Business - Alumni Profile - Todd Lederman

Todd Lederman, class of 1981
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!