I grew up in southern New Jersey, the Garden State. When I was young it was indeed a garden state, with farms and undeveloped land everywhere. I spent many summers working on New Jersey farms, gaining a greater appreciation of the land and livestock and experiencing the gratification that can come with doing farm work.

Over time agricultural and other open land was sold and housing developments were built. New Jersey is now one of the most densely populated states in the country.

When I began working as a realtor in Ulster County, NY, I developed my business in a typical fashion helping people to buy and sell houses and land. My concern about disappearing farmland and unchecked development grew over time as I saw a repeat of my early years in New Jersey. While I continue to help people buy and sell houses, I decided to develop my real estate work with a specialty of contributing to conservation efforts in Ulster County.