Les grew up in Seattle but was born in Michigan. He’s a proud graduate of Franklin High School. 

A first-generation college graduate, Les earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Washington, where he was an active leader in the Black Student Union and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Committed to lifelong learning and leadership, he went on to complete a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University. 

He is a seasoned student services professional with extensive experience in graduate admissions, career development, human resources. recruitment and retention program development. He began his career in higher education in 1990 at Skidmore College, where he developed recruitment and retention initiatives for diverse college-bound youth. Currently, he is serving as a Recruitment & Retention Specialist at the University of Washington. Throughout his career, Les has worked to advance opportunities for students and job seekers, combining a strong foundation in equity, education, and community engagement. 

He have been a Federal Way resident for the past 25 years, where he and his wife, Nanci, raised our three children—Christina, Cammy, and Les II—all proud alumni of Federal Way Public Schools. Outside of work, he enjoys distance running, playing basketball and tennis, and spending quality time with his family.