Writing A Family HistoryJohn is a full-blooded Norwegian with Telemark ancestors from Lårdal, Mo, Nissedal, Rauland and Vinje. His Telemarkancestors include the well-known Mandt and Vesaas families.
John is a graduate of Minnesota State University-Moorhead and has an M.A. and Ph.D.from the University of Minnesota. He is recipient of distinguished alumni awards from both universities and has been named to the MSUM Athletic Hall of Fame. John has worked as a math teacher, football coach, and CEO of three software companies: Minnesota Educational Computing Corporation, Serving Software, and, most recently, SearchAmerica, Inc.
John is president of Telelaget and coordinator of this year’s stevne. He and his wife,Sharon, live in Hudson, Wisconsin.