What have you accomplished in your professional life/career since your 40 Under 40 selection?
Over the past decade, I’ve had a chance to make a difference in the Madison area at Healthgrades as their director of implementation. Currently, I am a manager at National Decision Support Company in their implementation department, where I started as employee number 50; now we have grown to over 130 employees.
Also during this time, I have given back to the project management profession at the local PMI chapter in the various roles: director of finance, vice president of finance, and social media director.
Finally, in 2016 I was selected as one of the top influencers in the project management industry.
What accomplishments, milestones, or endeavors have you attained in your personal life since your 40 Under 40 selection?
Per my 40 Under 40 writeup 10 years ago, I was enjoying time with my fire-engine red 1958 Volkswagen Beetle. Since then, I have upgraded to a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am — think Smokey and the Bandit, complete with a screaming chicken on the hood. Over the past few years, I have enjoyed taking my retired father, Stan, on weeklong car cruises such as the Hot Rod Power Tour and The Bandit Run. Many years had gone by since my dad and I were able to hang out together like this for a week.
If you were to “do it all over again,” what (if anything) would you do differently throughout your career?
When it doesn’t feel right, it is time to look elsewhere. If your organization is making questionable moves that are making you question what is happening, it might be time to look elsewhere. Also, be willing to take a risk and try something different. That job in a different industry might give you a step up from someone else.
How did your 40 Under 40 selection help your career?
The first year after receiving my 40 Under 40 selection definitely helped my networking and contacts. Within weeks of the publication, I had hundreds of LinkedIn requests looking to connect. I also had multiple requests from area businesses looking for me to come in to give a talk on project management or asking if I could I spend a day with their project management teams to do an assessment on how I would suggest to do things better.
Also, it allowed me to push a few local overachieving friends — Erik Jansen, Josh Lavik, Ruth Rohlich — to also apply and be selected for the 40 Under 40.
What is something that you have a new passion for since the time of your induction — either professionally or personally?
My wife, Mindi, and I make time each month to explore Wisconsin. From hiking various state parks, going to various small-town taverns, to checking out unique, small music venues. It has been a great way to really experience Wisconsin.
Based on your experience, do you have any advice for today’s young professionals (under 40)?
- If you see an issue, make it your problem. Doing this will get you noticed in your organization.
- It is OK to fail. When you fail — and it will happen — regroup and move on. Reliving the failure over and over in your head will just stress you out.
- Know your profession. If your profession is moving toward having a certain type of certification, go out and get it!
- Treat your job as a vocation, not an occupation. It is a learning process, and your job is really a classroom to learn and teach.
- And finally, the most important one: Build relationships and network. Join key organizations in your area/profession and build relationships with influential people. It took me about six years to realize I needed to build “my brand” to get noticed by others — and building a brand doesn’t happen overnight. You need to continue to do it your entire career.
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