Student questions following presentations by reps from Fishbowl Solutions yielded some interesting conversation in Professor Larry Crockett’s computer science class, April 5. For example, “As a software consultant, how often do you feel the need to go online to find answers to your own software challenges?”

The answer from Fishbowl’s Jake Ferm ’12 may have been somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but then again, maybe not: “Every ten minutes.”

Fishbowl Solutions, a Twin Cities-based software company, creates packaged software and develops custom technology solutions using the latest Oracle, Google, Mindbreeze, and PTC technologies. The company of 40+ employees, founded in 1999, has offices in both the U.S. and the U.K., and serves an international clientele.

The Fishbowl reps, invited to visit two sections of Crockett’s CSC/PHI 385 class (Formal Logic and Theory of Computation), included Noah Bodner (Recruiting), and three Auggies: Amy Bowar Mellinger ’97 (Fishbowl’s Director of Services), Jake Ferm ’12 (Software Consultant), and Carmen (Crockett) Williams MBA ’12 (Account Executive, Sales).

After the Fishbowl guests described the nature of their company and work, as well as their take on various current trends in technology, students raised numerous questions. The resulting interaction provided good advice on many issues, such as these comments on interviewing from Williams: (1) Prepare wisely for an interview (always plan on a glitch; arrive ten minutes early); (2) Think ahead about what questions to ask the interviewer (remember, you’re interviewing the company as much as they’re interviewing you); and (3) Ask what further education and training the prospective employer is willing to provide.

Mellinger stressed the importance of keeping an open mind when deciding on an employer, giving attention to the importance of matching one’s work-style with the anticipated projects. For example, she recalled working on one seven-year project at an earlier job, which, she said, may not have been as appealing to someone who enjoys working on a variety of projects or technologies.

Fishbowl reps emphasized how valuable a liberal arts education is in their work, since the broad scope of the classes they took continues to provide flexibility and greater opportunity in their work, and in the marketplace in general.

The Fishbowl visit to Augsburg was an excellent opportunity for students who are eagerly seeking internships or employment to connect with a company that is just as eager to find talented interns and employees. As Bodner explained, given the current Twin Cities unemployment rate in the area of computer science (less than 1%), students are in a strong position to find several appealing opportunities, and their thoughtful preparation for interviews can make an offer much more likely. A look at the website for Fishbowl Solutions says, “We’re looking for innovators with a passion for technology and learning to fill a variety of technical and non-technical roles.”

Mellinger, who worked for many years as a consultant prior to taking on her leadership role at Fishbowl Solutions, was surprised to discover recently that her colleague at Fishbowl, Williams, is the daughter of Crockett, who had taught two of her classes at Augsburg.

In the April 5 forum, about 50 students had a chance to interact with former students to compare and contrast pre-graduation education with in-field work experience, and to consider how one’s education must continue in the workplace. Ferm stressed that, especially as a software consultant, he is learning new things daily—online and in person—as he encounters new challenges that push him to continue educating himself. And when new interns come on board, they learn from the staff’s collective experience, and staff pick up new things from the interns. Nothing like a win-win situation!

The April 5 event was also an opportunity for three Auggie alums to take in the new Hagfors CSBR facility; they left deeply impressed.

—by Cheryl Crockett ’89

The post The Mutuality of Internship appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.

Ert’s Augsburg mentor, the late Ailene Cole (who taught theater at Augsburg for 29 years), saw it early on, insisting that his talent was definitely with the younger kids—the high-schoolers, sure; but more so, the younger ones. It was at Augsburg that Ert knew he wanted to be a teacher.

Football and Theater

When Ert found an opening for a speech teacher at Plymouth Junior High in the Robbinsdale, Minn., school district, he jumped at the chance because it gave him the opportunity to also coach football. As a speech/communication teacher and football coach in Robbinsdale for 34 years, Ert endeared himself

to countless junior high (middle school) and high school students, and many of them went on to pursue interesting professional careers due to his strong influence. His students included Darcey Engen ’88 (Theatre Arts professor at Augsburg), Mad TV’s Mo Collins, and actor Steve Zahn, who once donned a curly wig in junior high and did a memorable, gut-splitting impersonation of TV exercise personality Richard Simmons.

“Herm,” as he was affectionately known by his students, found ways to interest athletes in the drama program, and speech students in the football program, increasing the pool from which to draw and surprising many students who may not have otherwise considered such involvement.

