Gorton Center Honors Leadership Transitions at Annual Board Meeting 

Lake Forest, IL – [May 22, 2025] – Gorton Center’s Board of Directors held its Annual Meeting this week, bringing together current and former board members to reflect on the past year’s achievements and celebrate the dedicated individuals who continue to shape the organization’s impact on the community.

During the meeting, the board expressed heartfelt gratitude to retiring Board Chair Andrew Trees for his exceptional leadership and two years of service in the role. Though stepping down as Chair, Andy will continue to serve on the board as Vice Chair, ensuring a smooth transition and continued guidance.

Gorton is pleased to welcome Will Georgi as the new Board Chair, ushering in a new chapter of leadership and vision for the organization. 

Will currently works for Lithion Battery as the North American Sales Director and has worked in the energy and clean tech sector for nearly 20 years. He grew up in Lake Forest and then returned in 2012 to raise his children Liam and Jane, who both went to the Children’s Learning Center  at Gorton and have participated in many other activities over the years. Will views Gorton as a cornerstone of the LF/LB communities.

Two new board members were officially welcomed: Thom Back and Tom Magnusson, whose expertise and community spirit are expected to further strengthen Gorton’s leadership team.

Thom Back serves as a Director of Education at Performance Trust. He is on boards of directors of portfolio companies and regulating bank holding companies in the upper Midwest. Before joining Performance Trust in November 2016, Thom was a Senior Manager in the Chicago office of Wipfli, a Wisconsin-based accounting and consulting firm helping financial institutions with strategic and capital planning. Thom holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Trinity College and an MBA from the University of Chicago. 

Tom Magnusson was born and raised in Iowa and attended Metropolitan State University in Denver. He moved to Lake Bluff in 2022 and owns a construction company. Tom is a deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest. His wife, Rachel was born and raised in Lake Forest. They have three young children who all attended the Gorton’s Children’s Learning Center and participate in multiple programs at Gorton throughout the year. 

Gorton’s annual board gathering remains a cherished opportunity to reflect on the progress made and reaffirm the shared commitment to serving the community. The board honored retiring members Nick Bothfeld and Karen Rode, recognizing their years of dedicated service and meaningful contributions to Gorton’s mission. Gorton Center extends its sincere thanks to all board members, past, present, and new, for their invaluable support and vision.

Gorton Center is a nonprofit 501c3 organization that operates to enrich the lives of its residents through cultural arts, education and charitable service. The John & Nancy Hughes Theater is a state-of-the-art performing arts venue that has become the signature of Gorton Center. The entrance leads visitors into a stunning 309-seat theater with state-of-the-art technology systems. The theater offers children, teens and adults the unforgettable experience of performing on stage or attending events close to home.Gorton relies on the generosity of residents and businesses to help fund programs & services offered in the historic building. Gorton is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.