NIACC to honor Minert with ‘Distinguished Alumnus’ award

MASON CITY – The North Iowa Area Community College has named businessman Stephen A. Minert as its Distinguished Alumnus, college officials told NorthIowaToday.com. A luncheon will be held on April 6, 2018 on Mason City’s NIACC campus, where Mr. Minert will be presented with the award.

A 1990 NIACC graduate, Minert later studied at the University of Northern Iowa, where he majored in Political Science and Criminal Justice. His four-year degree, which is in Political Science and federal Agency Administration, is from Buena Vista university, from which he graduated in 1992. Since then, he’s served as the General Manager and President of Harley-Davidson of Mason City. He and his father, Ron Minert, own the Harley-Davidson dealerships in Charles city and Mason City. The Mason city franchise is Iowa’s largest, based on sales volume and valued inventory.

For decades, the Distinguished Alumnus award has been bestowed on prominent NIACC graduates whose work and charitable endeavors have contributed to the betterment of society. Mr. Minert told NIT that, “while I can think of many others who are more deserving of this honor, I’m very happy – and, humbled – to be selected. My NIACC experience has played a decisive, very positive role in my life. There’s just no way I could’ve achieved whatever success I have without having attended NIACC. It was a wonderful, life-altering experience for me, for which I’ll be forever grateful.”

Since the early 1980s, Mason City Harley-Davidson has sponsored over 150 charities and worthy causes which have helped to improve the lives of countless north Iowans. Since 1990, the Minert family and their dedicated employees have hosted hundreds of charitable events to benefit the less fortunate. The Minert family’s concern for and involvement on behalf of those in need is well established. Minert said that “formal education didn’t come easily for him. “My studies were often a struggle. But I was there for an education.” He also stressed the practical applicability of his NIACC experience. “Had I not started out at NIACC and earned an Associates of Arts degree, I’d likely have not pursued any further education.” In his final three semesters in college, Minert said, his grade point averaged 3.8 on a four-point scale.

Past recipients include Des Moines-based Venture Capitalist John Pappajohn, former Dayton-Hudson CEO Marv Goldstein, manufacturer Jerry Currie, Dr. Darrell Fisher, M.D., and Bill Swift, who served as senior Vice President of the Ford Motors corporation. Other past honorees have included noted author Paula Statman, Washington, DC lobbyist and ex-pro football player Dan Copeland, and FBI Special agent Ralph W. Decker. While Minert was a NIACC student, his late grandfather offered him an interesting perspective – in the form of tough love, Steve told NIT – on the importance of education. Dwight Minert, who served as Superintendent of schools for the Rockwell-Swaledale district, told his grandson that “the world needs ditch diggers, too, and that’s OK.” Minert told NIT that, “while being a ditch digger didn’t interest me, it paid WAY better than the job I had while studying toward my B.A. [Bachelor of Arts] at UNI. It also paid better than what I earned in my first five years of selling Harleys!”

Mr. Minert also credited his father, Ron, “for always being so fully supportive” of his efforts to get an education. “My dad always encouraged me, and believed in me, which was a huge factor in what I’ve been able to do.” NIACC’s ‘Distinguished’ and ‘Outstanding’ Alumnus awards are presented annually. Each year’s honoree is chosen by members of NIACC’s Alumni Advisory Board, which is comprised of nine notable alumnae.

NIACC plans to honor other persons with awards, as well, according to NIACC spokesperson Andrea Mujica.  NIT will report on those awards, as well, in the future when more details are announced.