After nearly four decades of dedicated service, steady leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the people and mission of the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), Tom Erickson, COO and VP for IP, has retired.
Tom’s career with the EERC spans decades of growth, change, and transformation. Throughout it all, he has been a constant presence—trusted for his integrity, valued for his judgment, and known for his ability to lead with composure, humility, and an unshakable commitment to doing what is right.
Over the course of his career, Tom played a pivotal role in shaping the EERC’s approach to IP and commercialization. He oversaw the development and protection of over 100 patents and helped transform innovative research into opportunities with real-world impact. His work also extended to the EERC Foundation, where his determination to evaluate and strategically market the Foundation’s holdings generated a significant influx of resources, which strengthened the Foundation’s ability to support and leverage opportunities for the EERC.
His EERC journey began in 1986, when he joined the Center as a work-study student. Two years later, he was hired into a full-time position as a Research Specialist II. Over the years, Tom steadily advanced through the organization, becoming Associate Director for Research in 1999.
In 2011, Tom transitioned into the role of Associate Director for Business and Operations. The following year, he began overseeing intellectual property (IP)—a responsibility that would become an important part of his work at the EERC and continue throughout his career.
Tom was named Interim Director in 2014 and later Director of the EERC. His title was renamed CEO in 2015. With characteristic composure and unwavering integrity, Tom led the EERC for 4 years, guiding the organization through a period of continued growth and change.
But for Tom, leadership has never been about a title.
After 4 years as CEO, he stepped back into a role that aligned closely with one of his passions: advancing research and bringing innovative technologies closer to the marketplace. He became Director of the State Energy Research Center (SERC) and Vice President of IP/Technology Commercialization.
Building a New Path for Exploratory Research
One of Tom’s most significant contributions to the EERC was the development of SERC.
SERC became a vehicle for exploratory research at the EERC by creating a space to investigate new ideas, pursue emerging opportunities, and advance concepts that could significantly bolster North Dakota’s energy and environmental landscape. Since its inception in 2019, SERC has funded more than 85 projects and invested $25 million into exploratory research, education and outreach, and North Dakota Industrial Commission-directed activities.
While the program’s accomplishments are significant, its creation also reflects something fundamental about Tom’s leadership: he recognized a need, saw an opportunity, and built something to meet it.
“Tom’s steadfast leadership has guided the EERC through many ups and downs over the years. I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to work alongside him and see his knowledge and wisdom in action,” said Scott Ayash, newly appointed Director of SERC and Special Projects, who has worked with Tom on SERC activities since its inception.
Tom also created the Energy Hawks program under SERC, providing students with an opportunity to better understand North Dakota’s energy landscape. Through the program, students gain exposure to complex issues shaping the state’s energy future while engaging with the research, people, and industries working to address them.
Leading Through an Evolving Research Landscape
Since 2022, Tom has served as COO and VP for IP, overseeing the EERC’s operations and continuing to guide the organization through a period of significant operational growth. One of the most visible examples of that work has been the development of the new Material Exploration (MatEx) facility.
Under Tom’s leadership, the facility was developed to expand the EERC’s ability to respond to the evolving needs of its clients. With three independent research bays, the MatEx provides greater flexibility to support a wide range of research and development activities and enables the EERC to more effectively serve multiple clients and projects. The facility reflects another dimension of Tom’s leadership: his ability to look beyond immediate needs, anticipate where clients and industry are headed, and help build the capabilities to support them.
The MatEx is part of the EERC’s continued evolution and its commitment to creating the infrastructure to support innovation, collaboration, and the development of technologies for the future. Tom’s leadership has been instrumental in that evolution.
A Servant Leader
Ask those who have worked with Tom to describe him, and one phrase comes up again and again: servant leader. Tom is the definition of a leader who focuses on the growth and well-being of others. He listens. He develops trust. He builds relationships. He makes people feel heard and valued.
His leadership is not loud or performative. Instead, his steady and consistent demeanor is expressed through thoughtful decisions, quiet encouragement, and a willingness to step in wherever he is needed.
Charlie Gorecki, EERC CEO, reflected on the 18 years spent working with Tom, noting his reliable mentorship and integrity. “Through it all, Tom has been a constant presence,” said Gorecki during Tom’s retirement celebration. “You’ve done for me what you’ve done for so many others at the EERC: you believed in me, you believed in our team, and you believed in what the organization could accomplish together.”
The EERC Tom leaves behind is, in many ways, stronger because of his leadership. His vision helped create opportunities. His judgment helped navigate challenges. And his commitment to people helped cultivate the relationships and culture that make the EERC what it is.
After nearly four decades, Tom Erickson’s impact on the EERC cannot be captured by a title or a list of accomplishments alone. He has been a researcher, an innovator, an executive, a builder, and a mentor. He has been a steady hand through times of change and a trusted voice in moments that mattered.
Most of all, he has been a servant leader whose dedicated service has helped guide and shape the EERC and its people. As Tom begins his next chapter, the EERC celebrates his extraordinary career and lasting legacy.