My Story

I’m an experienced social impact leader and I am passionate about helping other social impact leaders and philanthropists do the most good possible.

In my consulting work, I help leaders and organizations set strategy, manage change, improve performance, position for greater impact, and find the right partners on both sides of the philanthropic equation. In my coaching work, I support leaders in bringing the best versions of themselves to their jobs. When it makes sense, I help coaching clients figure out their next professional steps.

As a Social Impact Fellow in the Center for Social Sector Leadership at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, I am looking at how to improve climate adaptation and resilience policymaking in the US, with a focus on private sector lessons for the public sector.

Until June 2022, I was President of  Ecotrust, a 30 year-old social enterprise serving communities from Alaska to California. In my time, we successfully transitioned beyond our iconic founder, significantly updated our strategy, grew and diversified our team, weathered a complex legal and reputational crisis, and strengthened our business model. I learned humbling and valuable lessons about advancing racial equity in that role.

While at Ecotrust, I also taught a semester-long graduate course on philanthropy and social change at Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs, where I earned my Master of Public Affairs almost 20 years ago.

Prior to that, I spent 11 years at Mercy Corps, where I helped position the agency as one of the most respected humanitarian organizations in the world.  As Chief Development and Communications Officer, I served on the global executive team, reported to the CEO, managed a team of 70-plus people around the world, and raised more than $300 million.

For the past decade, I’ve been a trustee of a $100 million family foundation, serving as an advisor on strategy, people, and operations. I have developed close, trusting relationships with many philanthropic families and foundation leaders.

Before all that, I ran a successful congressional campaign, endured life as a staffer on Capitol Hill, served the U.S. government in Bosnia and Afghanistan, worked at a couple of consulting firms, and spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Most important, I’m a husband and the father of twin middle-schoolers.  For fun, I like to be outside with my heart pumping: running, skiing, paddling, and, recently, surfing.