Herm was, most notably, the first to teach improvisational theatre at the junior high level, creating a new model that was replicated in many other schools. When he died suddenly in a one-vehicle motorcycle accident two years after retiring, the online posts from former students said it all—“Brought me out of my shell.” “Favorite teacher.” “Made learning fun.” “Creative and passionate.” “I was fat and unpopular…he cast me in the lead…he lit me up.” “Great mentor to so many kids.”

Herm’s students would often sit together at school lunch to write their own plays. With parental permission to miss some school, they would crowd into a conversion van to take their shows to local elementary schools. Using only milk crates as sets, and maybe a mic for the narrator, they often drew huge groups of youngsters.

When asked how her late husband came to have such a heart for young people, Pat Jones-Hermerding says she isn’t sure how you can understand what’s at someone’s core, but she knew Ert had found his calling. He opened up his ideas to his students, and he had the kind of personality to which they gravitated—a big personality that could take over a room. Everything became a story, says Pat, and it usually grew into an even bigger story. He was energetic and funny—and fit right in with the kids. She takes special pleasure in reminders of Ert’s legacy, particularly when encountering former students who have gone into theater, or played sports for a college, or become teachers.

The Apple Tree

In October, when more than 20 family members and friends of Ert gathered next to Foss Center to dedicate a young apple tree in his memory, those attending were unaware of the tree’s interesting history. They were just grateful for the tree’s healthy start, and for the opportunity to designate a different tree on campus since the tree they had originally dedicated to Ert’s memory in 2009 had become diseased and died.

The history of the replacement tree, they later learned, was tied to Augsburg student Emily Knudson ’15, who had planted three apple trees as part of her senior Keystone p

roject. With this project, and through the program, Knudson was able to enter the network of hundreds of other tree owners and volunteer gleaners statewide who donate tens of thousands of pounds of fresh fruit each year to local food shelf partners. The newly placed plaque by the tree honors both Knudson’s project and Jones-Hermerding’s memory.

The Auggie Friendships

Among those who gathered at the tree’s dedication were two of Ert’s long-time Auggie friends, Glen J. Peterson ’69 and Karl Sneider ’71. All three had been members of Gamma Phi Omega, a campus/community service fraternity active on campus in the late ‘60s and ‘70s. Though participation in athletics was not a requirement for membership, many Gammas were involved in sports, which served to deepen many of the friendships. Peterson says that he and Ert were dorm mates as freshmen, and decided to join a third friend to live in a house by Riverside Park for their remaining three years. Peterson chuckles as he recalls that, since there were only two beds in the house when they moved in, Ert was content to sleep temporarily on a mattress on top of the kitchen table.

As Peterson reflects on those college days, he is reminded of how diligent a student Ert was, studying long hours for his language course. He was introspective, hard-working, and intense—in the best sense of that word—and those qualities applied to all areas of his college life: academics, football, track, and theater. He also exerted outsized influence in the life of his young brother, Mike.

If Peterson were to summarize Ert’s legacy in a few words, “integrity” would quickly come to mind. Ert was honest and trustworthy, says Peterson, and dedicated as an educator and as a person. Then he adds, “People would strive to be like him because Ert was adamant about caring about people.”

—by Cheryl Crockett ‘89

The post Alum’s Call to Teach Changed the Lives of Middle Schoolers appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.

Inspired by a mosaic being produced by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, they did their homework, learning how to break and cut ceramics and tile, use a tile nipper, and manage grout. They discussed methods, materials, timing, and logistics—and worked on theme and design, eventually deciding to focus on 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” The design, primarily Mikelson’s work, echoed the stained glass window design in the sanctuary, created by an Augsburg professor, the late August Molder, and incorporating the rainbow colors symbolic of a parish that identifies as a Reconciling in Christ congregation.

When the committee extended the invitation for help, they were astonished that about 80 individuals came forward, ranging in age from 4 to 80. Some simply donated broken bits of ceramic from their homes, others worked on sorting the donations by color, or cutting/breaking tile and ceramics. Most everyone worked on piecing bits of ceramic together in the mosaic, with those most confident in their abilities working on the more complex sections.

Over about a three-week period, at each of four work sessions a week, anywhere from 4 to 15 individuals would appear to help. Located in the choir room, the project was “highly visible and a bit in the way,” said Mikelson. People could watch the progress, and participants enjoyed pointing out their part of the project to family and friends.

