In 2012 I was introduced to Jeff Hodgson by his brother-in-law. The two were working on entrepreneurial pursuits. Jeff was in his early 30s then. I had a business idea that they were willing to investigate. And so it began.

I was 17 years older than Jeff, which by the way, puts me right in the middle of him and his parents, Tom and Jan. But from that day forward, we took a business interest in each other, and a mutually respectful friendship grew from there. We worked together in many ways. I hired him to be my business coach. I advised him and his wife on the purchase of a lot on Lake Wawasee to build their family “forever” home. Later, my husband and I bought the home next door. In 2017 Jeff and I acquired the wonderful, 70-year-old Brookwood Cabinet company. In March of 2020, the four of us spent the Covid quarantine together playing Euchre most every night, because it was so much fun and because his wife Amy became addicted to the game. 

We laughed so much. It is a treasured memory that we are even more grateful for now after Jeff's sudden passing in November of 2020. I lost one of the best friends of my life and favorite people in the world.