A native of Oregon, Eric graduated Cum Laude from Corban University in 1991 with degrees in History and Education. After graduating Eric taught and coached for four years in the Oregon public school system. In 1995 Eric moved into the world of politics working for a U.S. Congressional candidate, Oregon State Representative, and on two California state-wide initiatives. 

In 1999 Eric was hired as the Executive Director of the Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction, and has been dedicated to ensuring freedom and open competition in the California construction industry ever since. Eric has helped to create regional coalitions to more effectively fight union-only Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) at the local level and was instrumental in helping to pass a first-of-its-kind ordinance banning PLAs in the City of Fresno in 2000 and Orange County in 2009. 

In 2010 additional PLA bans were put into effect in San Diego County, the cities of Chula Vista and Oceanside, the Palmdale Water District, and the Placer County. Eric’s work has helped lead to the defeat of dozens of PLAs throughout the state since 1999. 

In 2002, Eric was named as one of the 40 under 40 by the East Bay Business Times, a recognition given to young professionals making an impact in California. Eric’s writings have been featured in numerous publications including the San Diego Union Tribune, Sacramento Bee, Orange County Register, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Riverside Press Enterprise. Eric has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and on National Public Radio. Eric is married to Lt. Col. Karyn Lynn Christen, a United States Air Force Pilot and graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He and Karyn live in Grass Valley, California with their three children -Damian, Sophia, and Gabriel.