David's childhood self-portrait.That's where I was too.
I grew up in blue-collar rural Minnesota with very limited options. I learned early that education and the people you meet were everything. What I got into wasn't a plan. It was survival. And survival led to doors I never could have opened on purpose.
"Education and opportunity set my life apart. Everything else was just digging."
I built a life across a variety of businesses involving real estate and construction.
Then COVID hit
Schools were hurting. Teachers were in crisis. Everyone was complaining. I rolled up my sleeves and found the one way I could help: substitute teaching, once a month. Then once a week.
That experience gave me an awareness I couldn't shake. I connected the dots: students who need real examples, successful leaders who want to matter, and schools trying to build something strong. Personal Pathfinders is that connection.
Where it's going
I'm funding it myself, and I'm opening it up to anyone who wants to support it. It's becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. If this resonates, reach out.