Valley Profiles Featuring five business professionals under 40 from St. Peter, Cleveland, Le Sueur and Le Center.
March 2019 Le Sueur County News St. Peter Herald
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VALLEY PROFILES
March 2019
Valley Profiles A special publication of the Le Sueur County News and St. Peter Herald Publisher Chad Hjellming Regional Managing Editor Dana Melius
Contributing Writers Pat Beck Ashley Murtha Richard Rohlfing
Media Consultants Kathleen Davies Missy Daschner Gayle Stelten Cover Design and Layout Kate McGillen
Associate Editor Nancy Madsen
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March 2019
VALLEY PROFILES
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Jaime Harmon builds insurance business on compassion
By NANCY MADSEN nmadsen@stpeterherald.com
For Jaime Harmon, the insurance business is all about compassion. Jaime is an American Family Insurance agent with offices in Le Center, Montgomery and St. Peter. It’s about “knowing you have this power to help someone and prepare them for when something bad happens,” she said. “That’s where we’re here every day, why I come in on Saturdays and talk to people in hallways at sporting events.” Jaime is an “American Family brat,” as the multigenerational agents are known in that company. Father James Soulek ran the same Le Center agency for about 40 years. “It’s all I’ve ever known,” she said. She called mom Susan her father’s “right-hand man.” After growing up and helping out around the office, she began to work for him after she returned from St. Cloud. She worked for him for about six years before applying to take over the office. She came back because “I always loved what my dad and mom did,” Jaime said. “I loved the life they were able to provide for us and the flexibility and all they were able to do with their life because of their career and the people they were able to help.” She wanted to share the same sort of life with her children. In 2013, she was awarded the Le Center office, which came with a Montgomery satellite. Jaime’s husband, Andrew, had just returned from a deployment with the Minnesota National Guard.
Occupation: Agent, American Family Insurance with offices in Le Center, Montgomery and St. Peter Education: Graduated from Le Center High School; bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Cloud State University Hometown: Le Center Age: 37 Family: Husband Andrew; children Tyler, Adison, Myla, Kaiser, with dog Chester Organizations: Le Center Chamber of Commerce Board, community clubs in Le Center and Montgomery, Le Center American Legion Auxiliary, softball coach, president of TCU Softball Association, treasurer of TCU Wrestling Association, member of St. Peter and Montgomery chambers of commerce, nursery volunteer at Hillside Church, Mankato
“He asked, ‘What if we did this “The customers become risk for flooding. together?’” she said. “My mom part of you and you worry about “It’s not a 9-to-5 job,” she and dad did, so it didn’t seem them,” Jaime said. said. odd to me.” In the week of March 11, She has flexibility to leave
“The customers become part of you and you worry about them,” Her father stayed on almost full time for a few years before slowly paring back. He’s still fully licensed.
she was in Arizona for company training and called back to the office for others to check on customers she suspected would be at Continued on 10C
HARMON
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VALLEY PROFILES
March 2019
St. Peter business ban e en osse s a s ac i e in e communi By PAT BECK pbeck@stpeterherald.com First National Bank Minnesota Vice President/Business Banker Ben Gossett not only is active with the businesses in St. Peter, he is active in the community. “I enjoy helping my clients and making an impact on the community,” Gossett said. He is a member of St. Peter Lions Club, serving as president in 2017. He also volunteers with St. Peter Chamber of Commerce Diplomats and the Greater Mankato Area United Way, which includes Le Sueur, Nicollet, Blue Earth and Waseca counties. “I really enjoy volunteering in the community,” Gossett said. “I try to make it to all the events I can for the Lions Club
and all the things in the local business community. I like to be involved and help it grow and prosper.” The Lions focus is on eyesight and hearing. In addition, the club helps with the back to school backpack program and assisted with the veterans me-
First National Bank Vice President/Business Banker Ben Gossett works with Universal Banker Brenda Carpenter in St. Peter. (Pat Beck/St. Peter Herald) and host business after hours. At the United Way, Gossett said he basically does fundraisers. “It’s a great organization. We help many people in
o e bein ab e o p a a pa in e pin em succ no ma e o bi o sma a pa is morial. The St. Peter chapter also gives money to Lions Club International and collects eyeglasses at various locations in town. Diplomats welcome new businesses, do ribbon cuttings
our area in all the counties that it serves to help them get what they need.” At First National in St. Peter since August of 2010, Gossett started as a teller, then worked in operations, personal banker, consumer loans and
now business loans. First National Bank Minnesota President and CEO Mike Bresnahan is impressed with how quickly Gossett has worked his way up the ranks as well as his community involvement. “Ben has worked out really well starting as a teller right out of college to working his way up to vice president of the bank,” Bresnahan said. “He came in at a time that was favorable for him. He was at the right place at the right time and the right person to accelerate up the ranks from a starting position. He was able to take on more responsibility each year.” As to his community involvement, Bresnahan said Gossett “takes on the respon-
