Robert came to Breakthrough Twin Cities in 2026 because of a simple conviction: neighborhoods thrive when neighbors invest in one another, and education is the most durable investment there is. He sees the communities BTC serves as full of sharp, motivated students who are ready to build something. What convinced him was the quality of the work. Keeping hundreds of students on track, year after year, takes a kind of steadiness that’s rare, and BTC does it while still asking how to do better.

A demanding, immersive college-prep curriculum shaped how Robert thinks — curiosity, hard questions, resilience, and empathy, planted by teachers who were deliberate about every kid in the room. It's the same bet BTC makes on its students. The first in his family to finish college, he grew up hearing that discipline in the classroom was the whole ballgame. Today he works in marketing and growth strategy for Graco Inc., where he leads the Global Transportation category. Living and working in Germany, India, and Greece — and years of travel to customers and teams worldwide — taught him that durable relationships start with understanding people, the same instinct he brings to the Board.

Robert, his wife, Laura, their two kids, and their dog are Los Angeles natives (and lifelong Dodgers fans) who’ve planted roots in the Saint Paul area. He’s given more than seven years to coaching Little League and youth soccer, and the two of them lead a small group at their church and serve with Hope’s Closet and Together for Good in the Twin Cities. When it’s time to unwind, you’ll find him traveling abroad, sitting in a sauna, hiking, watching historical documentaries, or packing the house with friends and neighbors.