The Barton Community College Board of Trustees discussed a college-community partnership for economic development when the board held its May study session on Tuesday. Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons said an Economic Development Workgroup was launched in December 2020.
Members include Megan Barfield, Great Bend Chamber of Commerce; Sue Cooper, Barton County Grant Coordinator; Sara Hayden, Great Bend Economic Development; Laura Patzner, Kansas Workforce ONE; Stacie Schmidt, Ellsworth County Economic Development; Christy Tustin, Golden Belt Community Foundation; Kathleen Norman and Carolyn Dunn, Stafford County Economic Development; and Barton representatives Krystall Barnes, Mary Foley, Deanna Heier, Brian Howe, Kathy Kottas and Elaine Simmons.
“Each group has different needs,” Simmons told the trustees. But the shared purpose of the group is to:
“Promote opportunities to advance community and economic development through collaboration, resources, awareness and communication. Members will seek local and regional partnerships to identify strategies, prioritized initiatives, leverage resources, create programs, identify networks and manage communication.”
As for Barton, Simmons’s presentation noted:
“Barton Community College contributes to economic development with educational resources available to support an emergent and incumbent workforce. The college recognizes the significance of strengthening its outreach through collaboration with leaders involved in economic development across the institution’s service area.”
The trustees also received an update on the Barton Leadership Institute, created to allow staff to gain skills for potential promotions within the ranks of Barton employees. Those who completed the 2020-2021 leadership institute were:
• Chris Baker, Coordinator of Correctional Education Services
• Megan Chambers, Advisement Coordinator, Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth
• Nolan Esfeld, Central Kansas Upward Bound – Academic Advisor
• Tanner Marston, Systems Analyst & Technology Architect
• Andrea Thompson, Full-time Instructor Medical Laboratory Technology Program
• Chris Vanderlinde, Full-time Instructor Troop Schools, Fort Riley Campus
• Jenna Wornkey, Coordinator of Employee Education and Engagement
Contract reviews
Prior to Tuesday’s study session, the trustees held a special meeting and named Jeremy Coombs as the new head coach for men’s basketball. Later, at the study session, trustees reviewed the contract renewal list for other head coaches. It was noted that there is still an opening for a head coach for wrestling.
Other head coaches on the list:
• Brent Biggs – Baseball
• Ousmane Camara – Women’s Soccer
• Jerold Clark – Women’s Basketball
• Matthew Gilbert – Men’s and Women’s Swimming
• Tyler Gunelson – Softball
• Douglas Kaiser – Men’s and Women’s Golf
• Michael Perry – Men’s and Women’s Bowling
• Jordan Rideout – Men’s Soccer
• Michael Rose – eSports
• David Schenek – Track and Cross Country
• Amanda Schnoebelen – Dance Line and Cheerleader
• Alan Segal – Volleyball
• Lyle Stickney – Tennis
Contract renewals for head coaches, management staff and administrators will be on the agenda for action at the May 25 Board of Trustees meeting.
The renewal list for management staff contracts:
• Terry Barrow – Comptroller and Budget Manager
• Coleen Cape – Executive Director of Institutional Advancement
• Mary Foley – Executive Director of Workforce Training and Economic Development
• Lindsay Holmes – Director of Hazardous Materials, Emergency Management, and Occupational Safety, and Health
• Julie Knoblich – Director of Human Resources
• Claudia Mather – Associate Dean of Instruction
• Terri Mebane – Director of Military Programs
• Todd Mobray – Director of Institutional Research
• Todd Moore – Assistant Director of Athletics and Sports Information Director
• Amy Oelke – Director of Systems Integration and DBA
• Myrna Perkins –Director of Financial Aid
• ReGina Reynolds-Casper – Director of Library and College Archives
• Trevor Rolfs – Director of Athletics
• Renae Skelton – Director of Nursing Education
• Laura Stutzman – Business Manager
There is an open position for an executive director of Healthcare and Public Service.
Administrative contracts up for renewal:
• Mark Dean – Vice President of Administration
• Brian Howe – Dean of Academics
• Michelle Kaiser – Chief Information Officer
• Kathleen Kottas – Dean of Workforce Training and Community Education
• Angela Maddy – Vice President of Student Services
• Elaine Simmons – Vice President of Instruction
• Kurtis Teal – Dean of Military Academics, Technical Education and Outreach Programs.
