Bill originally comes from the iron and copper mining country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Born in Marquette among the Finnish and Welsh miners, he was raised to enjoy the outdoors. Early in his life his parents moved to Eau Claire, where, after high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison. After working for General Motors, Bill began to question his life's work and eventually enrolled at Yale Divinity School. He was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1965 and served in a number of pastorates before returning to Eau Claire, where he served the yoked churches, Truax Congregational Church and North Presbyterian (PCUSA). Using his business administration background, his computer, his teaching, freelance writing and broadcasting skills, and his training as a pastor, Bill has met a variety of needs for organizational development, management consulting and conflict resolution.

Bill has been published in a number of publications, including the Akron Beacon-Journal, Bethany Guide, Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Iowa United Church Reporter, The Lutheran Journal, Ohio Forum (editor), Popular Science, and Columbus Dispatch Sunday Magazine (Ohio) and C.S.S. Publications. Early in his freelance career, he concentrated on non-fiction how-to articles. Later in his career he published the book, “Don't Drop the Feather,” a collection of sermons he had written for a professional sermon service. In 1976 he started Heins Publications, a contract publisher for self-publishing authors. After many successful years, Bill closed Heins Publications, and is no longer active in the publishing business.

Rev. Bill Heins resides in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.