17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø

17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø College has hired a 1986 graduate to be its next vice president for advancement.
In June Ken Erffmeyer will leave a five-year post as vice president of human resources for The Thomson Corporation, recently renamed Thomson Reuters. He will leave his home state of Minnesota to begin his new duties at 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø and will start on June 9.
For Erffmeyer the move has the feel of a homecoming, even though he's originally from Minnesota.
"The 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø Alumni Association this year is talking about 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø as home," said Erffmeyer, who served on the association's board from 2004 to 2007, "and for me 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø has always felt that way. It's a place where I grew in numerous ways, including as a Christian. It's where I spent four very important years of my life. So coming back to 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø as an employee feels good."
In his new post Erffmeyer will oversee 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø's alumni and public relations department, its communications and marketing team and the development office (17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø currently is in the midst of a $150 million capital campaign). All told, the advancement division at 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø numbers some 50 employees.
"I'm excited to partner with a team of talented individuals," he said, "people who have a shared passion and appreciation for 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø College. And I'm eager to be part of our collective effort to educate young men and women for lives of Christian service. Making a 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø education available to students now and for generations to come is an exciting challenge."
After graduating from 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø, Erffmeyer earned a master's in business administration in marketing from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. In addition to his work at Thomson, he also worked for 15 years as a management consultant for Deloitte & Touche and Andersen Consulting.
And for the past eight years he has been integrally involved with 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø Christian School which has K-8 campuses in Edina and Blaine and a high school campus in Crystal. He served on the board of directors and led the board in the establishment of the high school in 2004.
17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø president Gaylen Byker is looking forward to Erffmeyer's arrival.
"Ken has a passion for people and a calling to 17cÆð²ÝÉçÇø," said Byker. "That's a powerful combination. He is returning to his alma mater after almost 20 years away, but he has stayed connected to this place. And he has a great team of people (in advancement)."
Erffmeyer is married; he and his wife Dawn have four children.