American Faces #95 - A hope filled future

American Faces No. 95

So there’s this guy out there named Abe.  No, not Abe Lincoln, but Abe McMahan.  My son Isaac works for Abe at his businesses Harvestores and Northarvest Prep in Maple Plain and Bloomington, MN respectively. Over the past couple years I have heard good things about Abe from a few different people, so I decided now was a good time to meet him face to face. I had heard about his heart for people, his business and in mentoring.  

 When I walked  through the doors of his business I knew he was the real deal.  I met a man I quickly knew was not just someone focused on the growth of his Amazon fulfillment company; I saw a man with determination and a sparkle in his eye as he talked about the people who work for him, the opportunity to share life on a day to day basis, and the desire to be just a little better tomorrow.  He lives and breathes this in his life.  It’s not just lip-service.

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t is the writing on the whiteboard that he and others read and work at daily. It is the boots on the ground attitude as he works alongside his faithful crew. 

 It is in his daily times of reflection as Bible verses are shared and the meaning of that verse is reflected upon and what its real world application could be.  Abe isn’t the only one who shares.  He asks his employees to lead as well.  His heart is to develop others to be effective leaders; to not just accept where they’re at or where they’ve been.

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His early life was a bit rough.  His focus began to take shape when he attended West Point for a time and his True North was found when he found Christ.  His purpose began to unfold and his lifelong drive to do his best led him to a career in operations and logistics for large companies.  That career was the foundation to what would become Harvestores.  

I would be remiss if I did mention another passion in the heart of Abe McMahan:  Marked Men for Christ.  This organization helps rebuild a man to be all he is called to be, to work through the hurts, pains and hangups men struggle with, to help them find freedom and to be all they can be for their families.  Abe found out how to be a better man, husband, father and leader through Marked Men for Christ.  He’s now helping lead others through that ministry that he became a part of over a decade ago.  So what does all this have to do with the story? Maybe to just state to ourselves how complex our lives are, lives built on layers of our past that make up who we are.  The good, the bad and yes the ugly.  But we are not stuck as a product of our past.  Abe desires a hope filled future for others.  He does that by pouring into the lives of those around him.  I saw that when I visited him to do this story and I hear it in my son’s words when he speaks about Abe.  He also does that by being a very giving man with all that he has been blessed with.  Abe McMahan is a world changer and a Difference Maker.

I’m closing this by encouraging us all to live with hands open rather than clutching what we own or what owns us too tightly.  Change someone's world!  You might just change your own.

Photos and story by: Nielsen Studios 

Editing by: Cristine Nielsen

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American Faces #94 - The Champion

American Faces No. 94

I know, I know. I chose what is likely the most overused title ever: “The Champion.” But I think there is no title more fitting for Kari Lazzarino. She is a loving mother to 4 kids, a barber-trained and self-proclaimed Man-ol-o-gist, and owner of the Bearded Viking barber shop in Monticello, Minnesota. Kari is only 5 foot (plus a few inches) tall, but she’s a fierce powerhouse of a woman who had to recreate herself and her family, moving away from her home state of California for a new start, and a new life.  Kari decided to go back to using her maiden name, not by her choosing, but because of the choices her ex-husband forced her into. Kari is a woman who will never let herself or her family be hurt again. She knew she needed to write new chapters in a story of restoration and wholeness, a story of a true champion. So, what does a true champion look like? (Here’s where the story gets good)

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THIS true champion is a woman who trims beards and hair like a wizard. Well, a wizard with clippers, scissors and a comb. She shapes the beards of the customers she calls “my guys” to a near magical quality. Ok, I might be embellishing, but it’s truly amazing to watch her sculpt the hair and Viking-like beards of the guys that frequent her shop just off Main Street in Monticello. I should also note that she works her hair-sculpting magic for quite a few women as well.

