Western Nevada Welcomes New Hawthorne Coordinator

Robert Schleef has been named coordinator of the Western Nevada College Hawthorne Center. Schleef, a marketing manager for Day & Zimmerman Hawthorne Corporation, replaces Lou Thompson, who retired this spring.

“This is a very exciting time for Hawthorne and Mineral County,” Schleef said. “I see an opportunity of great potential. We are just beginning to see a transformation taking place in our communities.”

His optimism springs from the many companies studying Mineral County as relocation sites. “There are existing businesses looking to expand and entrepreneurs who see niches,” Schleef said. “These companies will bring new families to fill needed jobs, which translates into a greater need for college services.”

Schleef has taken courses at Western, and has also taught business and management classes. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College and a master’s degree in Project Management from Jones International. He started with Day & Zimmerman in 1985, and brings a diverse background to the college that includes training horses and handling livestock, newspaper editing, and heavy construction. He has also been a commissioned lay pastor in the Presbyterian Church since 1994 and serves the congregations in Hawthorne and Tonopah.

Western's Hawthorne Center, located at Mineral County High School, provides needed services for area residents including classes leading to college degrees and certificates, career skills preparation and advancement, or transfer to a university. For the business community, Western offers numerous certification and licensing programs ranging from construction training to customer management for retail sales.

For information about registration for fall classes, contact Schleef at 945-2405.