Strong Family Values, Service, Experience
STRONG FAMILY VALUES: Married to Debra for 50 years, has lived in Dunedin for 30+ years, raised two children who attended Dunedin schools, Travis, a graduate of USF (served in the US Marine Corps) and Rory, a Florida Southern College graduate.
STRONG, REAL WORLD EXPERIENCED BUSINESS LEADER: Having earned a BA in Economics from Calvin University and an MBA from Michigan State University, John began his business career with a financially focused Fortune 100 company, AMF, Inc in it’s corporate office, and later serving as a Vice President of Market and Sales for AMF Head Ski and Tennis in the US, and then as it’s VP in Europe.
Additional business experiences include serving as a Vice President of Business Development for MicroProse Inc., a computer simulation company, and as a founder and CEO of Capital Data Consulting, Inc., a successful computer programming company providing programing services to various clients including manufacturing companies and banks in the US.
SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, SERVICE AS A VETERAN:
*US Veteran, served as a US Marine Corps Officer, including service in Vietnam.
*Life Member of our Dunedin Veteran of Foreign Wars, VFW Post 2550.
*Member, Dunedin American Legion Post 275.
*Member, Military Officers Association of Pinellas.
*Board member and Officer of Honor Flight, flying Veterans to Washington DC.
SERVICE TO OUR DUNEDIN COMMUNITY PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED AS A CITY COMMISSIONER:
*Prior to being elected as a Commissioner, John served on several resident City of Dunedin Boards and Committees including:
- Chairperson of the Board of Finance.
- The Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee.
- Chairperson of the Waterfront Task Force.
- The Marina Advisory Committee.
- The Dunedin Safety Committee.
SERVICE TO DUNEDIN AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL:
*First elected as a Dunedin Commissioner in 2014, and for a second term through 2024, when John will seek election as the Mayor of Dunedin.
*Served as Dunedin’s Vice Mayor in 2018; and again in 2023.
*John served on the following Organizations as a Dunedin Commissioner:
- Pinellas County’s Forward Pinellas, previously the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Pinellas Planning Council (PPC). John was also selected by Forward Pinellas to serve on the Tampa Bay Transportation Management Area Leadership Group (TMA) representing Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties. John also served as Forward Pinellas’s representative on the Pinellas Trail Security Task Force.
- Pinellas Suncoast Transportation Agency, PSTA, where he also served on their Planning Committee and on their Legislative Committee.
- Florida League of Cities, on the Administrative Policy Committee, and on the Transportation and Intergovernmental Policy Committee; and on the Suncoast League of Cities.
- The Commission's liaison to the Dunedin Golf Club, and to Dunedin Cares.
ADDITIONAL DUNEDIN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, INVOLVMENT
*Life Member of the Dunedin Friends of the Library.
*Member of Dunedin Fine Arts Center, and of the Dunedin Museum.
*Life Member of the Dunedin Boat Club.
*Dunedin Council of Organizations, served on the Board, and as First Vice President.
*Volunteer Mentor, Dunedin High School.
*Rotary Club of Dunedin North, “Service Above Self”, has served as President.
*President of Spanish Trails HOA; Chairperson of Neighborhood Watch.
*Member of the Friends of the Islands.
*Member of Dunedin’s First United Methodist Church, has served in many areas including as a Lay Leader, as a Certified Lay Speaker, Sunday School teacher, class facilitator, Chair of the Board of Finance.
