John Renier
Maybe there really is something in the snow around here that draws people back.  John is a native of Dyckesville and still has numerous family and friends in the area.  He attended Luxumburg/Casco High School where he got to know another local man who came ‘home’ a few years ago, Jason Vandermause.  John graduated in 1994 and moved on to St. Norbert College, where his association with the Knights of Columbus began.  He got involved with the Council on campus in his sophomore year, eventually moving through Third Degree and serving the Council as Warden.  He graduated in 1998 with a Degree in Business and moved to Chicago for about two years.  There he was employed by Hewitt Associates, working in Human Resources and dealing with pension plans.  It wasn’t too long until he and his college roommates decided that it was time to get away from the winters and California was the place to be, so they headed out together.  John continued working with Hewitt, keeping in touch by computer and occasionally taking trips to Chicago when necessary.  While out West, he enrolled at San Diego State University and pursued his MBA (Master of Business Administration) which he earned this past May.   

He remained in the St. Norbert College Council while at Chicago but once he settled in California he became a part of St. Bernard Parish in San Diego and transferred to a Council there.  He recalls being active in their Lenten fish dinners where he got to be quite good with a deep fryer.  Once he started school again this classes conflicted with the Council’s meeting night.  He liked California, but there was something that seemed to be calling him back.  He also left several family and friends in this area and wanted to be closer to them.  He had an interest in Schneider and interviewed there for a position in Finance and he was hired.  That was just six months ago.  Since returning to the area he was able to connect more often with his family and friends, among them Jason, who spoke enthusiastically about Council 10243 and invited him to ‘check it out.’  John attended the October meeting and the necessary paperwork for his transfer has recently been completed. 

Currently working in Finance at Schneider, his days might include calculating costs and helping customers understand the optimal levels for equipment they are using.  He also is a financial support person for Schneider’s Wal-Mart grocery account and for some alto dealerships.  He has the chance to work with sales representatives and managers out in the field, and enjoys the opportunity to meet people.  Within the company he sees himself as one of a number of people, all with a certain area of expertise, all fitting together like the pieces of a puzzle.  When there’s time for himself, he enjoys golf and snowboarding in season and also like running and racquetball.  Happy to be in the area again, he is thinking that the Green Bay area will be his home and he appreciates being near friends and family once again.  His parents still live near Dyckesville and he has a number of other relatives in the area.  The oldest of four children, he was the first to move away and now the first to return, though holiday celebrations tend to bring them all together again.  He has a sister in San Diego and another at DePaul University Law School in Chicago and a brother in Minneapolis. 

January 2004