What have you accomplished in your professional life/career since your 40 Under 40 selection?
I was flattered to be included in the In Business 40 Under 40 2002 class with a stellar group of hardworking individuals. Since that time, my family and I have remained in Madison and I was excited to have the opportunity to join First Business Bank in 2009 during a challenging period for banks and the economy as a whole. A few years later, I was named president and never looked back. First Business is the absolute right fit for me. My co-workers care a great deal about doing the right thing for our clients and our community, so it’s a blast coming to work each day. Our Madison team has grown, doubling in size over the last five years, and continues to put our clients first with best-in-class banking services, 401(k) plans for businesses, and wealth management solutions for business owners and other executives.
What accomplishments, milestones, or endeavors have you attained in your personal life since your 40 Under 40 selection?
In 2002, we had a toddler and an infant, and now my wife and I have one high school student at home and two in college. It has been my greatest joy to watch my children mature into adults who are good people, do the right thing (most of the time), and get the most out of the skills that they have been blessed with.
Professionally, having the opportunity to build and work with the best commercial banking team in Wisconsin has been a source of great pride. Outside of work and family, I’ve been fortunate to be able to be involved in nonprofits I really care about, like Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM), the Tocqueville Society of United Way of Dane County, Catholic Charities of Madison, and others.
If you were to “do it all over again,” what (if anything) would you do differently throughout your career?
I have no regrets. It’s a personal goal of mine to attack every situation so that I never have to say, “I wish I would have …”
How did your 40 Under 40 selection help your career?
Our 2002 40 Under 40 class was such a great group of people working hard in all kinds of careers and companies. I definitely made some great networking contacts that continue to this day, and also leveraged these relationships for community building. In Business does a fabulous job of highlighting folks who are inspired by their careers and also giving back to their communities.
What is something that you have a new passion for since the time of your induction — either professionally or personally?
I coached my kids in a variety of sports through their teenage years. Through that experience I met a number of kids who did not grow up with the same opportunities as our kids. I have a passion to help these kids stay on a path, or find a path, to a successful life.
Based on your experience, do you have any advice for today’s young professionals (under 40)?
Ask a lot of questions! It’s OK to show you don’t know it all — your curiosity will be rewarded.
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