I grew up in Star Prairie, Wisconsin, a small town on the Minnesota- Wisconsin border. I attended St. Croix Lutheran High School and then received my Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in Elementary Education and Secondary Social Studies from Martin Luther College. After graduation, I was assigned to serve at St. John Lutheran in Hemlock, Michigan, where I served as principal and 5th-8th grade teacher for the last 5 years. My wife Bridget and I met in high school. She attended Bethany Lutheran College and then earned her Master’s degree in Special Education from MSU-Mankato. We got married in 2018 and have two children. Our daughter, Emilia, is 3 years old, and our son, Everett, was born in April. We also have a yellow lab named Zoey. I enjoy hunting, fishing, watching Minnesota sports, and spending time with my family.