Classification Speech: Troy Oates
Troy Oates has a diverse life; he works in financial management, is active with his family and his sons' sports teams, and has invested in a number of outside businesses...including cranberry farming.
Oates is co-founder and senior Vice President at ForthRight Financial Planning in Sycamore; he specializes in helping individuals and families with their financial planning. A native of Algonquin, he has been married since 1996 and has two twin sons; he is heavily involved in coaching them in football, baseball and wrestling, and the family enjoys attending games and outdoor events.
Building on a strong work ethic he developed by helping with his family's sodding business, he has not only grown as a financial planner but has branched out as an investor in private companies, including a personal storage and moving business -- and a cranberry farm, located northwest of Wisconsin Dells.
He told the Rotary Club about how the cranberry business works; berries have to be carefully tended, picked gently because they're easily bruised, and stored in open water holding ponds. He first became involved in the business after meeting the relative of a childhood friend, who owns and operates the farm and sought an investor to help him along.
Oates credits his faith, his family and his dedication to work as the driving forces of his life; and he says he remains committed to giving back to the community.