I grew up on the north shore of Lake Superior, in Northern Minnesota where my father was a forester. I still miss the big lake and love to visit when possible. I worked for the US Forest
Service up the Gunflint Trail in the Boundary
Waters Canoe Area of Superior National Forest
for two summers while attending the
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor,
graduating with two undergraduate degrees,
one in Environmental Engineering and the
second in Natural Resources – Forestry.
While at UM, I also received a MS in Public
Systems Engineering, a mix of Operations
Engineering and public policy (not setting up
rock concert speaker systems). While at UM, I
met my wife to be, Brenda. While in graduate school, we both worked at the
NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
In 1977, I was hired by the State of Wisconsin as a Department of Natural
Resources budget analyst. In 1987, I moved jobs to become the Chief of Facilities
Management for all owned and leased Department building and offices
statewide. In that capacity, I represented the Department with the State Building
Commission, the group of state legislators who must review and approve all state
borrowing and construction projects. During the course of my career, I worked on
18 biennial budgets and gained approval for over $500 million in capital
construction projects for parks, hatcheries, and ranger stations, including all
Regional Offices and Service Centers except SER Milwaukee, which was in 2011-13
budget. I am still active in the international Association of Conservation Engineers
(ACE) and a past president of the group.
I retired September 24, 2010, after over 33 years with the State of Wisconsin and
5 years with various federal government agencies.
As most folks know, I am married to Brenda Hagman who worked for DNR for 30
years before retiring in 2008. We are parents of three: Jacob(30) - who with wife
Jess, have our grandson Judah; Nickolas(27); and Krista(25). We are dog owners
too, with Sophie, our 14 year old German Wirehair. We live in rural Cross Plains,
where I volunteer to mow at the federal Cross Plains Ice Age Reserve property.
Brenda and I are avid Packer fans, but are still and will forever be Wolverine fans.
Recreation pursuits include: golfing, gardening, hunting and travel. We have
visited: Australia and New Zealand; Amazon, Manchu Picchu and Galapagos;
Alaska; Patagonia; Germany, Czech Republic and Hungary; and recently India.
For 10+ years we also have spent late winters at our time share in Mexico and intend to continue that golfing event until we can’t make the trip anymore!
It is a GREAT Time to be retired!