Born in Independence, Kansas.  Attended the University of Kansas, where he obtained a BS in aerospace engineering.  Following graduation, he worked as a civilian engineer for the US Air Force before entering Golden Gate School of Law in San Francisco.  Following graduation from law school, he worked briefly in personal injury law before becoming joining a law firm specializing in construction defect litigation, eventually moving into the field of homeowner association general counsel work, which he has practiced for more than twenty-five years. He is also a former instructor of real estate law for the Paralegal Studies Program at the University of San Francisco and has written numerous articles and spoken to many groups about issues related to homeowner association law.