Professional Achievement, College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics

Holly (Deml) Blanchard ’98 credits Viterbo for the many opportunities she has had within her extensive career with Trane Technologies. “Viterbo played a role in providing me with an opportunity to advance my education and build confidence. I would not have achieved my career goals without the support and education from Viterbo. My career progressed farther than I ever thought it would,” she shared.

A native of La Crosse, she graduated from Central High School. At Viterbo, she earned her degree in organizational management in 1998, and she earned a second major in management and information technology (MIT) in 2002. Her 43-year career with Trane Technologies has included 16 separate roles.

Currently, she is the vice president of OCIO Information Technology, where she is responsible for IT service management, IT enterprise excellence, IT supplier relationship management, and enterprise IT business services. Other roles within Trane/Ingersoll Rand have included director of Retail Channel for Trane America Parts and director of Business Development and Systems.

“I originally went to school thinking I would stay within business,” Blanchard said. She found her niche in IT, and she found Viterbo coursework was a good fit. “This gave me the knowledge and credibility to pursue roles in IT.” She also enjoyed the nurturing community at Viterbo, where she felt more at home than she had at a larger public university.

Blanchard has a Brain-Based Coaching Certificate from the NeuroLeadership Institute. She coaches high-potential talent at Trane Technologies. She is a graduate of Trane Technologies’ Women’s Leadership program, Executive Leadership program, and The Center for Creative Leadership. She is a certified 360 Coach.

She shared that receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award is an honor that she appreciates. “I was completely surprised,” she said. “I feel honored.”

Blanchard offers advice to Viterbo students. “Try to be a lifelong learner. Viterbo provides a wonderful foundation, and it is up to you to build the life you want to have.”

She explained that in her personal journey, that meant working hard, learning how to be resilient, and focusing on development. “Life does not always go the way you plan. Successful people learn from their mistakes, recover, and move on.”

Viterbo’s nurturing community was an attraction to Blanchard, then a single mother who worked full-time. “I had heard positive things about Viterbo and decided to try their advanced learning program for working adults,” she explained “I really enjoyed it, and it worked well with my work and family life, and one of my best friends, Margie Mason, was also in it.”

She is most proud of maintaining a balance between family and achieving her work goals. She and her husband Tom Fitzpatrick live in La Crosse. They have nine children and 15 grandchildren.

Blanchard is vice chair of the board for La Crosse Daycare and vice chair of the Great Rivers United Way. She also volunteers with Menttium Corporation to mentor women in the early phase of their careers.

2024 Viterbo University Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients main page