Mark Arjes
Founder, Director - Youth 1st
An Iowa native, Arjes moved to Owatonna, MN in the fall of 2000. In early 2010, Mark co-founded the Youth 1st Community Initiative, a 501c3 non-profit organization that promotes a unified community approach to youth development. He has spent over 30 years in the business sector, most recently in business development working with corporate clients including Federated Insurance, Best Buy, Target and DirecTV. A four sport athlete at Turkey Valley High School, he earned a BA in Physical Education from Wartburg College (Waverly, IA) where he was an All-American wrestler and All IIAC Baseball Player. Mark has coached a variety of youth athletics for over 45 years, has led or participated in numerous youth association boards and is a past president of the Owatonna Huskies Bullpen Club. Mark has also served as a MN High School League Official in wrestling and an Umpire in baseball. Mark currently resides in Owatonna and has been married to his wife Cathi for 38 years, has 5 married children and 9 grandchildren.
Contact Mark at:
[email protected]
(612) 968-9192
Founder, Director - Youth 1st
An Iowa native, Arjes moved to Owatonna, MN in the fall of 2000. In early 2010, Mark co-founded the Youth 1st Community Initiative, a 501c3 non-profit organization that promotes a unified community approach to youth development. He has spent over 30 years in the business sector, most recently in business development working with corporate clients including Federated Insurance, Best Buy, Target and DirecTV. A four sport athlete at Turkey Valley High School, he earned a BA in Physical Education from Wartburg College (Waverly, IA) where he was an All-American wrestler and All IIAC Baseball Player. Mark has coached a variety of youth athletics for over 45 years, has led or participated in numerous youth association boards and is a past president of the Owatonna Huskies Bullpen Club. Mark has also served as a MN High School League Official in wrestling and an Umpire in baseball. Mark currently resides in Owatonna and has been married to his wife Cathi for 38 years, has 5 married children and 9 grandchildren.
Contact Mark at:
[email protected]
(612) 968-9192
TODD DUFAULT is a master motivator and life coach who strives to be a difference maker. The past 36 years, he has been committed to working with people on life skills, servant leadership, cultural development, personal development and how to be the best you can be. Todd works as an educational consultant, motivational speaker and conducts Leadership Workshops around the country. His principles have been put to the test by numerous schools, businesses, fine arts programs, organizations and athletic teams.
MISSION: To empower individuals and organizations to challenge their status quo, cultivate exceptional relationships and excel beyond what they ever thought was possible.
* Former Activities Director
* Former Corps Director for River City Rhythm
* Former Head Boys Basketball Coach
* 20 + years in the Corporate World
* Former Christian Singer
* Played College Baseball
* Played College Basketball
* Worked with Fine Arts Students for the past 36 years
* Part of the John Maxwell Team being certified in business Leadership
Contact Todd at:
[email protected]
For more information: http://todddufault.com
Matt Ratzloff
Hello everybody! My name is Matt Ratzloff and this summer (2018) I will be joining the Youth 1st presentation team.
I was born and raised in Owatonna, MN. I attended Owatonna High School where I was a 3 sport varsity athlete in hockey, baseball and football. I had the honor to serve as senior captain of Owatonna Hockey in 2012-2013. After high school I chose to attend Winona State University to study criminal justice. After graduating with my BS degree in criminal justice in the fall of 2016, I was set to enroll at Rochester Community and Technical College the next spring to complete the Law Enforcement Skills Program. Unfortunately, on January 27th, 2017, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I was forced to withdraw from the program and began the fight of my life. After multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries and setbacks, I was fortunate enough to receive a Stem Cell Transplant on June 15th, 2017, which ultimately saved my life. I enrolled back into the Skills Program at RCTC in the spring of 2018, and graduated this past May. I’m very grateful for a 2nd chance at life and I’m looking forward to be apart of Youth 1st and everything the organization represents!
(Update - Congratulations to Matt, he started his new career as a police officer in Eagan, MN!)
Contact Matt at:
[email protected]
Hello everybody! My name is Matt Ratzloff and this summer (2018) I will be joining the Youth 1st presentation team.
