Skip Torresson: Engaging Passion, Purpose and Spirit

Senior Profile by Holly Stupak

Photos from the collection of Skip Torresson

Senior citizens are vital, special and integral members of the Marple Newtown community. Marple Friends & Neighbors is excited to introduce our new feature, “Senior Profile,” where you can “meet” one of your senior neighbors and “hear” their perspective about what life has taught them about how they can achieve their goals and how they can best serve their community. This month’s “Senior Profile” is about Skip Torresson, a Broomall resident who exemplifies what it means to serve others. He even started his own business, The Stewardship Group, whose tagline is “It starts with a willingness to serve.”

Skip is the son of an Air Force officer. As a kid, Skip and his family moved around quite a bit. Skip’s various jobs over the years also took him to different states, and he’s had 34 documented addresses in his lifetime! He graduated from the University of Scranton with a B.S. in Political Science. He is a veteran, having served in the Air Force and Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

When Skip graduated from Scranton, he was accepted into University of Notre Dame Law School. Although he enjoyed what he calls “the greatest football season of all times,” he realized law school was not for him. He went to work for IBM as a Systems Engineer for 2.5 years and then moved into Computer Systems Sales. “It was a great opportunity to work at IBM in the early years of the computer industry!” recalled Skip. “IBMers got a world-class education in both systems and business.” After a decade at IBM, he worked in sales and sales management positions with a number of large corporations including ITEL, National Railway Utilization Corp, Hitachi Data Systems and Unisys.

In 2001, he left the corporate world and was forced to answer the “tough questions” about what he really wanted to do. “I was having a classic ‘half-time experience’,” Skip said. “I was 57 years old and going on job interviews when I realized I didn’t want to go back to what I had been doing.” Skip eventually realized he wanted to start his own business.

I knew I was here on earth for a reason, but hadn’t figured it out. I wanted to be a good steward,” he said. “Being a steward is the notion that I’m here for a reason, and what can I do with these gifts that I’ve been given?

After he came up with the company name, The Stewardship Group, his mission became clearer. After working with a friend on a logo, Skip created the tagline: Engaging Passion, Purpose and Spirit.

Skip giving a workshop on leadership

With his 30+ years of business experience in senior sales and management positions, Skip helps leaders implement highly effective processes for planning, alignment, communication and accountability. (Alignment means matching the business' strategic goals and tactical plans with its Mission, Vision and Core Values.) Understanding and implementing those processes requires specific leadership skills that The Stewardship Group develops using cloud-based planning and performance management solutions and other best practices. Skip and his team also provide executive coaching and retreats to help senior leaders gain clarity about strategic vision and goals and effectively communicate this to their teams.

The Stewardship Group (www.StewardshipGroup.com) supports Servant Leaders by engaging passion, purpose and spirit in their organizations and personal lives. These Servant Leaders are individuals who focus on meeting the needs of others. “We help companies create an environment where if you understand the dreams of the people who work for you, then the dreams for your business will take care of themselves,” Skip explained. Clients include a number of privately held businesses and not for-profits in North America and Europe as well as selective not-for-profit organizations including the Salvation Army, Villanova University, University of Pennsylvania and North Penn School District.

Skip and Joann Torresson in Banff, Canada

Skip says the best decision of his life was marrying Joann, his wife of 30 years. He met Joann, a former first-grade teacher, at Daylesford Abbey, at a Wednesday night prayer group. It’s the second marriage for both, and their blended family of 5 kids has 21 grandchildren. “Our home in the Foxcroft neighborhood is perfect for hosting our large family where the grandkids can play and enjoy the pool,” said Skip.

Skip on a mission trip to Uganda

Skip is also active in our local community. He and Joann are active parishioners at St. Denis in Havertown. He has served on several nonprofit boards and is a long-time member of Rotary International. As a member of the Fellowship of Companies for Christ International, he’s had the opportunity to take two mission trips to Uganda. Skip’s philosophy in life is the same as that of The Stewardship Group: People should be givers, not takers, and give back to the community.

I know we’re all here for a reason,” said Skip. “We are all called to use our gifts to serve others.

Do you know a Senior Broomall resident in service to our community? Send your nominations for future “Senior Profile” features to Holly Stupak at HStupak@BestVersionMedia.com.