Meet Chris: A Leader Rooted in Service, Family, and Forsyth County
Forsyth County became home in 1994, when my fiancée, Heather, first brought me here while we were working on a consulting project together in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Not long after, I chose to shift from consulting into a role where service and community would be at the center of my work—joining Vienna Village Assisted Living, a third generation family-owned business that has supported local families for more than 60 years.
For over three decades, our team at Vienna Village has helped hundreds of residents age with dignity and provided peace of mind to their families. Operating a small business with 90 residents and over 80 staff has required hands on leadership, financial discipline, and a deep sense of responsibility—skills that mirror what effective county leadership demands.
Service to Community
Service has always been a part of my life. At Holy Family Catholic Church, involvement began through the Knights of Columbus and grew into leadership on the Parish Council and a Men’s Spiritual Enrichment Group that has met for two decades. A lifelong interest in the Bible and the writings of the early Church fathers has allowed me to grow in faith and help others to do so as well.
That commitment to service expanded through board leadership with The Special Children’s School, where I helped guide the merger with The Children’s Center to form The Centers for Exceptional Children. Working with both Boards and WS/FCS taught me how collaborative leadership can strengthen vital community institutions, and I was honored to serve as Board President after the merger.
Raising our children, Victoria and Jacob, brought new opportunities for service through YMCA Camp Hanes. What began through Adventure Guides grew into years of board service, including Board Chair, Annual Fund Giving Chair, and later Chief Volunteer Officer for the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina. I continue to serve on the Camp Hanes and Association Boards today.
May 2025 Forsyth Tech CC Graduation Ceremony
Experience in Government Leadership
In 2010, I was appointed to the Winston Salem/Forsyth County Consolidated Utility Commission—a joint city/county body responsible for overseeing water, sewer, and solid waste services. Over 10 years of service, I chaired both the Operations and Finance Committees and now serve as Chair of the Utility Commission.
Managing a $150+ million budget, evaluating capital projects, and planning for long term county growth have given me a deep understanding of how local government must operate: responsibly, transparently, and always with taxpayers in mind. Each year, I have consistently pushed to keep water and sewer rate increases to a minimum—even when it meant standing alone in a vote. I also serve on the Forsyth Technical Community College Board of Trustees.
Why I’m Running
I grew up in a family that valued faith, service, and caring for neighbors. Those values carried me from student leadership roles in high school, to a degree in Economics from the University of South Alabama, to an MBA from LSU, and ultimately to a career grounded in serving others.
After 30 years of living, working, raising a family, and serving throughout Forsyth County, I’m running for County Commissioner, District B, because this community deserves leaders who listen, lead with integrity, understand how local government works, and believe in building a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Forsyth County for everyone.
