As I reflect on 2025, I’m reminded how rich life becomes when you intentionally invest in faith, family, friendships, business, and community. This year wasn’t just busy—it was meaningful. It was filled with milestones, adventure, leadership, and a lot of gratitude.

Here’s a deeper look at what made 2025 so special.

Travel, Adventure & Making Memories

From standing in front of the White House and walking through living American history to feeling the electric energy of a Commanders vs. Eagles NFL game, my Washington trip was both inspiring and unforgettable—made even more meaningful by celebrating a dear friend’s 70th birthday and honoring the value of long-term friendships. In contrast, my time in Sedona was all about intentional family connection, as Austin and I explored Arizona together, tackled the exhausting but spectacular hike to Subway Cave, and were reminded that the best views require real effort. Even an unexpected police chase (not me) in Grand Canyon Park added a surprising twist—proof that travel always leaves you with stories you never saw coming.

Fishing isn’t just a pastime for me—it’s therapy, connection, and tradition wrapped into one. Hecla continues to deliver not only trophy fish but trophy moments. Spending multiple trips throughout the year fishing with friends allowed for great conversations, plenty of laughs, and the kind of uninterrupted time that’s hard to find in day-to-day life. Early mornings on the water remind me to slow down and appreciate the simple things.

Finally, after spending a full 2025 hustling, Huatulco, Mexico was exactly what Diane and I needed. Stepping into warmth and sunshine felt restorative as the winter cold can feel so draining. It wasn’t just about the beach—it was about embracing the importance of resetting,  slowing down, reconnecting, laughing, and simply enjoying time together without an agenda.

Family Milestones & Generational Blessings

This year was filled with unforgettable family milestones—celebrating my mom’s 80th birthday, my parents’ incredible 60th wedding anniversary, and my mother-in-law’s 90th birthday. Gathering together for these moments was both joyful and humbling, a powerful reminder of how quickly time passes and how deeply I cherish having our parents with us in their 80s and 90s. Sixty years of marriage reflects commitment, sacrifice, forgiveness, and enduring love—an example that continues to shape how I think about faith, family, and legacy. These generational celebrations strengthen our bonds in ways that are truly priceless.

Growing Family ❤️

When friends ask to be part of your family, that’s something special. Steve and Adulia have woven themselves into our lives in a meaningful way, and Taylor, Austin, Diane and I are grateful for that. For now, we have four grandchildren—Cassy, Lyla, Maximillian, and Mia—and they bring energy, laughter, and perspective into our world. Who knows what the future holds, but we’re enjoying every season.

Sports, Community & Connection

Supporting local is important to me. Sponsoring and Attending Steinbach Pistons games at the South East Events Center provides a great opportunity to encourage local athletics while also connecting with friends and clients. The venue is top-notch, and it’s a great reminder that community matters.

Spending evenings at Canada Life Center watching the Jets has quickly become one of my favorite ways to unwind. Sharing that time with Diane, and often with friends and clients, blends relaxation with relationship-building. There’s something about cheering for your team together that naturally strengthens connection.

Being a big Blue Bombers fan, I had reserved tickets to attend the Grey Cup in Winnipeg this year, hoping that the right team would be playing.  While the “wrong” teams were on the field, this was an experience in itself and the city put on an incredible event. There’s pride in seeing your city host something that big and do it well.

Leadership, Business & Building Communities

Managing Partner at Coldwell Banker Steinbach

It’s been nearly two years serving as Managing Partner, and I truly consider it a privilege. Leadership isn’t about title—it’s about responsibility. I get to mentor agents, help them grow in integrity, professionalism, skill, and ensure that our clients receive exceptional care. From technology, to communication to staying ahead of market shifts, we are intentional about equipping our team. Our agents represent our brand, and we want every client experience to reflect excellence.

In my role—and in real estate in general—I wear many hats: mentor, problem solver, marketer, negotiator, encourager, strategist. I genuinely enjoy helping agents build successful, sustainable businesses that serve families well and create long-term impact. Wearing the many hats that I do is made possible by my team who keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

After 10+ years in the banking industry, Taylor made the leap to join me full-time as my assistant. Her experience, professionalism, and attention to detail have elevated how we serve our clients. While working alongside my daughter is pretty special, I’m excited to see how this partnership grows and evolves in the years ahead.

Land Development – Big Things Ahead

While there are many aspects of real estate I love— relationships, collaboration, giving back, to name a few—land development is something that truly energizes me. Helping shape bare land into neighborhoods where future families will build their lives is incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s marketing land or being part of the development process, it’s exciting to think about long-term community impact.

Along with bare land, comes opportunities! For nearly nine years, I have had the privilege of working alongside Abrams Construction to develop these opportunities. Watching the growth from small beginnings to having multiple building projects in multiple communities has been inspiring. Abrams’ focus on delivering exceptional value at entry-level pricing enhances my passion – helping first-time homebuyers step into homeownership. We share similar convictions about faith, quality, integrity, and community, which makes the partnership strong and enjoyable.

Stay tuned—big things are ahead. 👀

GrateFULL

2025 was full. Full of travel. Full of leadership. Full of celebrations. Full of fishing. Full of family.

I’m grateful to carry many roles and responsibilities, grateful that I get to spend my time investing in people, but even more grateful for the people who make each of those roles worthwhile.

Here’s to continued growth, deeper relationships, impactful leadership—and yes, hopefully a few more trophy fish in 2026. 🎣