Building Bridges & Getting Results

Paul gets things done, but he’s not interested in just going it alone. He brings others together to get results for people, places, and nature. His interest in connecting people and places goes back to his roots in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley where he learned firsthand the value of history, placemaking and human connections. Here are a few of his proudest accomplishments.

• For fifteen years, Paul lead volunteer trail crews to build and maintain the North Country Trail in Kent and Newaygo County. He was instrumental in the construction of more than 27 miles of trail, building ten significant structures like bridges and boardwalks, and ensuring volunteer annual maintenance of more than 70 miles of backcountry trails.

• Beginning way back in the 1990’s, Paul was concerned with how unchecked urban sprawl was leading to the degradation of Kent County’s rural and natural environments. This resulted in his leadership of United Growth for Kent County and activism in getting Kent County to adopt a smart, focused Purchase of Development Rights program for farmland preservation.

• His experience with community organizing taught Paul that things get done by bringing people and organizations together. That resulted in his five-year leadership of the Get the Lead Out! collaborative, bringing millions of dollars to Grand Rapids to make thousands of children’s homes lead-safe. Paul build upon that foundation to build the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan, a unique, nationally-recognized recognition that innovates to keep children safe from hazards in their homes. Fourteen years later, that organization has diverse staffing and leadership, strong programming, is engaging in systems change work, and is in a strong financial position to lead into the future.

• When it comes to where children live, Paul has always believed that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Children need safe spaces in order to thrive. That is why Paul is proud of his work to lead statewide strategic planning for healthier housing for children, the development of a national model for primary prevention, and his leadership of local action to not just offer charity, but change policy to protect children.

• Then there are his personal pursuits. Long after hearing stories of thru-hikers walking from Georgia to Maine on a ridge he could see outside his childhood bedroom window, in 2000 Paul fulfilled a lifelong dream and hiked the entire 2,164 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one season. In 2001, he returned to the New England woods with his future wife, Julie, to hike the 275-mile length of Vermont’s Long Trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in North America. This love for the outdoors led him to learn how to safely lead others as they connect with nature by obtaining his Wilderness First Responder certification and then digging in as a volunteer with the North Country Trail Association, resulting in a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Awards & Recognitions

Lifetime Achievement Award (national), North Country Trail Association 2018

Christine Nelson Professional Service to Children Award, Family Futures 2013

National Center for Healthy Housing, Certified Trainer for the Michigan Training Center

Special Tribute, Rep. Schmidt and Governor Granholm, State of Michigan 2011

Healthy Homes Specialist Certification, National Environmental Health Association 2008

Lead Supervisor Certification, Michigan Department of Community Health 2007

Communicator of the Year, Interchange (Communications Professionals Association) 2005

Governor’s Hometown Health Hero, Michigan Department of Community Health 2004

Trail Builder of the Year, North Country Trail Association 2003

Wilderness Medical Associates, Wilderness First Responder 2001

2000-Miler, Appalachian Trail Conference 2000