Don embarked on his insurance journey immediately after graduating from college. Federated Insurance, a national direct-writing carrier, extended an invitation to him to join their Marketing & Management Development Training Program, also known as the "MDT Program." This comprehensive training program spanned a full 18 months, during which Don worked within the Home Office of a prominent national carrier. He had the opportunity to gain firsthand experience and actively participate in various essential functions of a mutual insurance company. This included working alongside underwriting and actuary teams, engaging in field loss control, handling claims and premium auditing, as well as collaborating with accounting and advertising groups.

Beyond the invaluable exposure and involvement in these diverse areas, Don concluded the 18-month program with a profound sense of belonging and pride in the Federated business entity. He considers this experience as the most significant and beneficial event in his professional career. As he later competed with other industry professionals, Don consistently felt he held a distinct advantage due to his comprehensive understanding of the correct approach to writing business insurance.

Throughout his tenure at Federated, Don primarily focused on recruiting, hiring, training, and managing proficient business insurance agents. He operated in various locations, including eastern Iowa (Cedar Rapids), Minneapolis, St. Paul Minnesota, and eventually covered most of the West Coast states from the Phoenix Western Region. Federated specialized in specific business sectors, such as franchised new car, truck, and motorcycle dealerships, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing contractors, oil jobbers, convenience stores, among others.

Subsequently, Don joined the Johnson Insurance team in Phoenix, where he played a pivotal role in establishing their inaugural Arizona office and forging partnerships with commercial bankers at Johnson Bank. This experience proved exceptionally valuable as it allowed him to cultivate relationships with numerous carriers he was previously unfamiliar with.

Don possesses a deep passion for his work, specifically focusing on supporting business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as their families. He views this group as integral to the cultural and overall success of the country. Don holds great respect for their achievements and acknowledges the sacrifices they make to attain success.