Andrew was born to a hippie family on the Mendocino Coast of Northern California, spending his first years on a commune in the midst of thick groves of Redwoods. Since his father was a commercial fisherman for the first decade of Andrew’s life, the lifeblood of Curry County’s fishing and logging industries coupled with its outdoor, ocean-based culture is very familiar to Andrew. These resonant connections have been significant in his family’s choice to put down roots in beautiful Brookings, Oregon for the long haul. Andrew has also been happily married to Coral for 25 years. They have three kids together, Poppy 18, Bodhi 14 and Opal 11.

Andrew is an avid surfer (34 years of ocean play!) - mainly on retro single fins and a few twin fins. He is a sometimes-avid skateboarder, an amateur air-cooled VW mechanic (has rebuilt almost 30!), a sometimes-construction worker, and a daily reader of the Greek Bible (read: Bible Nerd). His goals this year are to get his ‘69 VW Bug back on the road; to work all the mechanical gremlins out of his bright green ‘62 Ford Econoline Van, and to learn to do clean, frontside airs at the Brookings Skate Park.

Andrew was awarded his B.A. in History from the University of California Santa Barbara. Shortly thereafter, he completed a One-Year Graduate Certificate in Bible from Multnomah Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He went on to receive his Master of Arts in Exegetical Theology from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, followed five years later by an upgrade to a Masters of Divinity from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Andrew is an ordained Calvary Chapel Pastor. Andrew holds a CADC1 (Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor) through the State of Oregon, and is a certified Genesis Process Counselor.

Continuing to learn and grow in professional expertise is very important to me, hence the next category.

Education In Process:
1) Andrew will be testing for the QMHA (Qualified Mental Health Associate) by the end of May 2025. This certification requires 1000 hours of supervised hours in a Mental Health setting. He already has the hours, and all that remains is to test.
2) Andrew will be testing for the CADC2 by the end of 2025, which requires 300 hours of Drug & Alcohol specific education and 4000 hours of supervised experience. The CADC2 is a Clinical Supervisory-Level certification which will enable him to supervise other counselors working toward their certification. Having completed all required experience-hours of direct care, he will complete a few more classes before taking the test, and achieving this certification.

10 years of serving in a Management or Supervisory capacity:
- 2 years as Director of a 40-bed Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Program for men in Florida.
- 4 years founding and directing a 501C3 Non-Profit Homeless Outreach in San Luis Obispo County, California. I am still in regular contact with the Non-Profit agency which is still running strong three years after I moved away from California - I am so proud!
- 4 years team-managing an intensive Mental Health Residential Facility for troubled teenagers with severe mental illness.

8 years as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor across both secular and faith-based programs.

Multiple years as a Case Manager for various programs; as an Assertive Community Treatment team member; and as a Residential Youth Counselor in group homes across three states.

Oversaw all aspects of the DUI program here in Curry County for just under a year.

Other Employment:
- Rebuilt and sold close to 30, pre-1970 air-cooled Volkswagens, shipping my cars all over Europe and the U.S.
- Worked in construction building custom sheds (She Sheds/Man Caves) and fences.
- Taught at various churches on issues of local poverty engagement as well as Sunday mornings as requested.