Sean Tonner has made a name for himself. And the people who know his name catch your attention as well. For instance, Colorado Governor Bill Owens. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer and Pete Coors, the Republican candidate for senator. In fact, Tonner, through his company Phase Line Strategies, is managing Coors’ campaign. And it was Gov. Owens—Tonner was his campaign manager, too—who tapped Tonner to serve on Metro State’s Board of Trustees.

A 1995 graduate of Metro, Tonner says that he brings a valuable perspective to the board. “We’re always watching out for the students, and since I’ve lived the Metro State experience, I bring a unique insight,” he says.

And while Tonner views the board as a “constant watchdog” for students, he adds that at the end of the day the trustees are looking out for Colorado’s citizens as well.

Watching out for people is something Tonner has done for years, starting with his enlistment in the Army after graduating from Aurora’s Smoky Hill High School. He served in Desert Storm, earning the Army Commendation Medal for Valor. Tonner enrolled at Metro after he was discharged and worked nights and weekends while taking a full course load. He found the time, though, to serve in student government and volunteer for the Colorado Republican Party.

It was an internship with Bob Dole’s presidential campaign that proved to be a stepping stone for Tonner. “As soon as the Dole campaign came to an end, Bill Owens approached me to work on his gubernatorial campaign.” And the rest is history for this history major. He was Owens’ deputy chief of staff before starting Phase Line Strategies, a public affairs and political consulting firm for individuals and corporate and nonprofit clients. It is in his role as company president that Tonner is managing the Coors’ campaign.

Tonner says it’s incredibly satisfying to serve on Metro’s Board of Trustees. “Metro’s a world-class institution, but obviously it should always strive to become a better institution. You don’t want to be stagnant,” he explains.

Of particular concern to Tonner is the student retention rate. “We need to understand why first- and second-year students drop out,” he says, “and improve the guidance to keep them engaged in their education.”

He also mentions the college’s need to be what he calls extremely fiscally responsible. “A $50 increase in student fees is a day’s wages for some Metro students,” he says.

Tonner admits that there’s a squeeze in higher-education funding, although he believes the state’s economy is gaining strength. “But Metro really has to use its dollars wisely. We have to drive the dollars into the classroom and into the learning experience for our students.”

With all of Tonner’s political experience, one has to wonder if he’ll ever run for office himself. “No. No. No,” he laughs. “I draw my satisfaction from helping elect people who share my values. That’s my greatest value.”