Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
BILL MALLOY, left and Erik Guenard, right, fill in for the absent Jim Lorenson and John Lupino Tuesday during the GCC board meeting. The board approved the hiring of two new instructors and an athletic director, picking the local trees for two of the hires.
By IAN MINIELLY
Ironwood - After receiving 16 applicants for the vacant athletic director and Lindquist Student Center manager, the college interviewed three candidates and hired Jacob Bonacci of Hurley for the position as director of the Linquist Student conference center and athletics. Bonacci attended GCC, received a BS in physical education from UW-Superior and a MA in exercise physiology from the College of St. Scholastica. Bonacci will lead a growing athletic program that is adding softball and baseball.
College president Jim Lorenson was in Washington D.C., where he met with Betsy DeVos, secretary of education. Erik Guernard, dean, said Lorenson and DeVos were scheduled to meet for only 30 minutes, but they spent 45 minutes in discussion and DeVos demonstrated her knowledge of GCC and the schools reputation from her long-time status as an active Michigander.
The school also hired a full-time affiliated history instructor. The school received 51 applications and the search committee narrowed the list down to four for interviews. The committee recommended Andrew DiGiorgio from Ironwood, who has been a public safety officer with the city of Ironwood. DiGiorgio has been an adjunct professor for GCC, receiving positive student reviews and is hired as a full-time probationary appointment to the staff.
GCC hired Gary Patterson from Idaho to fill the vacant biology instructor position. The school received 13 applicants, narrowed the options down to six for interviews and recommended Patterson for the job based on his credentials and teaching experience. Patterson is hired as a full-time probationary instructor to the colleges staff.
Scott Jackson tendered his resignation from the Porcupine Mountain Ski Operation, effective July 28. Sue Beals pointed out Jackson did an excellent job supervising the ski operations, turning around the enterprise from where it had been. The board accepted the resignation and voted to support opening the position up and seeking Jackson's replacement.
The board went into executive session and closed after only about 25-30 minutes.
