HFC employee and alumna Lynn Borczon retires after nearly 40 years
Lynn Borczon has always enjoyed the whimsical side of life. She retires in Oct. 2024 after 38 years of distinguished service.
After nearly four decades of dedicated service, Lynn Borczon, a proud alumna of HFC, has decided to retire. Borczon, who has been at HFC for 38 years, is the Assistant Director of Human Resources for Compensation and Benefits.
“My husband Christopher has recently retired, and after 38 years here, I’m ready for a new adventure,” said Borczon.
Her final day will be Thursday, October 31. To celebrate her retirement, a party will be held in her honor on Wednesday, October 23, from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. in the Community Rooms of the Welcome Center (Building WC on the main campus).
HFC President Russ Kavalhuna expressed his appreciation for Borczon’s longstanding, valuable service to the College.
“Lynn has been a great teammate for so many years," said Kavalhuna. "When I started as a new leader, she was considerate and patient, and devoted time to helping me learn about HR. Because of her, the HR department has a new culture and new leadership. She leaves the department much better than it was, and I'm grateful.”
From student to employee: building strong relationships
The youngest of three, Borczon was born in Duluth, MN and raised in Michigan. She and her husband of 37 years reside in Livonia.
Borczon graduated from Trenton High School in 1981, where she met the late Rick Goward, who served as the band director and later became a faculty member at HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) in 1982.
“Whether you were in the band or not, everyone knew Rick,” Borczon recalled. “I knew him for a long time and was happy when he joined the HFC family.”
Borczon went on to attend HFC, where she was actively involved in student government and worked in the Office of Student Activities. She earned her associate degree in business in 1984.
After graduating from HFC, Borczon worked as an office manager at American Motors Corporation (where she met her husband) and later at Ford Motor Co. But her connection to HFC and the encouragement from her mentors drew her back to the College.
“I had a strong relationship with HFC when I was a student,” said Borczon. “I still had friends and mentors here who encouraged me to continue my education. I thought if I can get a full-time job at HFC, I could go back to school and finish my bachelor’s degree.”
That is exactly what she did. Borczon earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and human resources from Davenport University in 1993. She subsequently earned her master’s degree in HR from Central Michigan University in 2006. Her interest in HR was influenced by her father, who was the director of labor relations for the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad.
“I grew up learning about the ins and outs of labor unions and contracts,” she said.
“I will miss the employees and the relationships I’ve developed”
Borczon began her long career at the College on September 15, 1986, working as an assistant in Trades-Apprentice Education. After a year, she transferred to the Dearborn Public Schools – the only remaining P-12 district in Michigan to be affiliated with a community college – where she worked as a secretary for four years before returning to HFC in 1991. Since 1998, she has served in the HR department. She reports to HFC Executive Director of HR Dr. Lisa Bradley.
As she prepares to retire, Borczon reflects on the relationships she has built over the years.
“One of the best parts of being a student at HFC was the connections I made with my instructors and peers,” she said. “These connections carried over as an employee of the College. We have so many amazing employees here, and I will miss them and the relationships I’ve developed.”
After retiring, Borczon plans to take time to relax and enjoy life. She also plans to start volunteering in 2025 and looks forward to traveling with her husband.
“It has been my great pleasure to work with Lynn and get to know her,” said Bradley. “I appreciate all that she does each day to manage compensation and oversee the administration of our employees’ benefits. It is hard to imagine an HFC without Lynn Borczon. She has been our super knowledgeable HR rock for so many years. Lynn’s knowledge, skills, and expertise will be impossible to replace. I am thrilled for her next chapter, but quite sad to see her go.”
Everyone is invited to Lynn's retirement celebration on October 23 from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. in the Community Rooms of the HFC Welcome Center. Feel free to bring a card or memento from your time working with Lynn.