Donor Spotlight – Hermanson

Jerry and Linda Hermanson

Jerry and Linda Hermanson have lived in the West Seattle Community for many decades, migrating from parts a little further south. Linda grew up in the Shelton area, while Jerry grew up in Silverdale. Together they have five sons, one of whom continues to run the Mechanical Construction business that Jerry built from scratch starting in 1979.

Jerry was an HVAC building contractor for many years, and Linda’s career was in interior design. Together, they were involved in the construction of iconic buildings throughout the Puget Sound region, and they have a keen interest in supporting solid, sustainable buildings. This has led to their interest in supporting the Sustainable Building Science Technology (SBST) program at South Seattle College.

“Green” and sustainable buildings don’t stop with the completion of construction – they consist of ongoing, interactive systems that require advanced knowledge and skills to design, manage, and diagnose over time. The fast pace of technological change and challenges demands advanced experience, knowledge, and skillsets of those who are charged with the continuing care and evolution of sustainable buildings and environments.

“The world needs people who can learn how to manage and maintain these buildings.” – Jerry Hermanson

Hermanson Sustainable Building Science Technology Center

Jerry and Linda’s involvement with South Seattle College began in 1997. In the beginning, they were donating money for scholarships in general at South, and slowly but surely, their involvement grew into a long and satisfying collaboration with key people at the College who partnered together in developing the vision for the SBST department.

“I have really enjoyed my involvement with the people at the college involved with the Sustainable Building and Science Technology department.” – Jerry Hermanson

Aside from their interest in supporting South Seattle College, Jerry has been on the board of several salmon enhancement groups involved in promoting salmon sustainability in the Pacific Northwest. Jerry loves to fish, and he and Linda have a cabin in Alaska where they spend most of their summers.

Together, Jerry and Linda have donated over $400,000 to the College, with part of that money establishing two endowments to benefit both the SBST program at South and general scholarships to South students. Jerry noted that some students are just not cut out for a four-year university but that learning a trade at a community college can lead to a long and lucrative career. Jerry and Linda also like supporting apprenticeships for students at South and have dedicated a portion of their most recent donation to benefit the SBST program at South to further apprenticeships for students in the program.

“The industry has been so good to me; it is a way of giving back.” – Jerry Hermanson

South Seattle College and its students are indeed lucky to have the support of people like Jerry and Linda Hermanson, who understand that supporting community college education not only gives students a leg up in life but benefits the entire community.