​​Meet our Member: Brad Klatt

Greetings, Rotarians! I'm Brad, one of your newer members. Many of you know me as co-owner and brewer at Uncommon Loon. I thought I’d share a few other things about me. As I think about it, my past has somehow led me to this place. So, let’s rewind a bit…
I’m married to my best friend Christine (Chris) Weiss-Klatt going on 30 years. We have lived in Chisago City for 24 years. We have two grown sons, Eli (26) and Noah (24) who attended Chisago Lakes schools. They’ve both flown the coop and now live in Northeast Metro. I grew up on a small farm in Cambridge, MN on the Rum River, the youngest of 4 kids. I spent my youth building tree forts, fishing on the Rum, camping, hunting small game, riding dirt bikes, slapping
mosquitos, and tormenting my 2 older sisters and brother. 

Besides the outdoors, I’ve always had interests in science and music. My parents had to put up with all the experiments I had going on, but always encouraged my interests and curiosity for which I will be forever grateful. I started playing guitar when I was 13, and started gigging with a local variety band called Cedar Creek when I was 15. We played nightclubs, weddings, legion halls on most weekends. I played with Cedar Creek for six years. I’ve played with a few bands since, currently Mean Gene and the Woodticks.
I graduated from Cambridge-Isanti High School in 1977 and attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth. I graduated in 1982 with a degree in Industrial Technology and went to work for Control Data Corporation as an electronics engineer/programmer. In 1990, I left CDC and took a job as an electronics engineer with the Trane Company in La Crosse, WI. I transferred to St. Paul in 1992 as a controls & automation engineer. In 1994, Chris and I tied the knot on the banks of the Rum River back at the farm where I grew up. My career with Trane included many different roles in R&D, program management, and technical leadership until my retirement in January of 2017.
A few years before our first son Eli was born, Chris had bought me a homebrew kit and I started brewing my own beer. It sparked an insatiable urge (obsession?) to learn everything I could about brewing, perfecting recipes, and adding to an ever-growing brew equipment inventory. One of my teachers told us that folks should “retire to something not from something”. So, after years of corporate cubicle life, I took a leap of faith and retired to open Uncommon Loon, satisfying my passion for brewing craft beer, hosting live music, and providing a fun place for our community to hang out.
Other than craft beer, I have other interests: traveling, cooking, computers, playing guitar, boating, fishing, scuba diving, tinkering with electronics, attending musical events, binging Netflix, craft cocktails…
Community service has always been a core value for me. I've volunteered as an adult leader with the local Cub Scout and Boy Scouts for many years. Serving our community is also a core company value at the Loon. The dedication to service is what truly drew me to Rotary. Seeing such a passionate and committed group of people was inspiring, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.
So, there you have it – my story (so far!). Thanks for letting me share it with you, and here's to many more chapters filled with fellowship and making a difference in Chisago Lakes!
Cheers!
Brad

​​Meet our Member: Brad Klatt

Greetings, Rotarians! I'm Brad, one of your newer members. Many of you know me as co-owner and brewer at Uncommon Loon. I thought I’d share a few other things about me. As I think about it, my past has somehow led me to this place. So, let’s rewind a bit…
I’m married to my best friend Christine (Chris) Weiss-Klatt going on 30 years. We have lived in Chisago City for 24 years. We have two grown sons, Eli (26) and Noah (24) who attended Chisago Lakes schools. They’ve both flown the coop and now live in Northeast Metro. I grew up on a small farm in Cambridge, MN on the Rum River, the youngest of 4 kids. I spent my youth building tree forts, fishing on the Rum, camping, hunting small game, riding dirt bikes, slapping
mosquitos, and tormenting my 2 older sisters and brother.