GOSHEN—A PLACE FOR EVERYONE--TO GROW, WORK, RAISE A FAMILY, CONTRIBUTE RESOURCES, OR RETIRE.

I have lived and worked in Goshen most of my life with short times away for college and work-related opportunities in Houston and the Chicago area to add to my professional experience. Goshen is the place that I was proud to call my hometown and always knew it would be a place that I would make roots, work, raise a family and eventually retire.

 
 

Meet DON

I am running to continue my contribution to Goshen City Council, 1st District. I have lived in Goshen most of my 67 years and have watched the population grow from 13,500 in the 50s to around 34,000 today. In that time, I have seen economic ups and downs, I have seen a welcoming community for all, and I have seen businesses flourish. My goal is to keep moving the ball down the field.

I went through the Goshen Community School System graduating with the Class of ‘74. I did well enough to go on to Calvin College for my Pre-Engineering degree and then concluded at Purdue University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

I have had a long and varied career. After graduation I immediately moved to Houston, TX to utilize my engineering degree constructing water treatment and wastewater treatment plants. From there I went on to work for a consulting company that completed city, county and state public work projects where the contractors defaulted. I did a short stint with Cole Associates, Architect and Engineering firm, managing the South Bend office until we completed a sale to DLZ. At that point, I started my own company constructing metal buildings, building single family homes and performing commercial & residential remodeling. A career change was in order, so I went to work for Edward Jones and Goshen Community Bank as an Investment Advisor.

For my last career position, I am currently employed with Lippert where my goal is to complete my remaining career managing the Technical Publications Team along with maintaining the document control on the Customer Service website.

Engineering is as much a thought process as a profession and that is what I will continue to bring to complement the other city council members. I will sift through data, list pros and cons, weigh the options and come to the most successful conclusions for the residents of Goshen.

You will be re-electing me, not for my opinion, but for what I will bring for the residents of Goshen. I am not running with an agenda but want to continue with what is best for the majority of Goshen.

I will make decisions:

• Supporting police and fire.
• Continuing with quality-of-life amenities.
• Keeping regulations and fees reasonable.
• Continuing to enhance the Goshen Historic District.
• Creating opportunity for varied economic development.
• Continuing housing development opportunities for all incomes.

Community Involvement (Past and Present)

  • BZA member City of Goshen.

  • Board of Boys and Girls Club of Goshen, including serving as president.

  • First United Methodist Church building and finance committees.

  • Initiated and helped organize the Goshen Cruisin’ Reunion event for many years.

  • Goshen City Council District 1.

  • Acts of Service involvement through Lippert.

  • Elkhart County 4-H Fair board member.