Ron Kasten is originally from Spring Valley, MN, where he grew up on a small dairy farm and graduated from High School in 1981. Following High School, he moved to Minneapolis to pursue education and a career in computer programming. His education included an associate degree from Normandale Community College and a computer programming and operations certification from Minnesota School of Business.
To help pay his education while attending Minnesota School of Business, Ron took a data entry specialist job at a financial services organization in downtown Minneapolis which later became Thrivent Financial, a fortune 500 organization helping members be “wise with money”. Ron’s initial intention was to work at the company in Minneapolis while pursuing his education, and then return to Rochester to possibly work for IBM or Mayo Clinic. However, he enjoyed his early career so much that he spent almost 4 decades with Thrivent Financial. Ron had a passion for the financial services industry and particularly enjoyed working for a non-profit, member-owned organization.
After finishing his education at Minnesota School of Business, Ron moved to a Field Computer Specialist position that had been newly developed within the company and married his high school sweetheart, Kathy (Krom) Kasten in 1983. Ron and Kathy originally made their home in Brooklyn Center, but have lived in Burnsville, Lakeville, Webster, and now make their home in Rochester, MN. They have a daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and Benjamin Tecken and treasured grandchildren.
The majority of his 38-year career with Thrivent Financial was spent within the Information Technology area of the organization. Except for a few years of application programming, Ron spent most of his career in IT Leadership leading teams that supported various areas of the company as well as subsidiary and affiliate companies. Some of the business areas Ron and his teams served included: electronic and cash payment systems, compensation, a community foundation, brokerage, Thrivent Trust Company, Thrivent Federal Credit Union, Thrivent Student Resources, cuLearn Student Loans, and Newman LTC.
Throughout his career, Ron also participated in many volunteer areas including Habitat for Humanity, Soup line service, Junior Achievement, Feed My Starving Children and church leadership activities. Ron has helped support his wife Kathy in businesses that she has led as well, including owning and operating an alpaca farm, an ice cream shop, and most recently Lion Crest Leadership now that he has retired from Thrivent Financial.