- When and how did you connect with Trinity Lutheran?
I grew up at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, where I was confirmed, married, and our first child was baptized. When my wife, Marilyn, and I moved to Stillwater, we were looking for a new home church where we could raise our family in the faith. From our first visit to Trinity, we felt very welcomed, connected, and deeply drawn to the music.
- How are you involved at Trinity, and why is that involvement important to you?
Giving back has always been important to us. In fact, I met my wife while volunteering to cook for the homeless, and we brought that same spirit of service with us to Trinity. We helped with Yulefest back in our early days with Trinity. I’ve also served as stewardship chair for the church, and Marilyn and I are involved in an active couples group that has become extended family to us.
- What does your church community mean to you/your family?
Our faith and church community is at the center of our family life. We enjoy being involved in the church and hearing God’s word and his teachings. It is the fabric of who we are and how we live our life every day.
- How did you get started in your vocation in financial services and health care?
I was a business major in college, and one of my first interviews was with a financial services firm. The leader challenged me to define what financial services really means. After several wrong text-book answers, I finally mentioned, “It’s about service.” “Bingo”, he said. I always had the mindset of helping others, and financial services was all about helping people and businesses. I was naturally attracted to that industry early in my career, because that theme has been central to who I am. After about 15 years in financial services and consulting, I entered the health care industry, continuing that theme of helping others as I served in multiple positions of leadership at UnitedHealthcare/Optum and Elevance Health.
- What does a typical day (if there is such a thing) look like for you in your position?
No two days are exactly alike, but there is a cadence to each week. Part of that rhythm is connecting with our teams, as well as church leaders, members, and strategic partners. I spend a lot of time listening. Getting to know the people we serve helps me better understand their needs and how Portico must continue evolving to serve them in the years ahead.
- What do you enjoy most about your vocation/career?
Combining my business experience with a calling to serve the church is deeply meaningful work. As the ELCA’s benefits ministry, Portico’s role is to support the people who carry out the church’s mission every day, and that responsibility is something I take to heart. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is helping others recognize and develop the gifts God has given them to carry that mission forward.
- How do you feel you are able to live out your faith through your vocation?
Looking back, I can see how God used each stage of my career to lead me to Portico where I can work alongside the church to strengthen our ministries for the future.
- What does servant leadership mean to you?
Simply stated, servant leadership means giving back selflessly to help our community and doing so with a smile. It’s not just talking about service; it’s modeling it through your actions every day.
- What was your experience of serving on the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society National Board, and why was that role important to you?
I’ve had family members who worked for the Good Samaritan Society and know others who have benefited from its services, so the mission was personal to me. Serving on the national board gave me first-hand experience of what a strong board governance model looks like. It also allowed me to see how a faith-based organization lives out its mission each and every day.
- How do you spend your free time?
Marilyn and I enjoy spending time at our cabin in northern Minnesota. In the summer, we’re often sailing, kayaking, or biking. In the winter, we enjoy cross-country skiing and Nordic downhill skiing. We also enjoy cooking and challenging ourselves with gourmet recipes made for Michelin-star restaurants, including an “all-day spaghetti” that takes nearly as long as it sounds.
- What do you pray for?
I pray for wisdom, forgiveness, and reconciliation … and I pray for my family, Portico, and the church.
- What does grace mean to you?
Grace means patience, forgiveness, and acceptance.
- Why are you Lutheran? Complete the sentence, “I’m a Lutheran because…”
…Martin Luther’s emphasis on Scripture alone, faith alone, and grace alone continues to shape how I understand my faith. His courage to ask hard questions, find a new path forward, and trust God’s grace inspires me.