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Occupation: vice president and business banker at First National Bank Minnesota, St. Peter Education: Carroll (Iowa) High School, bachelor’s degree in finance from Minnesota State University, Mankato Age: 31 Family: Wife Lacey Community involvement: member of St. Peter Lions Club, president in 2017; member of St. Peter Area Chamber of Commerce Diplomats, and Greater Mankato Area United Way sibility to represent us and himself to make sure business people know who he is. He has Continued on 10C stayed involved which is really
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Kelsey Schwartz: Juggling roles suits rural Le Sueur p o essiona
By DANA MELIUS dmelius@stpeterherald.com
ther’s. “I’m sort of a butterhead,” she joked, but that could be coming to an end. “My Grandpa said I’ve got to come and get that thing out of his freezer.” Her love of agricultural started early, growing up on a farm in the Owatonna area. She moved on to the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities cam-
Kelsey Schwartz enjoys the multiple roles she plays, settling into the Le SueurHenderson community. But it’s farm life that continues to capture her heart and soul. Truth be told, she’s “a butterhead.” Schwartz is a former Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalist in 2012, with her sculpted head of butter still stored frozen at her grandfa- Continued on 11C
SCHWARTZ
Kelsey and Brett Schwartz together operate a wean-to-finish swine operation and crop production farm in rural Le Sueur. Kelsey also is a home-based employee for Agropur. (Dana Melius/Le Sueur County News)
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VALLEY PROFILES
Jackie Brockway joins love of wine, people and family together at Next Chapter
March 2019
Jackie Brockway runs the tasting room and event center at Next Chapter Winery, which her father opened in 2011. (Ashley Murtha/Le Sueur County News)
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March 2019
VALLEY PROFILES
By ASHLEY MURTHA Tulloch said. amurtha@lesueurcountynews. When the tasting room ofcom ficially opened in 2014, Brockway was the only person on To Jackie Brockway, Next staff to run it. Chapter Winery is more than “She asked to open a tastjust a job — it’s a family affair. ing room and event center and Brockway’s father, Timo- she’s proved to be a wonderful thy Tulloch, opened and runs wedding planner and an adventhe vineyard side of the busi- turous food preparer,” Tulloch ness and he decided to recruit said. The tasting room started Brockway, 30, for the tasting with just pizza and wine and room and winery side. “Timothy always dreamed has now grown to a full menu of opening a vineyard and I’ve developed by Brockway, who just always been involved,” has also increased the staffing up to 20 part-time employees, Brockway said. Tulloch started the vine- depending on the time of year. “It was just fun,” Brockyard in 2007 with grapes from
Occupation: Tasting room manager at Next Chapter Winery Education: Graduated from MontgomeryLonsdale High School, bachelor’s degree in English from College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph Age: 30 Family: Husband Jeff, sons Parker, 3, and Brody, 1 the University of Minnesota, starting with just 1,700 vines. That’s now more than doubled to around 3,800. The winery, which opened in 2011, grows nine different varieties. “In 2013, it started getting busier,” Brockway said. “At that point, guests had suggested opening a tasting room, so we took a huge leap of faith and opened it.” Tulloch said that the tasting room developed from an old 1910 red barn that was laying on its side on the vineyard property. “So we turned it over and did a complete renovation of it,”
way said. “It’s been really, really great.” But working at a winery with her father wasn’t always what she planned to do. Brockway graduated from the former Montgomery-Lonsdale High School and went to college at St. Benedict’s, graduating with an English degree. From there she came back to Montgomery and became an English teacher at Tri-City United Public Schools. “At that point, I was working with some of the people I had as teachers,” Brockway said. And though she enjoyed
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teaching, when the opportunity came for her to help her dad and work at the winery, she jumped at the chance. Brockway said that she loves working and running the tasting room mostly because of the many different people that she gets to meet. “Each day is different,” Brockway said. “I get to meet new people and build relationships with my regulars. Our visitors really become family.” What she really loves is the stories that people bring with them. “I love wine, but I love the stories and the people more,” Brockway said. “So Timothy takes care of the wine and I take care of the tasting room where it’s more people-focused. His passion is for wine and my passion is for the people.” Of course there are many stories that Brockway has heard and witnessed over the years from couples getting engaged and coming back to host their wedding at the vineyard to people meeting strangers at the tasting room and becoming
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The winery is really a family affair as everyone does their part to help out and make the business successful. Pictured from left is Jeff and Parker Brockway, Therese Dotray-Tulloch and Jackie and Brody Brockway. (Photo courtesy of Jackie Brockway) to celebrate the next chapter in their life,” Brockway said. “There were a couple of women here who had just had double mastectomies and they wanted to celebrate” being cancer free.
