What have you accomplished in your professional life/career since your 40 Under 40 selection?
I have continued to grow in my service to the remodeling industry. I’ve been a routine member of the Wisconsin Builders Association Executive Committee and I will be the 2021 WBA president.
Within my company, we’ve implemented a leadership team and a profit sharing plan. Over the past several years, we’ve doubled our staff from four to eight.
While I’ve had numerous apprentices throughout the years, this year alone we had three youth apprentices employed in the Design and Construction track. My oldest son, Zach, is one of them, becoming the third generation involved in my family business.
I fell in love with marketing work, and I’m highly involved in our social media and website, www.DegnanDesignBuildRemodel.com. You’ll see our relevant content on every social media platform on a daily basis.
Most importantly, the company is well prepared for me to be out of the country for a month during our imminent adoption process! I’m really proud of the empowerment and ownership that each of my team members has for their role.
What accomplishments, milestones, or endeavors have you attained in your personal life since your 40 Under 40 selection?
Community service is one of the most important things to me. Two of my favorites are Boy Scouts and church — I volunteer about six times per month in youth and teen ministry at Door Creek Church in DeForest.
If you were to “do it all over again,” what (if anything) would you do differently throughout your career?
I would have sought out mentors and trainers even earlier. I started five years too late!
How did your 40 Under 40 selection help your career?
It’s a very recognizable and coveted award, so there’s a camaraderie among recipients and respect from those who know about it.
What is something that you have a new passion for since the time of your induction — either professionally or personally?
We got involved with Project 143 and Before 16, which are orphan hosting programs. We have hosted three children from an Eastern European country and we are in the adoption process, doubling our family from three kids to six! COVID has presented a new set of challenges, but we expect to travel to bring our kids home very soon.
Based on your experience, do you have any advice for today’s young professionals (under 40)?
Have fun getting involved somewhere that you can build a group of friends, serve other people, and grow yourself. For me that includes things like racquetball, golf, Boy Scouts, youth ministry, and a small group at my church. These relationships have transformed the last five years of my life.
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