He bleeds black and gold and will forever be an Iowa Hawkeye. He proudly displays an addiction to Cherry Coke, a love for banana splits, and will argue with you about the merits of grain-fed beef to the point of surrender. He can cram a 3-minute story into a half hour, knows more random sports facts than Grok, and whatever you do, don't get him started on Caitlin Clark highlight videos.
Being what we Bostonians call wicked smaat, incredibly, he became a CFO at the age of 23. For the last 42 years, he has served in that capacity for several organizations and is truly an expert. His ability to learn, dive into the details, and teach others are some of the traits that have led to such a long and successful career. Since the day I met him, he has been the hardest-working person in the room, with his workday defined by what needed to be accomplished, not by the clock. A truly gifted professional in every way. His greatest skill, however, is his capacity for friendship.
"The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense." (Proverbs 27:9)
The old saying that nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care has been on display in my friend and personal board member Randy Starkweather's career for decades. He's hanging up his abacus and stepping into the sands of retirement.
Friendship isn't an accident. It takes work, it takes time, it takes caring enough about others to see them, to know them, and to be vulnerable and honest. It's an art, and when professionals master it and combine it with a deep expertise and work ethic, their impact is extraordinary. The algorithm of influence: Connect with the heart + Inspire and Challenge the mind = Influence.
Thank you, Randy, for leaving us better for the encounter and being a true example of a Godly leader and friend. Your heartfelt counsel will be missed.