The Value of Making Connections

Two classmates built a life-long friendship—and two businesses—because of MSU.

By Amanda Dyslin '03, '15

Andrew Lanners remembers spotting Luke Eggebraaten in the Memorial Library sometime during their sophomore year. They recognized each other from class, struck up a conversation, and by their own admission, probably didn’t think much of it at the time.

“The reason that’s so funny,” Eggebraaten said, laughing, “is because I think that was the first and only time we were in the library.”

What stuck was what they discovered about each other next. Both were already dabbling in business, long before formal plans or polished resumes. Eggebraaten was buying and selling dirt bikes and go-karts. Lanners was flipping taxidermy to help pay for school. What started as casual conversations about these endeavors quickly turned into something more.

“We really figured out quickly, ‘Oh, he likes the same things as me,’” Lanners said. “We started talking about future goals and plans even though we had no idea what that would look like yet.”

They both graduated in 2018 with degrees in Sport Management, but another big part of their education, they say, came from those early side hustles and the hours spent talking them through together. Those conversations happened in car rides across southern Minnesota, hauling equipment in the back of Lanners’ truck. They happened between classes, over text and eventually, nearly every day.

“What was really cool is he was always just as excited as I was, even if it was my deal,” Eggebraaten said. “We’d be like, ‘What are we paying for it? What are we selling it for?’ And then we’d just go.”

Their road trips doubled as brainstorming sessions, building not just business instincts, but trust.

“It was out of necessity at first,” Eggebraaten said. “But then we really started to bond. We were talking business nonstop, talking about life. It fast-tracked everything.”

Nearly a decade later, that same rhythm continues, just at a different scale. Today, Lanners runs Premier Pinball & Amusement, a Twin Cities-based business that buys, sells, repairs and transports arcade and pinball machines nationwide. Eggebraaten is the founder of Phaser Marketing, a digital marketing agency serving excavation and septic companies across the U.S. and beyond.

Neither business existed when they met. Both, they say, were shaped by the same foundation: curiosity, hustle and each other.

“I can honestly say I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today without Luke’s guidance, perspective and constant push to think bigger,” Lanners said.

Their friendship has evolved alongside their businesses, but one tradition remains constant. Each year, they meet—now typically in Arizona, where Eggebraaten lives—for what they call a structured, no-nonsense business reset. Each gets one uninterrupted hour.

“You break down your business, your vision, your challenges, your future plans,” Lanners said. “The other listens, pushes, questions and offers ideas. It’s focused. It’s honest. It’s growth-driven.”

It’s also something they both look forward to all year.

“It’s our favorite thing to do,” Eggebraaten said. “Our problems have gotten bigger, sure, but so has our ability to help each other through them.”

That help shows up in both big and small ways. For Eggebraaten, it has meant navigating tough leadership decisions like when to let an employee go.

“That’s the hardest part of the job,” he said. “And it’s not something you can talk through with just anyone.”

For Lanners, it has meant learning to think beyond immediate wins.

“One of my weaknesses is focusing on the now,” he said. “Luke’s really good at reminding me, ‘This is a long-term deal. Do it the right way, even if it’s harder.’”

They’ve pushed each other into uncomfortable territory, too. Eggebraaten encouraged Lanners to build a website and expand his business beyond Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Lanners credits his friend with giving him the confidence to start writing a book.

“Without Luke, I probably wouldn’t have thought I was capable of that,” he said.

Their influence extends beyond their own companies. Both have built charitable giving into their businesses, which started long before they had the resources to do it comfortably. Eggebraaten launched his annual Phaser Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club in his hometown of Detroit Lakes during the COVID-19 pandemic while still working a full-time job. Lanners followed with scholarships and community efforts of his own in the Twin Cities area.

“Don’t wait until you’re successful to give back,” said Eggebraaten, whose 2025 Phaser Fundraiser raised $70,000 for the Boys and Girls Club. “Start today.”
That shared mindset of growth, generosity and long-term thinking has become a defining feature of their partnership. And if there’s one thing they emphasize, it’s that success doesn’t happen in isolation.

“Business is about relationships,” Lanners said. “It’s about “One of my weaknesses is focusing on the now,” he said. “Luke’s really good at reminding me, ‘This is a long-term deal. Do it the right way, even if it’s harder.’”

They’ve pushed each other into uncomfortable territory, too. Eggebraaten encouraged Lanners to build a website and expand his business beyond Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Lanners credits his friend with giving him the confidence to start writing a book.

“Without Luke, I probably wouldn’t have thought I was capable of that,” he said.

Their influence extends beyond their own companies. Both have built charitable giving into their businesses, which started long before they had the resources to do it comfortably. Eggebraaten launched his annual Phaser Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club in his hometown of Detroit Lakes during the COVID-19 pandemic while still working a full-time job. Lanners followed with scholarships and community efforts of his own in the Twin Cities area.

“Don’t wait until you’re successful to give back,” said Eggebraaten, whose 2025 Phaser Fundraiser raised $70,000 for the Boys and Girls Club. “Start today.”

That shared mindset of growth, generosity and long-term thinking has become a defining feature of their partnership. And if there’s one thing they emphasize, it’s that success doesn’t happen in isolation.

“Business is about relationships,” Lanners said. “It’s about pushing each other, doing things the right way and getting uncomfortable enough to grow.”