The project became part of the parish’s Lenten journey. Mikelson said, “From our brokenness and pieces, we worked together to create beauty and wholeness. There was also a sort of unspoken sense of awe among the participants, knowing that our work would be installed directly inside the entrance to our church, and would be the sight to welcome people as they entered.” Even today, people walk past the mosaic in the church entry and touch the section on which they worked.

Though Mikelson spent most of her earlier career in retail human resources, she served the last 12 years as director of her church’s all-day, year-round early childhood education center, All God’s Children Learning Center—work that she found inspiring and humbling. Having just retired in January, Mikelson is pleased that the school’s leadership is now in the able hands of another Auggie, Courtney Gadbois-Brumbaugh ’95.

Mikelson’s retirement will afford her more time for her garden and for volunteering, and she and her husband, Paul ’70, look forward to traveling more and spending more time with their two “terrific” married children and spouses, and their three “beautiful” grandchildren. She hopes there may be some opportunities for new creative efforts in the future, too. “There is talk of a community weaving project at Valley of Peace,” she says, “so stay tuned.”

—by Cheryl Crockett ’89

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That way of life was reinforced at Augsburg, where she discovered that the wide cultural swath of her classmates’ backgrounds was a significant enhancement to her education in International Relations, as was her study abroad, in Aix en Provence, France.

Later, after a four-year stint of teaching in France and South Korea, Glover decided to volunteer in the Republic of Georgia—an experience that she now views as life-changing. Armed with very little knowledge about the country, she spent about a week in foreign language training, then made her way to the home of her host family, high in the Borjomi Mountains. They spoke little English, and Glover’s Georgian was shaky at best, so early days were challenging. But transformation lay ahead.

Trips down the mountain took about an hour, and consequently were infrequent. The host family owned cows, chickens, and pigs—and they grew some crops, so the food Glover ate during that year was primarily homemade and natural. She came to an appreciation for an organic lifestyle, and felt a growing concern for the impact that eating and buying habits have on the environment. Her experience in the Borjomi Mountains would eventually inform her career choice.

When she returned to the U.S., Glover couldn’t help but notice the regularity with which we Americans waste food and materials. She could see it was incumbent upon us to improve sustainable practices, primarily by supporting companies and designers who not only work with the community producing the product, but provide a safe work environment and offer a fair wage.

Determined to make a difference, Glover created MeaMode in 2013, during her final year of graduate school. The online business helps emerging eco fashion designers around the world expand their outreach to customers interested in sustainability and the environment. By selling products on the MeaMode website that have been purchased from designers who use natural/organic materials and/or sell fair-trade products, Glover believes that MeaMode can help more people understand why sustainability is important and how global communities are affected by our choices. She hopes we will never have another tragedy like the 2013 garment factory collapse in Bangladesh.

MeaMode sells clothing and other products on its website. It is a member of 1% of the Planet (an organization that permits businesses to donate 1% of total sales each year to environmental charities), and a member of the French American Chamber of Commerce Paris (which promotes business between the U.S. and France). Visibility of eco fashion designers worldwide will be even greater soon, when MeaMode rolls out an . The rollout will include a podcast of Glover’s interview with Stephanie Boutet-Fajol, the owner of Sacre Bleu Paris, a concierge service that recently added an organic option to its customization service for international travelers planning a Parisian dream vacation. The organic option grew out of an expressed desire by many clients to use more sustainable businesses.

Glover knows that sustainable practices are essential to modifying the business model for the fashion industry, and she is especially pleased to be part of an emerging international network that takes the environment seriously.

Currently living in Lille, France, Glover enjoys taking piano lessons, spending time with friends, and watching foreign films. Brimming with ideas for her business, she works assiduously to pace herself. “I try to take it one day at a time,” she says.

— Cheryl Crockett ’89

The post Designing Sustainability appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.

Today, Harris is working with other community leaders in Baltimore on many initiatives, including one to build a network of individuals, businesses, and organizations who can provide internships, scholarships, and mentorship opportunities for high school students, many of whom may be less than hopeful about their future. He believes that young people who have already enjoyed some level of professional success are those who can best effect change in the likelihood of success for other young people, particularly African-Americans.

Working primarily through Alpha Phi Alpha, a community-service-oriented fraternity, Harris serves as managing editor of The Sphinx, the APA’s journal about what is happening in the African-American community, and how their members impact the world around them. APA has 703 chapters worldwide (both undergraduate and alumni). The fraternity is noted as historically the first inter-collegiate fraternity founded by African-American men. Harris joined while still a student at Augsburg. The fraternity claims alumni such as former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and currently has eight members in Congress.

