Ben and Amy, as older millennials, tested the waters of online dating. Ben was smart enough to utilize Kona to bolster his ‘profile’ and caught Amy's eye. They had their first date at Mint Mark, a local cocktail bar, in September of 2018. They agreed to meet again and their next couple of dates involved Kona and McLovin meeting and giving the necessary approvals of the other human and dog. They spent that fall going on dates around Madison with the pups in tow. Fast forward to June of 2020, it was only fitting that the proposal took place on a hike with the dogs at Gibraltar’s Rock.

Ben is a native of Middleton, Wisconsin, the best suburb of Madison. He graduated from Indiana University (Go Hoosiers) with a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs and received a dual Master’s degree in Business Management from UW Green Bay and the Kedge Business School in Bordeaux, France. Ben is the Public Works Operations Manager for the City of Sun Prairie, the suburb where our little family calls home. Both scientists by trade, Ben’s parents are currently enjoying retirement, John from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and Manu from the University of Wisconsin, in Eugene, Oregon. John and Manu met at Ahmednagar College in Maharashtra, India, where they were both studying for their Master’s degrees in Biochemistry. They recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary!

Amy is from Columbia, Missouri. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Journalism from the Missouri School of Journalism and received a Master’s degree from Marquette University in Sports Leadership. Her career in athletics brought her to Madison, when she joined the Wisconsin Athletic Department. Amy’s parents Jim and Joanie reside on their small farm where Amy grew up, in Rocheport, Missouri. Jim retired as an attorney for the State of Missouri Department of Revenue, but continues to work part time. Joanie is the Director of Family and Community Living Support for Boone County Family Resources. Jim and Joanie met while pursuing their undergraduate degrees at Southwestern Missouri State, now Missouri State, in Springfield, Missouri. They recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary!