I’m Craig. Welcome to The First Step!

I grew up in a small town in southeast Idaho, where hard work was part of everyday life. My father owned the local newspaper, and my first job—at age six—was cleaning restrooms and taking out the trash. He taught me that every contribution matters. Throughout my youth, it was expected that everyone worked, and I always had a job.

Most of my career has been in higher education, with 21 years spent teaching business management. During that time, I developed a passion for helping students become employable. I know firsthand how discouraging it is to earn a degree without marketable skills. After investing thousands of hours into coursework, students should graduate with clear career options.

That conviction drives this site: to guide students toward meaningful careers and help them develop skills that employers value.

Career highlights:

• Member of BYU–Idaho’s business program transition team to a four-year degree in 2001

• Chaired the Business Management Department from 2004 to 2009

• Received the Exemplary Faculty Award in 2005

Education:

• A.S. in Health Science – Ricks College

• B.S. in Psychology – Brigham Young University

• MBA – Portland State University

• Ph.D. in Educational Leadership – University of Nebraska