| First & Last Name | Ron Handke |
| Company | Black Hills Energy |
| Title/Occupation | Business Development – Account Manager – Residential |
| Ron.handke@blackhillscorp.com | |
| Phone | 402-689-7817 |
| Tell us about your family. | Maureen, my high school sweetheart and wife. We have two daughters: Molly and Erin; sons-in-law: David and Stephen and grandkids: Jack, Maddie and Ronnie. We spend a lot of time together as we all live in the Omaha Area. I know how lucky that is for us in this day and age!! |
| What would be the theme song of your life right now? | “No Place Like Nebraska” |
| What are you currently reading or listening to? | “Villages Newcomers” YouTube Channel |
| Name a recent movie you watched that blew you away? | The Greatest Game Ever Played |
| What are you currently binge watching? | “Funzzles” – Brain teaser |
| Best restaurant you’ve ever been to? | Chop House |
| If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? | Pizza |
| Favorite place you’ve traveled? | Grand Teton National Park |
| What did you want to be when you grew up? | Home Builder |
| Where are you from? Where did you go to school? | Omaha – Beals Elementary, Norris Jr High – Central High (just attended my 50th high school reunion) – UNL |
| What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? | I played in the Cornhusker Marching Band and now play in the Alumni Band each year. I still get Husker Bumps marching in front of 80,000+ fans at halftime!!! |
| What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done? | I rode a 350 Honda Motorcycle from Omaha to Yellowstone National Park when I was in college. |
| What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? | Sketching / Drawing. I plan on doing it a lot more when I retire |
| If you could have a super power, what would it be? | Ability to snap my fingers to make everyone HEALTHY and make the world peaceful and safe for everyone!!! |
| When you’re not working, how do you enjoy spending your time? | Anything and everything with my family and golfing with my buddies. We have been a foursome since Jr High!!! |
| Who is someone who’s made a big impact on your life? Why? | My daughters. They are so beautiful inside and out and sooo smart. They are always there for Maureen and me !!! |
| If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? | Steve Stricker – I would love to see what it would be like to dominate the PGA Champions Tour. |
| If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? | Tom Osborne. I just missed my chance a couple of years ago…he was leaving Burger King when I was arriving. |
| What do you/did you love the most about your job? | The PEOPLE !!!! |
| What experiences and past roles have led you to where you are today? | My BS Degree in Construction Management from UNL has afforded me opportunities in Commercial and Residential construction. Those experiences provided me with a great background for my role with Black Hills Energy as a Residential and Commercial – Business Development Representative |
| What career advice do you live by? Who gave it to you? | “Treat your customers as you want to be treated.” — Sherman McKinney – PDM Corporation (my mentor) |
| If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be? Why? | Walter Parazaider – saxophone player for and founding member of the band, CHICAGO. I got to meet him once. My favorite sax player of all time!!! |
| What’s one skill you’d like to develop or sharpen this year? | I always think I can improve my golf game ???!!!???!!!???!!!???!!!???!!!??? |
| What are your future goals and aspirations for your career? | Mentor the YOUNG folks in the business. There is a LOT to the Natural Gas Industry. We all learn every day!! |
| How long have you been a member of HBAL? | BHE has been a member since its inception!!! Our company prides itself on collaboration with our customers and support allies. |
| How has your career benefited from being a member of HBAL? | Excellent vehicle for contacts that are so important to business development and growth. |
| What is your favorite HBAL event and why? | I remember always eating Ruth Hietbrink’s chili for the contest. She makes the BEST chili! |
| Any tips or advice for new HBAL members? | Stay as involved as you can. It will pay dividends 10 fold. |
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