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Back on June 7, 2017, Lori gave her classification talk. This writer never posted Rounds for that meeting but thought now would be a good time to provide a report on the presentation. So here goes. Lori is the Executive Director of the Fergus Area College Foundation. Her husband is Randy and as of June of 2017, they had been married 17 years. Their son, Logan, is now 11 years old and they have a dog named Echo. Lori's parents are Les and Sandy Hanson and her siblings are Deb Lohse and Barb Skinnemoen. Her grandparents are Herman and Ida Hanson, and Ida and Keith Olson happen to be related. Lori was born at Lake Region Hospital almost 50 years prior to the date she gave her classification talk and she grew up on Adolphus Avenue, her parents having moved into town from the farm when she was six months old. (They sold the farm in 2015). She completed her studies at the Community College in 1994 and went on to get her Bachelor of Arts degree from Moorhead State. Lori does a lot of volunteer work in the community and at her church. Organizations or efforts she has been involved with include the Chamber, United Way, the Convention & Visitors Bureau, EIC, the Blandin Foundation leadership training program, not to mention volunteering as a firefighter. Her hobbies include camping, kayaking, biking, and gun and bow shooting. To get away, the family retreats to a beautiful area by Maple State Park. Lori also likes to ride motorcycle, noting she received her license to do so before her husband got his. Lori loves to attend all of their son's different activities, including baseball, Tae Kwon Do, and now performing on drums after first trying out a string instrument. In June of 2016 Lori obtained her boiler's license and she and her son pursue that pastime several times a year. Logan sat in on her training for 18 hours of the lectures but cannot get his license until he turns age 16. Randy also has his license, as did a grandfather. With respect to her professional life, Lori started at the Fergus Falls newspaper in 1990 as an accounting assistant, going to college at the same time. She was then promoted to assistant advertising director, which included the classified ads and then was promoted to overall advertising director. That was when the newspaper changed to an electronic format. She then went on to become the new media director for Boom Newspapers, traveling to North Carolina, Texas and southern Minnesota to help build the respective newspaper's website. She was then asked to be the general manager, or the equivalent of the publisher, overseeing about 80 employees. All in all, she was in the newspaper business for 11 years, always in the public eye. Lori then went out on her own, creating her own consulting business called Office Link; Lori still has a few clients she helps out, filling an already busy schedule. In 2002, Lori became Community and Public Relations Manager/Foundation Director at Lake Region Healthcare, having been recruited by Ed Mehl. She loved the job but the healthcare industry was changing and Logan was born, so her priorities were also necessarily changing. So she took a job with Central Minnesota Area Health Education Center (AHEC) as a regional specialist. The program was a result of a federally funded grant through the State of Minnesota; for employment purposes Lori was working for the College which contracted her to AHEC. Her area included 15 counties and she helped students relocating to outstate Minnesota. In 2014 the federal grant went away, right at the time there was an opening in the Executive Director position with the College's Foundation. Her first day on the job was the day after she finished her last job and Lori now hopes that this is the job from which she will retire. In the prior school year, the Foundation awarded $174,000 in scholarships. (As a two year college, it costs less than $5,000 for someone to attend a full school year.) The Foundation also donated over $85,000 for school initiatives and at the time of her presentation, was supporting prairie restoration efforts and an outdoor classroom. About 70% of the student body intends to transfer and earn a four year degree. We are one of the only colleges in Minnesota to offer an Associate of Fine Arts degree in music, theatre and visual arts. There are 120 faculty and staff members, and 91% live within 30 miles of our town. In the two years prior to her presentation, Lori spent a lot of time focusing on the school's alumni, identifying and locating them to develop an ongoing relationship. Her day is spent fostering relationships, not to ask for money so much but to learn individual stories and share them with others. Lori has an assistant and also relies on volunteers that are devoted to the College. When she spoke, the Foundation had just received a $100,000 endowment that resulted from the donor's long time relationship with the school. She knows the College truly makes a difference in its students' lives. Lori likes to get involved when she feels she can contribute something (that is why you see her doing electronic things, which she really likes). With respect to joining Rotary, she said it was based on her friendship with Bonnie Denzel, who never gave up on Lori, even while she was in Kiwanis. Describing our club as a "good fit" and knowing morning meetings would be difficult, she considered Noon Kiwanis but the President of the College at the time, Peg Kennedy, was in it so Lori did not go there. Lori had already become acquainted with some Rotarians and was looking forward to getting to know more about them and other club members. She feels strongly that personal growth and development are important and was looking forward to learning from our programs, our fellowship and our service activities. Lori also mentioned leadership development, noting she sees leaders in our midst and our members' willingness to "always give." In community service, Lori noted that her son Logan is usually along at everything she does so he too can see the need to give back. She did not join Rotary to make "social capital" but she recognizes Rotary is a place where that too can be gained; you can think of something that needs to be done and likely meet someone who can help. And she described our social events as a fun way to learn about each other personally. As to singing, maybe not so much a fan of that, joining an illustrious group of past and present members that may fall in the same category. Lori, we look forward to your year of leadership! |