family to help her create fond memories. “Everything revolves around this place,” Brockway said. “My family helps out here sometimes, too.”
“I remember one day my family came down so I could make them some food and then we ended up getting really busy, so my three-year-old came back and started helping,” Brockway
e o m ne peop e an bui e a ions ips i m e u a s u isi o s ea become ami good friends who meet there A suggestion from those on a regular basis. ladies led Brockway to plan a There are also a number of Next Chapter Celebration in people who come to celebrate June. milestones in their life. Brockway also has her “Many people come here
Brockway lives on the said. “He was calling out orders vineyard property with her and washing glasses.” husband, Jeff, and their two Tulloch said he enjoys kids, three-year-old Parker and one-year-old Brody. Continued on 10C
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VALLEY PROFILES
co p
By RICHARD ROHLFING Correspondent
For Cleveland’s Scott Miller, the most uncomfortable phases in his career have been when he was too comfortable. With a solid yet challenging position as the CFO of Ag Management Solutions in Mankato, Miller, a 2006 graduate of Cleveland High School, decided it was time to add to his portfolio. Last summer, he became a co-owner of The Lakes Fitness, a workout center Miller and brother Matt and friend Chis Seely lease the build- on the east side of Cleveland. ing for their business, which is located on the east side of “I have a mindset that I Cleveland.
March 2019
i e e ps e e an i
need to need to be constantly growing and trying new things,” said Miller, who continues his full-time job Ag Management. “Usually I start to feel like life is going really good, and then I basically put a stick in the spokes of my own bike tire just to see if I can make it through the challenge.” Besides loading boxes from the depths of the freezers at Chip Steak, a Mankato company owned by his father, Miller’s first job, at age 15, was a dishwasher at Kokomo’s Restaurant in Cleveland, just a block away from the business
he now owns. At CHS he played three sports: football, basketball and golf. He said the school honed him well for his college studies and picking a profession. Miller graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in 2010 with a bachelor of applied science in business administration with an emphasis in finance. He’s worked at various roles in finance and accounting for First National Bank Minnesota Mankato; Minnesota Soybean, Mankato, and the Swine Vet Center, St. Peter.
