I grew up in the Central Wisconsin town of Chili, population 200.  I graduated from Marshfield Senior High School in 1984.

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in journalism.  I am the oldest of four children.  My late father was a commercial carpenter and foreman.  My mother is a retired school cook and homemaker. 

I worked as a construction worker during summers while I was in college and worked again for a time after college.  I poured a lot of concrete.

After graduating from with my journalism degree, I wrote science stories for a public radio show.  I then worked as a general assignment reporter for the La Crosse Tribune newspaper in 1989 and 1990.

In 1993, I married Carmen Zimmermann whom I met during our freshmen year in college.  She is from Marshfield, Wisconsin and graduated with a degree in graphic arts and design.  She currently works part time as a graphic designer.

My son Matthew was born in 1998, and Joe was born in 2001.  They are both students in the Westby School District.

After a few years of working, I returned to UW-Madison to earn my teaching degree in secondary social studies and history.  I was hired by North Crawford in 1994 and have been here ever since.  I teach junior high and high school social studies classes including Civics, American History, Advanced Placement United States History, Practical Law and World & National Studies.  I earned my master's degree from Viterbo University in 2007.

In addition to teaching, I have worked in a number of co-curricular activities during my time at North Crawford including coaching junior high football and girls' basketball, assistant coach in high school baseball and softball, and advisor to the yearbook and high quiz bowl teams.

I enjoy hunting and fishing with my sons, brothers and cousins.

During the summer, I own and operate "Two Brothers' Orchard", a certified organic fruit orchard located between Viroqua and Westby.  We grow and sell apples (Honeycrisp, Cortland, Liberty), tart cherries, raspberries and blackberries.  We sell our produce at the Viroqua Farmers' Market and area grocery stores.