Strength From Service

Trent Nielsen is a native to the St. Peter, Mankato area.  A high school wrestler, United States Marine Corp Reserve Vet, husband, father of 3, youth wrestling coach and local business owner.  Trent continues to serve and grow as a person and business owner.  From humble beginning to his new journey of sobriety and continuing to grow the family business… there is no slowdown in sight for Trent Nielsen.

Brandon Macemon
Husband – Father -Emergency Medicine and Urgent Care Operations Manager - Retired Green Beret – and all-around good guy who continues to use the skills he learned on his way to becoming a Special Forces Master Sergeant to serve his community.

Enjoy our chat with Brandon Macemon.

As the founding member of Carlson Partners, Ted charts the course for the company. Ted is constantly going, moving, doing, seeking – working towards something more. He brings his innate leadership skills and passion for creating winning strategies to meet clients’ real estate needs, while delivering a high level of service. Having completed work in nearly all 50 states and with an aggregate value of over $7 billion, Ted’s level of expertise offers the client a diverse wealth of knowledge. Prioritizing client’s goals, he dedicates himself to the detail of advisory services. Ted is a trusted leader and an award-winning advisor. He proudly sits on the boards of The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors and Lifeworks, where he is dedicated to his commitment to the Twin Cities community. Ted is an avid water sports enthusiast, outdoorsman and family man. He and his wife, Amy, are the proud parents to Dani and Cody, and two black labs, Cabo and Hank.  Ted also serves the veteran community with duck hunts of a life time at his private “resort” in North Dakota.

Lifeworks – Board of Directors

Foundation for Exceptional Warriors – Chair of Development

Logan Sheppard grew up quick in the Mankato area, built a family and now a successful business.  Logan has been serving his community as a youth coach, mentor, and now employer.  His story is a good one, his drive and dtermination is an inspiration.

John M. Kriesel is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represented District 57A, which includes portions of Dakota and Washington counties in the southeastern part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.  Kriesel served in the Minnesota Army National Guard from 1998 to 2008, rising to the level of staff sergeant. He was stationed in Kosovo in 2004 as part of a NATO peacekeeping force and, later, at Camp Fallujah in Iraq. He lost both of his legs in military combat in 2006 in an encounter with an IED, or roadside bomb. He now has prosthetic legs. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal for his service to his country.  A Republican, he is a motivational speaker, veteran service officer, and a contributor on KFAN-FM 100.3 radio during the "Power Trip Morning Show."[1][2], Since leaving the Legislature, Kriesel has served as director of veteran services for Anoka County.

Sherriff Jeff Wersal grew up in law enforcement, with a father that served.  From city patrol officer, to head of the River Valley Task Force, to now serving as Sherriff of Blue Earth County - Sherriff Jeff Wersal talks about the ups, downs, and frustrations of serving at a time when police are not always seen as the "good guys".

Chris Hinton, a Navy Vet that served in the Gulf immediately after 9-11, came back to Minnesota to continue to serve.  Studying law enforcement, and working corrections, to serving on Veterans Court, now Waseca County Veterans Service Officer, as well as the current President of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.  Chris is married with 5 kids and continues to serve.

Tim Murray is a mission bigger than himself.  Working with Trinity Sober Homes https://www.trinitysoberhomes.org/ Tim is diving head first into the world of Military and Veteran Sober Homes with "Bravo Zulu". bravozuluhouse.org 
From getting sober himself to 13 years of working to help provide quality, dignified, sober housing for men and now vets, Tim Murray has a great story to tell.

Dr. George Komaridis, PhD, LP

Dr. Komaridis immigrated to the United States at the age of 1yr from Greece, after growing up on the tough streets of Manhattan’s lower east side he eventually was selected to attend Wesleyan University, and then on to the University of Nebraska where he earned his PHD is Psychology.  George entered the world of teaching in 1970 at then, Mankato State University in Mankato, MN where he resides and practices today.  George specializes in trauma and stress-related disorders, anxiety and depressive disorders, co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders, forensic examinations, and expert witness testimony.  

Dr. Komaridis works closely with Military Vets and Veteran Organizations, and has been hands on in his community from day one.  As he says, “During my career, I have lived by the philosophy of the Golden Rule, do onto others as you would have them do unto you. My goal has been to serve and treat every person in therapy and otherwise equally and respectfully with the idea that every individual, regardless of their state in life, is an equal human being. This has been and remains my primary value.”

Staff Sergeant Gary John Guggenberger, United States Army, was held as a Prisoner of War in South Vietnam and Cambodia from January 14, 1969 until his release on February 12, 1973.  

Gary was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, The Purple Heart, and two Bronze Stars. After his release in 1973, Gary went on to work for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, he is now retired and lives in Bemidji Minnesota with his wife Pam where he continues to serve by speaking to youth groups and organizations as well as serving as the head of the Bemidji Vietnam Memorial Project.

Kevin Mettler grew up in North Mankato, where he was a state wrestler and football player in high school, after earning his degree from Minnesota State – Mankato in Corrections and a minor in Sociology.  Kevin has worked in corrections and probration, and now serves as the Minnesota District 5 Drug Court Coordinator, Ward 3 Mankato City Council member.  Along with raising his 3 daughters Kevin is also a Youth Ministry volunteer with his church, serves on the Veterans Court and still coaches youth and high school sports.

Michael McLaughlin is a Member of the Mankato, MN City Council, Director of Veteran Services for Blue Earth County in Minnesota, former Outreach and Program Coordinator for Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, as well as being a Past Post Commander for local VFW and American Legion chapters. Mike has served on the Citizen Park Advisory Board, is a member of the National Association of County Veteran Services Officers and Department of Veteran Affairs.  Mike has had the honor of meeting the President of The United States and attended a State Of The Union after being instrumental in the creation of the new G.I. Bill.  Mike lives in Mankato, MN with his wife Megan and three children.  He continues to volunteer and serve his community and is one of the hosts and creators of Strength From Service podcast.

Tony Dickmeyer a Navy vet who was inspired to serve after 9-11 talks about his journey and struggles of transitioning to civilian life after his Navy service.  From Vets Court, A.A., mentoring and sponsoring others in recovery to his new podcast “2 Dudes That Don’t Drink”, Tony is on a newer more fulfilling path to life.

Meghan Murphy is a Neurosurgeon who played D1 La Crosse at Notre Dame, attended Medical School at Georgetown, did her residency at the famed Mayo Hospital in Rochester, MN.  Wife and mother of two Meghan now works at Mayo Clinic in Mankato, MN, and it probably the smartest guest we've had on SFS.

Brady Hahn - School Teacher, Firefighter, First Responder, High School Football Coach, Father, and all around good guy had dedicated his life to service.   From nurturing the future of his community as a teacher and coach, to literally saving their lives as Chief of the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department.  Brady epitomizes what it means to serve.

After losing his leg in Vietnam, Tom McLaughlin finds a way to overcome his disability, his life after the Marine Corps, and his alcoholism while becoming a mentor in his community through service organizations & Clubs lie American Legion, V.F.W., Vets Court, & A.A. just to name a few.  Tom McLaughlin - USMC - Retired, husband, father, mentor, sponsor - is truly awe-inspiring to everyone he has touched through out his amazing life.

Pat McDermott has a long and distinguished history in public safety and public service

●  For over 20 years, Pat has served the people of Blue Earth County both in the capacity of Assistant County Attorney and, for over eleven years, as a Chief Assistant County Attorney.  During that
time, Pat has prosecuted most of the serious cases in Blue Earth County. 
●  Pat’s community service engagement is grounded in community public safety and public service projects. Pat has extensively engaged in community public safety. 
●  He established the Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office Veterans Program, which was embraced by the 5th Judicial District, and now serves veterans in 7 counties.  The 5th Judicial District Veterans Court was the second Veterans Court adopted in the state, and the first multi-jurisdictional Veterans Court in the state.  Re-entry into civilian life can be challenging for veterans returning from duty.  Homelessness, substance abuse, traumatic brain injury, sexual trauma and PTSD are all too often collateral consequences of service that can contribute to entry into the criminal justice system. Now, public agencies have teamed up to
help.
●  He serves as a board member of the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force which covers nine law enforcement agencies in a four county area. 
● He was instrumental in establishing the Blue Earth County Adult Drug Court which targets non-violent felony drug users and holds them accountable - a proven way to save tax payer dollars and reduce recidivism. 
●  He assisted with the local Blue Print for Safety, and has assisted with many mental health, social service, child protection, and other health and human services programs.
●  Pat has taught law enforcement officers and prosecutors throughout the state on behalf of numerous agencies, including:
     The Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women
     The Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association
     The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association and
     The Minnesota County Attorneys Association
●  Pat is an advisor to, and provides training for the Minnesota South Central Investigators Coalition;
a group of more than 70 area Investigators and Detectives. 
●  For over fourteen years, Pat has served as an adjunct professor with the Department of Government at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
●  Pat came to Mankato well experienced in public safety, having served previously as Assistant City Attorney with the City of Shakopee, and gaining experience, there, with civil law matters relating to tax appeals and government finance. Pat also has extensive litigation and civil experience in private practice with the Minneapolis firm of Lommen, Nelson, Cole & Stageberg, P.A

Zimmerman, who was raised in a small town in Minnesota, joined the U.S. Army and became an Airborne Infantryman. He deployed in 2010 with the legendary 101st Airborne Division. After spending nine months in heavy combat, Zimmerman, while on a foot patrol, stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and suffered catastrophic injuries. As he lie there, his own life flashed before his eyes, while the platoon medic and teammates worked to save him and the rest of his team engaged the enemy. Zimmerman was not expected to survive that day, but twenty surgeries and two years later, he left the San Antonio Military Medical Center and medically retired from the U.S. Army.

Welcome to Strength From Service (SFS).  Too many of our service stories lately revolve around mental health, PSTD, or the negative dark side of service.  SFS is the untold stories from those who serve.  Todays show is an introduction to our hosts Jake Palmer, Jack Zimmerman, and Mike McLaughlin. {{Jake Palmer, Jack Zimmerman, Mike McLaughlin}}