What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your job and why?
The most challenging and rewarding aspect of my job is heavily intertwined in the development of a new product or process and bringing that item to market. You can spend so many grueling hours envisioning and strategizing about how something will turn out, which can be really challenging. However, when the time comes to actually put the product or process into action, I find that’s the most exciting and rewarding part.
Who do you look up to or admire in business and why?
Yvonne Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia. I have always loved Patagonia because of its high quality and amazing repair policy but I’ve been fascinated with Yvonne since I was given his autobiography, Let My People Go Surfing, as a graduation gift from college. The way that Yvonne was able to turn his true passion of rock climbing into a successful business and then become a pioneer by leading the environmental and sustainable initiatives for the clothing manufacturing industry is really remarkable. The greatest thing Yvonne did from a leadership perspective was give up control to other people to run the company while still being actively involved and a key decision-maker.
What has been the high point of your career so far?
There are a handful of happenings in my career of which I am extremely proud of and could be a high point; however, there are a few things that have occurred over the last year that have all culminated in the past year being the high point of my career so far. For the prior decade, I had spent a lot of my waking hours working really diligently with my head down and not focusing on where my career was taking me, but I finally reached a point where I looked up and realized that I loved what I was doing but I wanted to work in an environment where there was more career growth potential. I knew I had to make some changes to get that goal on track, so I decided to start my MBA and mark myself available in the job market. It was not long before the ideal company found me and offered me the most fitting job. By stepping out of my comfort zone and taking a gamble on myself, I was highly rewarded by finding a great organization to be a part of and a job that is more fulfilling, which has all lead to this being the high point of my career so far.
Thinking back on your career, what advice would you give your 21-year-old self?
There are really three major things I would tell myself if I could go back in time. The first is to not worry about chasing the money right from the start but rather get a diverse amount of experience, then find what you love to do and how to make a successful living in that area. The second is that when you have the chance to be a decision-maker in an organization, take chances on other people along the way that you see as a talent or rising star — no matter their age or years of experience — and continue to help them develop over time. The third is to make sure you work for a boss or partner with someone you trust and respect because once you once you lose these elements in a working relationship, it is time to look in a different direction and move on. You will feel the reward for making the change.
What would you say are the best things about living and working in Dane County?
The best part about living in Dane County is the proximity to so many good outdoor activities, food spots, sporting events, and the quality of life. You can be in downtown Madison and get the feeling of a thriving vibrant city, then drive 20 minutes in almost any direction to find peace, tranquility, and open space that gives the impression that almost nobody is around. The combination of these things is not something you can find in many counties across this country.
Do you have any secret talents or abilities that people would be surprised to discover?
I have an extensive Alpine ski racing background. As a child growing up in Vermont, I became a state and Junior Olympic champion at a young age, which sent me on a trajectory where I was able to train and compete in different countries around the world. This carried through into my college years when I was a four-year, NCAA Division I athlete for the University of New Hampshire. I still love to get out and ski so much that a few years ago, I co-founded a local ski team with my wife called Mad Alpine, which now has 100 athletes in the program. I am most looking forward to booking a heli-ski trip with some friends up in British Columbia or Alaska in the next year or two when I complete my MBA.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I really enjoy going to live music, whether it be at a small local venue or a 37,000-person show at Alpine Valley. One time, early in my career, I was at the Majestic for a concert and literally bumped into this guy on the dance floor who I recognized to be the CEO of a business in town that I had been in a meeting with just a few days before. Instantly, we connected and started talking about the bands we like and what we had seen recently that was good. To this day we stay in touch and send each other updates on shows that are coming up and what we are planning to see.
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