Harris says that his greatest hope for the young people in Baltimore (and beyond, for that matter) is that those who feel little sense of hope for a promising future can draw inspiration from connecting with young professionals who at one time were in a similar situation—increasingly confident that they, too, can be successful. Sometimes, he says, we “don’t realize our own worth” and are not aware of the many resources available to help propel our lives to the next level.

At Augsburg, Harris was a Communications major with a strong interest in broadcast journalism. While the broadcast part of that has been put on the back burner, he certainly uses his journalism skills daily. He mentions Pastor Dave Wold (“awesome influence”), Trena Bolden Fields, and Mohamed Sallam (both directors of the Pan-Afrikan Center) as helpful Auggie mentors. Besides his B.A. in Communication Studies, he is especially grateful to Augsburg for having gained a sense of himself as a global citizen, most clearly articulated in Augsburg’s mission—to educate students to be “informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.” He thinks Augsburg really lives that mission statement, and those ideas have definitely helped shape his thinking.

Though he had been offered various positions in Minneapolis after his Augsburg years, he felt drawn to the service opportunity through APA in Baltimore, so he moved east. The more he has worked in the area of philanthropy, the more he has come to realize that policy could better aid in providing opportunities for citizens of Baltimore—and could change the narrative in the city. As a result, he has decided to throw his hat in the ring and run for mayor of Baltimore. He made his formal announcement in mid-November. Committed to building Baltimore and creating solutions to many of the decades-old issues that plague the city, he would surely carry the essence of Augsburg’s mission statement to that work as well.

—by Cheryl Crockett ‘89

The post Helping the Young to Do Better and Be Better appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.

For 12 years, David Raether ’78 wrote for TV comedy sitcoms, including 111 episodes of Roseanne. He absolutely loved it. It was invigorating being in “the Room” with other writers, brutally and honestly dissecting each other’s work to make sure the script was as good as it could be. Did it work? Did it follow what set it up? Did it push the story forward? Was it funny? You could write a completely brilliant draft of a script, he says—one that everyone agrees reads great—and then see it completely rewritten by the group over the week of production. If you find that upsetting or galling, says Raether, don’t go into comedy writing!

As much as he loved the work, however, the time commitment was enormous, and his family life suffered. Many nights, he would work till 3 a.m., which meant that he rarely enjoyed any family time beyond weekends. Something had to give, so he took a couple of years off to help pull the family back together—an effort that met with some success. Then, when he tried to return to TV work in 2007, he found a different landscape. Many sitcoms had been replaced by reality shows, and he had trouble finding a job, even though he had expanded his search beyond writing and editing.

Thus began what Raether calls an “incredible experience” that has shaped him in many ways. He sold off cars and other valuables to make ends meet, but sending out 2,541 resumes and applications was to no avail. Eventually, he found himself homeless. He lost his house, his career ended, his savings vanished, and his family (wife and eight kids) broke apart. The fall was tremendous. In a recent , Raether talked about what it felt like not knowing where (or when) he would find the next meal, or where he would sleep that night. But in the process, he says, he discovered that he was far more resourceful and resilient than he had ever dreamed. He also learned that it is not shameful to be poor. Devastating, vulnerable, difficult, and painful, yes—but not shameful.

Now, Raether does contract work as a web content writer for various companies in the Bay Area, enough to “keep the wolf from the door.” He continues to stay in touch with Tom Arnold, who first invited him to write for the Roseanne show, and who has been incredibly “helpful, warm, loyal and true.” Raether says that people are always shocked when he says he thinks Arnold is brilliant.

Raether takes special pleasure in having worked with actors who could really deliver a joke, such as Roseanne, John Goodman, and the others on the Roseanne cast. It takes special skill and a special sense of yourself, he says. He also has become a great admirer of Betty White, with whom he worked for a season on a late 90s sitcom, Ladies Man. Amazing, he says of her. She just knew how to read a line and get a laugh from an audience.

When asked about how his Augsburg experience influenced his career decisions, he says that he is grateful for the tremendous education he got at Augsburg, and for the huge number of great books he read and the professors he had. But seeing Alan King perform on The Ed Sullivan Show as a five-year-old was what really set him on a track to enter the magical field of comedy. He was spellbound by the idea of a man standing alone on a stage, talking and making a roomful of people laugh. Though his mother cautioned him about a career in comedy, he was hooked. He also loved reading joke books like Mad and National Lampoon.

