I started chasing balloons as a kid on my bike in Battle Creek, MI. When I was in high school, I volunteered as crew for my local hot air balloon event. A few years later my brother, dad and I decided to purchase our first balloon and begin our training. I received my private pilot license in 2008 and immediately started entering competition events around the country, eventually flying in my first National Championship in 2014. Since then, I have had the opportunity to crew for the US National Team at the World Championships in Saga, Japan and received my commercial license in 2016 when I started flying some corporate contracts and flying for Rainbow Ryders annually at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta since 2022.