“Living the Dream” at ILCC

Morgan Larson, Writer 

Life is an interesting concept. One never knows what path they are destined for or which direction to exactly walk down. Although many paths are sometimes short and some long; they often lead to the opening and closing of chapters that fall in-between. This couldn’t be farther from the truth for Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) employee Steve Turner. Looking at Steve’s career at ILCC, one VIP within the college looks on with admiration on Turners’ closing chapter and what this means for Turner as he takes the next steps toward retirement.   

Turner has been with Iowa Lakes Community College for the last 16 years. If anyone knows Turner, his contagious positivity, friendly smile, and willingness to lend a hand goes far from unnoticed by the students and faculty at ILCC. As ILCC’s Computer Technician, Network Support, and Phone System Coordinator, everyone turns to Turner when technology isn’t cooperating or when new technological advancements are needed at ILCC.    

In simpler terms, Turner condenses down his responsibilities. “I take care of all the Mac computers. No one else really does,” said Turner. “I take care of the PC system as well. The phone system is altogether different. Luckily, the phone system has smoothed itself out quite a bit to when it was first installed in 2006.”   

For a man of many hats, Turner’s IT education led him to be in the position he is at today.  Turner takes on a complex area of technological advancements and issues, and he wouldn’t be here without the experience at ILCC as a student. Turner recalls the educational journey that led him up to that moment. “I started college over in the Dubuque area. I was working at Alliant Energy and got laid off,” said Turner.    

This was when Turner steered toward programming, which he later found quite boring. “Just sitting at a desk all day, that’s not me,” said Turner. This began the groundwork as Turner prefers to work with his hands, he decided to go into the networking side. “Running cables, repairing computers, and being able to be physical and move around,” Turner added. This was when he decided to transfer to Iowa Lakes.   

This transfer led Turner to his connection with ILCC and how he began working here for the last 16 years. “I only had a year and a half left when I transferred to Iowa Lakes. I did my practicum here,” said Turner. During this time, the college did not have any available job openings, to which Turner decided to move away and ended up working at a Cabela’s for a time.   

It was not until Turner got in touch with a classmate who was getting ready to graduate at ILCC that everything started to fall into place. “I came back for graduation, and I called the IT director here at ILCC and let him know I was back in the area, and I’d like to see everybody. He then hinted to me that there was a job opening but said he couldn’t promise me anything, and here I am,” said Turner. The rest is history.  

With a career span like Turners, numerous highlights and occurrences are sure to be embedded into your memory to look back on, whether it was involved or straightforward at the time. But for Turner, he has an outlook on life that only a few can strive to achieve every day. “They say that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s it. I love working with everybody; it’s been extended family,” said Turner. He loves what he does.   

Although Turner couldn’t pinpoint particular highlights from his ILCC career, he has made it a point to highlight, instead, his entire ILCC career. He does all of this by being positive and having a great attitude towards anything life could throw at him. “I try to have a good time every day I come in, put a smile on my face and try to make someone else happy and smile, and just go from there,” said Turner.   

Turner has a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), a method that has the most lasting impression. Turner views this part of life as, “The only one who is going to stop you from doing anything is yourself.” Turner indicated he found this out early in life. He goes on to say, “I was a high school drop-out. All because of one teacher, and I just gave up on the whole system, and that’s on me, not that teacher,” said Turner. It was at that moment he had learned his lesson. What Turner took from this enabled him to go back to night school, and get his GED. “Never have I ever dreamed I would ever go back to college. I never dreamed I would go to college, period. But here I am,” smiled Turner.    

A good attitude, a positive mentality, and learning from the past is how someone can obtain what Turner’s been able to achieve. Adding all that up makes time seem motionless. Turner’s last day at ILCC will be June 30th, 2021. In which Turner remarks, “Is getting shorter.”   

For the students and staff, Turner’s presence at ILCC will surely be missed. Valerie Newhouse, President of Iowa Lakes Community College, couldn’t be happier for Turner. “First and foremost, I am incredibly happy for Steve,” said Newhouse. “He has a lot of outside interests and passions, and now he will have the time to ride his motorcycle, be with family, his grandkids, and all the things he likes to do. I can’t but be happy for Steve.” From the college’s perspective, Newhouse said, “We will miss him.”  

Turners’ professional responsibilities at the college are, without a doubt, exceptional. To Newhouse and the rest of ILCC, Steve’s personal qualities are what make him so valuable as a peer, colleague, and friend. Newhouse goes on to say, “His attitude and customer support skills, both are phenomenal. His personality and his ability with working with students, employees, faculty, whoever.”    

