I have always had a passion for education and have been directly involved with CMC the past 15 years. This includes serving seven years on the CMC Foundation Board, where I headed the finance committee, served as treasurer and was the board chairman for four years.

Being term-limited on the Foundation Board, I became a member of the CMC Board of Overseers, an advisory board to Dr. Carrie Hauser, president and CEO of CMC.

In addition, I have taken 34 courses at CMC over the past 15 years and generally try to take one course per semester.

With an MBA degree and 30 years experience with IBM focusing on strategic planning and long-term budgeting, I am uniquely qualified to help Dr. Hauser and the CMC executive team implement their strategic vision to become the most innovative, inclusive, student-centered college in the nation.

It is critical that CMC meets the needs of the Steamboat community. One element is expanding our partnerships with businesses, nonprofit organizations and local school districts. This will help ensure that CMC students are trained to find jobs upon completion of their studies. It also includes helping CMC students complete their studies in a timely fashion so that they are ready to meet their objectives upon graduation.

Another key element is expanding CMC’s partnerships with local high schools. This will increase college readiness for all high school graduates by providing needed preparatory courses for 12th grade students. This partnership also includes offering dual credit courses so students can earn college credit while still in high school and make the most productive use of their time spent at CMC.

Affordability is a major benefit provided by CMC. In addition to having, the lowest tuition rate in Colorado, the CMC President’s Scholarship makes a $1,000 award available to every local graduating high school senior. In addition, the CMC Foundation offers a wide range of scholarships for all areas of study.

CMC is one of the few community colleges in the nation certified to offer four-year degrees. CMC degrees now include;

■ Bachelor of science: business administration 

■ Bachelor of arts: sustainability studies

■ Bachelor of applied science

■ Bachelor of science: nursing

■ Bachelor’s degree in elementary education

For Steamboat and our other mountain communities, this means local students can earn a four-year degree without having to go to Boulder, Fort Collins or Grand Junction. In addition, CMC offers the most affordable four-year degrees in the country.

The Yampa Valley Entrepreneurship Center is a unique Steamboat program designed to help start-up entrepreneurs with office space, coaching and business planning assistance. This should add to the economic climate of the Steamboat business community.

CMC also offers continuing education courses based on the needs of the Steamboat Springs community and includes both credit and non-credit courses. Non-credit courses are listed in the CMC Steamboat Springs class schedule. 

I have visited the CMC Steamboat Springs campus on many occasions, but none matched the pride and enthusiasm shown at the 2012 grand opening of the new and refurbished campus. CMC is a great college in a great community. 

I look forward to visiting Steamboat Springs as a member of the CMC Board of Trustees and ask you to vote for me in the November Election.