John grew up in eastern Washington where he returned after attending Washington State University to work as an engineer at the Hanford nuclear reservation and along with his wife Heather, raise their twin children. While serving on the Richland school board, he returned to WSU to complete his MBA which facilitated a career transition into education. After his second board term expired, he was hired initially to run the Richland school district support services and then human resource departments. Upon completing his superintendent credentials and doctorate in educational leadership, he served as superintendent in the Canby OR and Evergreen (Vancouver WA) school districts.
He now leads the Center for Educational Effectiveness providing a variety of solutions to K-12 schools. The flexibility of this work allowed them to move to Bellingham in 2022 to be close to their only grandchild. When not supporting schools, John spends time wood working, on home improvements, with the Bellingham Bay Rotary Club, and volunteering at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum restoring vintage hydroplanes.