About BJ

Lenoir County is home. It’s where I grew up, where my wife, Jessica, and I have raised our family, and where I’ve built businesses and had the privilege of serving my community. My connection to this place is personal, and so is my commitment to its future.

Family and roots

Jessica and I are the proud parents of two daughters, Gracyn and Kathryn. Being a husband and father keeps me grounded and shapes how I think about our community’s future. I want our children and the next generation of Lenoir County families to have opportunities to learn, build careers, raise families, and make a life here.

I’m a product of Lenoir County Public Schools and graduated from Kinston High School in 1998. I continued my education at Lenoir Community College before transferring to East Carolina University in 1999. In 2002, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from ECU.

Public service

I served as mayor of Kinston from 2009 to 2017, becoming the first elected Republican mayor in the city’s history.

Those eight years gave me a firsthand understanding of how local government decisions affect families, neighborhoods, and businesses. They also reinforced the importance of listening, being accessible, and working with people who bring different perspectives to the table.

As I prepare to serve on the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, I bring that experience alongside the perspective of a business owner, husband, and father with a personal stake in our county’s success.

Business and local news

I’m an entrepreneur and the owner of Magic Mile Media, the company behind Neuse News, Neuse News Sports, NNS Wayne, and other media and marketing initiatives. My work centers on helping businesses tell their stories and keeping communities informed and connected.

In October 2025, I stepped away from editorial decision-making at Neuse News.

Whether through public service or business, my work has kept me connected to the people who make this community what it is. I’m grateful for the opportunities Lenoir County has given my family, and I want to help create those same opportunities for others.