I was born and raised in Owatonna, MN. I attended Owatonna High School where I was a 3 sport varsity athlete in hockey, baseball and football. I had the honor to serve as senior captain of Owatonna Hockey in 2012-2013. After high school I chose to attend Winona State University to study criminal justice. After graduating with my BS degree in criminal justice in the fall of 2016, I was set to enroll at Rochester Community and Technical College the next spring to complete the Law Enforcement Skills Program. Unfortunately, on January 27th, 2017, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I was forced to withdraw from the program and began the fight of my life. After multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries and setbacks, I was fortunate enough to receive a Stem Cell Transplant on June 15th, 2017, which ultimately saved my life. I enrolled back into the Skills Program at RCTC in the spring of 2018, and graduated this past May. I’m very grateful for a 2nd chance at life and I’m looking forward to be apart of Youth 1st and everything the organization represents!
(Update - Congratulations to Matt, he started his new career as a police officer in Eagan, MN!)
Contact Matt at:
[email protected]
Mark Domeier teaches English at New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva and has been there for over 20 years. He has also coached basketball and baseball for 25 years; officiated and umpired football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball; and has been the Voice of the Panthers at varsity events during his tenure at NRHEG. In addition, Mark writes columns for the NRHEG Star Eagle and the Owatonna People's Press and has published three novels about superheroes. He lives in Ellendale with his wife Michelle and their kids, Jayna and Anton. He can be reached via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @MrD1973.
John Dickerman recently retired from 20 years of teaching high school Business Education. Eighteen years at Owatonna High School, one year each at Elgin-Millville High School and one year at Waseca High School.
He has coached high school sports in track and field, cross country, and golf for over 20 years and worked as an instructor at FCA golf camps for over 15 years.
He was a 3-sport athlete at Elgin-Millville High School in cross country, track, and basketball earning 11 letters and ran track and cross country in college at the University of Minnesota-Waseca where he was an NJCAA academic All-American. He has a BS in Computer Science and Business Management from Mankato State University and a Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota.
John is married to Kim and has three married sons who all participated in sports which gave John many years of coaching experience with youth sports teams in basketball, football, and baseball. After retiring from high school teaching and coaching, John now supports youth sports by officiating contests.
He worked on staff with Athletes in Action providing individual and group counseling and mentoring for University of Minnesota athletes in the area of motivation, character development, and spiritual growth. While with the Gophers, he also was the football team chaplain. He also served in the pro division of Athletes in Action setting up sports camps, conferences, and events in the chapel program for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings for three years. John has experience mentoring coaches and has served on the staff of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
John recently graduated from the Leadership Development Institute and currently coaches and mentors church-planters and others involved in a variety of ministries in Southern Minnesota and is also involved in teaching and speaking. For hobbies, he enjoys running 1/2 marathons, drumming in bands, playing golf, hunting, and watching sports.
John can be reached at:
[email protected]
He has coached high school sports in track and field, cross country, and golf for over 20 years and worked as an instructor at FCA golf camps for over 15 years.
He was a 3-sport athlete at Elgin-Millville High School in cross country, track, and basketball earning 11 letters and ran track and cross country in college at the University of Minnesota-Waseca where he was an NJCAA academic All-American. He has a BS in Computer Science and Business Management from Mankato State University and a Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota.
John is married to Kim and has three married sons who all participated in sports which gave John many years of coaching experience with youth sports teams in basketball, football, and baseball. After retiring from high school teaching and coaching, John now supports youth sports by officiating contests.
He worked on staff with Athletes in Action providing individual and group counseling and mentoring for University of Minnesota athletes in the area of motivation, character development, and spiritual growth. While with the Gophers, he also was the football team chaplain. He also served in the pro division of Athletes in Action setting up sports camps, conferences, and events in the chapel program for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings for three years. John has experience mentoring coaches and has served on the staff of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
John recently graduated from the Leadership Development Institute and currently coaches and mentors church-planters and others involved in a variety of ministries in Southern Minnesota and is also involved in teaching and speaking. For hobbies, he enjoys running 1/2 marathons, drumming in bands, playing golf, hunting, and watching sports.
John can be reached at:
[email protected]