Tom Ranken had a very successful career, successfully navigating the challenges of several very different fields as diverse as banking and biotechnology. When he decided it was time to retire, he was CEO of CleanTech Alliance, an advocacy organization that works in the intersection of clean technology, business development, and public policy.
“I got very good at creating environments that allowed organizations to grow and thrive.” he explained. “For example, the CleanTech Alliance had 35 members when I started and grew to over a thousand.”
No stranger to an academic challenge, Tom earned a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the University of Washington. To this day, he continues to be interested in developing new skills, and he has a strong appetite for learning. These traits would serve him well post-retirement.
“Education was valuable in teaching me baseline skills that allowed me to learn how to solve problems creatively in a professional setting, and it provided an understanding of how things worked in society and business that contributed to that skill base.”
His highly accomplished executive career now behind him, it was time for a new challenge!
A lover of classic rock, Tom gave himself a goal: to become a skilled standard-tuning slide guitar player. He had long admired the way George Harrison incorporated slide guitar into non-blues music, and he wanted to see if he could play more like the Beatles legend. However, once he encountered Shoreline College’s music program, his ambitions grew significantly.
“Almost instantly, I was dazzled by new opportunities and ideas. I took courses in a wide range of topics including theory, guitar, trumpet, jazz band, music business, recording, and sound. There is a lot of distance between a good amateur and a professional level player. My personal goals evolved to wanting to become a truly good musician—not just a slide player. And I have made a lot of progress towards that goal—it’s a rewarding, but never-ending trail.”
Shoreline College is a great place to study the arts. While many schools are finding themselves sacrificing arts programs as budget casualties, Shoreline College boasts strong degree and certificate programs in music, visual arts, digital filmmaking, and more. And now, with the opening of the brand-new Bracken building in the heart of the campus, Shoreline’s music program has been given a beautiful new state of the art facility in which to grow and thrive.
“All of the faculty were extraordinary; exceedingly gifted, knowledgeable, and helpful. To call out just two: Sue Ennis co-wrote nearly a hundred songs with the Heart sisters (a monster band of the 70s and 80s) and Jeff Kashiwa is a Grammy nominated sax player that runs the jazz band.“
Tom was thrilled to have the opportunity play with gifted musicians and to learn from experts in the industry. He began challenging himself with new genres and instruments and was constantly impressed with the talent and dedication of the students around him.
“I was pretty much a beginner, playing in a genre – jazz trumpet – for which I had little knowledge. I played with some incredibly gifted Shoreline musicians that – in some cases – are forty years younger than me. Everyone has been considerate, friendly, patient, and incredibly helpful!”
Today, Tom has added a third degree to his collection, an Associate Degree in Music Performance from Shoreline College. You’ll still find him on campus, playing with the Jazz Band; still eager to grow as a musician. While at night (frequently at the Box Car Ale House in Magnolia), he’s playing with his band The Ranken File.
It’s never too late to learn something new. Tom followed his interests and found a whole world of new possibilities unfolding before him. If you’re interested in learning more about exploring your passions in retirement, there are several pathways to explore, including Senior tuition discounts and a wide variety of Continuing Education classes. There’s always more to learn!
“It is a journey—my everyday decisions, over the course, of many years, have led me to where I am today. I’m a big believer in education.”