Kirt is an alumnus of the University of San Francisco and studied at many other institutions including the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the University of Ireland in Galway.  In 1997, Kirt founded Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL) with offices in Ontario, Pendleton, and The Dalles, Oregon. Kirt has served as EOCIL's CEO since 2000.  In addition to his work at EOCIL, Kirt enjoys working as a consultant business administrator to almost nonexistent struggling nonprofits, corporations, and private foundations; assisting with revitalization systems change planning/implementation/evaluation, regulatory compliance, policy development, and shareholder relations.   In 2016 Kirt finished writing Independent Living System Standards for U.S. Centers for Independent Living: Methodology for Determining Base Funding Volume 1 and it was published by The Institute for Disability Studies and Policy.  In 2012, Kirt founded itsgood2bUS, an online marketplace to sell items to support his world expeditions.  Between expeditions, Kirt enjoys his work, reading, playing Texas No Limit Hold'em poker, writing, and on occasion, a good strong Irish whiskey.