Advocacy, adult services, education, family supports, and government relations.

John and his wife Janet are parents to three children, including their teenaged son Evan, who has autism. John has a strong background in leadership, community development, and team building with local, state, and national nonprofit organizations. John served as the president of the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee for 6 years, and for nearly 4 years as a Vice Chair of the national board of the Autism Society of America. A 2003 graduate of Partners In Policymaking Leadership Institute, John has been an active advocate for inclusive educational practices schools across Tennessee and nationally. He is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences on the special issues faced by fathers of children with autism and other disabilities, and also on the joys and challenges of grandparenting a child with disabilities. John was one of three finalists in 2008 for the Center for Nonprofit Management’s “Board Member of the Year” award. He is co-author, with Paula Kluth, of The Autism Checklist: A Practical Reference for Parents and Teachers, John Wiley & Sons, 2009.