Master David Kijek
Master David Kijek introduced Hwa Rang Do to the Midwest in 1989, currently holds a 5th Dan ranking in Hwa Rang Do, and serves as the leader of the Midwest Region for the World Hwa Rang Do Association. He is directly trained by the Founder of Hwa Rang Do, Supreme Grandmaster Dr. Joo Bang Lee and Grandmaster Taejoon Lee. Mr. Kijek began his martial art training in 1979 and has been teaching since 1982. Through his initial work and dedication to Hwa Rang Do, the Midwest region has grown from a single program to a significant presence across many states. The Midwest is considered the heartland of America, but also the heartland for Hwa Rang Do as a direct result of Master Kijek’s leadership. In addition to teaching regular classes, he also conducts lectures, training seminars, and demonstrations.
Master Kijek also has a distinguished professional career that brings a wealth of assets to the WHRDA’s operations and non-profit mission. He is the President and CEO of WEA Trust Member Benefits. WEA Trust Member Benefits is a group of entities providing personal lines insurances, retirement programs, and financial planning services to Wisconsin public school employees and their families. He is responsible for the insurance and investment programs for WEA Member Benefit Trust, WEA Property & Casualty Insurance Company, WEA Financial Advisors, Inc., and WEA Tax Sheltered Annuity Trust.
Master Kijek joined Member Benefits in 1993 and has held a variety of leadership roles with his most recent promotion to President and CEO in July 2005. Prior to joining Member Benefits, he worked for Metropolitan Insurance and American Family Insurance. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a Masters of Business Administration from Edgewood College.