Lewis to Speak at GCC Graduation

GCC Announces Grad Speaker

Gogebic Community College is pleased to announce Mr. Ian Lewis, of Laurium, MI as the graduation speaker for the 90^th annual commencement ceremony to be held on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 5:00 pm CST in the David G. Lindquist Student and Conference Center Gymnasium on the GCC campus in Ironwood.

Ian Laurence Lewis, formerly of Shawano, WI, graduated from Gogebic Community College in 2016 with an Associate of Arts degree in Pre-Law with honors. Lewis is a third generation GCC graduate and is incredibly proud of the education that he received. He was a member of the cross-country running team and named Most Valuable Player in 2016. Following graduation from GCC, he transferred on to Northern Michigan University where he received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2018, and 2022 respectively, followed by a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University in 2022.

He currently serves as the Village Manager of Laurium since January of 2023. In this role, he serves as the Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer. He also oversees the Village of Laurium’s Administration, Police Department, Fire Department, and its Department of Public Works. Ian is the youngest ever appointed municipal manager in the State of Michigan. During his time as manager, he has stabilized the Village’s General Fund by improving its fund balance from approximately $16,000 to more than $500,000 within two fiscal years, was successfully awarded over $1,000,000 in grant awards within the first year of employment that supported numerous energy efficiency projects for the public works building, village hall, fire department and the village’s parks.

Ian is very active in the Copper Country area serving as a board member on the Keweenaw Health Foundation Board of Directors, Team Peninsula Member which is a leadership group that is made up of key stakeholders throughout the Copper Country, Keweenaw Young Professionals Member, Village of Laurium Planning Commission former member and Calumet Junior Hockey Association Referee.

In 2022, Ian was selected as the Outstanding Graduating Graduate Student at Northern Michigan University – Political Science Department, and nominee for the 2024 Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year Award.

His hobbies include golfing, cross-country skiing, boating, fishing, UTVing, being involved with hockey, and chasing after his two golden retrievers during his free time.