Arthur Christofferson

CHRISTOFFERSON, FAYRAM, SENG, MINKOFF, DEHAVEN, RITTER, BECK

Posted By: Barb Kelley (email)
Date: 12/26/2005 at 20:31:01

The Clinton Herald
Published: December 23, 2005 08:59 pm

Arthur Christofferson

Arthur (Art) L. Christoffersen, 59, 3187 Feather Ridge Rd., Toddville, died of cancer at his home Wednesday evening. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Pius Catholic Church by Rev. Donald Klein. Private family interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the Cedar Memorial Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today where a Vigil Service will take place at 6:30 p.m. Military services will be conducted by the Marion American Legion Post # 298.

Art is survived by his wife Terri (Theresa), two children, Dawn Christoffersen (Jared) Minkoff of St. Louis, Missouri and Eric (Lydia) Christoffersen of Cedar Rapids, two brothers, Tom (Mona) Christoffersen of Maquoketa, Iowa and Gary (Maryann) Christoffersen of Cape Coral, Florida, a sister, Mary (Dean) DeHaven of Delmar, Iowa, a stepsister, Diane (Cecil) Ritter, and a stepbrother, David Beck, and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Frances Beck (Fayram), his stepfather, Chelsea Beck and brother Dean Christoffersen.

Art was born November 20, 1946 in Maquoketa and married Theresa Seng on June 6, 1970 at Lost Nation, Iowa. Influenced by his military commander to go into accounting, Art graduated with a BA degree from the University of Iowa and became a certified public accountant in 1972. After college he joined Touche Ross and Company, in Minneapolis, as an audit/tax staff accountant.

In 1975, he accepted a position as Executive Vice President of Life Investors in Cedar Rapids. However, in 1986, Art saw an exciting entrepreneurial opportunity. He joined Teleconnect Company, a competitive long distance provider, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. While at Teleconnect, he orchestrated the Company’s Initial Public Offering and was instrumental in the Company’s growth.

In 1989, Art was named President of Telecom*USA Publishing, a subsidiary of Telecom*USA (formerly Teleconnect). The following year MCI acquired Telecom*USA. Twenty four hours after the merger was announced, Art and four others from his management team bought back the publishing business, forming a new independent company, Telecom*USA Publishing Company, where Art became Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

During the next five years, under Art’s leadership the Company continued to expand into many markets, and by 1996, Telecom*USA Publishing had grown to 617 employees with revenues of $53.6 million. They were in 78 markets in 14 states with directories printed at 7.06 million and a distribution population of 10.84 million. Under Art’s leadership, the Company received 25 awards from the Association of Directory Publishers, including “Best Innovative Product” and “Publisher of the Year.” After experiencing such a rapid growth and unparalleled success in the telephone directory business, McLeod USA acquired Telecom*USA Publishing, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary bearing the name McLeod USA Publishing Company. Art was asked to continue leading the Company and agreed to become President and Chief Executive Officer. Again Art demonstrated his expert entrepreneurial abilities as he led the growth in the next five years that enabled the business to become the largest independent (non-telephone company) publisher of telephone directories in the United States, with revenues reaching over $250 million, over 35 million books printed and reaching 59 million people.

In 2002, with 2400 employees and directories in 26 states, McLeodUSA Publishing was sold to Yell Group for $600 million and Art became the Chief Operating Officer of Yellowbook USA. After successfully overseeing the transition, Art retired in September, 2002. However, by the beginning of 2003, Art’s entrepreneurial fire still burning brightly from within, Art and a partner purchased Raining Rose, Inc., a business that manufactures body care products, with Art assuming the position of Chairman of the Board. In 2004, Art and two business associates started Corridor Management, Inc., a private equity management fund, where he served as Chairman of Board.

Some of his professional honors and recognition awards received were; 2005 - Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Award

2000 - Iowa Society of CPAs - Outstanding Member in Business

1998 - Variety Club of Iowa Humanitarian Award (with wife Terri)

1998 - Camp Courageous of Iowa Pioneer Award - given for “outstanding service and dedication in pioneering recreation and respite care for thousands of disabled campers.”

1998 - Finalist, American Institute of CPAs - Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry (nominated by Iowa Society of CPAs)

1997 - Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award, Iowa Society of CPAs - in “recognition of contributions to the profession and the business community.”

1994 and 1992 - Finalist, Iowa/Nebraska Regional Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, sponsored by Ernst and Young, Inc. Magazine and Merrill Lynch - this award honors those individuals and companies whose ingenuity, hard work and innovation have created successful and growing business ventures.

1974 - Voted “Outstanding Young Men in America”

1968 - Army Commendation Medal (US Army Sgt. E-5, 1966-1968)

His community and professional activities included,

Trustee - Tanager Place Foundation

Trustee - Big Brothers Big Sisters

Trustee - United Way of East Central Iowa

Trustee - Junior Achievement

Director - History Center

Director - Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust

Director - Teledirect International, Inc.

Advisor - Marshall Associates Capital

Director - Kirkwood Community College Foundation

Director - Corridor Management, Inc.

Past community professional activities,

Director - Cedar Rapids Symphony

Director - Camp Courageous of Iowa

Director - Junior Achievement

Director - Theatre Cedar Rapids

Director - Kirkwood Community College

Director - St. Luke’s Hospital

Trustee - Mount Mercy College

1986 - Campaign Chairman - United Way of East Central Iowa

1988 - President of the United Way of East Central Iowa

1994 - Chairman - Scholarshare Foundation, Mount Mercy College

1996-and 1997 - Chairman - Variety Club Telethons

Director / Treasurer - Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce

Scoutmaster - Troop 560

Director / Treasurer - Association of Directory Publishers - Boston, Massachusetts

In September of this year, Art was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. This honors business people who have shown by example the importance of achieving a high level of success both personally and professionally.

Art served with the U.S. Army in Germany during the Vietnam era. He was also a member of the Marion American Legion Post # 298, St. Pius Catholic Church and the Cedar Rapids Country Club.

Art always believed that anything is possible and was always willing to support the hard work of others, whether in a non-profit or for profit venture. Art, along with his wife Terri, have played an extremely important hands-on role in making our community a better place for employees, entrepreneurs and numerous non-profit agencies.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters, 206 Collins Road N.E. 52402 or the St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation, 1026 A. Avenue N.E. 52402.

Please leave a message, tribute or memorial to the Christoffersen family on our webpage, www.cedarmemorial.com> under Obituaries.

Arthur (Art) L. Christoffersen
Toddville, Iowa
November 20, 1946 - December 21, 2005