You may have noticed I’m not including the backstory of Kari’s life. There’s no need for me to do that. You can hear it on this podcast (go to about the 52:00 mark). I just want to showcase a woman’s story that, like the tattoo on her forearm, speaks of her faith – both in herself, and in God. Kari knew she had to focus on taking the next breath. She knew she had to be fierce. She had to wake up and start a new day, then another day, then another. She just knew she couldn’t stop, and she refused to be a victim. Her story was filled with unimaginable difficulty, but her kids, her family and “her guys” have helped her push on. They help her smile, to take on another day, and they help her be the true Champion she was made to be. Read that again: a true Champion!

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I always close my stories by encouraging you, the reader, to do something. Well here it is: Go get a haircut, and maybe a beard trim if you need it, at the Bearded Viking. Say “hi” to Kari. If that doesn't fit into your schedule, go help a struggling mom, a dad or a grandparent. Maybe buy groceries for someone who’s just having trouble making ends meet. You WILL change their lives. You might just help them become a Champion!

Go make a difference!

Photos and story by: Nielsen Studios

Editing by: Scott Whitman

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American Faces #93 - For a reason.

American Faces No. 93

“I know I’m here for a reason.”

Not many young professionals approach their jobs with such confidence in their position, or with such purpose. But Collin Bensen believes he has a calling.

The 21-year-old earned his badge as a Minnesota Metro Transit Police Officer in September of 2023. His mother was there to pin the badge on his crisp blue uniform. 

When Collin first told his mom he wanted to be a cop, she was worried for him, but she also believed he had an important role to play. “She told me I could be a light at the end of the tunnel for people who maybe hadn’t seen a light for a while,” says Collin.

Collin said growing up, many of his athletic coaches were police officers or first responders. They taught him a lot about what it meant to be a good man, to deal with challenges and to treat people with respect. He was inspired by their dedication to community, and by their brotherhood.   

Collin’s perspective on policing, and how he interacts with the people he encounters at the bus stops and on the train platforms every day, reflects the dedication and values – and the mission – he learned from those men, and from his own mom and dad. 

“It’s not just about enforcing the law, but about helping people,” Collin says, “You treat people like human beings, you have human conversations, so they know they’re not alone.” He wants to help people in crisis find a better path. “I want them to know that whatever the situation, it doesn't have to be the final destination,” says Collin.

Collin comes to that belief from personal experience. He was adopted as a baby, born to a young girl in a tough situation. 

“I was adopted by a loving family. These complete strangers chose to bring me into their family, and gave me a new life,” says Collin, “The man I am now, the kind of man my parents raised me to be, began with that decision to adopt me. I would want other people to feel valued in that same way, to know that kind of acceptance.”

That might seem wishful thinking, given the hard realities of the job. After all, policing comes down to enforcing laws, and dealing with situations where people won’t necessarily appreciate his role. 

But Collin says his extensive training – both in the classroom and on the street – and his mentors within the department, have prepared him for the job and reinforced the idea that good policing comes down to treating people as human beings.

“Probably every officer here has had moments where you’re face to face with a person in a tough situation, and it’s really about basic human empathy,” Collin  says, “You’re just trying to figure out how to care for that person in front of you.” 

Collin is also a realist. He knows it’s a hard job, and with the daily grind – seeing and experiencing some really hard stuff – a person can’t help but get a little calloused. But Collin falls back on a pretty solid foundation.

Collin credits his parents with giving him the opportunity to explore life’s options, and discover his own calling. “I thank my parents. First, for adopting me, and for helping me grow into the man I am today,” Collin says, “I thank them for all the opportunities – the family trips, the sports, the music. They supported everything I wanted to try.” 

He also credits his parents for raising him in the church, and helping him discover and grow in his own foundational faith.   

“I love this saying that says God gives his toughest warriors the toughest battles,” says Collin, “Whatever the job calls for, whatever happens, I know I have a family. I know I’m eternally loved. And I know I’m here for a reason.”

If you see Collin, or another law enforcement officer, say hello and give them a smile. And though you might feel a little anxious, simply say, “thank you” or “stay safe out there.” You’ll probably make their day. And you may just be the encouragement that helps them shine a little more light into their world.

Thank you Chief Ernest Morales III, Captain Erin Dietz and Nikki Muehlhausen for the opportunity to tell this story.

Photos by: Nielsen Studios

Story and BTS photos by: Scott Whitman

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