Born in 1984 in Fort Collins, Colorado, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was deployed to the Middle East and other locations as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician.

At age 20, he was stationed at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, where he became deeply fascinated by Japanese culture and the warmth of the people of Aomori. After retiring from the military, he moved to Hirosaki and opened an English conversation school. He also became active as a Tsugaru-shamisen player and a TV personality fluent in the Tsugaru dialect, visiting all 40 municipalities in the prefecture for the ABA show "Yume wa Koko kara Namahoso Happy (Happy Chindochu)." He has widely promoted the local charm through television programs such as RAB's "Gareth! Eye."

In the fall of 2016, driven by a desire to "share the deliciousness and joy of craft beer with as many people as possible," he opened "Be Easy Brewing" and the taproom "Gareth’s Hideout" in Hirosaki. In the summer of 2020, he opened "Aomori Brew Pub" in Aomori City, and has since won numerous awards in both domestic and international competitions. In 2025, he launched the ingredient supply business for brewers, "Hakko Supply." He currently ships his unique beer from Hirosaki to all 47 prefectures across Japan.