Gilman “Gil” Anderson is a Mason City native, graduating from NIACC in 1978. Gil has a B.S. degree in Production Management from the University of Northern Iowa (1980) and an M.B.A from Pepperdine University (1988). In addition, he completed executive education programs in The System of Profound Knowledge (W. Edwards Deming) at George Washington University (1986), Management and Leadership (Peter F. Drucker) at Claremont College (1987), IT for Logistics and Transportation at Northwestern University (1995), and Global Enterprise Management at Oxford University (2000).

He is a former Senior Executive specializing in computer technologies, manufacturing systems, business process improvement, regulatory compliance, and organization turnarounds. He has more than 40 years of cross-industry experience and a track record of building high-performance teams that have consistently driven increased stakeholder value through the coalition of business strategy with technology. During his career, teams led by Gil have delivered strategic technology solutions to numerous companies, including 3M, Air Asia, Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Cummins Engine, CPI/Guidant/Eli Lilly, Federal Express, H.B. Fuller, Jet Blue, John Deere, MoneyGram International, Santa Clara County, Ryanair, Seagate, Starwood Hotels, Virgin Blue, Walmart, and many more.

After finishing his undergraduate schooling at UNI, Gil accepted a position with Hughes Aircraft Company in Los Angeles, where he worked with emerging technologies that better integrated engineering processes with manufacturing, and where he was first introduced to AI technologies. He then moved to Northrop Gruman to be a part of their top-secret B-2 bomber program. His remit was to lead a team of 75+ technologists building the “factory of the future.” It was during these 10 years of his career that he acquired a general expertise in Computer Integrated Manufacturing.

After a decade in aerospace and defense, Gil moved into IT consulting where he held C-level positions with Oracle Corporation and Anderson Consulting. In 1998, he co-founded and was President/CEO of Caribou Lake Software. In 1999, the firm put Federal Express on the Internet for the first time. After growing Caribou Lake to almost 100 consultants, he orchestrated the sale of the business to GfK AG, for whom he served three years as CIO.

Gil then joined Accenture as a Senior Partner. During his six-year tenure with Accenture, he led the turnaround of their $150 million airline reservations business (Navitaire) and spearheaded the delivery of an over $100 million IT outsourcing contract for Starwood Hotels, leading a team of over 1000 globally dispersed IT employees before retiring in 2013.

Currently semi-retired, Gil is the Managing Partner/Owner of Kinzi and Company, from which he makes capital investments and provides business advisory services to small and medium-sized companies. In addition, he is Chairman and COO for Magic Hour Entertainment, a production company he launched with two partners in 2024. Their first film has just completed production and is expected to debut this fall.

Gil Anderson is proud to be from Mason City and a graduate of Mason City High School, NIACC, and UNI. He’s eternally grateful for how his youth in Iowa prepared him for the challenges and opportunities of a global economy. Gil and his wife live in New York City.

Phillip “Phil” Johnson has built a life defined by dedication to education, athletics, community, and professional service. A 1962 graduate of Northwood-Kensett High School, Phil began his collegiate journey at Mason City Junior College, graduating from the Class of 1964 with an Associate of Arts degree. He continued his education at Iowa State University and later at the University of Northern Iowa, where he completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education.

During his college years, Phil distinguished himself as a talented multi-sport athlete. He played baseball at Mason City Junior College, basketball at Iowa State, and both basketball and baseball at what is now the University of Northern Iowa. His athletic ability also led him to play professional baseball within the Minnesota Twins farm organization.

After college, Phil began his career in education, spending nearly a decade teaching and coaching in communities across Iowa and Wisconsin, including Clarion, Cedar Falls, LaPorte City, and Platteville. In 1977, he transitioned into the financial services industry, where he has built a long and successful career as a financial advisor in Mason City. Today, he serves clients through Ameriprise Financial, helping individuals and families plan for their financial futures with the same commitment and discipline that defined his earlier career.

A strong believer in the value of community and education, Phil credits Mason City Junior College as a pivotal step in his journey. The college’s smaller class sizes and supportive environment provided a meaningful transition in his academic path, while also allowing him to continue competing in athletics and build lifelong friendships—among his fondest memories.

Phil has remained deeply engaged in his community.

He has contributed to major initiatives at Mason City High School, including serving as chairperson of the “The Future is Now” capital campaign, and is part of the MCHS Athletic Hall of Fame and the Alumni Letter Winners Club. He has also served as chairperson of Panthers of the Past at UNI. In recognition of his achievements, Phil has been inducted into the Mason City High School Hall of Fame and was named one of the top 100 athletes in the history of Mason City Junior College/NIACC during the 100th anniversary.