Recently, Raether wrote a book about his recent experiences, . With every news story about his TED Talk or book, a new wave of seems to appear. Among his favorites is one from a woman in Ireland who described her family difficulties and said that she and her husband had started reading the book aloud to each other. As the husband began reading the final chapter, he started crying and couldn’t read it, so she finished reading it out loud. She read it, they held hands and talked, and then fell asleep. Raether says that was the best review he ever got.

By Cheryl Crockett ‘89

The post Life Can Be Funny appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.

Things have changed a lot since Jane (Catlin) Bracken ’71 began teaching first grade in Cannon Falls back in the early ‘70s. Handouts done on ditto machines (with that distinctive purple print), filmstrips, and simple newsletters have given way to iPads, Smart Boards, and classroom blogs. And though most of the tools have changed, the supreme satisfaction of teaching little kids how to read has remained constant for Bracken. For 41 years, she taught first grade (all in the Cannon Falls district), and in 2009, she was named Cannon Falls Teacher of the Year. She says it has been “so cool” to watch students grow up and have kids of their own, then meet with them as parents during conferences. One year not too long ago, one-third of her students were children of earlier students.

Bracken’s daughter, Jenna (Bracken) Held ’05, is now following in her mother’s footsteps, attracted to not only the joy that a teacher’s lifestyle can provide, but the opportunity to do something she loves—work with children. And last year, after having taught fourth and fifth grade for eight years, she copied her mother again and switched to first grade. Teaching at Lincoln Center in South St. Paul is especially sweet for her, as it allows her to work in the community where she lives, and to see her students around town.

When Bracken first came to Augsburg in 1967, Christensen Center and Urness Tower had just opened, and 50% of the student body commuted, making it a bit difficult to make friends. But she spent lots of time in the Chin Wag (commuter hangout in the basement of Christensen), joined clubs and small groups, and took part in musical activities—and some of her best friends today are Auggie alumni. Her sister, Joyce (Catlin) Casey ’73, also went into teaching, retiring recently from St. Michael-Albertville Schools after 40 years of teaching. Bracken is grateful for her Augsburg professors, particularly Marie McNeff, for inspiring her to share her love of learning with students, and she is “deeply indebted” to Auggie Jeroy Carlson for sending her off to her interview in Cannon Falls, where he had taught prior to starting his Augsburg career. She says his recommendation was “life-changing” for her.

Held echoes her mother’s gratitude for Augsburg mentors, particularly in the education and math departments. She met her husband, Andrew Held ’05, at Augsburg and started to date him after doing homework together for Calculus 2. Now married for eight years, they have two children, with another expected in June. Though Held and her mother had very different experiences at Augsburg, they both have an abiding love for the College. They continue to be grateful for legacy scholarships and activities, and their families regularly enjoy Augsburg events together, particularly Advent Vespers and homecoming.

When Held traveled to Namibia with Professor Gretchen Irvine in 2003 to study the educational system there, the experience was transformative for her. Observing one teacher who shamed a student in front of the class for his color (“heartbreaking,” she says), she later visited another class, where the teacher and class showed great hospitality and joy. The contrast was a vivid reminder of the impact that good, caring teachers can have on a child, a school, and a community.

Bracken has signed up at Lincoln Center as a personal sub for her daughter, and it is always a treat when she can see her daughter “in action.” Their advice to prospective teachers? Maintain balance between your job and your personal life, allow kids “to be kids,” and try to meet the different level of needs of all students (Bracken). Go into classrooms as much as you can, observe and ask questions, bring your own style, believe in yourself, and always put your students first. When you meet their needs to belong and to feel safe, you will see them make great strides academically (Held).

In her spare time, Bracken accompanies a variety of school and community musical groups on piano and plays organ for her church—opportunities that remind her how much she owes to the late professor Stephen Gabrielsen ’63 for organ lessons. Bracken and her husband Charles (Chuck) have been married for 41 years and have three adult children and four grandchildren. She says she loves the fact that, after visiting several colleges together, her daughter chose Augsburg. She can easily imagine her grandchildren being Auggies someday, too!

—By Cheryl Crockett ’89

The post Teaching Must Be in the DNA appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.