If anyone knows Steve Turner, his standard line of “I’m Living the Dream” has never been far from the truth. “How are you, Steve?” “I’m Living the Dream,” he would say and always with a smile. “That is how he treated everybody, said Newhouse. “You can teach technical skills, but you can’t always teach attitude and customer service skills,” she added.   

Although Turner is retiring, everyone wishes nothing but the best of wishes and a plethora of positive outpours. Don’t worry; Turner has big plans after he is fully retired. “We have seven grandkids, so now we will be able to make it to some of their sporting activities,” said Turner. He is very adamant about broadening his passions of hunting, fishing, and playing his guitar.    

Turner also hinted toward more scuba diving. Above all else, everyone knows Turner will be riding his motorcycle and planning more trips. Turner also added, “We have a camper, and we plan on traveling around in the winter and seeing some of the country. We have contemplated moving to be closer to the grandkids.”   

All else aside, Turner is going to miss everyone at ILCC. Someone whose indicated he can be shy, Turner can be open to anyone after getting to know someone. The relationships Turner has developed and even maintained over the years are ones he will surely cherish going forward.    

It’s those kinds of people who have lasting and meaningful impacts on cumulative relationships. Once you become friends with a shy person, the relationships are more meaningful and appreciative. This is one of the main reasons Turner has the ability he does and the connections he has today.   

Turner said he would miss the work in which he can do something different all the time. He always has a variety in what he does. “You get to do a little of everything, and that’s what I like,” said Turner. “I like to fixing something rather than buy something new; I like the challenge,” he added.  

With Steve’s last day on the horizon, would ILCC have a hard time filling his position? Turner thinks they will. He goes on to say, “Mainly because there is not a whole lot of people out there who know much about Macs.” “Honestly, to find somebody that is going to be able to jump in and do both systems like this, it’s going to be hard,” he added. Turner feels this is the only reason it is going to be difficult. “To have that Apple experience you’re just not going to find that in this little town,” Turner added.    

In the college’s eyes, Newhouse helps breakdown Turner’s position and how crucial it is for ILCC. “Steve’s job is two separate jobs merged together, and those positions are critically important at ILCC. In many aspects, maintaining our computer networks is able to be accomplished remotely.”    

Newhouse goes on to say, “There’s a lot of things they can do from behind the scenes, just like queuing into someone’s computer, there’s still a lot that has to be done face to face. For instance, if somebody needs a second monitor, somebody has to order that monitor, plug it in, and make sure everything is syncing with one another as far as different technology.” That’s what Steve does, and it’s critically important to have those boots on the ground and doing the things Turner does.  

This dual position has also deemed Turner in charge of the phone system at ILCC. Newhouse touches on the subject, “He is also responsible for the VOIP telephone system, Voice Over IP, which is also connected to our computer networks and all the messaging and the connectivity, which are other responsibilities Steve has.”   

The telephone system at ILCC, as Newhouse indicates, is a vital function. Whoever would take Turner’s position must be able to have the knowledge and skillset to do what Turner has been doing to carry out these tasks. “It’s going to be particularly important,” said Newhouse.    

From ILCC’s standpoint, Newhouse believes it will be extremely difficult to fill Turner’s position. “These are high demand jobs in every sector of the economy, the banks, business industry, everybody needs folks who possess this knowledge base.” From Newhouse’s perspective, “I predict it is going to be difficult to find somebody, but you never know. We are hoping to have that one good, qualified applicant.”    

All in all, whoever would transition into the Computer Technician, Network Support, and Phone System Coordinator position, Turner said he would be willing to lend a hand if they needed help. “I would come in and help.  I would like to see someone before I would leave, to give them time and give them some of the experience I have accumulated,” said Turner. He added, “I feel bad knowing that I’m leaving, and it’s going to have an impact.”  “I feel bittersweet, but I am also looking ahead,” Turner commented.  

No matter what the case goes from this point forward, ILCC wants to congratulate Steve on his achievements, work ethic, and the impact he will leave behind at ILCC. From his humble beginnings to his lasting impressions, Steve Turner is one of the most valuable staff members at Iowa Lakes Community College. Your infectious positivity, friendly demeanor, and outlook on life will be cemented at ILCC. Steve, as you close this chapter at ILCC, everyone wishes you the best in your retirement, live life to the fullest as you open your next chapter. Keep “Living the Dream.”