Justin moved to the Columbine High School area at age 7 in 1978.  Upon arriving in Colorado, Justin’s parents were faced with finding a school that would provide a quality education.  Private school really didn’t fit into the equation because of their financial situation.

Justin had been going to a private catholic school in New York via a financial hardship scholarship.  The Headmaster from his NY private school contacted Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and determined the public schools would not be a good fit.  Unfortunately, as a 2nd grader coming from a private school his achievement levels in the basic subjects were equivalent to that of a 6th or 7th grader in JCPS.  JCPS had proposed was putting Justin in 5th grade as a 2nd grader.  The Headmaster told his parents that this was unacceptable and it would stunt his learning.  Justin’s parents were forced to put him in private school, even though they didn’t have the money.

     His mom started waiting tables to help pay for tuition.  Money was tight, there were many nights when his family would turn off every light in the house except above the kitchen table.  Mom would read a book from the library, Dad would read the newspaper he’d bring home from work, and Justin would do his homework or read – all to save money - even if it were mere pennies on electricity.   It should NOT be so difficult in our great State of Colorado, to get a quality education.  Based on Justin’s experience growing up, he strongly believes on giving parents choices for their kids when it comes to education.

     After graduating from Colorado Academy (CA) in 1989, he went on to earn a BA from Chapman University (1993), he was the first person in his family to graduate from college.  He went on to earn a Masters in Business Administration with emphases in Finance, Entrepreneurship and International Business from the University of Colorado at Denver (1998).  After graduating from business school, he tried to raise capital for video on demand venture, but all the venture capital was dried up in the late 1990s.  During this time, he saw how much the law overlapped (and sometimes hindered) business development.  So, Justin decided to earn his Law Degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of Denver in 2000, with an emphasis in business planning, graduating a semester early.

     Justin currently owns a small business in South Jefferson County that specializes in alternative dispute resolution.  His  business helps solve disputes internally with employees, and externally with contracts, and customers.  When legal issues make it to the courts, you lose your ability to determine the outcome.  He also provides free services to help small businesses with strategic and financial planning.  He has served a broad spectrum of clients from a number of industries and has seen the direct negative effect government has on business.  He is active in the community, since 2004 he has served as President of COHOPE, one of South Jeffco’s oldest community organizations.

     He has been active in conservative politics and public policy since the 1980s.  Enamored with Ronald Regan after watching him speak on TV at the 1980 Republican National Convention, and meeting former U.S. Senator Bill Armstrong in 1984 have been the two greatest factors shaping Justin’s politics.  He has held various positions in the Republican Party, including working for the Republican National Committee in Washington, DC after they captured Congress in 1994, he was a National Delegate in 2004, Teller Committee Chair for the 2004 Jefferson County Assembly, is a District Captain and Precinct Committeeman and has worked on many campaigns as both paid staff and volunteer.  He served on the Board of the Parents Alliance for Choice in Education (PACE) Board.  Some of his member organizations include the National Taxpayer’s Union (NTU) and the Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT).