Roger Gard - March 2021
This month we are pleased to present Roger Gard for our Spotlight Feature. DCI has had the pleasure of Roger working for us as a contractor for more than a decade! We appreciate Roger for his knowledge, dedication, and can-do attitude - Roger always makes a positive impact on the projects that he is a part of. Please enjoy reading more about Roger in this month's Contractor Spotlight.
How did you get involved with DCI?
I was in the right place, at the right time and knew the right people! In a former life at Ciba-Geigy, I knew Roger Wilson who was working with DCI (Roger has since retired from Direct Contact). At the time, I took an early retirement from the financial business and was looking for a part-time, flexible summer activity. Roger informed me of a project that had a spring/summer time frame, working on dealer demo plots. Turned out to be a perfect fit for about 5 years and since then I have expanded into other project work.
Tell us about your background:
I grew up on a farm east of Sioux City, Iowa. In those days farmers had corn, beans, hay, oats, cattle, hogs, and milk cows. (No sheep!) I attended a one-room country school until sixth grade, and then the school closed. Later, I attended and graduated from Lawton High School, in Lawton, Iowa. I went on to college and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University.
What is the best thing about being a DCI Contractor?
The best thing about being a DCI contractor are the people, work opportunities, and the flexibility. Through our work as contractors, we are helping the grower have a better experience with their equipment and the products they choose to use.
Tell us about your home and family.
I am the second of five children. I married my wife Carol in 1977, we have four children, her three children and my son. Our children are all on their own and doing great! We have four grandchildren, two in Appleton, WI, and two in Denver, CO.
What are you driving while you work?
Currently driving a 2018 GMC Sierra Club Cab.
What was your first job?
My first job after high school was owning a straight truck and doing farm-to-market trucking. I went to Iowa State during the winter and let my brother run the truck. After Iowa State, I started with Terra Chemical as a salesman at their Lennox, Iowa retail fertilizer plant.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Nothing special, I like keeping busy. I have a solar sales and installation company and my DCI activity. I help my son and his classmate with farming in the spring and fall, or as I am needed. I also keep up with maintenance on the 8-acres where we live.
What do you do the first hour of the morning?
Turn on the coffee maker, go to the barn and feed the cats, pour a cup, then another, and eat breakfast with the morning "news". Some days this goes into the second hour.
What is your greatest achievement?
Watching our children become adults and have very happy lives doing what they enjoy.
What are you ordering for your favorite meal?
Either be a good steak or fab five breakfast from Perkins!
Who is your favorite sports team and music genre?
Has to be the Packers and I like any kind of country music!
What is the happiest memory of your life?
The happiest memory of my life is when my son called at age 30 and said he didn't understand or appreciate the "discipline" and lectures when he was growing up, but after witnessing others struggle in life, he wanted to thank me as he never had serious issues.
Do you have any guilty pleasures?
Ice Cream. Any time, any place, any season. No reason!
Tell us something about yourself that most people who know you are NOT aware of.
I talk a lot, so not sure there is anything they don't know!
Where in the world are you dying to visit?
Right now I would just like to go out to eat at a restaurant.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Be careful what you do as you may be the only Bible someone else reads.
