For the last couple of weeks, we’ve been introducing — or perhaps re-introducing — a select few of the many former University of Wisconsin athletes who have made the decision to remain and thrive in Dane County. We hope you’ve enjoyed the nostalgic ride!
It’s no secret this area takes pride in its university, for the world-renowned learning and research institution it is, as well as for the spirited Big Ten competitions it fosters. Through the years, we’ve reveled in the successes of these talented individuals, and agonized in their disappointments. IB thanks them for spending a few moments with us, and for their contributions to Dane County’s business community.
As a culmination of this three-part series, we are featuring local Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton, UW Hockey star and announcer, Rob Andringa, and finally, Middleton’s athletic “rock star,” Al Toon.
Suzy Favor Hamilton — Realtor, First Weber Group – Madison, Wisconsin
What years did you participate in UW Athletics? 1986 to 1990, in track and field and cross country.
Coach: Peter Tegen
Highest Athletic Achievements:
Three-time Olympian, nine-time NCAA Champion, seven-time U.S. Champion, and two-time American record holder.
Your most memorable athletic moment:
In fifth grade, when I beat all the boys in my class and decided I wanted to be a runner.
Do you feel your participation and success in your sport helped prepare you for your current career?
Yes! It helped me in dealing with people and relationships, and has also given me a great confidence in myself. No challenge seems too daunting.
What challenge have you faced in business?
Having to start from the bottom and work my way to the top.
Biggest personal accomplishment (whether sports-related or otherwise):
Without question, it’s having my four-year old daughter.
Most memorable business accomplishment:
Being named to the company’s “President’s Club” after only three years in the business.
If you weren’t a realtor right now, what would you want to be doing?
I’ll take Oprah’s job if she wants to give it up.
Business goal:
To be the top real estate agent in the Madison area.
Personal goals:
Stay grounded and focused and don’t forget: friends and family first.
What’s your favorite past time?
Riding roller coasters all over the world.
Rob Andringa, Branch Director, RBC Wealth Management — Madison, WI
What years did you participate in UW Athletics (as an athlete)? 1987-1991
Sports: Hockey (Defenseman) and Baseball (Utility: 1st, 3rd, DH)
Coaches: Hockey: Jeff Sauer;
Baseball: Steve Land
Rob Andringa, 41, graduated in 1992 after trying his luck in the world of professional hockey. “I was with the Pittsburg Penguins on a farm team,” he said. It lasted two months.
“What I realized was that it was now a job. I always viewed hockey as fun and competitive. But [in the pros], some of the players I played with weren’t as educated. The lifestyle was: wake up, go to the ice rink, practice, work out … then, you’re done for the day. I had to find things to do.”
In other words, he was bored.
“It was kind of a step down, to be honest,” he said. “Buses… hotels… I had always been in a more controlled environment, and needed more.” Though Andringa insists he never felt he couldn’t play at the pro level, “it was just not what I had anticipated.” Besides, he wanted to finish school.
Highest Accolades (as an athlete):
Winning the NCAA Hockey Championship in 1990.
What is your most memorable athletic moment?
That’s a toss-up: The NCAA Championship, certainly, but my first game at the Dane County Coliseum was especially memorable. I was fortunate to play quite a bit.
So how would you say your experience as a college athlete paralleled your career in the business world?
There’s nothing fair in athletics. There are times when I’d walk out of an ice rink or baseball diamond with my head down, feeling bad. Somehow a coach or parent would come up saying you did your best. Those were good teaching lessons.
Nothing is fair in the business world either. As you get past athletics, life is based on winning, losing and how you deal with it. The challenges are very similar, and have made me a better person. It’s about understanding what it’s like to lose, and being able to accept and appreciate what it means to win. My competitiveness has allowed me to continue to build & get better.
What challenges have you faced as Branch Manager at RBC?
The toughest is managing people while doing my regular job. The dual role is challenging because you have to take time out of your day to handle staff, and HR. You have to juggle the time, the personalities, the daily occurrences, and make sure your day runs smoothly so you can leave and not take work home with you.
What would say is your greatest business accomplishment thus far?
I’d have to say being named branch director for a large company. I never dreamed it would ever be a possible, yet it’s been five years now. Also, when I started this business, I don’t think many who knew me thought this would be the career for me. But it is, and I appreciate it and enjoy it.
What personal accomplishment are you most proud of?
That I was able to graduate in four and a half years while playing two sports; and, getting a college degree which I didn’t really appreciate until I got into the business world. I feel it was a great accomplishment from a great university. Also, that I’ve maintained a career in the financial industry for 15 years. [I find it] similar to sports — it’s competitive and there are a lot of successes and failures. I knew I could approach the job using things I’d learned in sports. The emotions are similar.
What personal goals do you have?
To make sure I enjoy every day like it’s my last (I learned that from my wife, a motivational speaker).
Favorite hobby (when you’re not working)?
