Success Stories
Don Rainer
Don Rainer was born and raised in Eugene. Lane Community College was the logical next step for Don when he graduated from Marist High School. He knew that he wanted to earn a four-year degree, but did not know what he would focus on. He enrolled at Lane part-time and took a job at the Eugene Country Club to pay for his tuition and coincidentally met his future wife who was also employed there. During his time at Lane he also held a student job with the Public Safety department. He fondly remembers patrolling the campus parking lots. He transferred to the University of Oregon once he had completed his general credits and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1989.
Don has had a distinguished career in finance and investment. He is currently senior vice president at Ferguson Wellman Capital Management in Portland where he has worked since 1998. Don’s financial expertise is a great asset to the organizations he gives his time to. At Ferguson Wellman he is responsible for managing the assets of several community college foundations in the Western United States. He brought this experience with him when he joined the Lane Community College Foundation’s finance committee in 2006. This year, Don increased his commitment to Lane by joining the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He has taken a leadership role in Oregon’s March of Dimes, serving both on their board of directors and finance committee from 2002-2007. He is also a past trustee of the Oregon Independent College Foundation. Besides offering his financial expertise to these organizations, Don also spends time volunteering at his children’s schools helping with events and fundraisers.
Don is an advocate for community college education. “Community colleges train our workers and touch all parts of the economy. Lane Community College gave me an opportunity to take education at my own pace. After high school, I was not prepared for a four-year university nor could I afford it. Lane allowed me to work, go to school part time and also gave me a chance to find myself.”