He returned to Minnesota Soybean, later Ag Management Solutions, to take on more responsibilities after his former supervisor left. Ag Management oversees nine nonprofits related to soybean product research and promotion. Miller has been the CFO there going on three years. He oversees all of the accounting function and its client organizations and helps set the direction for the organization’s development and growth. In June, he and brother Matt, along with friend Chris Seely, opened The Lakes Fit-
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ness. While they lease the building, which is located on the east end of town, most of the exercise equipment belongs to the school. “As a group, we all saw the need for a local fitness option not only for the community but to support our students and staff at Cleveland Public School,” Scott Miller said. “For me personally, fitness in general, and more specifically weight lifting, has been a personal hobby of mine since college. No matter what level of activity you participate in through- out the stages of life, fitness is r something that is essential to living your best life.” s Having the equipment - gives the community a lowcost option to exercise in a better facility any time, Miller said. e Space in the school was insufg ficient and the equipment was - out of date. The business has some 100 client members. “Life is busy for everyone, so we think the convenience of a 24/7 facility is the right fit and we hope to get as many people - involved with making it a part
VALLEY PROFILES
of their life,” Miller said. “We hope to continue to find new equipment that our customers desire and continue to expand from our current one day a week Zumba class to other group classes like yoga and pilates.” Miller ran for and was elected a member of the Cleveland School Board in 2017. “I have always felt that helping kids and preparing them for the future is something that is very important for our community and society. I thought this would be a great way to start helping with that.” Miller said tolerating the wait often required before an opportunity is a struggle for young professionals like himself. “I think having patience is something we all struggle with this day and age,” he said. “We are so connected to the world that we can have any bit of information just by searching the internet, and it becomes difficult to want to show up to work day in and day out until it pays off with a promotion or raise.
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Position: CFO at Ag Management Solutions, Mankato, and co-owner of the Lakes Fitness, Cleveland Education: 2006 graduate of Cleveland High School; 2010 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College First job: Kokomo’s restaurant in Cleveland as a dishwasher at age 15
Scott Miller said that his interest in wellness was a factor in starting The Lakes Fitness. (Photos by Richard Rohlfing/Le Sueur County News)
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ton, and their three children live in a home near Lake Jefferson. “This is a truly great place to raise a family with just as much opportunity as places like the Twin Cities,” he said. The consistency always pays off Mankato for a time, he is glad “Mankato and the surrounding to be back in the area. He and area has had some of the best in the end though.” While Miller lived in wife Laura, a native of Maple- job growth and stability in the
country over the last 10-plus years. What is so great about Cleveland is that we can still have the sense of a small-town community but have many opportunities for jobs in the area, and there are plenty of amenities for entertainment.”
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BROCKWAY
Continued from 7C working with his daughter and seeing his grandchildren out in the vineyard. “It’s been great fun” working with her, Tulloch said. “I see more of her than any of my other children and I love seeing the grandkids.” Jackie Brockway said she used to bring a pack-and-play in behind the bar when Parker was younger to watch him while she worked and he often
VALLEY PROFILES
March 2019
helps during the many grape stomps at the vineyard. “He’s definitely grown up on a winery,” Brockway said. And of course, there’s always Brockway’s father. “Working with him is interesting,” Brockway said. “We butt heads a lot, but he’s always been a role model for me and we always bounce ideas off of each other and push each other. The tasting room wouldn’t be what it is now without his advice and input.”
First National Bank Vice President/Business Banker Ben Gossett is active with St. Peter area businesses and the community. (Pat Beck/St. Peter Herald)
a plus. Ben is one of your young bankers who is very dedicated to his job and his community.” Gossett, 31, earned his college degree in finance from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2010 before joining First National Bank Minnesota. He started as a teller while in college in his hometown of Carroll, Iowa, and graduated from high school there in 2006. Gossett will continue his education at the Graduate School of Banking in MadiJackie Brockway’s son Parker, 3, likes to help his grandfather son, Wisconsin, starting in late and mother out around the vineyard. He is pictured dumping July to attain a better wealth of grapes into a bin during one of the winery’s stomping events. knowledge of banking, man(Photo courtesy of Jackie Brockway) agement and leadership.
The three-year, twoweeks-a-year program “is a good thing for my career and hopefully help clients in a better way,” Gossett said. He will continue working at the same time. “We feel it’s a good investment in his professional development and expertise,” Bresnahan said. “We feel he can succeed and enhance his professional development.” Bresnahan, who also serves as president of the St. Peter branch, thinks the extra training could be a stepping stone for Gossett to continue his ascent into even higher level positions within the bank. Gossett also has done training through the commercial lending academy, Risk
Management Association, where he earned a certificate. Gossett’s primary role is business loans and deposits, but he also is the facility manager and security officer. He covers primarily St. Peter but also deals with new and expanding businesses in Mankato. “I love being able to play a part in helping them succeed, no matter how big or small that part is,” Gossett said. “I enjoy learning about their business and how we can help them grow. “Business is good around St. Peter. Growth through expansion and renovation projects in town like the River’s Edge Hospital and Gustavus Adolphus College are great to
their investment locally.” What makes First National Bank Minnesota unique? “Our most unique part is being locally headquartered in St. Peter and locally owned by shareholders,” Gossett said. “That is a big positive for our community.” The bank, founded in 1857 in St. Peter, expanded to two other locations: Mankato and Gaylord. Gossett thinks it’s good to be locally owned because “the dollars stay local. What we support in the community stays local. We make the decisions here instead of some other city or state. We’re always accessibility, always available. Those are huge for a community bank like us.”
