Good-byes and Hellos
At the end of May we will say Happy Retirement to
Mike Onan, Director of Finance. Mike has been with
Academy of Whole Learning for 3 years. Mike added a level of accounting acumen we needed. He was
able to set up operating accounts for each of our departments, created an Operating Book, led the
Finance Committee, set up an Investment and Endowment subcommittee of the Finance Committee and,
perhaps what he will look back on most fondly, led our after-school gardening club. Mike, we will miss you
greatly and we wish you happy gardening and travels in your new well deserved free time!
Martin Aschenbrener is our new Director of Finance. He brings over 25 years of finance and accounting
experience to the Academy. His experience ranges from large corporations to startup medical device
companies. He feels that his experience will help the school grow both financially and operationally.
After receiving a BA degree in accounting at Bemidji State University, he joined the US Army as a
contracting officer. From there he entered the business world as the controller for Lifetime Fitness. At
the time he started it was a small health and fitness club but during his tenure he was promoted to Vice
President of Operations and was instrumental in helping take the company public. It was during this
time that he enrolled at the University of Minnesota’s MBA program. Many of the accounting and
operational processes that he wrote at Lifetime are still used today.
Looking for a change, Martin and his wife moved to Boston for a new adventure. In Boston he worked in
different roles from VP of Finance to Director. It involved raising capital and managing all aspects of
finance and accounting. This chapter of his life took him from Boston to Germany on a monthly basis
while working for a number of different startups. Of these different companies one is still growing
strong. It was here that he honed his business and accounting skills to help develop the small
businesses.
After a number of years, they moved back to Minnesota and back to Lifetime Fitness, until, of course,
we snagged him!
Martin enjoys sailing, bicycling and spending time with his wife and children. Please join me in
welcoming Martin and wishing Mike a great retirement.
