MEET JOE
Clemson is Home
Clemson is more than where I live. It is where my family has grown, served, learned, and built our lives. My wife, Jill, and I moved here 13 years ago when our daughters were still babies. Since then, they have grown up in this community, attending Clemson Elementary, R.C. Edwards Middle School, Youth Leadership Academy, and Daniel High School. All three were baptized at Alive Wesleyan Church, and today they attend Daniel, where Jill serves as a career development facilitator. Clemson has also shaped my professional life.
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Professor of Construction Science
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Pickens County Emergency Services Board
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Past YLA Board of Directors
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General Contractor
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Foster Parent for 10 Years
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National Drone Expert
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Successful Small Business Owner
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Founder of SCiDUC (501c3 non-profit)
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Clemson University Master Teacher
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CAT Lab Founder and Director
I came here to teach in Clemson University’s Department of Construction Science and Management, and I was later honored as Clemson University’s Master Teacher. Beyond the classroom, I have advised student organizations, volunteered with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), taught drone and artificial intelligence (AI) classes through the Pickens County Library System, participated in Girl Scouts activities with my daughters, and served through the Clemson Rotary Club. I also recently graduated from the City of Clemson Leadership Class, which gave me an even deeper understanding of how our city operates and the challenges and opportunities ahead. My family’s story is woven into Clemson. This community has educated our children, supported my career, welcomed our service, and given us a true sense of belonging. Clemson is home, and I would be honored to give back by serving on City Council.
Professional Experience for Better Decisions
City Council regularly faces complicated questions involving growth, development, infrastructure, public services, and quality of life. My professional career has prepared me to work through those challenges and turn ideas into results.
By trade, I am a general contractor. I have helped build large projects, including multifamily developments and continuing care retirement communities. That experience allows me to understand how developers think, what makes projects financially viable, and how decisions about land use, infrastructure, and construction affect the broader community. Clemson must meet the demands of growth without losing the character that makes it special, and I believe my background positions me to help find that balance.
I have also built a successful career at Clemson University as a professor and researcher, while also owning a small local business. I founded the South Carolina Interagency Drone Users Consortium (SCiDUC) and helped grow it from an idea into a fully funded nonprofit organization with paid staff. Through the Clemson Applied Technology (CAT) Lab, I lead work involving drones, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. The CAT Lab's primary focus is on bringing efficiency to government agencies and businesses.
Across each of these roles, I have learned how to bring people together, build organizations, manage resources, and move from discussion to action. My approach to complex problems is straightforward. Clearly define the issue, study the available information, listen to the people affected, separate facts from noise, and develop a practical solution that works for the greatest number of people.
That is the same approach I would bring to City Council.
A Heart for Service
I currently serve on the Pickens County Emergency Services Advisory Board, where I work with local leaders to support the agencies and personnel responsible for protecting our communities. I also served two terms on the Youth Leadership Academy Board of Directors, helping guide a school that has played an important role in the lives of many Clemson area families.
My service has also included volunteering with the OLLI, teaching drone and AI classes through the Pickens County Library System, supporting Girl Scouts activities, advising Clemson student organizations, and participating in the Clemson Rotary Club.
The service that has shaped me most deeply has been foster care. For nearly a decade, my wife, Jill, and I have welcomed 10 children into our home. That experience has strengthened my commitment to compassionate leadership, personal responsibility, and helping people through difficult circumstances.
Bringing Clemson Together
Clemson is at its best when the University, Town, Residents, and local businesses work together. I understand each of these communities because I am part of each of them. I am a tenured full professor at Clemson University, my family has built its life in this city, and I operate a small business here. I value the University's success, care deeply about our community's culture, and understand the challenges facing local business owners.
My position at the University gives me insight into how it operates, but my responsibility as a council member would be to the people of Clemson. I have already had positive opportunities to work with Provost Smith, and I look forward to building a productive relationship with incoming President Ayers. Clemson residents should always have a seat at the table when decisions affect our neighborhoods, infrastructure, businesses, and quality of life.
Why I Am Running
I am running for Clemson City Council because I want to serve the community that has given so much to my family. Clemson is growing and changing, and the decisions we make now will shape the city for years to come. Those decisions should be thoughtful, rational, and grounded in reliable information.
I will bring a calm, practical, and data-driven approach to City Council. I will listen carefully, study the facts, consider the perspectives of residents and stakeholders, and work toward solutions that serve the broadest interests of our community.
I am optimistic about Clemson’s future. With responsible leadership, we can manage growth, strengthen local businesses, protect our neighborhoods, improve cooperation with the University, and preserve the character that makes Clemson such a special place to live. I would be honored to help lead that work.
