Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By IAN MINIELLY
Ironwood — Outgoing Gogebic Community College President James Lorenson discussed his retirement Thursday, saying, “This was an unplanned career. I came to GCC as an opportunity to get back home and stayed 31 years.”
The Lorenson family roots run deep in the area and Lorenson said he has no intention of leaving Ironwood.
His parents and his wife’s family are here, they have children here and grandkids, only now he will have the time to spend with his family that he has not had as college president.
Lorenson said he has a date on April 15 to pick up one of his grandkids from school. It is marked on the calendar and it is something they are both looking forward to.
“I found myself getting tired and distracted over other issues and the job was less fun over time,” Lorenson said. His retirement begins in June, but he has an extensive amount of vacation time and plans on using it before being away. While decision-making is now in the three deans’ hands, Lorenson will be available on campus to lend a hand and finish tidying up loose ends.
According to Lorenson, “Three of the last four presidents left in decisive ways. Only one stayed around and it seemed hard for him. I think there should be a decisive point so people do not get confused about who to see when they have a question or issue. The institution needs to move forward.”
The three college deans will manage the school as the “executive committee.” Lorenson described it as a great opportunity for the deans to experience other facets of the school than their own narrow stovepipes. “In this way, the deans will grow and gain a greater appreciation and knowledge of the full realm (of the school).”
The college board will consider how far it wants to cast the net in its search for a new president. Lorenson said this is a good time to begin looking, as this is historically when the applicant pool is the greatest, but the search will take as long as necessary.
John Lupino, chairman of the college board, said one tool many community colleges are going to is the use of professional search agencies. The board will make a decision on whether to use a search firm at its next meeting, so he plans on gathering information to present to the board and the deans at the next meeting.
Lorenson said the board recognizes the new president will be coming to a rural institution and a location with four distinct seasons.
“For the good of the school, you cannot be a hanger-on,” Lorenson said. Then he described a book by Jim Collins, titled, “Good to Great.” Collins’ point in the book is that leaders begin to lose their effectiveness either because of complacency or just the difficulty in continuing to be stimulated by the same position for an extended period of time. It becomes harder for an institution to change after those seven to eight years. Lorenson said, “Maybe I stayed too long. I’ve had a great run.”
There are no certain future plans as far as employment. Lorenson said he might do some consulting work as opportunities arise, but he really wants to spend more time with his family and fishing. He has been able to fish very little and it is something he has always really enjoyed. He and his son started inventorying the fishing gear and it’s something they had not done in years.
One thing most casual observers of the school for the last decade probably have no idea about Lorenson is he is a train enthusiast. Now there will be time for impromptu drives and train rides and visiting the train museum in Duluth, which Lorenson said most people do not even know exists. He was offered a job working for a train company in Minnesota by his friend already, but he declined the offer.
Lorenson said he was advised by a retired colleague that he will need to learn to say no. He is on the Aspirus Ironwood Hospital board and other committees and plans to stay involved with them.
Commencement is one facet of working at the college he will miss. It is the culmination of a year’s work or more and the students are there with their families who have supported them. Faculty are there who worked day in and day out with those students.
“This is an institution that will literally stop at nothing to help students succeed. I have been through 29 commencements, I will miss these a lot,” he said.
Lupino said, “Jim had a very distinguished career. He left the school in a better position than when he arrived.
“Jim leaves with many positive achievements,” he added.