Gregg Groechel's Schools

• University of Minnesota , Class of 1992 MBA in Finance

Gregg Groechel's Publications

• Gregg Groechel Prioritizes His Family November, 2010 Gregg Groechel has often stated that his family is his “life’s richest asset.” As a leading financial services executive, he spends nearly all of his downtime enjoying outings and activities with his family. Gregg Groechel, his wife, and their children particularly love outdoor pursuits including biking, hiking, fishing, water skiing, and snow skiing. Living in gorgeous Minnesota, Gregg Groechel and his family make good use of the beautiful, unspoiled beauty of that state’s abundant natural resources. In addition, the Groechel family attends church services together, maintaining a strong connection to their spiritual community. A disciplined and highly-accomplished individual, Gregg Groechel has learned to focus his energies. For Gregg Groechel, that means when he works, he concentrates on his role there, but when he arrives back home, he directs his attention to his family. His ability to shift his concentration, maintaining these priorities in healthy balance, enables him to experience life as rewarding and productive. Maintaining close relationships with his children allows him to provide useful advice and to parent to them during both the difficult and happy times that childhood brings. Gregg Groechel commiserates with their concerns, and revels in their achievements. Gregg Groechel deeply values his “richest asset” and devotes considerable time and attention to preserving it.

• The Methodist Church - A Brief History, with an Emphasis on its Positive, Active Relationship with the Community, Gregg Groechel November, 2010 Gregg Groechel is a member of the Messiah United Methodist Church, located in Plymouth, Minnesota. With his family, Gregg Groechel regularly attends Sunday worship services. Plymouth, Minnesota’s Messiah United Methodist Church is a constituent of the United Methodist Church, a worldwide organization. The United Methodist Church boasts a long history of direct involvement with the community. Grounded in the traditions and structures of the Protestant Reformation, and specifically Wesleyan theology, the modern United Methodist Church exists as a fusion of three practices: the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, the Evangelical Association, and Methodism. With its roots in 18th century Anglican customs, the movement increased its emphasis on personal faith and experience when it crossed over into the New World. The first conference of Methodists in New England was organized in 1773, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, the modern United Methodist Church did not come into official existence until 1968, when representatives from the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church joined hands at the constituting General Conference, held in Dallas, Texas. At its inception, the United Methodist Church was already one of the largest Protestant churches globally, boasting around 11 eleven million members worldwide. The United Methodist Church, which started as an informal network of local groups throughout the United States, has since evolved into one of the largest and most thoroughly organized denominations in the world. The operational structure of the United Methodist Church is the result of practical, logistical considerations, and it was developed with the simple goal of spreading the Methodist message. Understanding the need for functional mechanisms of accountability and communication in the church, early English leader John Wesley instituted the “connection” (originally “connexion”). The idea of the “connection”—an interdependent system of classes, societies, and annual conferences—remains a core of Methodist principles to this day. The United Methodist Church boasts a long tradition of direct community involvement. From the very beginning, Methodists have stressed transforming faith and love into tangible action, what Wesley referred to as “practical divinity.” The Methodist belief that along with the Christian life comes a duty toward service has often put its followers on the forefront of social change. For instance, early Methodists aggressively opposed slavery from its first induction into the American colonies. This foundational dedication to active, functional Christianity continues to be a core characteristic of the United Methodist Church today. The Messiah United Methodist Church, of which Gregg Groechel and his family are members, sustains this tradition of active service. The Plymouth-based Messiah United Methodist Church maintains involvement with an array of both local and international philanthropic programs, initiating independent projects as well as partnerships with a variety of established organizations. The Messiah United Methodist Church offers initiatives designed for the entire family, including community outreach events and a number of mission programs directed to areas in the United States and abroad. Plymouth, Minnesota’s Messiah United Methodist Church traces its roots back a century before the official establishment of the United Methodist Church. In 1868, a local Methodist Society began organizing worship services in public buildings and homes, inviting circuit-riding ministers to lead the informal services. The first chapel was built in 1871, and in 2009, the Messiah United Methodist Church completed renovations to its latest sanctuary. Always with an eye toward inclusion, the Messiah United Methodist Church holds two Sunday events, a formal worship service as well as a casual one.

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