Don has lived with his wife, Karen, in Louisville, Colorado, since 1994. Karen was raised in Grand County and graduated from Middle Park High School. In 2015, Don and Karen bought a second home in Fraser where they spend time throughout the year.
Don is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Colorado School of Law. After law school, Don practiced water, land use, and natural resource law for seven years before going into business. Don remains active in the water and natural resource programs at the University of Colorado School of Law and recently joined the Advisory Board of the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment.
Don is the veteran of several start-up companies. In 2004, he founded the secondary marketing division of Optimal Blue, LLC, the leading provider of secondary marketing software to the mortgage industry. He continues to consult with Optimal Blue but left the day-to-day in March of 1997.
Don has served on several boards and commissions in the City of Louisville culminating in his service as a council member from 2000 –2008. He unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Louisville in 2019.
Don has been involved with numerous non-profits including the YMCA of Northern Colorado, Via Mobility Solutions, and the Imagine! Foundation where he served as president for the past two years and helped the organization raise $800K in each of the last two years.