Joel has served as Fire Chaplain for Cornelius Fire Department for two years and is the support chaplain for Cornelius Police Department. He is one of the team leaders for Washington County Fire Chaplains and an active member of the Federation of Fire Chaplains.

He comes from a fire service family where his father was a career firefighter who retired as a Fire Chief in Boise Idaho.

Joel was a member of the volunteer fire department and proceeded to work full time as an Emergency Medical Technician. He was very involved in public medical education, many years with the American Red Cross and now with the American Heart Association.

Joel has been married to one of his favorite people in the world since 1979; they have a grown daughter who is currently attending the University of Portland.

Prior to moving to Cornelius he was a hospital chaplain in a major medical center. He has a degree in Pastoral Ministries, followed by four units of Clinical Pastoral Education. While working in the hospital he became very active in CISM completing his Certificate of Specialized Training in Spiritual Crisis Intervention.

He enjoys fishing, watching NASCAR racing and playing racquetball.