Jaime said people are frequently surprised that American Family offers farm and commercial insurance. If American Family doesn’t typically offer a type of insurance, such as travel or vacant home policies, Jaime can work with an affiliate and add that to a client’s portfolio. At first, Jaime said it was intimidating to work with clients that she had seen her entire life. “I had to learn and I teach my team that we go to school for this … we do everything to con-
Ashley Peterson, Tanisha Hering and Andrew are all licensed to sell insurance, too. Jaime carries the most out-of-state licenses, 12, and recently completed training to be a financial services certified planner. She said most people need to check and increase their liability level: “a no-fault state doesn’t mean no one is at fault.” And most people need to get a liability umbrella and have some form of life insurance: “Once you have a need for it, it’s often too late.”
She and the other agents are all involved in local communities. Andrew and Jaime are both coaches; he coaches basketball, she coaches softball, which she played in high school and college. They’re involved in Le Center’s American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War posts, children’s sports organizations and community clubs in Le Center and Montgomery, as well as three chambers and church. She said she feels a bit of an advantage for being a woman in
insurance. “There are certain questions or issues that clients feel more comfortable talking about with a woman,” Jaime said. “I tell the team, ‘We’re dream protectors, counselors and sounding boards. We know a lot of people when they’re going through their worst moment and when they’re going through the best parts of their lives.”
GOSSETT Continued from 4C
HARMON Continued from 3C
the office for her children’s sports and other commitments, but then works after their bedtimes and talks to clients at games, tournaments or when they show up on her doorstep. “I wouldn’t trade it,” she said. And it’s worked well, she said. Andrew handles much of the farm insurance business.
tinue our education and we have the confidence because we’ve gotten to know more,” Jaime said. In 2015, the St. Peter agent left. Jaime again went through an extensive application and interview process to be selected to take the office. “We were the first ones in the state that didn’t have to leave one office to take another,” she said. And she can do that because of the team she has, she said. Kourtney Giefer, Heidi Blaschko,
March 2019
VALLEY PROFILES
SCHWARTZ
Age: 26
Continued from 11C
pus with plans of going into teaching and educational administration. “I probably wanted to be a high school ag teacher,” Schwartz said, with hopes of being a high school principal someday. “But I changed to the business track about halfway through.” Schwartz, 26, earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education leadership and communications with a minor in animal science. It’s served her well. She currently serves as a talent acquisition specialist for Le Sueur-based Agropur. Schwartz is one of two international recruiters for the company, looking for salaried employees for the dairy specialty business. Schwartz has worked for Agropur since July 2015, previously known as Davisco. She thinks farming provides “a good foundation” for all of her work. “It’s an easy talking point,” s Schwartz said. “Everybody has d some kind of connection to agd riculture. ” . Working out of her rur ral Le Sueur farm also mixes 7well with her other roles, as oSchwartz handles the business dside of the family farm with husband Brett. They’ve been ofarming together since 2012. eBrett’s parents’ farm is nearby, -which encouraged the couple sto settle in rural Le Sueur. “Brett does almost all the s work in the barn,” Schwartz y said. The couple operates a e
Family: Married, husband Brett Education: Owatonna High School; University of Minnesota Employment: Talent acquisition specialist for Le Sueur-based Agropur; co-owner of Schwartz Farms, a wean-to-finish hog operation and crop farm Community involvement: Board member for the Le Sueur-Henderson School Board Still, her duties at Agropur remain her full-time job. And it’s a company she’s proud to have in the Le Sueur community. Agropur’s worldwide employment numbers close to 8,000, according to Schwartz. “Agropur has been a very special employer for me,” Schwartz said. “I’ve liked being involved in the manufacturing side.” The entrepreneur in her keeps thinking of more. Schwartz has dabbled in blogging, with a love of decorat-
ing. She’s recently decorated the couple’s farmhouse and is hoping to keep on upgrading the house, which is a former country school building. It was moved from a spot about five miles from its original site in the 1950s. “I think (decorating) could be a side business,” Schwartz said. “I like it. It’s a good hobby. And I really like to bake, too.” Soon, she’ll likely have plenty of butter to work with.