Phil and his wife, Carol, are parents of three grown children, Lance, Todd, and Amy.

Anthony (Tony) G. Coloff grew up in Mason City, the hometown of “The Music Man” composer Meredith Willson, and graduated from Mason City Junior College, the predecessor of NIACC, in 1962. From an early age, it was clear that music—and broadcasting—were part of his DNA. As a high school student, Tony built a low-power radio transmitter in his bedroom, broadcasting to his sister’s radio and even to classmates driving by.

Tony began his radio career while attending college, working weekends as a DJ at KSMN-AM 1010 in Mason City, and later at KWAD, the University of Iowa campus station. After graduation, he returned to Mason City as “Anthony Gee,” serving as music director at KRIB-AM 1490. There, he had the unique opportunity to introduce listeners to emerging artists, spinning early records from bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones before they reached national prominence.

Following military service, Tony continued his broadcasting career in Cedar Rapids and later in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where he became a well-known morning air personality on KRSI-AM and FM. He was later recruited to KQAD-AM 800 in Luverne, Minnesota, where he spent seven years as the morning host and news voice. During that time, he became deeply involved in community life and launched a New Year’s Eve live call-in Rock and Roll Request and Dedication Party—a tradition that would continue for 27 years.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Tony and his wife, Sue, researched FM radio construction permits and founded KIOW-FM 107.3 in Forest City, near their hometowns. In 1978, they moved their family to Forest City to build, own, and operate the station. Sue transitioned from a nursing career to serve as business manager, while Tony wore many hats—on-air personality, program director, music director, and equipment manager. With a small but dedicated team and a strong commitment to local service, KIOW quickly became a trusted voice in the community.

What began as a single station grew into Coloff Media, now encompassing fifteen stations across ten communities, including Forest City, Britt, Mason City, Clear Lake, Charles City, New Hampton, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Manchester, and Maquoketa. A lifelong lover and collector of rock and roll, Tony has always ensured his stations reflected that passion. Even with decades of success, he often notes that his favorite part of the business remains the simplest—spinning the hits.

Tony is actively involved in Forest City, where he resides with his wife and business partner, Sue. At North Iowa Area Community College, he is widely known as “Mr. NIACC,” a testament to the passion and pride he brings to sharing the College’s story with everyone he meets. Beyond his strong support of NIACC, Tony is a dedicated champion for community colleges across the state. He has served on the NIACC Alumni Advisory Board since 2004, contributing 22 years of committed service while actively recruiting and promoting the College.

Tony and Sue have been generous supporters of the Pathways to Success event, have established annual student scholarships, and have played a key role in the Keeping NIACC First campaign to help build the STEM Center. Through their business endeavors, they have also supported and promoted Forest City, the Forest City Community School District, local churches, nonprofit organizations, Winnebago County, and numerous other community initiatives.

Tony’s contributions have earned significant recognition, including being named Iowa Broadcaster of the Year in 1995 and induction into the Iowa Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2014. He was also honored as Outstanding Alumni by Community Colleges for Iowa in 2023 and inducted into the Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Music Association Hall of Fame in 2024.

Tony and Sue are proud parents of four children—Jim, Martha, Ann, and Jonathan.

Front Row (Left to Right): Bridget Canton, Addison Boell,,Kinsey Anderson,Alex Baltes,Briana Medina

Second Row (Left to Right): Caden Mattern, Lucas Goodrich, Kenedee Frayne, Faith Etheredge, Makenna Crabb, Drew DeGabriele, Sean Davis

Third Row (Left to Right): Morgan Lovik, Preston Hurd, Kaiya Holten, Chase Holloway, Parker Hintz, Hannah Hensley, Keagan Hennessey, Lance Helming

Fourth Row (Left to Right): Grace Muller, Elizabeth Muller, Carter Muller, Kenzie Moorehead, Alexander Moore, Emma Miller, Ammy Mendoza, Cooper Meek, Garrett Ham

Fifth Row (Left to Right): Jarin Camlin, Maci Shupe, Eliott Ruiz, Ian Roske, Linden Reynolds, Tyke Remster, Reggi Spotts, Jenna Stohr

Sixth Row (Left to Right): Marshall Zeien, Jessica Yancy, Ashtin Willms, Jenna Walker, Megan Tobin, Colin Rasch, Drew Powers