Van is a founding member of the Bike Walk Golden Isles non-profit organization and was the first board chair. He moved to the Golden Isles approximately five years ago after a long career in engineering, telecommunications, and entrepreneurial activities. He was a founding member of at least three companies and most recently founded, built, and sold a paper shredding company, Shredderman, in Atlanta.

After selling Shredderman, Van and his long time wife, Tami, relocated to St. Simons Island. There he is involved with Bike Walk Golden Isles, the International Seafarers’ Center, the Backpack Buddies program at Christ Church Frederica, and finding new ways to cook and eat fresh, local shrimp.