Martin Preizler, a 38-year veteran of the health care industry, came out of retirement this year to become director of graduate programs for the School of Business at Edgewood College, but beneath the calm academic exterior beats the heart of a rock star.

"I was very musical as a young person. Then, except for listening, I kind of gave it up," said Preizler. "Now, I am trying to relearn the guitar. When I was at Physicians Plus, a group of us got a little rock band gig going. Then several of us left, and the band broke up - like the history of most great rock bands. It was called Cheese Monkey. I have no idea where that name came from. I played one of the guitars."

Preizler retired from Physicians Plus and indulged his interests in music and writing - and in Edgewood College.

Q: What do you do in your new job at Edgewood College?

A: I have responsibility for the development and growth of the MBA program and for a program called URED, the Urban Rural Economic Development program, a concentration of five courses that, as you take them, give skills for people who are interested in community development, rural or urban. It's brand new. We have about 15 students in it now. And some of those students are hoping this will be a pipeline into the MBA program.

Q: What were you doing right before you took this job?

A: Right before I took this job, I was retired from 10 years at Physicians Plus. I had some tentacles into Edgewood College. I was on an advisory committee to the Business School that helped on curriculum, development and marketing the program. Then they asked me to be on the board of trustees of the college for three years. But the most fun I've had in the last many years, I was asked to teach a course in the undergraduate Business School. That course was called Organizational Effectiveness.

Q: It doesn't sound like fun.

A: It was great. What made it great were the students. It was an opportunity to share knowledge. I have a lot of education, two masters degrees, 38 years of work experience in government and in large corporations and not-for-profits. A good variety of stuff. To bring that experience into the classroom and complement the academic part of their education was really fun. The other really wonderful part was the education that I got, even at age 63, from the students themselves because they are really bright. They really challenge you.

Q: Was this your first experience teaching?

A: No, throughout my career, I've taught. I taught a couple of one-day seminars in quality improvement at the Deming Way Edgewood campus. I've taught at the UW Nursing school. I just gave a lecture to 250 students primarily in nursing on the topic "What is health insurance?" I had one hour to tell them something that should probably take 15 years to explain. It's really gratifying to have that interaction with other students and people who are learning . That's what's so joyful about Edgewood College, being on this campus of 2,500 students and several hundred faculty and staff that are here because of the joy of learning. It's fun to come to work every day. It's just a wonderful community.

Q: What do you like about adult learners?

A: I like the idea that they bring their work experience into the classroom and that really enriches what happens in class and also the students as they go back into the workplace.

Q: You spent almost your entire career in the health insurance industry.

A: From 1970 when I first started working in the state budget office. That was right before Patrick Lucey became governor. I had responsibility for the Department of Health and Social Services. That sort of honed my interest in all of health care. Then, in 1977, I was asked to become the director of the Medicaid program, which evolved into the Bureau of Health Care Finance. In 1984, I went to UW Hospital and worked for the physicians who are now the UW Medical Foundation and UW Hospital and Clinics and created UCare, which was the forerunner of Unity.

Q: Career-wise, of what are you most proud?

A: In 2007, after I had been at Physicians Plus almost 10 years, Physicians Plus was recognized by Madison Magazine as one of seven best places to work in the region. That wasn't happenstance. It was because we had worked really hard to build a great organization. That was the external objective validation of that. That said to me that every effort you've done to build a great organization for customers and employees was validated.

Q: What things do you do outside your job that are important to you?

A: I've been having a lot of fun. I do a fair amount of volunteerism. This is my fifth year on the United Way of Dane County campaign cabinet. I do some writing. I love to write. I have a column that comes out about every quarter for Madison Magazine, "Life Goes On." I have picked up music again.

Q: You're looking for a new band?

A: I'm not sure I have the time right now. I understand just around Edgewood there's a lot of musical talent, so I'm kind of looking. I've bought a baby guitar for my granddaughter, Natalie. She's only 4 1/2, but I'm hoping to teach her how to play. It's a little baby Taylor guitar, a miniature. Her left hand is a little too small to form the chords, but I'm teaching her how to strum and keep count. I play the chords, and she does the strumming.

I have a novel that I've been working on, sort of in my head right now. I have the first 20 pages and the last 20 pages written. I just have to fill the middle 200 pages, and then I've got a story. The working title is "Annie."

It keeps your creative juices going, the music, the teaching, the challenges with the new job, grandchildren, writing, volunteerism.

Q: So, you're really out of retirement?

A: I really am out of retirement. I didn't know what to expect with retirement. My idea of retirement was my father's retirement. He worked all his life, retired when he was 65, passed away when he was 77. He pursued some hobbies and things.

I think my generation is totally different. I will be 65 in December, but I don't know how 65 is supposed to feel. I hop out of bed when it's dark and cold, and I can't wait to get over here and see what's cooking and how I can contribute and add value and I stay late.

When there's an opportunity to participate in other campus activities, other than just my job, I look for them. I remember reading about Frank Lloyd Wright, and the story said he did some of his greatest work in his late 80s. I figure if he can do some great architectural work when he is that old, then I still have a lot of opportunity.

MARTIN PREIZLER

Director of graduate programs at the School of Business, Edgewood College, Madison

He will become the interim dean of the School of Business on Jan. 1 when Charles Taylor will step down to take a full-time teaching position in the School of Education.

Age: 64

Hometown: Madison

Family: Lynn; children Jon, David and Julie; grandchildren Natalie, Seth and Gavin

Education: Bachelor's degree, UW-Madison; master's degrees from University of Michigan and UW-Madison, LaFollette School of Public Affairs

Experience: President and CEO of Physicians Plus Insurance Corp., 1998-2008; president or chief operating officer of three health plans in Madison, Minneapolis and Portland; director, Wisconsin Medicaid program.

Web site: www.edgewood.edu

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