Jeff was raised in Bloomington, Burnsville, and Rochester.  He was a political science major and a 1983 graduate of the University of Minnesota.  Jeff also attended the University of Minnesota's law school where he was a cum laude graduate in 1986.  Jeff moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan after law school and was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1986.  In 1989 he returned home to Minnesota and was admitted to the Minnesota bar and the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota

After partnering with Bob Cragg in the Hopkins office of Cragg & Thone, Jeff merged his practice into Sanford, Pierson, Thone & Strean in 2007.  Jeff is the firm's senior litigator.  He is also chair of the firm's estate planning and probate practice group, and has twice been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager.  Jeff also works with many business clients to help them with the wide range of legal issues they face.

Jeff and his wife Jacqui have two children and currently live in Hanover.  Jacqui is the pastor at Alleluia Lutheran Church in St. Michael.