Meet the Team

Ray Gullickson, FIC, CLU, ChFC

E-Mail: rgullickson@bridgewaylearning.com

Ray Gullickson founded Bridgeway Learning Systems in 1985. In addition to his professional designations, Ray holds a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College and he received specialized tutoring in Mediated Education from the Graduate School at the University of Minnesota. He is a 50 year veteran of the life insurance industry. Before leaving personal production in the late 1960’s, Gullickson was recruited by State Farm Insurance Co. Their Life Company had been in business more than twenty years but they had only 5.9 billion in force in 1968. "They explained, "The field force is very reluctant to sell Life Insurance because the interviews take too long".

Focusing on that problem, Ray developed a total needs, fact-finding and proposal system as a logical extension of their customary, Property-Casualty interviews and State Farm Life was ready to help make it work by introducing Ray’s, tested and proven, “Total Needs Selling for a Multi-Line System”.

Their average growth was 588 million in the five years before Ray joined the Agency Department. A.M. Best publications show the Life Company grew at the rate of 2.6 billion in the years immediately after Ray’s idea was adopted and State Farm Life grew to over 14,534,569,870 by the end of 1978.

This is just one of many examples of Ray’s successful solutions that led to the development of Communication Awareness & Persuasion Skills™, the CAPS™ Learning System. When Gullickson retired from IDS in 1986, he retained the rights to the CAPS™ Learning System and he taught the Skills, as an independent consultant, to a continuous stream of Advisors and Managers referred to him by enthusiastic clients in more than forty states until he confirmed his retirement in 1995.

David A. Thesing, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, CAP

E-Mail: dthesing@bridgewaylearning.com

David Thesing is President and co-founder of Bridgeway Learning Systems, Inc. Involved in the financial services industry since 1980, Dave has won numerous company and industry awards, including Master Agency Manager Award, and GAMA’s Gold and Platinum Awards for agency building. He has recruited and trained 7 Rookies of the year, 6 different Minnesota Agents of the Year, and 2 Company Production Leaders with a company that has 1500 representatives.

Dave holds a Masters Degree in Management, from American College, in Bryn Mawr, PA. He is an experienced LUTC instructor who has also taught CFP™ Courses for both the American College and Mankato State University.

Dave is also a member of the FPA, NAIFA and the American Society of Financial Services Advisors.

Dave and his wife Kathy have 3 children Tony, Megen and Eleacia. Tony is currently serving in the Army National Guard, stationed in Iraq. The entire family enjoys many activities together including boating, snowmobiling and travel.

Patrick Kreidermacher, CLU, ChFC

E-Mail: pkreidermacher@bridgewaylearning.com

Patrick Kreidermacher joined Bridgeway Learning Systems Inc. as Executive Vice President in 2006. He is focused on working with Companies, Agencies and Advisors to help them develop their skills and grow their business.

Pat has been in the insurance and financial services industry since 1983. He has served in a variety of roles within the industry including producing Agent, Agency Manager with responsibilities to hire and train representatives, and Division Manager. He has won recognition awards for production and leadership in each position.

Pat and his wife Barb live on acreage near Winona Mn. Their hobbies include gardening, hunting and golf. They have two children, Tara who lives in the Twin Cities and Kiel in Duluth.

Patrick Mohrbacher

Field Marketing Representative
E-Mail: pmohrbacher@bridgewaylearning.com

Patrick Mohrbacher is a Facilitator and Coach working with Advisors and Agencies participating in Communication Awareness & Persuasion Skills - CAPS™ training.

Pat has been in the insurance business for 34 years as both a producer and Agency Manager with responsibility for hiring and training Advisors in the PC and life insurance business. He holds a BA in Management from Bemidji State University. He has won numerous production and leadership awards including Manager of the Year and the Silver Agency Builder award from GAMA. He was also among the first class of agents and managers inducted in the Minnesota Hall of Fame for his company.

Pat provided training seminars for managers of his company in Utah and North Dakota, and he was a featured speaker at the LAMP meeting in Atlanta.

Pat and his wife Mary live in Warroad Minnesota, where he has been a member of the school board for the past 20 years. They have three sons.