Linda Rettick

Co-founder

Sometimes with a bio it’s just best to let the person tell you about themselves in their own words. Such is the case with Linda Rettick, Matt’s wife and the co-founder of CRP. So, here in her own words is Linda’s story, edited, as she often says, to protect the innocent.

“I was born in Kankakee, IL, spent my childhood living in Piedmont, MO, and Bluffton, IN.  When I was a teen-ager, we moved to Michigan. I went to college in Illinois. I met Matt in Michigan and we we’ve been happily married since 1978.  We have four children: Candy, Greg, Jeremy, and Brandon.  My childhood was very, very happy. My dad was a minister, and family was of HUGE importance, and still is.  Parents, brothers (I have two), aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, have always gotten together as often as possible.

When Matt and I decided to start Cornerstone and then Covenant, the whole family chipped in and helped.  During the time of Cornerstone, it was just Matt and me and our sons. We were very busy and it was lots of fun and the work was meaningful.  Then we began to grow, the business and our family.  We now have 13 beautiful, fantastic grandchildren, and 35 employees at CRP!

I wish I could be at the office more time than I am, and I am trying to figure out a way to accomplish that because I adore being thoroughly involved in the business. I love and appreciate and miss hanging out with the staff, and I really appreciate the time (wish it was more), spent with our producers, and their spouses.

My filled-to-overflowing-life outside the office includes spending precious time with all of my grandchildren, taking care of our “little” farm which including horses, cows, chickens, dogs, cats, and occasional strays (who sometimes stay) and gardening, (I have a huge vegetable garden, sometimes, two)!  My grandkids like to help me plant, and pick and can the vegetables. No one likes to help me weed, though Matt and my neighbors and friends love to help me eat what the garden produces. (Although some of my neighbors have been known to lock their doors and close their curtains when they see me coming with yet ANOTHER basket of zucchini).

As if that weren’t enough, I am back in college, and enjoying Belmont University in Nashville very much (using my Wonder Woman lunchbox the CRP staff got me). I love writing and am working seriously on several different projects: fiction, research, and some non- fiction.  I love cooking, baking and entertaining, I dislike exercising and cleaning my house, but do so anyway.

I love my churches……yes I attend two, but not on the same day.  I read a lot and pray a lot.  I continue working on my pet project to rid the world of those annoying type “A” personalities!