Kelsey Schwartz is comfortable both in the wean-to-finish swine barn or as a talent acquisition specialist for Agropur of Le Sueur. (Courtesy of Kelsey Schwartz) hogs housed at the Schwartz operation. It can take up to six semis to move the pigs during that time, Brett Schwartz said. But Kelsey Schwartz’ love of education also prompted Schwartz to seek a spot on the Le Sueur-Henderson School Board, where she has served
close to home.” The Mussman family has put the dairy farm lifestyle behind them in the Owatonna area. It’s a tough, dedicated lifestyle, she said. “You’re married to the cows,” she said. “You’re with them all the time.”
And she believes it’s important to have that farm perspective as the school district moves closer to deciding its future building plans and possible November referendum vote. Her board work “taught me a lot.” “There’s a big learning
“Everybody has some kind of connection to agriculture.”
3,000-hog, wean-to-finish operation for Gaylord-based Wakefield Pork. “I handle the business side of things.” As one 3,000-unit weanto-finish operation gets ready to farm out, another comes in, at times resulting in 6,000 young
PAGE 11
since January 2017. Her agricultural background, she believes, will benefit the district as it moves forward on a potential school building referendum. “I grew up on a dairy farm,” Schwartz said. “Farm life, agricultural life, was pretty
Schwartz is still married to a busy lifestyle, with her Agropur employment, the farm duties and her work on the LS-H School Board. She loves it. “It truly keeps me busy,” Schwartz said. “I really enjoy it.”
curve,” Schwartz stressed. And while she knows the investment that farmers make when taxes go up to fund school projects, she’s optimistic about LSH’s educational potential. “I think it’s only going to get better,” she said.
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VALLEY PROFILES
March 2019
Nicollet County Bank Employees Give Back to their Community! The Nicollet County Bank encourages its officers and employees to participate in community functions. During the year of 2019, the officers and employees will be involved with the following board, committees, clubs and organizations. Member of Masonic Lodge #54 Director of Shoreland Country Club Member of Rotary Club Treasurer of Greenlawn Cemetery Member of St. Peter Lions Club Member of Gustavus Library Associates Member of St. Peter Chamber Public Affairs Committee Member of Nicollet County Historical Society Member of Arts Center of St. Peter Member of St. Peter Food Co-op Member of Shoreland Country Club Volunteer SPHS Basketball Statistician Member/Treasurer of Nicollet County Ag Society/Fair Board Treasurer/Member of the Echos Big Band Member of St. Peter Rotary Club Member of Nicollet County Farm Bureau Member of Nicollet County Soybean
Growers Assn. Member Nicollet County Corn Growers Association Member Nicollet County Planning & Zoning Advisory Committee Director and Treasurer of St. Peter Sons of the American Legion Chairperson of St. Peter Education Foundation Member of Lake Washington Club Member of St. Peter Chamber of Commerce Member/Secretary of Connecting Nicollet County Board of Directors Board of Directors of MN Valley Funeral Home Association President/Council Member of Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Nicollet Treasurer/Endowment Board of Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church Treasurer/Choir Member of Trinity Ev.
Lutheran Church, Nicollet Finance Committee Member of MN Valley Lutheran High School President of St. Peter Lions Club Member of St. Peter Catholic Women Member of MN Emergency Medical Services Assn. Licensed foster care provider thru Lutheran Social Services Member of Nicollet County Farm Bureau Member of Norseland Lutheran Church Ladies Aid Member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church Women Member of Nicollet County Corn & Soybean Growers Member of Nicollet County Pork Producers Member of St. Peter Chamber of Commerce Member of Nicollet County Farm Bureau United Way Employee Campaign Leader
Celebrating 136 Years 220 South Third Street 931-3310 • St. Peter www.nicolletcountybank.com www
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