Lorenson Receives High Marks from GCC Board of Trustees

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, MI - Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - At tonight’s regular meeting of the Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees, personnel issues for the start of the academic year were at the top of the agenda. These positions replace faculty members who have retired:

· Apryl Mateas, of Aurora, IL, was appointed to a full time position of English instructor. Mateas holds a Bachelor and a Master of Arts Degree in English, both from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has taught at Waubonsee Community College and at the College of DuPage in Illinois.

· Dennis Svoke, of Ironwood, was appointed to a full time position as Computer Aided Design & Drafting Instructor. Svoke holds a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education from Northland, an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Aided Design Technology from Gogebic Community College, and has 22 year of CAD drafter and general engineering coordinator experience. He also taught as an adjunct instructor for GCC for eight years.

· Laura Erickson, Montreal, WI, was appointed to the full time position of Cosmetology Instructor. Erickson completed her cosmetology training and her cosmetology instructor training at Gogebic Community College. She has also been employed regionally as a stylist.

· Kady Stone, Bessemer, was appointed to a part time position as a Business Instructor. Stone holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan and has many years of experience as a human resources specialist in the St. Paul, MN area. Since moving back to her hometown of Bessemer, Stone has participated in a number of marketing and fundraising efforts in the area.

The Board also held the election of officers for the year. Robert Jacquart will remain as chairman. John Lupino will serve as Vice Chair, with Susan Beals as Secretary and Tim Kolesar the Treasurer.

Annette Burchell presented information to the Board on the non-motorized trail system throughout the region. The Board agreed to support the efforts of the group as they move forward and will provide letters of support for any grant applications or opportunities that the group may require in their efforts.

The board approved bids to:

· Install new windowsills in the Campus Suites Student Housing Unit. The bid was awarded to Woodtech Builders of Ironwood.

· Purchase new safety platforms for the ski lift towers at Mt. Zion from Sky Trans., MFG. LLC of Contoocook, NH

· Redesign the Gogebic Community College website, provide a common template for information, streamline information pathways, and provide a social media interface. The bid was awarded to by George Marketing, LLC, of Mellen, WI.

· Refinish the auto shop floor with industrial paint from Sherwin Williams of Ashland, WI.

· Provide janitorial services for the GCC Houghton campus area from Lisa Anderson Cleaning Service, Chassell, MI.

After closed session that included discussion and evaluation of President James Lorenson, Chairman Bob Jacquart said, “It is the consensus of the Board of Trustees that Jim Lorenson is doing a fine job as President of Gogebic Community College. President Lorenson is completing his third year as the college President, one as interim and two in his current position. He works well with the Board, and strives to keep us informed and have access to the information we need to be effective policy makers and financial overseers.”

“This past year we saw the successful renewal of our critically important millage, the acquisition of a $300,000 federal grant that underwrites a number of energy management and conservation initiatives, a managed and successful approach to double digit enrollment increases, an improved financial position in the face of flat revenues, and a favorable campus environment and community image. Now, President Lorenson would be the last to take credit for all these positive efforts, but to be sure, he continues to foster a collaborative problem-solving and decision-making approach across the college community that has resulted in these accomplishments.”

“The Board of Trustees is please with the college’s forward movement. It is indicative of what is possible when the Board, administration, and staff at all levels work toward a common goal; that is providing affordable and quality college-level programs and services to our constituents.”