Community Development Division Director, City of Nashua
Birthplace: Nashua
Family: Partner, Julia Cole
High school: Milford
College/post grad degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Miami University of Ohio
What motivates you to give back to your community?
My hope is that others feel a sense of passion and pride for the place or places that they call ‘home.’ I believe that by making investments in one’s community and neighborhoods, we feel a sense of ownership in what decisions are made and how. By starting at the local level and taking an equitable approach to engagement, we can work collaboratively to implement policy and cultural changes to protect the core strengths of our most treasured spaces.
What advice would you give your 22-year-old self?
Take more time for yourself, practice candor with those you care about, and you’ll never have things fully figured out.
What would make New Hampshire more attractive to young professionals?
The state is already well positioned to attract younger people with its incredible places and strong sense of community. Housing has been and will continue to be a barrier for those who want to live here. Taking actions to prioritize the creation of more housing and a more diverse mixture of housing options is critical to ensuring that New Hampshire maintains a competitive advantage in attractive young professions. Let’s also work collaboratively to create a succession plan for our elected and appointed leadership roles across state, county, and local roles. They are critically important!
Do you see yourself living and working in New Hampshire at age 55-plus?
I’m hopeful that as my life changes and the state does alongside it, that I’m able to remain here into the more senior years of my life. While there are incredible places to be seen and experienced elsewhere, I’m hopeful that all of us can bring small slices of those places back from our travels that will enhance our cherished communities here in the state.
Volunteer activities: Advisory committee member, Community Development Finance Authority; vice president, New Hampshire Planners Association; Housing and Community Development Planning Council; member of several local boards and committees related to housing and economic development.
Last major achievement: Recently working with a team at the City of Nashua to make more than $10 million of funding available for affordable housing projects and programs in the community.
