Noel C. Jordan
A two-time graduate of NDSU’s Industrial Engineering program. Noel C. Jordan has built an impressive legacy marked by academic achievement, industry leadership, engineering team, entrepreneurial success, and lifelong support for his alma mater.
While earning his degree, Noel worked at Fargo’s Strauss Clothing. As a student he was inducted into Blue Key National Honor Society, a recognition of his leadership, scholarship, and service plus received the National Athletic Scholarship Award. After graduation, he began his career at NDSU as a respected professor, achieving tenure after just one year and receiving two university distinguished service awards. This served as the starting point for a long and successful career with strong ties to NDSU. After leaving the university, Noel joined IBM with ND’s Bob Heller and then Bobcat before being hired by Nick Trane at The Trane Company in La Crosse Wisconsin, where he held several high-level leadership roles. Noel served as Chief Industrial Engineer, overseeing 11 manufacturing facilities in the United States, and later as Director of Sales Acquisitions and Operations for Trane Company’s International Division. Additionally, Noel led all Trane’s acquisitions, new business and startup initiatives in several locations (20).
Motivated by his worldwide entrepreneurial spirit and a love for boating, shaped by summers spent on Lake Melissa, Noel purchased expanded a boat manufacturing company into SkipperLiner Shipyards. His company became the global leader in building commercial vessels and design, all in 10 years-time, including houseboats, cruise boats, and dinner boats. The first boat built by the company was the Dakota Queen, Grand Forks, ND. SkipperLliner produced more than 1,500 of the largest yachts in the USA, including 250 on lake Powell, boats for Disney, and numerous commercial boats operating across the globe, including the UAE to Saipen, Japan.
SkipperLiner led the USA in boat sales, service and operations and also operated its own marinas and commercial boats throughout the U.S. and internationally. Noel has held ownership in businesses operating on the Gulf of Mexico, Annapolis, Branson, Lake Minnetonka, the Mississippi River, New York, Seattle, and the UAE, with his boats found on major waterways across North America and beyond. In addition to his manufacturing achievements, Noel and his family developed the number one marinas in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Naples and another in Marco Island, Florida, where he still holds the title of Rear Admiral of the Fleet. His son’s, Todd and Robert lead the design and marketing functions.
Noel has remained a passionate supporter of Industrial Engineering and NDSU. He continues to consider Fargo and North Dakota State his home, with many family members residing there, and he loves following Bison football. Noel’s philanthropic efforts include serving as President of the Boys Club of La Crosse, supporting the Mayo Clinic Foundation, and leading the La Crosse Area Economic Development Authority as its president. In 2020 Noel was elected to the Who’s Who in the Professional Executives and was on the cover of its magazine. Most recently, he has been a major donor in the new Richard Offerdahl ’65 Engineering Complex at NDSU.
Noel resides with his wife Carol in Bonita Springs, Florida. He is the proud father of five (Todd, Robert, Tami, Christopher and Katie) and grandfather to seven.
