Steve Rader for Cowlitz County Commissioner

We’re writing on behalf of Steve Rader who has been our financial advisor since 2011. What started as a professional relationship has developed into a friendship because of Steve’s integrity, genuine care for people and his enthusiasm to live life to the fullest.


Professionally, Steve has helped us immensely to wisely manage our money. He listens closely to our needs and hopes in order to recommend appropriate investments. He has keenly been aware not only of our situation, but also the market to adjust our financial strategy accordingly as things change over time. And because of his wisdom and prudence, we have seen our portfolio grow, even as the market fluctuates. Because of this, we are confident he would be an asset to Cowlitz County to best manage the budget to serve the community.


Steve has integrity. We truly trust him to have our backs and to act on our behalf. He has proven that serving his clients with integrity is critical to who he is as a professional and a person. For example, at one point we were looking to invest some money and he had researched a couple of different options. One option made him more money than the other, but he not only shared both options with us, but recommended the option that made him less money because he felt it was better for us. This is an amazing testimony to his integrity, which is foundational to everything he does, professionally and personally.


Steve is a servant leader. He is committed to his family, has volunteered at local schools and his church. He has taught kids leadership qualities and personal finance. He has a heart for youth—to empower and inspire them to step up to challenges in life and reach their greatest potential. He is incredibly personable and inspirational in his service to others.


Last, but not least, Steve is real. He speaks truth and is honest about challenges in life. He is solution oriented, and his faith is the foundation of his service and his care for all around him. He walks his talk and genuinely cares for others by stepping out in service to them.


Because he is bright, genuinely caring and committed to serving people in his community, we believe Cowlitz County would be lucky to have Steve Rader as one of the County Commissioners.

It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for Steve Rader. I have had the privilege of working with him the past few years in many youth activities and girl’s camps. Through these activities, Steve has contributed to my learning and growth in becoming the person I want to be.


The past two summers I have been able to be a leader of a ropes course group, with Steve as the instructor. While working with him, he let me lead the group so that I could have practice in keeping people’s attention but he also intervened at the right times to ensure growth and learning for all involved. Steve was able to read people’s body language and he always kept the group focused. He taught me many concepts but the one that has really stuck with me is the difference between a leader and a boss. One of the main components to this is that leaders care about people and their interests in their lives.


Throughout the past three years I have also had the chance to work with Steve on a church youth committee. He played a major role in running the meetings and finalizing the outcomes of all decisions. In the multiple meetings we had, Steve made sure that people had the opportunity to participate and he included those that were not always included.


Steve is a great leader and practices what he teaches to others. He shows that he is interested in people by striving to learn people’s names and relates to people on a personal level and you can recognize that he is interested in you. He has inspired many youth, me included, throughout the time that we have worked together.

I enthusiastically recommend Steve Rader to you. It is a pleasure to work with someone that supports and encourages people to be their best selves and have fun in that process. As a gifted teacher and mentor, Steve Rader is such a person. I have known and worked with Steve for eighteen years. He has a true talent to lead, guide, and inspire both adults and youth.


Steve has volunteered countless hours in our community. He has a well-rounded list of experiences that would be an asset to any organization or team. As a volunteer facilitator at our district’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Education, Arts, and Mathematics) student symposiums, Steve is a favorite presenter. His insights, practical tips, and great story telling abilities make the complex world of finance understandable and interesting to gifted middle school students. That is no small feat! Steve has a wonderful rapport with people which is evident in all his interactions. He has the rare ability to make each individual feel important and valued. Steve motivates his students to grow their leadership skills and potential.


Steve is dependable, conscientious, and a great communicator. He is respectful to all he encounters regardless of station, creed, or status. He is service-minded, results-focused, and an amazing addition to any team. He has improved our community through his service and leadership. I highly recommend him to you.

It is my pleasure to write this Letter of Recommendation for Steve Rader. Steve has quite a talent for teaching workshops or seminars to students and adults. His content knowledge and expertise regarding finances and leadership are an invaluable resource to young people in this day and age. Additionally, Steve has a unique and engaging teaching style that keeps the audience engaged.


Approximately 18 years ago Steve was my mentor in an insurance business. Steve was knowledgeable, accurate and patient while he trained me and helped integrate me into the life insurance field. I was able to present with him on many occasions to individuals, couples, families and large groups regarding life insurance. I found Steve’s presentations to be thought provoking, honest, and anticipatory. The people that Steve presented to enjoyed his interactions and felt very comfortable with him, as well as enjoying the products that were fitted for them.


Additionally, for ten years I was a Career and Technical Education teacher at the high school level. Steve had grown his business to include financial counseling and created a workshop that he taught to students regarding the basics of financial literacy and preparedness. Students found Steve’s workshops to be engaging and eventually very valuable. He provided worksheets for them to calculate their individual situations as well as slides and interactive lessons.


Last, I have worked for years with Steve through our church in a leadership capacity. I went through ropes course leadership training with him twice and was able to interact on the course with him as a leader and as a patron. Steve constantly strives to help people grow and reach their maximum potential. He is safe, has good personal boundaries and is able to help students and adults reflect and bring themselves to a higher level of awareness and growth.


I would not hesitate to recommend Steve and any workshop that he might teach, whether it be financially or leadership oriented. He genuinely cares about people and you can see that in his presentations and workshops.

Upon meeting Steve in 2015 we immediately developed a liking for him. His outgoing and positive personality is very contagious. After getting to know him better through the years We’ve realized that his core beliefs are very solid and unyielding. That being said, Steve is open minded enough to listen to ulterior opinions to reach common goals. He’s very competent in his chosen profession and has helped us immensely through the years. All things being said we believe Steve, with his passion for getting things done, will make a great county commissioner.