Why Budget Blinds of Mankato

Gabriel Haugland is proud to serve the Budget Blinds of Mankato team as owner! In 2007, Gabriel attended Drake Law School before joining the Iowa National Guard and serving as an Infantry Officer and JAG Officer. As a combat Veteran of Afghanistan, owning his own business is a new and exciting journey for his family and he is enjoying every minute of it. Gabriel has lived in Clear Lake since returning from Afghanistan in 2011 and loves calling the area home. He loves to fish, hunt, and attend Twins games with his family. He also enjoys spending time serving his local church in Clear Lake. He is married to his wife, Carolyn, and they have two beautiful children,Grace and Nick. Gabriel greatly appreciates the support of the local community and looks forward to working with each and everyone of you!

Hey, everyone! We have some fantastic news to share - our very own Gretchen Hoffman, Showroom Manager at Budget Blinds of Mankato, Minnesota, is simply amazing!

Gretchen has been with us for five years now, and in that time, she's become an invaluable member of our team. Her positive energy and dedication to providing top-notch customer service are truly unparalleled. Gretchen brings a wealth of experience to the table, such as her degree in Business Entrepreneurship from the University of St. Thomas. She also has a background in window treatments and drapery that has served her well in her role as Showroom Manager.

But that's not all - did you know that Gretchen has some pretty cool hobbies, too? She loves hiking and trying out new cooking recipes, and she's an avid antiquer and thrifter. Plus, she's got a bit of a green thumb - her house is filled with beautiful houseplants that she takes great care of.

And let's not forget about her adorable pups, Stella and Jax! Gretchen's boyfriend and her furry family members are lucky to have her in their lives.

Gretchen, thank you for all that you do for us and for our customers. Your commitment to excellence and your infectious positivity truly make a difference every day. We're so lucky to have you on our team!

Let's all take a moment to celebrate and give a warm welcome to our amazing General Manager, Ressa Thompson! Ressa started her journey with Budget Blinds as an office assistant and worked her way up the ranks to become our GM. She is truly a valuable asset to our team.

Ressa brings a special set of skills to the table and is affectionately known as our "mother hen." She loves the flexibility her job offers and takes pride in being able to grow as both an employee and a person. She was born and raised in the Albert Lea area and has lived there her entire life.

When she's not working hard to ensure our customers have a positive experience, Ressa loves spending time with her family, going on walks, trying new recipes, and baking. She's a huge hockey fan and loves watching Minnesota Wild games with her husband and 4-year-old son, who is absolutely obsessed with hockey.

Speaking of family, Ressa recently got married to her husband in December 2021, and they welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world in October 2022. They also have two golden retrievers named Res and Honey.

We are so fortunate to have Ressa as part of our team at Budget Blinds and we know she will continue to bring her positivity, expertise, and passion to everything she does. Cheers to you, Ressa!

Here at Budget Blinds, we believe in recognizing our team members and all the amazing things they bring to the table! That’s why we’re highlighting Chris Jascha today!

Chris is a highly skilled Design Consultant with more than 20 years of experience in construction and design. He brings an impressive attention to detail to his work, ensuring that every project he takes on is executed to the highest standard. Since starting his employment with us in January 2020, Chris has quickly become an invaluable member of our team.

Although he has lived his whole life in Southern Minnesota, Chris is keen to explore new places and cultures. He is currently learning to speak Irish, and he has a passion for travel. In his free time, he enjoys hitting the open road on his beloved Harley.

Chris is happily married to his wife Jessica, and the couple resides in Owatonna, MN. He’s also the proud, happy grandfather of several grandchildren. Despite his busy schedule, he always makes time for his family and loved ones.

Join us in celebrating everything that Chris does here at Budget Blinds, at home, and in the community. He’s been an amazing addition to our team!

We have so many amazing team members that we just can’t resist featuring them! Today, we’re going to highlight the contributions of Brandon Bjoraker, who is our Lead Design Consultant with extensive experience in residential and commercial construction. He began his employment with us in January 2019—and has proven himself an invaluable team member ever since. He brings many valuable skills to the team, and he loves new challenges and meeting new people in his job.

Brandon grew up in Nora Springs, and currently lives in Ventura, where he has resided for the past 10 years. He’s an active member of his church, where he serves as a deacon.

In his free time, Brandon has a very active lifestyle. He enjoys fishing and attending his daughters’ various activities, which include horseback riding, volleyball, basketball, color guard, band, vocal, and trapshooting. He’s been married for 19 years and has three wonderful daughters. Brandon enjoys life in the country with his family plus horses, cats, a donkey, and a boxer dog.

Join us in celebrating Brandon’s contributions here at Budget Blinds—and for all the activities he participates in with his family. It’s things like this that make him a pillar of our community!

Let's give a big round of applause to one of our talented installers, Ryan Becker, who has been an integral part of the Budget Blinds team.

Ryan brings an exceptional set of skills to our team, including his punctuality and dedication to ensuring every installation is done to perfection. He takes immense pride in seeing our customers satisfied with their new window treatments.

Although Ryan has lived in Alexandria for a few years, he grew up in Clear Lake, giving him a deep understanding and connection to our service area. We're lucky to have him on our team!

When Ryan isn't installing window treatments, you can find him indulging in his hobbies, such as fishing, hunting, hiking, snowboarding, and traveling. He's always up for an adventure!

Ryan is dedicated to providing top-notch service to all of our customers. His work speaks for itself, and we couldn't be more proud to have him on our team.

Join us in thanking Ryan for his hard work and commitment to excellence. Budget Blinds is lucky to have such a talented installer on our team!

We'd like to take a moment to recognize one of our talented Design Consultants, Mary Lampwright who is an essential member of the Budget Blinds team.

