Family, Grit, and Gears: A Father-Son Duo Thrives in Powersports
From Corrections to Career Reinvention at Iowa Lakes Community College
When Jeremy and Michael Anderson—father and son from St. Cloud, Minnesota—each decided it was time for a career change, they had no idea their paths would align quite so perfectly. It turns out that great minds do think alike.
“We both decided independently, but at the same time,” they joke. Michael, after six years working as a corrections officer, had been feeling the pull toward something more hands-on and passion driven. When Michael brought up the idea to his dad, Jeremy, a retired corrections officer, it sparked something unexpected.
Fast-forward a few weeks, and the two entered the Powersports & Power Equipment Technology program at Iowa Lakes Community College. By the end of the campus visit, they were registered. The following Tuesday, they started classes—together.
Shifting Gears: From Security to Spark Plugs
Jeremy and Michael speak highly of the program and the instructors who made their decisions easy. “Matt Bohl and Dustin Ross are incredible,” they shared. “We liked that it was a fairly small program, and we never felt like a ‘number.'”
That personalized attention helped ease the transition from corrections to careers in Powersports. For Michael, it’s an entire career pivot—his goal is to eventually open a shop after gaining industry experience. Jeremy doesn’t plan to launch a career in Powersports but does think he might hang out at Michael’s shop just to annoy him.
Learning Together
Both are considered non-traditional students; Michael had previously attended college for a year, but Jeremy initially worried about being “the old guy” in the room. “I didn’t want to hinder Michael’s experience,” he said, “but it hasn’t been a problem at all. Everyone gets along really well.”
That camaraderie extends beyond the classroom. Whether wrenching on engines or reviewing course materials, their dynamic is equal parts support and friendly competition.
“Do we compete? All the time! We like to compare grades down to the decimal,” they laugh.
On the more serious side, the time spent together has meant the most to them.
“It’s been amazing seeing Michael succeed and learn right in front of me, not just hearing about it over the phone,” Jeremy says with pride.
Michael agrees and adds, “He’s got years of practical knowledge, and now we get to build something new together.”
Matt Bohl, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, has enjoyed seeing the relationship between father and son as an instructor. “Watching a father and a son pursue the same passion together has been awesome. You can tell they are family the way that they work together and the way they joke around with each other. I had a similar experience as a son who got the opportunity to work with his dad in the same shop, so I can totally relate to what Jeremy and Michael are getting to experience right now.”
Never Too Late to Start Something New
They both say the experience has been worth it and encourage others to pursue their dreams.
“If you need a change, just do it,” Jeremy says. “You don’t have to know how it’ll all turn out. Just start.”
Michael and Jeremy’s story proves it is never too late to change directions or do something unexpected. The advice for others considering a change? “If you’re even thinking about changing things up, do it. We didn’t know how it would go, but here we are—working side by side.”
With humor and horsepower, Jeremy and Michael Anderson are preparing for a life-changing new chapter – together.
And if you happen to drop by Michael’s future shop someday, don’t be surprised to find his dad there too, hanging out… and probably giving him a hard time.
Interested in learning more about the Powersports & Power Equipment Technology program at Iowa Lakes? Visit iowalakes.edu and see how you can shift into gear for your next career move—solo or with family.