It’s easy to say I care or I understand but to actually have experienced so many of the same challenges my constituents have faced has been a tremendous blessing. Mom and Dad met at Camp Shamineau, Mom was a camp counselor and Dad managed the work crew. Together they dreamed of coming up north, growing their family and building log homes. In 1978, my folks left the security of Dad’s Union carpentry job and moved from Bloomington to Motley to live that dream. The transition happened while I was only a year old so country living is the life I understand. I attended middle school at Motley Staples Elementary and after moving to the Brainerd area in 1991, I was able to learn the family business while earning my AA degree in business management at Central Lakes College during my Junior and Senior year.

Keri’s family was on a similar path that would ultimately end in Brainerd but at the opposite end of the state. International Falls was home and her dad was a Millwright, the Bemidji plant was the next stop followed by Trus-joist McMillan in Deerwood. Keri was my sister’s friend and we were introduced to each other at the Sonshine Christian Music Festival in Willmar 1998, all that year we dated and returned to Sunshine the following year to finish out our honeymoon. Well, my sister and I haven’t always been the best of friends, but I will be forever in her debt for bringing along the love of my life and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. With the recent addition of Troy during the 2016 session, our six children are the greatest blessing I could have ever hoped for and have certainly inspired us to work towards a great future here in Minnesota.