Mary brings a unique set of skills to the table. She is a fantastic listener who actively engages with her clients throughout their window treatment project, ensuring they feel heard and seen. She has a natural talent for connecting with people in their homes, making the design process comfortable and enjoyable.

While Mary grew up in Des Moines, she spent her summers in Clear Lake, creating a strong connection to our service area. She recently relocated back to Clear Lake full-time, and we couldn't be happier to have her on our team!

In her spare time, Mary is passionate about living her best life, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and spending time with her blended family of seven children ranging in age from 22-32. She is looking forward to being a grandparent! Mary also has one Shih Tzu/Bichon named Cali, who's just the cutest. Mary enjoys walking her dog, sailing on the lake, fat tire biking, and paddleboarding.

We're thrilled to announce that Mary is engaged to a salty sailor who also works at Budget Blinds. They're tying the knot in the summer of '24!

We're lucky to have someone as dedicated, talented, and passionate as Mary on our team. She brings invaluable expertise to our clients. While she hasn't served in the armed forces personally, her father's Air Force service instilled in her a deep respect for veterans and their country.

Thank you, Mary, for all that you do!

We're excited to shine a spotlight on one of our team members at Budget Blinds. Meet Mike Mogk, one of our Design Consultants who brings a wealth of expertise to our team.

Mike has spent his entire adult life working in construction and design, making him an invaluable asset to our team. Also - how impressive is this! He was actually Gabe's very first employee at Budget Blinds!

Although he grew up in Northwood, Iowa, Mike currently calls Albert Lea his home. When he's not helping our clients transform their homes with beautiful window treatments, he enjoys fishing and riding motorcycles.

Mike is married with five kids and two grandkids, which keeps him busy outside of work. We're lucky to have someone with such a strong work ethic, passion for design, and commitment to his family on our team.

His experience and skills speak for themselves. He's a valuable member of our team, and we appreciate his dedication to our clients and their homes.

Thank you, Mike, for all that you bring to the team at Budget Blinds. We appreciate your hard work, dedication, and passion for design!

Attention all Budget Blinds customers and fans! We would like to take a moment to highlight one of our amazing team members, Austin Kuper (AKA Ozzy), who is an installer on our team. Ozzy brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from his previous work in construction, including bricklaying. He enjoys the freedom of the job and not being in the same place day after day.

Originally from Independence, Iowa, Ozzy moved to Clear Lake when he started his job with Budget Blinds. He has been a valuable member of our team since then and has been an essential part of our success in serving the surrounding areas.

When he's not on the job, Ozzy enjoys spending time with his daughter, Izzy, who is 6 years old. His hobbies include fishing, and he's especially fond of chasing walleyes.

We want to express our appreciation for all of Ozzy's hard work and dedication to providing excellent customer service and high-quality installations for our clients. We're lucky to have him on our team! Join us in giving Ozzy a round of applause for his fantastic work at Budget Blinds!

Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to take a moment to introduce you to Zane Wyant, one of the outstanding installers at Budget Blinds. Zane brings with him a wealth of experience from his previous job, where he served as a lead for a home-building construction company. He finds a lot of joy in the simplicity of installing window treatments compared to the complexity of building houses, and he enjoys all the exciting challenges that come with the job.

Zane is a true local, having lived in Albert Lea his entire life. When he's not on the job, he enjoys hitting the road on his motorcycle and taking in the beautiful Minnesota scenery. He is also a huge animal lover, although he doesn't have any pets of his own... yet!

We are incredibly grateful to have Zane on our team at Budget Blinds. He is a skilled and dedicated installer who consistently provides exceptional customer service to all. Join us in congratulating Zane for his contributions to our team and our community. Thank you, Zane, for your hard work and commitment to our mission of bringing beautiful window treatments to our customers' homes!

Hello, Budget Blinds fans! We want to introduce you to one of our star employees, Travis Tarr, who serves as our Commercial Project Manager. Travis brings over 20 years of experience as an estimator and project manager, which has made him an invaluable member of our team. He loves meeting new people and working with contractors, and he's equally at home in the office or out in the field.

Although Travis is originally from Clear Lake, Iowa, he has been a part of the surrounding communities for many years. When he's not hard at work on commercial projects, he enjoys coaching his children in sports and fishing in his free time.

Travis has an impressive educational background, having earned a 4-year degree from the University of Northern Iowa in their Construction Management Program. He brings this expertise and skill to every project he oversees, and his attention to detail is second to none.

We are incredibly lucky to have Travis as part of our team at Budget Blinds, and we want to thank him for his hard work and dedication to making our commercial projects a success. Join us in giving Travis a big round of applause for his contributions to our community and to our company!

Attention all residents! We're excited to introduce you to our Business Development team member, Jon Giesar. With over 18 years of experience in marketing, Jon brings a wealth of knowledge and special skills to our team.

Although he grew up in Seattle, Jon has lived all over the country before finally settling in the Midwest. He's recently moved to Clear Lake, Iowa, but he's thrilled to be serving the surrounding communities.

When Jon isn't working hard to help our business grow, he loves to indulge in his many hobbies and passions. He's an avid paddle boarder, sailor, water skier, free diver, and spear fisherman. He even enjoys top-water fishing and hunting!

Jon has an A.A.S. degree in marine technology and commercial oilfield diving/off-shore diving operations. Although he didn't serve in the armed forces, he trained with the Navy when he received his degree.

In his personal life, Jon is engaged and has a blended family of seven adult children and one furry companion, Cali the dog.

We're so proud to have Jon on our team, and we know you'll love him too. Join us in giving Jon a warm welcome to the community!