I am so blessed to be able to make a living by helping others as well as their communities. Each day, I sit down and help people overcome financial concerns and obstacles. I also get to help my community with our fraternal programs and activities. It’s very rewarding to be able to do what I do.

Brookings and surrounding communities, but I have many members that have moved to different parts of the state or country and still prefer to keep me as their representative because of the relationship that we have built.

life insurance, annuities, mutual funds and variable annuities.

families, small-business owners, and retirees and soon-to-be retirees, because they are the heart of the community.

South Dakota State University and graduated with a business degree.

my accomplishments in the industry, including earning the Quality Service Award for the past 26 years and the Million Dollar Round Table honor for eight of the last nine years. I have also earned Century Club, President's Club and President's Cabinet awards at Modern Woodmen of America for almost all of my 30-plus years with the organization.

was just out of college, and there weren't many jobs available in the ag business sector. It was the mid 1980s, when farms were being foreclosed on. It was a blessing that I found Modern Woodmen. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I was familiar with the organization because we had an agent in my hometown, and Modern Woodmen did great things for the community in giving back through fraternal programs. I had a very strong belief in financial security, and this organization was a way I could help people reach their financial goals.

going home at night feeling good about what I did that day to help people sleep at night. I like knowing that we put a plan in place to manage their risks, such as dying too soon, getting sick or hurt, getting old and not able to care for themselves, or living too long and running out of money. It just makes you feel good knowing that you are helping people take care of their families financially.

I was able to tell the parents of a member family that lost both parents and the youngest son in a tragic car accident, that their remaining grandchildren will have guaranteed college scholarships through Modern Woodmen's orphan benefit. There would be money to help raise the remaining 5 children and provide for their needs. The family became members years before but I was able to substantially update their plans only a few months before the tragedy.

Another memorable moment was when I was able to hand a Matching Fund check to a family whose father was suffering from cancer. It helped the family pay many bills.