What's next for Stanoch after court, Qwest?

 

By Neal St. Anthony

Star Tribune

April 2, 2011

John Stanoch, president of Qwest Communications for Minnesota and North Dakota, expects to stay on for a couple of months after Louisiana-based CenturyLink's $10.6 billion acquisition this month of what was once Northwestern Bell.

Stanoch, 53, who has worked in industry and law, has options.

"I'm going to take the next few months to sort out 'what's next'," he said. "I've greatly enjoyed my experience with Qwest and will be exploring senior management opportunities in the business and nonprofit sectors as well as options in the legal world."

Stanoch, a 10-year Qwest veteran, previously was Minnesota's chief deputy attorney general and a Hennepin County District Court judge during the 1990s.

As a judge in criminal and family court, he saw that most juvenile delinquents and street criminals were unloved, not ready for school and raised by abusive parents. He has long been an advocate for nonprofit mentoring programs that match caring adults with drifting kids who can end up costing society millions over a lifetime of crime and prison if they aren't otherwise influenced to finish high school and pursue a future as law-abiding taxpayers.

Stanoch chairs the board of the Science Museum of Minnesota, is a director of the Minneapolis-area YMCA, and plans to devote more time to youth mentoring and closing the achievement gap between white and black Twin Cities public school students.

"I also plan to attend as many Twins games as possible this summer," he said.

No doubt, he'll have kids in tow for a few of them.