Kyle’s childhood nickname “MacGyver” embodies his approach to life – there is always a way forward. He grew up in a small town in North Dakota (population 212) where his parents raised a small collection of farm animals. From his grandmother he found a love for nature and gardening.
Being from a small town, Kyle dreamed of exploring the world. Watching his divorced parents juggle 2-3 jobs at a time (dad was a construction worker, mom was a waitress, retail worker, and call center agent) and tackle debilitating health issues, he believed studying hard would make his dream come true. With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, he had a successful career that took him across the world, and back.
Kyle was first in his immediate family to graduate with a four-year and graduate degrees. He attended the University of Minnesota as an undergrad where he met his now husband, Chris, together since their first date in 1999. Their first adventure saw Kyle moving to Denmark to pursue advanced degrees. He was awarded his doctorate in product design and innovation from the University of Southern Denmark, near the German border.
After several years in Denmark, Kyle and Chris returned to the Midwest to build their careers. They were looking to buy a cabin as a retreat from city life, but the pandemic sped up their plans to move and they made their home on a lake in northern Wisconsin. This was a return home for Chris as he grew up in the Northwoods.
