What was your first job?
My first job was a paper route. I was ten years old and delivering papers around our home town in northwestern WI. When I was 16, I graduated to the local grocery store while I attended high school and participated in various sports.
My first job after college was as an Employee Benefit Consultant with Wausau Insurance Company. I thought I was interviewing for a Human Resources position in the benefits area. It turned out that the job was really a Group Underwriter for employer health insurance plans. That job taught me the basics of insurance and gave me a technical foundation of the financial side of the business that I still use today.
What did you want to be when you were young?
I am still trying to figure out what I want to be. Does that make me "young"? Initially, I started college thinking I was going to be an Elementary Education Teacher. Given the job market in the early 80's I switched that to a business degree.
My college experience was a little unique in that I lived at home and attended community college for 2 years and then got married to my high school sweetheart. We moved out of our parent's homes and into an apartment at the University of Wisconsin. By my senior year we had our first child (a girl) and all of that created a good deal of focus and urgency when it came to finding a job after college.
So the real answer to the question; "what I wanted to be" is -EMPLOYED. It didn't really matter what or where, but I needed a job to support my family.
What is your fondest memory?
Fishing with my dad when I was a little guy certainly falls into the fond memory category. Spending time with our children is of course another whole set of fond memories- family ski trips, Disney World, the cabin and holidays. Family time is without a doubt very high on the list. However, if I had to pick a single memory it would probably be my wedding day 28 years ago. That may sound kind of corny but I recall that as being a pretty great day with a lot of family and friends in a very traditional small town setting. Of course my 19 year old blushing bride was the real prize of the day.
What is your favorite movie?
Dead Poets Society with Robin Williams. It probably is not one a lot of people will remember, but I think ti has a good message and lesson to live by. "Seize the day" is the them of the movie, and words to live each day of our lives by.
What inspires you?
I get inspired watching people overcome obstacles and limitations that are bigger than themselves, to achieve results that are beyond anything anyone could imagine possible.
What are you passionate about?
First and foremost I am passionate about my Christian faith. Living this out by serving others in any number of venues is the outward part of that faith. My family has been active in a number of mission trips these past several years. These trips involve activities ranging from personal and spiritual growth, to renovating homes for elderly, disabled and disadvantaged residents. We've also been able to spend a good deal of time working alongside our friends in the Dominican Republic as they build a school for over 300 students, a water purification center, micro financing program and child sponsorship program.
What advice can you give junior associates who are focused on their career growth?
Genuine caring and curiosity will go a long way toward success in a career. These two things will result in hard work and focus way beyond what the average person is willing to give. Actually enjoying what we do and caring enough to want to do it better is what happens when someone is passionate about people and our business. Caring about your fellow associates will result in team unity and goal achievement. Caring about your customers (both internal and external) means going further than the job requires because it is simply the right thing to do. I often tell prospective clients about a tour I gave at AGIA many years ago. We were walking through the customer service area (located in CA at the time) and I stopped at one of the cubes because of a hand written note that was pinned above one of the CSR's phones. It read, "Remember they are your Grandparents". That said more about AGIA's culture to that prospective client than I could have said in 100 pages of the proposal or hours of power point presentations. My guess is that the person who worked in that cube when on to achieve his or her career and personal goals.
