SJU names six new members to Board of Trustees

Six new members have been named to the Saint John’s University Board of Trustees.

The Rev. Ian Dommer, OSB ‘80, Steve Halverson ’76, Tom Hokr ’72, Kelly Skalicky, Michael Urbanos ’72 and Dan Whalen ‘70 all began their terms July 1. Hokr was named as Alumni Trustee.

SJU trustees serve three-year terms, and are eligible to serve three consecutive terms. The Alumni Trustee serves a two-year term.

In addition, Greg Schroeder was named the faculty representative and Sam Laux was named the student representative to the board. Schroeder is a professor of history and Laux is a senior accounting major from Minneapolis.

The board consists of 37 members.

Dommer is a faculty resident in the sophomore residence halls at SJU. He received a master’s degree from Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary in 1980. Dommer served at Saint Bernard’s Parish and High School, Benilde-Saint Margaret’s High School and then worked in various administrative and teaching capacities at Saint John’s Prep. He then joined the Campus Ministry office at SJU, serving as director until 2018.

Halverson received a bachelor’s degree from SJU, his law degree from American University in Washington, D.C., and has completed executive business education at Dartmouth University and Wharton. He is chairman of The Haskell Company, one of the nation’s largest integrated design-build organizations and served as CEO from 2000-18. Halverson served on the Saint John’s Board of Regents from 2005-12.

Hokr received a bachelor’s degree in classical languages from SJU, continued on to acquire Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations, his certificate in estate planning and income taxation and his Master of Science in financial services and accredited investment fiduciary. Hokr is a founding partner of MHS Companies in Maple Grove, Minnesota. He entered the financial services industry in 1983 with CIGNA and began his own practice in 1990. Hokr served as president of the Alumni Association Board from 2009-10 and is the recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award in 2012.

Skalicky is CEO and president of Stearns Bank in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She spent her career practicing law in Chicago and New York before dedicating herself to working in the banking industry. Skalicky received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and attained her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. After practicing law, she worked up through the ranks at Stearns Bank, serving as legal counsel and designated General Counsel in 2011 before being promoted to president in December 2017 and CEO in February 2019.

Urbanos received a bachelor’s degree in English from SJU, a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota, a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law and a Master of Business Taxation degree from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. He also received his CPA in 1978. Urbanos is the retired chief administrative officer and general counsel of Space Center, Inc. He served as Alumni Trustee from 2015-19 and received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2012.

Whalen received a bachelor’s degree in government from SJU, an MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and an AM from Stanford University's Food Research Institute. He is currently chair and owner of Great Places to Work Institute, a partner in HTEC Group, and president of the Whalen Family Foundation. Whalen served on the SJU Board of Regents/Trustees from 1997-2007 and 2008-17 (including a term as chair from 2004-07) and was chair for the capital campaign One Generation to the Next, and co-chair for the most recent campaign, Forward Ever Forward. In 2005, Saint John’s presented to Whalen the Fr. Walter Reger Distinguished Alumni Award. He served as SJU’s interim president from October 2008 until June 30, 2009. In recognition of his service and leadership, Whalen was presented an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Saint John’s in October 2009.