Business - Alumni Profile - Todd Lederman

Todd Lederman
Owner, Dogwood Hills Tree Farm, J.K.S. Properties LLC, Dollar Daze
Middlebury, Indiana

How did you choose Hesston College?
On the way home from Colorado, concluding a high school group snow skiing trip, we stopped to visit HC. It seemed comfortable and inviting.

What are some of your favorite Hesston memories?
Coming from a small Christian high school, Hesston offered a group of students with similar backgrounds which is great. Hesston also included students from different backgrounds and different cultural experiences, and that was also great.
**I fell in love with soccer games under the lights!
**Gospel team tours--two years with the same core group of guys--were a wonderful experience.

What was your favorite course? Why was it your favorite?
Sales & Marketing and Business in America. Why? I was created and wired to be a business entrepreneur and I connected with the content of these classes.

Who was your favorite prof? Why was she or he your favorite?
Bill Mason. Bill's background contained practical experience. He grew up in a family business and his adult business successes afforded him a wonderful combination of experience, common sense, and book knowledge during his presentations. I appreciated that. By the way, Bill taught my son in class 25 years later.

How did your Hesston education shape you as a person and as a business person?
At Hesston, I not only established solid life long friendships, I grew spiritually. I was convicted that being a Christian and involved in business can go together. What excites me are my opportunities to further the kingdom because of my business contacts.

Where did you go/What have you done since graduating from Hesston?
1984--started and built up an excavating business
1998--sold our company and devoted our time to tree farming and real estate.
Current - My wife and three children are all instrumental in operating our tree farm, property management company, and retail dollar store.

What do you do now?
Dogwood Hills Tree Farm: grow, sell (retail), and transplant 80 varieties of trees to our local community.
J.K.S. Properties, LLC: build, own, and manage apartments and commercial buildings.
Dollar Daze: retail dollar store.
All three companies are operated from Middlebury, Indiana.

What key points should anyone considering a Hesston business education know?
Hesston can and will provide an education with Christian ethics and principles. There is more to a college experience than academics, and no one could possibly do it better than Hesston!