Doing anything in Colorado. Otherwise, golfing and watching my three kids (ages 12, 9 and 7) grow up.
Fantasy job?
I always wanted to be the athletic director at the University, working around student athletes — which I had nothing but fond memories of — and the challenges of being a student-athlete. I was born and raised in Madison, in a Badger household, and have always loved the sporting events.
Al Toon, private investor — Middleton, WI
Few UW althletes have achieved the “rock star” status of our final athlete-turned-business icon, known around town not only as a world class athlete, but a true champion in life as well as in business. It is our pleasure to conclude this three-part “Athletes to Icons” series with a few moments from Al Toon:
Years as a UW athlete: 1981-1984
Sports: Indoor and Outdoor Track; Football
Positions played: Track: Long jump, Triple Jump, High Hurdles, and occasional sprint relay; Football: Wide Receiver
Head Coaches: Track: Dan McClimon, Ed Nuttycombe;
Football: Dave McClain
Current Age: 46
Highest Accolades:
Football:
All time leader in several categories when drafted in 1984, All Big Ten, Big Ten Record holder, Team MVP as a Junior and Senior, first-round draft pick to the New York Jets in NFL Draft 1984, three-time MVP New York Jets, (which amounted to five out of six years MVP from my Junior year in college through my four year with the Jets). All Pro- three years. I retired with several NY Jets receiving records.
Track:
Several-time Big Ten Champion in Triple Jump, Big Ten and School record-holder in Triple Jump
What are you doing currently?
I am a private investor. Over the years, I’ve invested in residential real estate, commercial real estate, and several businesses (including Taco Bell and Burger King). Additionally, I was one of nine individuals who founded Capitol Bank of Madison in 1995. I also sit on several boards, including National Guardian Life Insurance, the Green Bay Packers, and Capitol Bank.
What would you say would be your most memorable athletic moments?
Most Badger Fans remember the “Bounce Pass” (see Randy Wright’s interview in part one of this series) as one of the most entertaining trick plays in Badger history. This unusual play was previously used in several high school contests, where the quarterback would skip the ball off of the turf as a lateral pass to a flanked-out wide receiver. The receiver would act as if the pass was incomplete, hopefully slowing the defensive pursuit.
Meanwhile, a receiver on the other side of the field would take off as if he was attempting to run a pass route, but when the ball skips off the turf, he would also slow down as if the play was blown dead. The off side receiver would then take off down the field after the defense relaxed hoping to get open for a big play… it worked… mission accomplished!
Personally, my most memorable athletic moment was finding out that I broke the Big Ten record in receiving yardage in a game during my junior year at Purdue. This was after not practicing all week because of a knee injury. It was very questionable whether I would play in the contest, but my trusted receivers coach, Fred Jackson, convinced me to try things out in warm-ups. Good thing I did. Things worked out pretty well for the team that day; we won convincingly with Randy Wright pitching and me catching nine balls for 252 yards.
What has been your biggest personal accomplishment thus far?
Finding the love of my life as a freshman in college, and not totally screwing it up.
Jane and I met shortly before winter break our freshman year at UW, and we’ve been happily married for over 23 years — raising four great kids, two of whom are student athletes at the UW.
Do you feel your participation and success as a UW Athlete helped prepare you for life in the business world?
Absolutely. The best thing about competing is it teaches one how to manage oneself. The world can be a cruel place, and the “hurdles” we face in competition are easily translated into real-world situations. My experiences on the field and in the locker room have been as valuable as any class I’ve ever taken. The parallels of being prepared for competition, working with others, managing through differences, building trust, and commanding respect through your actions, are very important lessons I learned as a prep, collegiate, and professional athlete.
What challenges have you faced in your business career?
Generally speaking, you are not given a “game plan” for life. You must develop your own through research, and approach your mission with tenacity. Again, there’s another parallel with sports.
What would you say was your most memorable business accomplishment?
I’d have to say it was the purchase of my first rental property on campus in 1994. It was my first real independent business deal and I truly felt proud to be “on my way,” down the road of entrepreneurship.
What is your professional goal for your business?
My goal is continue to grow my portfolio responsibly, and to continue developing additional compatible partnerships.
What personal goals to you have?
To be more charitable in all aspects of my life.
What other hobbies do you enjoy?
I enjoy biking and skiing. I like cars. I love taking tours of the lakes on our boats, and I love building and remodeling homes.
You’ve enjoyed so much success in your two careers. But do you dream about doing anything else once in a while? A fantasy job of sorts?
I would love to be a gifted vocalist and musician with the ability to sit down at a piano, pick up a guitar or wind instrument, and make it sing as well as I could vocally. Additionally, I would love to perform worldwide, giving much pleasure to all genres of people.
I guess I am an entertainer at heart….
Read part one and part two of the “Athletes to Icons” series.
In Business magazine thanks the University Of Wisconsin Athletic Department for providing photos of the athletes, and particularly Michelle Ballweg at the National W Club at the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department, for helping us make the connections.
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