Jesse has called Washington’s 6th District “home” since moving to the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma at the age of three with his brother and hard-working single mom. While proud of his humble beginnings, Jesse admits that time often found his family impoverished or homeless. Always positive, Jesse recounts, “I learned a lot of lessons growing up, especially how hard work and determination can overcome obstacles.”
At a very early age, Jesse began assuming responsibilities normally reserved for later in life. Knowing his family wouldn’t be able to afford higher education, Jesse studied hard and achieved perfect grades while working part time, participating in multiple varsity sports and engaging in extracurricular activities at school. This hard work resulted in Jesse graduating from high school as Valedictorian in 1995. He was named a Washington State Scholar by the state legislature and received the scholarship that went with this honor as well as several other awards and scholarships for both his academic and athletic achievements. While living in a friend’s backyard trailer much of his senior year, Jesse’s hard work was rewarded when he was accepted by the University of Notre Dame.
During college Jesse was a varsity pole-vaulter for the University track and field team, and worked as a dishwasher to help pay for his education. Returning to Tacoma over summer breaks, Jesse continued working to help pay for his education and to save money to marry his high school sweetheart. In June, 1998, Jesse and Jennie were married. Their first year of marriage was spent at Notre Dame where Jesse graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems in 1999.
Fresh out of college, Jesse was hired by a prominent software company as a systems consultant. After spending a year in California’s Silicon Valley he and Jennie returned to their beloved Pacific northwest. For six years Jesse traveled around the United States and abroad consulting into major corporations within the aerospace, healthcare, energy, insurance, and real estate industries. While thankful for the experiences he gained, the desire to be home with his expanding family grew strong. In 2007 Jesse accepted the position of Senior Business Technology Consultant with Russell Investments, then headquartered in Tacoma, where he consulted into the departments of Global Human Resources, Global Finance, and the Office of the CEO.
Jesse, his wife Jennie, and their five children reside in Gig Harbor, Washington where they are involved members of both their church and community. Family is important to Jesse and he is well-grounded and committed to prioritizing his roles of being a caring husband and loving father.
Jesse has beaten the odds and moved mountains in the past, and his determination to help our community rise up from circumstances equally daunting fueled his decision to put aside his career and run for Congress. A hard-working man who truly believes in the principle of non-negotiable integrity, Jesse is devoted to his faith in Christ and on a daily basis exemplifies “servant leadership”. He’ll bring his strong work ethic, his intelligence, and his love of the District to Congress with him and chart the course for empowerment and prosperity of the entire 6th District.
