In what city did you grow up? I lived between LaOtto and Garrett. Just five miles to school, but an hour school bus ride!
What book has had the greatest impact on you? I enjoy law of attraction books like the “Secret.”
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was very young, I wanted to be a cowboy. Who wouldn’t want to be on the Ponderosa with Adam?
What famous person would you most like to meet? If time travel were possible, I would like to have met Mother Theresa.
What is your favorite part of your job? I love to share the Junior Achievement mission with others. Even though we reach over 135,000 youth, most people do not know the extent and impact of the JA programs.
What do you actually do at your job? I spend much of my time sharing the JA story with individuals and helping to secure the financial and human resources it takes to reach over 135,000
young people annually.
What do you love most about Fort Wayne? I love that it is a city that is small enough to get involved and make an impact and large enough to have wonderful amenities.
What was your first job? I did the payroll for my dad’s business and waitressed. I worked from 5 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. before I went to school so that I could be in sports after school.
What is your greatest accomplishment? I guess this is a work in process. With the support of many people in this and surrounding communities, I hope to raise $10,000,000 in the next year to build JA a new facility which will provide state-of-the-art programs for area youth.
Who are your heros? My parents. My dad came here from Denmark and started his own business. My mom followed her heart and my dad from Sweden to America. I learned about two pretty important principles – the free enterprise system and love.
Do you have a motto you live by? If so, what is it? Do the right thing for the right reason and everything else will work itself out.
If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be? The Consummate Optimist
How often do you exercise? About 4 times a week.
Who would you like to see perform in concert? Meatloaf
If you had only six months left to live, what would you do with that time? I would work to secure the gifts needed for JA’s Casting A Vision new facility campaign.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Start investing when you are young
Name one person who has inspired you in your life. Ian Rolland
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party (living, dead, famous, real or fictional)? It would be an odd party. I would invite Billy Joel, Elton John, Barry Manilow, Oprah Winfrey, Benjamin Franklin, Abe Lincoln and the Pope.
If you won $500 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money? I would build JA the most incredible facility and pay the JA employees a salary befitting their amazing talents.
If you had a time machine, where and to what time period would you travel? I would travel back to a time before my Mom had Alzheimer’s and we would have one of our girl’s days.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? My list is long! Thailand and Australia are on the top of the list.
What does your workout regimen consist of? I used to run. I did a few of marathons. Now I jog, slide in hot yoga classes and a bit of golf.
What’s in your refrigerator right now? Beer, fruit and condiments
If you could solve one major problem, what would it be? Hunger
What’s one thing you can’t live without? My children
If you could give your 15 year-old self-advice, what would it be? Go for it!
Band or music group or singer? Elton John
Drink? Bourbon
Movie? Pretty Woman
Downtown locale? The Deck
Fort Wayne feature? The trails
Fast food restaurant? Wendy’s
TV show? Madam Secretary
Hobby? Golf
Halloween costume? Bunny
Flavor of ice cream? Turtle
Snack? Peanut M&Ms