Originally from Brooklyn, NY, John first moved to the Triangle in 1992 to attend college. When his UNC Tar Heels won the NCAA National Championship that year, he knew he had found his new home. After graduating from UNC, John moved to Charlotte to work for management consultancy Accenture. He returned to Chapel Hill in 2000 to pursue his MBA and launch his career in marketing, and has since worked in the field of brand strategy and management for companies including Kraft Foods, Hanesbrands, and Lowe's Home Improvement. John is currently directing all brand strategy efforts for open source software leader Red Hat in Raleigh, where he has also founded the company's first LGBT employee resource group and has led its volunteer efforts for Out! Raleigh for several years running. He is an avid representative of the voices of gay parents and children in the Raleigh area, as well as a bridge builder with local corporate leaders. John lives in Holly Springs, NC, with his husband and three children.