Born and raised in Orem, UT., Shawn is the youngest of 6 children. He received a full ride baseball scholarship to the United States Air Force Academy and after serving as a cadet, he transferred to the University of Denver (DU) to pursue his passion of working with children & graduated with honors in 2009. During his time at DU, he had the privilege of working in a private preschool and kindergarten, served as mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and worked as a Resource Coordinator for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Shawn has served in multiple leadership positions for children and family services including case management, residential group care, prevention programs, early childhood education, mental health programs, and community partnership schools. Prior to joining LiFT, Shawn worked 6 ½ years for the Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) in program leadership and administration. He has had the opportunity to lead large regions of more than 150 employees serving more than 2,500 children annually across Northeast Florida, the Suncoast, and Miami-Dade.
Shawn has had the honor to lead local, statewide, and federal advocacy efforts for children’s issues throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Duval, Clay, St. Johns, and Miami-Dade counties in addition to presenting at delegation hearings and legislative meetings in both Tallahassee, FL and Washington D.C.
Shawn met his wife, Katie, in 2008, they were married in April 2013 and had their daughter, Maggie, in April 2014. Both are the loves of his life!