Born and raised in Harbor City, my roots in the South Bay run deep. From my K-12 years to coaching youth sports to working with families and entrepreneurs across the region, this community shaped who I am. It is where I learned the meaning of hard work and accountability. It is also where I built my real estate career and raised my family, and it is the reason I am committed to serving the people who call the South Bay home.

My story begins with parents who understood adversity and chose a better path. My father is a retired computer programmer and Vietnam veteran, and my mother worked as a human resources manager at Northrop. Both of them left gang life when they were young because they knew it would not lead to the future they wanted for themselves or their family. Their discipline, grit, and belief in taking responsibility for their choices shaped the values I carry today. My family’s history, from my grandfather who served in World War II to my other grandfather who immigrated from the Philippines during the Great Depression, showed me what service and sacrifice look like.

Their example taught me that opportunity and support can change the direction of a person’s life, and this is why I feel a responsibility to step forward into public service.

I grew up as the youngest of three boys and attended Narbonne High School, where I worked hard in the classroom and in sports and graduated with Honors. After high school, I moved to my grandfather’s home in Echo Park and began my college journey at the University of Southern California. At USC’s Marshall School of Business, I studied marketing and took part in Dr. Warren Bennis’s Emerging Leader Program, which strengthened my commitment to service, character, and leadership.

After graduating from USC, I began my career in the Internet industry during the dot-com era. I worked with high-profile startups such as Realtor.com, Stamps.com, and Yahoo!, and later with larger companies including Southern California Edison, the Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Entertainment. When the dot-com era came to a close in 2002, I transitioned into commercial real estate. I worked for several respected firms, including Cushman & Wakefield, and gained experience in transactions, development projects, and the complex world of land use and permitting.

Today I operate my own real estate firm that focuses on helping buyers and tenants of both commercial and residential properties. I also provide land use consulting to businesses, organizations, and individuals who need guidance through the government entitlement and permit process. This work has given me a clear view of how regulations, delays, and poor communication from government agencies affect the daily lives of residents and small businesses.

That perspective carries over into my community involvement, which has always been just as important to me. During my college years, I mentored young people from South Central Los Angeles, Echo Park, and the South Bay, and I currently mentor students at Los Angeles Southwest College. I also help residents and business owners organize around issues such as public safety, responsible development, homelessness, and the rising cost of living.

These experiences have shown me how powerful local action can be when people feel heard, supported, and empowered.

My commitment to the South Bay is also reflected in my personal life. I have three daughters who were raised in Redondo Beach and educated in the Redondo Beach school system. They took part in the Redondo Beach Playhouse, Girl Scouts, and many years of AYSO and club soccer. I coached their AYSO teams for nine seasons and spent time as an assistant coach for the boys varsity basketball team at West Torrance High School. And since the ocean was my first love, staying connected to our coastline has always been important to me. I work out at the Bay Club in King Harbor, cycle along the bike path from Torrance Beach to Santa Monica, and bodyboard at Burnout and the north side of Manhattan Pier.

That is why protecting the natural beauty and outdoor spaces that make the South Bay such a special place matters so much to me.

Each of these personal and professional experiences has shaped my belief that the South Bay deserves leadership that pays attention, takes responsibility, and puts community first. Families are feeling the pressure of higher costs. Small businesses are dealing with unnecessary regulations. Residents want safe streets, strong schools, and a real voice in decisions that affect their neighborhoods.

The South Bay is not a political steppingstone for me. It is where I grew up. It is where I work. It is where my family is building its future. I am ready to serve and get to work for the people who live in our South Bay bubble.