It is with tremendously mixed feelings that I inform you that I am resigning my position as vice-president, advancement, effective end of day, Dec. 22, 2015. In doing so, I am voluntarily leaving what has been, without a doubt, the best job I've ever had.
I have been restless for the past few months, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
My work ethic was still where it always was. My love for the college, its uniqueness and its people is as high as ever. I even have in place the best advancement team I believe I've ever had during my tenure, and part of me knows that I began to build that team with succession planning in mind.
I have simply noticed that my heart wasn't 100 per cent ìall-inî of late. Olds College is the last place in the world I would ever want to go through the motions for a paycheque, so it's time to go.
I didn't come here from higher education. I came from a Crown corporation by way of private sector management consulting by way of the rough and tumble of politics at the Legislature with the government of Alberta.
This was my first job as a fundraiser, but my transferable skill set is as a storyteller, persuader, connector and hopefully, it will be said, leader of others.
Speaking of leaders, I have learned more from our leader (Olds College president) Tom (Thompson) than I ever have at any stop along the way.
The pressure to remain relevant, fiscally able and secure, with revived critical mass of capital facilities is intense almost beyond description in the North American post-secondary landscape.
This is a challenge Olds College is winning at without question, while our instructors do the work that is at the very essence of the Olds College value proposition ñ teach, exceedingly well, the practical skills that students need for their working and civic lives.
What a chance Tom took on a young greenhorn like me -- I will forever be grateful to him for this professional opportunity.
My family and I love the medium-sized community of Olds and we will be staying.
To support that, I will be hanging a shingle for a communications, public affairs, strategic advisory consulting practice. It is something that I have always wanted to do some day, and that time is now.
I may also keep an eye on executive positions in higher education, but with the luxury of being extremely picky as my consulting practice gets off the ground.
I've never been a ìfree agentî before. I have great ideas that really excite me about the professional life I'd like to carve out as a consultant.
This announcement is happening very swiftly because of optimal timing. It's the end of a calendar year and academic term.
An ambitious capital campaign is mere months away from being publicly launched, and the leader of the advancement team needs to get in quickly before this campaign is launched publicly in the spring.
I feel very good about my time at Olds College in both my heart and my gut, and I am equally at peace with my decision to go at the right time, on my terms.
You will see me around town and as a guest at college events, and I may even pop in to win a few games of pool the odd Friday in the Faculty Centre.
I wish you all the best and thank you again. I'm off to employ my passion.
Jordan Cleland
Olds