A few years ago, Kathryn Lange ’72 and her husband, Dennis Sonifer, decided to update their will, a process that tends to open up a variety of possibilities that aren’t necessarily on our daily radar screens. They realized it would be possible to reach out beyond family members, and agreed that supporting a college made sense, particularly since they both had enjoyed great experiences at small, church-related, liberal arts colleges. Determined to reciprocate the favor of the substantial financial aid each had received as a student, they decided to “pay it forward” and set up an endowed scholarship at Augsburg.

Currently serving as associate dean of the Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University in Boston, Lange has spent her entire career in higher education, including a six-year stint as director of admissions at Augsburg. Originally planning to find work directly related to her Social Work degree, she reassessed her plan when she found herself accepting various positions in higher education. Lange stresses, however, that she uses her Augsburg Social Work education every day in her work with students and faculty. At St. Olaf, she worked in housing for three years, followed by her admissions work at Augsburg, and then at the University of Minnesota, first in financial aid and then in student services in the College of Pharmacy. While at the U, she realized she liked working in the college environment and decided to earn a Master’s degree. In 2002, she and Sonifer moved to Boston for their next adventure.  

Lange says that her job at Tufts, simply stated, is to enable students to “achieve their doctoral programs in spite of the obstacles life throws in their way, and to help faculty write good policies and procedures so they can concentrate on what they do best—conduct research and mentor students.” Her work at Tufts continues to remind her that science is ever-changing, and not at all a set of static subjects that can be “proven.” She believes there is a lot of room for faith in the sciences.

Lange has stayed in touch with several of her Auggie friends, including Sally Daniels Herron ’79, currently director of family and constituent relations (whom she hired in Admissions over 35 years ago). In addition, Lange and her husband were especially pleased to attend an Augsburg alumni event in Boston, where they began a lovely friendship with Robert ’68 and Annette (Hoversten) ’68 Hanson, who invited them to their home, along with a group of other friends (many with Minnesota connections), for their annual smorgasbord (likely not a common event in the Boston area).

In her marriage to Sonifer in 1996, Lange says she gained two great step-kids and a cat. Both kids are now on their own. The couple’s spare time is often spent with friends, hiking, traveling, or reading. Lange, who has lived in rural Minnesota, Africa, England, and Boston, enjoys the cultural variety in being “transplanted,” while maintaining a centeredness and peace based on her spiritual growth while at Augsburg. Of her career in higher education, she says she left rural Minnesota for college when she was 18 and liked it so much that she never left!

—by Cheryl Crockett ’89

The post Paying It Forward, with Gratitude appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.

It may be a bit unusual for such a young alumnus to be as active in volunteer work as Josh Krob ’08 is, but he readily admits that his employer, Wells Fargo, provides ample opportunity to do so. In addition to volunteering for charitable organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children, he has coached and supported various sports organizations as well. He has naturally gravitated toward hockey, the sport he played and loved most growing up; and he has helped the Eastview hockey team, Kansas City Stars, and Blake School hockey program.

Recently, another opportunity captured his imagination and passion—raising research funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He and 19 other likeminded individuals took on the challenge individually and raised more than $120,000 for CFF. Krob and the other 19 were each granted the prestigious “Twin Cities Finest” award, in recognition of their community volunteer efforts and professional growth in their fields.

Currently an employee benefits consultant for Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Krob brokers and consults in the design and implementation of employee benefit programs for customers, with a key focus in recent years on consulting strategies regarding health care reform. A believer in the value of lifelong learning, Krob is in the MBA program at Augsburg, where he has found another opportunity to surround himself with skilled professionals who have been helpful in expanding his skill-set and his understanding of how to become a more effective leader.

A native of Apple Valley, Minn., Krob likes to tell the story about why he chose to attend Augsburg, though it had seemed more likely that he would attend (and play golf and hockey at) one of the other schools within MIAC, the sports conference with an excellent reputation for both academics and sports. In an overnight visit on campus, Krob met three other prospective students—individuals whom he likely would never have met in any other setting. They made a remarkable connection, staying up late to discuss everything from favorite sports teams, political theories, and observations from their past, to their future goals. While Krob had expected that college would be a place for continued growth, he was stunned that, in a 24-hour period, he had spoken more in depth about himself and learned more from these three than he had in the previous 18 years of his life with some of his closest friends. He saw the caliber of students Augsburg was recruiting, and knew then that there was something special about this institution. His student experience reinforced that sentiment.

Krob continues to stay in touch with many Auggie classmates and professors, particularly in his role on the Augsburg Young Alumni Board. He and his wife, Chelsea, live in Savage, Minn.

—by Cheryl Crockett ’89

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