Who Am I?
I’m a lifelong resident of Vigo County. I attended local public schools – Lost Creek Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High and Terre Haute North – and then earned a civil engineering degree from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
I spent most of my early career as an engineer for the city of Terre Haute. In 1999 I earned my Professional Engineer’s license, and thereafter worked as City Engineer for three different mayors. During my time there, we modernized the department, increased project output, and developed rating systems to more effectively maintain city infrastructure. We developed the community’s first computerized pavement and sidewalk management systems. We implemented the geographical information system (GIS), known as Beacon. We rewrote and modernized the city building codes. We streamlined and computerized building inspection management.
On the construction front, I oversaw the first trail projects in the community. We completed the construction of South 13th Street, North First Street, Locust Street, Hulman Street, and South 4th Street. We developed the studies and plans that would eventually lead to the construction of Brown Boulevard, Margaret Avenue improvements, and the Fruitridge Avenue realignment.
At the end of 2007 I left my position with the city to pursue a private engineering practice. I led several projects, including the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility for St. Mary-of-the-Woods. In 2011, I became the Chief Operating Officer for the Sisters of Providence, where I led a difficult but successful process of efficiency improvements coupled with budget and staff reduction.
In 2013, I founded Tractor Tools Direct, an e-commerce company that sells ag equipment to small farms all over the United States. The company has rapidly grown to be the largest of its kind in the country. As president of Tractor Tools Direct, I manage contracts, finances, customer service, and a growing staff.
I’m married to Marti Livengood Goodwin, who is also a lifelong resident of Vigo County. She spent her first 40 years (with me alongside her for 20 of those) on her family’s sheep and poultry farm in northeastern Vigo County. She taught school for a few years and now works with me at Tractor Tools Direct.
We have four children ranging in age from 17 to 24 years old, and we live in the Collett Park neighborhood.