1983 Agricultural assistant examination

1984: Studies of agricultural economics at the University of Kassel/Witzenhausen as well as studies at the law faculty of the Georg-August-University in Göttingen

1990: Graduation as Diplom-Ingenieur in the field of agricultural economics

1990 - 2001:

Managing director of the Melsungen District Farmers' Association (until 1993) and the Werra-Meißner e. V. District Farmers' Association.

2001 - 2011:

Full-time first district councilor in the Werra-Meißner district

since August 2011:

Managing director and principal of DEULA Witzenhausen GmbH, training institute for applied technology.