It’s Official: Don Carstensen Has Left the Building

Looks like he’s serious this time.

Don Carstensen cleaned out his office on December 3, 2007, and drove off the ACT campus. He didn’t come back the next day, or the next, or any day since. In fact, as you read this, he’s likely hitting the links or relaxing in the sun on the coast of Mexico, where he and wife Peg have a winter home.

Carstensen has officially retired from ACT—again. He first retired in late February 2003 as vice president of the Educational Services Division, after 31 years of service. He returned in April 2006 to fill an interim position in the Workforce Development Division. And now he’s gone for good. Or so he says.

Don said the right time had come for him to go. “The Workforce Development Division is in good shape. We are at an intersection of employer needs and ACT solutions. We have a new leadership team well-equipped to capitalize on the possibilities. The future is bright.”

He’s grateful for the opportunity to return to ACT. “I enjoyed working with remarkable people I would not have gotten to know otherwise.”

Carstensen spent nearly 33 years at ACT, beginning in the field and ending at the national headquarters. He held many titles, ranging from assistant director of the east region based in the King of Prussia field office, director of the Career Planning Program, and then regional and program vice president of the Educational Services Division.

The Carstensens plan to return to Iowa City in the spring. Don may work with ACT as a consultant. But for now, he has no plans to return to full-time employment.

“You have to either keep your skills current, particularly as they pertain to technology, or find a very desirable golf course,” Carstensen said. “I think the latter is the path of least resistance.”

We’ll see.

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