has taught me the value of hard work, respect for others and a belief in myself to strive to be the best I can be. I have incorporated the values to treat others with respect and dignity. I have learned the importance the service to others, for it is our responsibility to be the best we can be for each other, especially giving back to those less fortunate than we. Milton and Catherine did just that for you and me. In my career I have been blessed to have been able to practice those virtues and they have become values that I live and believe in. I feel the need and calling to be the best I can be for our home (Milton Hershey School) and I would appreciate the opportunity to do just that.