Tyler Evans joined the Click Rain team in June this year as an account manager, and it wasn't long before he had us all laughing (and sometimes cringing) at his stories, applauding his Feats of Strength, and weeping openly at the mere mention of "Gangnam Style". Just kidding! We love Tyler, and we can't imagine the office without his super-positive attitude or his million-watt smile.
Sarah: So Tyler, tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from?
Tyler: I'm from Stewart, MN, where I grew up on a dairy farm. I don't miss the cows. Or the smell. But I do have a tremendous amount of respect for farmers—you really create your own path when you live that lifestyle, and you have to be really committed to it.
Sarah: Wow! So growing up on a farm—do you come from a big family?
Tyler: I do have a big family—three sisters and a brother. And now my wife and I have three kids: Maddie (stepdaughter, 10), Kylar (stepson, 7), and Asher (newborn). And a miniature Dachshund named Fiona.
Sarah: Awww. How did you meet your wife?
Tyler: I met her at a wedding... it was like a Journey song. You know, "smoky room... smell of wine and cheap perfume..."
Sarah: That is awesome. And speaking of awesome, I hear you've had a pretty illustrious football career.
Tyler: Well, I played football in college at USD. I played fullback, which means I occasionally got the ball and got to run with it—but mostly I got to hit people.
Sarah: That sounds delightfully therapeutic! What else can you brag about? I heard something about Sports Illustrated.
Tyler: I *was* in Sports Illustrated in high school. And I hold a national record for most carries in a season. And I still hold the state record for yards in a season as well as yards in a career. Also touchdowns in a season.
Sarah: Man. Anything weird or unusual about yourself to balance that out?
Tyler: Hmm. *pauses* I'm very weird and unusual... I'm having trouble narrowing it down. Oh, I have an extra vertebrae in my back.
Sarah: So it's completely appropriate that you played a fullback! *pause* Oh, come on, I am hilarious. *another pause* Switching gears: Favorite movie?
Tyler: "The Godfather".
Sarah: Favorite color?
Tyler: Black and ivory.
Sarah: Favorite food?
Tyler: Steak and pizza.
Sarah: And I'm assuming you're not a soda drinker? I haven't seen you raiding the Diet Dews.
Tyler: If I have to, I'll have a Coke. I try to stay away from soda.
Sarah: Are you superstitious?
Tyler: I am! I'll knock on wood, throw salt over my shoulder...
Sarah: Probably for the best. So tell me what else you do with your life.
Tyler: I love helping out with youth—volunteering and being involved with kids' lives. I used to coach a lot of sports back in Vermillion. I'm also on the board of directors at the Caroll Institute. I love helping people... some people are one misstep away from something really tragic, and I want to be there for them, keep them from that path.
Sarah: It sounds like you are doing some amazing work. And you've been doing some amazing work here at Click Rain, too.
Tyler: I love to see how many clients *want* to work with Click Rain, and I want to help keep it that way. I get excited about building relationships, helping our clients grow, and being the best person I can be here.
Sarah: Very awesome. Carry us out with a sports/work analogy, if you please.
Tyler: I love athletics—I love what it's all about. I love the competition. And athletics can teach you a lot when you're going through the trials and tribulations of life—balancing life and sports, meeting and working with diverse groups from a variety of cultures... it's a great analogy for what happens in the business world. Business development is just as competitive as athletics. And I love winning in both.
Image via Aaron Packard Photography.
