The Founder Story of Guides’ Top Choice

I grew up in Minnesota, a kid of the 80s. Much of my childhood was spent outdoors—riding my bike through hilly grasslands that later became housing developments, playing hockey on the pond near our house, or skating at the outdoor rink I could reach by cutting through two backyards. My grandfather taught me to fish, my father shared everything he knew about baseball, and my extended family introduced me to card games like Euchre, which I now play with my own kids.

That upbringing gave me a humble, stable foundation. When it came time to choose a path, I was drawn to public service. Over the years, I became a highly specialized hunger and malnutrition expert, eventually serving with the U.S. Government in humanitarian assistance and working all over the world. My colleagues and I dedicated ourselves to reaching malnourished children with lifesaving care. I never imagined that this work would become so politically charged that it would no longer be possible—but that’s exactly what happened in 2025.

Having built such a specialized career, finding my next step wasn’t simple. To make the best of a difficult situation, I started connecting with outfitters and fishing guides—asking about how they run their businesses, what drives their decisions about gear and rentals, and, most importantly, what field-tested tricks and “hacks” they rely on after so much time outdoors.

That exploration became the seed of Guides’ Top Choice—a project designed to curate this accrued wisdom while also encouraging people to support and patronize these businesses when planning their own wilderness adventures.