The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average worker changes jobs eleven times between the ages of 18 and 45. It is not uncommon for career aspirations to evolve after one has been in the work force for a few years. People change; industries change. As a result, jobs change. Sometimes the new job is in a related field. Other times, however, the change involves an entire transformation. Such is the case with Lisa Borgen. Many know her as the Minnesota 7th Judicial District Judge for Clay County. Others now know her as the new Vice President of Administration at American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSC). What do the two positions have in common? Perhaps not much on the surface. It isn’t until one examines the person behind the job that the similarities become apparent.
Borgen grew up in Moorhead as one of four children. Her mother was a legal secretary and her father worked as a union electrician for the City of Moorhead. “As a child, I was challenging and willful – as my mom would say,” Borgen said. “I was very active in physical activities, sports, etc.” Although she wanted to become a police officer or join the military, she went to the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton where she became an LPN. “That was not really what ‘girls’ did back then,” she explained in regards to her initial career aspirations. Borgen moved from nursing to retail management before going back to school at Minnesota State University Moorhead and earning a degree in Criminal Justice. After graduating from the University of North Dakota School of Law in Grand Forks, Borgen opened her own law office. From Borgen Law Office in Moorhead, she was elected County Attorney in 1998 and 2002 before being appointed to the bench by Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2006.
Although her appointment didn’t expire until January of 2015, Borgen resigned in November of 2013. “After being a judge for nearly eight years, I felt I had accomplished a lot of very positive things and had made some significant changes in our local system of justice,” she said. Her accomplishments while on the bench are many. From establishing the Clay County Domestic Violence Court and Clay and Becker County Drug Courts to establishing a consistent and fair system for CHIPS (Children In Need of Protection and Service) petitions, Borgen’s fingerprints are all over our current legal system. She is also well known for presiding over the massive midnight same-sex marriage ceremony that occurred last August. In an interview shortly after the ceremony, Borgen called the experience “one of the most enriching days that I’ve had as a judge.”
So why did she leave the bench? “I felt it was time for me to step down and let someone else take on the challenge of public service,” she explained. “I am proud of the good work I did for the people I served.” Borgen has nothing but positive things to say about her replacement, Judge Michael Fritz. “He is doing a great job and will continue to lead in innovation to improve the justice system,” she said. “I have no regrets about leaving the bench.”
Borgen’s initial plans after laying down the gavel included joining the Vogel Law Firm in Moorhead. “I had no intentions of leaving the Firm,” she said. Like so many adults who change directions mid-journey, Borgen had to follow her heart. In this case, that led her to ACSC in June of this year. “I thought it would be a wonderful challenge for me in terms of working in human resources and for my own personal growth,” she explained. The agriculture industry has a special place in her heart, which made the decision to leave easier. “I am a Red River Valley girl who married a farmer 32 years ago,” she said. Although the Borgens stopped farming fifteen years ago, the passion for the industry has never left. ACSC is a farmer-owned cooperative, which means the company is owned by the farmers who are shareholders. “My husband, Brad, and I used to be shareholders when we farmed, so it is nice to get back into the agriculture business,” she explained.
Borgen oversees the areas of Human Resources, Recruiting and Retention of the company’s workforce, Safety, Employee Relations, IT, Training and Development, and Public Relations/Communications. The job isn’t as overwhelming as it may appear. “In a nutshell, I lead the health, safety, and happiness of our workforce,” she explained. “My main focus is to foster and grow the positive work culture at ACSC, and ensure we continue to maintain the best workforce in the sugar industry.”
Part of the appeal of Borgen’s new position is the opportunity to grow as a person and learn new things, including the nitty-gritty regarding making sugar. “There is a lot more science to making sugar than I realized,” she said. “The factory workers are very dedicated, hard-working, and wonderful people.” The learning curve for Borgen has been short and she has jumped in with both feet. “I am diligently learning the business and working toward enhancing the work culture, building relationships so that we are the premier employer for manufacturing in the valley,” she said.
Even though Borgen has enjoyed more than one successful career, she is quick to list her family as the most important thing in her life. Her 32-year marriage has resulted in four children and one grandchild. Three of her children are adults living and working in Moorhead. The fourth child is their adopted daughter, Jaidyn. “It has been a blessing for all of us,” she said regarding her daughter. “We always joke that she will keep us young.” Lisa credits her husband with helping her accomplish all that she has. “He has always been very supportive of my career changes and advancements,” she said. “If it were not for him, there is no way I could have gone to law school, ran for public office, or had a career that is time-consuming and fairly inflexible.”
Borgen may not have reached the eleven-job mark, and she isn’t planning to try. “At this point, I am planning to spend the rest of my working life at American Crystal,” she said. “I believe this position and this company will provide challenges and be rewarding for years to come.” If her career at ACSC is even remotely as successful as her law career, the Red River Valley is in good hands.
