If I were to describe myself in one word it would be Consistent.  I am who I am and am very proud of that.  I was born and raised in a small town called Sugar City, Idaho. I was the fifth of six kids and my parents debated back and forth on two names; Spencer and Leland.  Both names hold significance in our family and therefore they decided to give me both names.  I am named after Spencer W. Kimball, the Mormon prophet, and Leland Haacke my grandfather (whom I don’t recall ever meeting). My oldest brother established my awesomeness by giving me the nickname of MR. Cool.  I went by that until I was in 3rd grade.  I often wonder if he was poking fun of me, but decided that I didn’t care. I liked the nickname and was going to live up to it.  I kept that nickname until my friends started calling me variations of my last name Haacke; Hack, Hack attack, Schmacke (that one has a story behind it).

I rarely cared what people thought of me when it came to judgments and style.  I was a product of hand-me-downs and stereotypes based on what my siblings did before me.  Because of this no-care attitude I can attribute many things I have accomplished because I just did it.  I do have to admit that I always cared if I did something to hurt other people’s feelings and property, but when it came to their judgments I didn’t care.

I love a good challenge and often times will get absorbed in something until I figure it out.  My wife is very patient when it comes to times like these.  I am grateful for her and very happy I found her in Virginia.  I can look back on my life’s lessons and be very proud of what I have accomplished. Without going into great detail here is a list I have come up with.

• Freshman Class President.
• Freshman Homecoming King.
• Started on the varsity basketball team 2 out of the 3 years I played at Sugar-Salem High School.
• Student Body President of Sugar-Salem High School 1997.
• Full time missionary in Alabama 1997-1999.
• Student Body President of Ricks College/Brigham Young University – Idaho (2000-2001).
• Bachelor in Communication from Brigham Young University – Idaho (2004).
• Campaign Manager for a Congressional Congressman (2004).
• Married my best friend (2004).
• Master’s in Communication from Eastern New Mexico University (2009).
• First Child was born, so I named him after myself (2007).
• Economic Development Director for a small city in Iowa (learned a lot about myself and local politics).
• Second child was born of which was born with dark hair (named after a Latin word that meant dark hair).
• Faculty Member at Brigham Young University -Idaho (love it).
• Third child was born.  I have nick named her Meater.  (This is a story you would have to hear in person).
• Director of the Presentation Practice Center at Brigham Young University – Idaho (Love it).

While I don’t profess to have mastered anything, I have developed skills in a lot of areas.  I am steadily getting better at each of those skills and found a great love for all of them.  These skills include, but not limited to; designing, video, photography, web, rubrics cube, and music.

I have done a lot of things in my young age and hope to do many more.  I hope that people will look at me and say I was always consistent, loyal, and committed.  My biggest fear is that I disappoint people in things that I can control like my integrity and kindness.  I hope to always be consistent.

Thank you,

Spencer L. Haacke