Meeting Len

No one has had more direct impact on my self-confidence, professional development, and career growth than Len.

Len has always been like a brother. Actually, he was my brother-in-law for the decade he was married to my sister, Cheri.

I met Len when he started dating Cheri. My first perception of him was a twenty-something, glasses-wearing, 80's-dressing, super smart computer nerd who looked like he worked out. He had some muscles on him — the kind I always wanted but could never achieve.

It was a blast having Len around the family. He would join us every Sunday when we gathered for a weekly family meal. (Where did those days go?) Len was a fun guy who liked to joke around, laugh, and have a good time, but he also knew his stuff in everything from theology to computers. And it was obvious he genuinely cared about others. He cared about our family. He showed genuine interest in me as an individual — asking me about the things that mattered to me, coming to watch my club soccer games even though he didn't know the first thing about the game, helping me buy my first computer. It wasn't just an act to impress my sister.

When he found out I wanted to start lifting weights to get ready for college soccer, he offered to meet up and take us to his gym at a local community college. I remember being impressed by how much he could lift, how much he knew about proper technique, and how willing he was to spend time teaching us.

Having someone older who I looked up to show an interest and invest time in me stood out — and meant more than he knew.

And that was just a tiny fraction of the impact Len would have on my life.