New Member Jim Geringer was introduced to the Club membership last week by Nancy McCann, President Mary welcomed Jim. He is a former Rotarian having been a member of the Torrington, Wheatland and Cheyenne Clubs.
Jim served two terms as Wyoming governor from 1995 till 2003. His background includes a B.S. and graduate studies in Mechanical Engineering, Kansas State University and service in US Air Force as a project officer for unmanned space programs for both the U.S. Air Force and NASA. He was involved with the launch of the GPS satellite system, defense satellite communications, early warning satellites and the NASA Mars Viking Lander.
Later, while involved in full time agriculture production, he served in the Wyoming Legislature from 1983 to 1994, including six years each in the House and the Senate.
In his terms as Wyoming Governor, he focused on improving education through standards, accountability and technology, modernizing Wyoming’s economic base to extensively include technology, changing how natural resource agencies among state, federal and local governments worked together, establishing community-based health and family services programs and implementing strategic planning and information technology systems.
He advocated for education policy and leadership through the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching, Chaired the Education Commission of the States, and oversaw various studies for the National Research Council at the National Academies of Science and Engineering.
He served as chair of several education organizations including higher education governance, digital learning for K-12, Western Governors University, and college readiness and completion.
Other involvement includes the Position, Navigation and Timing Advisory Board under NASA, and participation in conservation organizations and private sector energy boards.
Geringer was a senior director with Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) for 15 years involved with geospatial technology for place-based decisions in business and government.
Governor Geringer and his late wife Sherri have five children, eleven grandchildren and six great-grandkids.
