Biographical Information
I was born and raised in Fairmont in southern Minnesota. Other than the usual lawn mowing, snow shoveling, and paper route jobs, I bought my first business, a dairy distribution route (yes, I was a milk man) while a junior in high school at age 16. That experience and working on my grandpa's farm taught me some very valuable work lessons at a young age.
After college I served in the Air Force as a navigator on KC-135 airplanes for six years living in California and upstate New York. I then moved to the Twin Cities and worked as a Director of Admissions & Financial Aid at a two-year college before becoming a faculty member at Concordia University, St. Paul.
I taught in the traditional business department at Concordia for 12 years and have taught evening courses in the degree completion and graduate programs from their inception. Since 1997 I have worked in what is now the College of Business & Organizational Leadership.
My wife and I also built, owned and operated a franchised restaurant for six years. I was president of the national franchisee association for two years and was the president of the Twin Cities local advertising group of the franchise for two years as well.
I live in Prior Lake with my wife and two of my five sons. I enjoy skiing (water and snow), hiking in the mountains and hunting. Serving in various capacities in my congregation, including as chairman of the congregation and chairman of the board of elders, also has been an important part of my life. I have been a licensed attorney in Minnesota since 1987.
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