St. Thomas 2014 graduate Robbie Harrell launched his own company last year and gained an unlikely business partner along the way.

After meeting on a plane ride bound for Austin, Texas, last spring, Minnesota Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler joined Harrell and his business, Minnesota Ice Sculptures, on their journey, buying half the company.

“He asked me a question about the crossword puzzle he was doing,” Harrell said of the meeting. “I was no help, but we started talking. He asked me what I did, and I told him about the company and how we were in a weird time because my business partner wanted to sell off.”

Stu Lombardo, Harrell’s former partner and co-founder, was looking to explore other opportunities, leaving his 50 percent of the company up for grabs.

“I told him that I was a finance major and was interested in becoming a entrepreneur,” Loeffler said. “I asked him what he thought about me buying Stu’s shares.”

Harrell said he initially didn’t recognize Loeffler but discovered who he was after they talked.

“At the time I was like, ‘Yeah, random dude sitting next to me on the plane … I don’t know who you are, but sure, you can invest in my company,’” Harrell joked. “We chatted a little more, and I asked him what he did for a living. He said, ‘I’m Cullen Loeffler of the Minnesota Vikings.’”

The two reunited on the plane ride home and solidified plans to get Loeffler involved.

After meeting with Lombardo, Loeffler joined Harrell at Minnesota Ice Sculptures as co-owner.

“I saw a lot of potential with very little risk,” Loeffler said of his investment. “I could tell that Robbie had the work ethic and intelligence that would make him successful.”

When the Vikings’ long snapper isn’t handling business on the field, he goes to work building and advancing Minnesota Ice Sculptures.

“We plan to take ice sculpting to an entirely new level, starting new Minnesota ice sculpture traditions and ultimately build ice creations that have never been attempted before,” Loeffler said.

St. Thomas senior Paul Frekot, business intern at Minnesota Ice Sculptures, said the new business venture is exciting.

“We have a very positive outlook. Having a Vikings player, having someone that exposed to the general public is awesome. It’s helping us develop new, big clients,” Frekot said.

The biggest impact Loeffler has had may be the confidence that he has given to Harrell.

“Having someone like Cullen invest in your company shows that your hard work is paying off,” Harrell said. “It means a lot to a young entrepreneur to see that other people are believing in what you are doing and know that you’re going to put in the hard work to get it done.”

According to Loeffler, this impact means the most to him, too.

“It is a tremendous feeling making Robbie’s dream come to fruition,” Loeffler said. “Knowing that he will pay it forward one day makes it all the more worthwhile, as well.”

Scott Sikich can be reached at siki3549@stthomas.edu.