Members of the North Georgia Technical College Board of Directors receive the 2019 Board of Directors Award. Pictured (L-R): Technical College Director’s Association (TCDA) Executive Director Adie Shimandle; NGTC board of director members Gilbert Barrett, Chan Caudell, Jane Brackett, and board chair Rebecca Stovall; NGTC President Dr. Mark Ivester; NGTC past board chair board Ron Barden; and TCSG Commissioner Matt Arthur.
North Georgia Technical College (NGTC) received three top awards honoring board members and volunteers at the annual Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Leadership Conference in Savannah recently.
Board of directors earns TCDA board certification
The NGTC Board of Directors earned the Technical College Directors’ Association board certification for the entire board for the eighth consecutive year.
To earn the designated certification, all board members must complete professional development workshops consisting of new board orientation/governance; relationship building with elected officials, community advocacy; legislative budgeting process and financial management of technical colleges and an elective workshop. Members must also attend 80% of local board meetings, tour the local technical college, attend a TCSG State Board meeting or TCSG Leadership Conference.
Members of the NGTC Board of Directors for 2019-20 who each earned this distinction include Chair Rebecca Stovall of Lavonia, Mitchel Barrett of Cleveland, Ron Barden of Rabun Gap, Chan Caudell of Cornelia, Jane Brackett of Blue Ridge, Rope Roberts of Clarkesville, Kennon Yori of Clermont, Dr. Jim Wade of Toccoa, Julia Barnett of Blairsville, and Gilbert Barrett of Demorest.
Another highlight of the Leadership Conference was the announcement that one of NGTC’s board of directors member, Chan Caudell, was unanimously voted as chair of the TCDA for 2020. Caudell joined the TCDA Executive Board in 2014 as a member-at-large representative and later was elected as vice president in 2016.
“Chan has served on the board for TCDA for many years, and we congratulate him for achieving this wonderful accomplishment and for representing and supporting NGTC in such a tremendous way,” says NGTC President Dr. Mark Ivester. “We are thankful for Chan and his love for our college and our goal of workforce development with all of our students.”
NGTC Foundation board designated as role model board from TCFA
The NGTC Foundation Board of Trustees received an award for attaining role model foundation board certification from the Technical College Foundation Association (TCFA), marking the fifth consecutive year for this distinction.
TCFA is a membership organization that represents the 25 TCSG foundations and over 600 trustees statewide. The TCFA Role Model Foundation Board Certification is an honor bestowed on the TCSG foundations that engage in best practices in nonprofit governance, board management, and operations; have policies in place to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, especially in financial matters; are led by a board of trustees whose members are actively engaged in the foundation’s development activities; and support the professional development and state-level participation of their trustees, executive director, and college advancement personnel.
Members of the NGTC Foundation 2019-20 Board of Trustees include Chair Jana Cheek of Toccoa, Lyn Allen of Martin, Greg (Mully) Ash of Helen, Tim Ash of Clarkesville, Janine Bethel of Tiger, Hilda Burke of Clarkesville, Gary Davis of Lavonia, Whit Diggs of Toccoa, David Foster of Cornelia, Joe Hatfield of Clarkesville, Don Higgins of Cornelia, Jason Hogan of Cleveland, Frank Riley of Hiawassee, Stewart Sayer of Mt. Airy, Rick Story of Rabun Gap, Rev. David Tinsley of Young Harris, Carnie Wall of Hiawassee, Cassandra Wilkins of Eastanollee. Emeritus members include Bob Evans of Toccoa, Pam Spangler of Sautee, Dr. Stephen Tilly of Toccoa and Shirley Wilkinson of Cornelia.
Robert (Bob) Evans awarded Distinguished Service Award from TCFA
Robert (Bob) Evans of Toccoa received the TCFADistinguished Service Award for NGTC, which showcases past generosity, commitment, and dedication to the foundations and colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and encourages future generosity and commitment.
The award provides an opportunity for local foundations and colleges to express appreciation for the significant contributions made by individuals, foundations, businesses, and corporations. The TCFA Distinguished Service Award embodies the ideals of philanthropy, volunteerism, and leadership in the service of Georgia’s technical colleges.
Evans has promoted technical education and NGTC for the past five decades. He served as a Quick Start advisory committee member and chairman of the NGTC board of directors, served two full terms on the state board of the Department of Technical and Adult Education, was a very active member of the NGTC Foundation board of trustees and was unanimously elected trustee emeritus upon completion of his second full term on this board.
Through his work with the Stephens County Development Authority and Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, Evans brought thousands of jobs to Northeast Georgia and was honored by both state organizations with lifetime memberships. Evans used those networks of fellow professionals to advocate on behalf of technical education and shared his positive experience of its role in industrial and community development.
Evans served as a member of the board of directors when North Georgia Technical Institute President Jim Marlowe introduced the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) program that was adopted by the DTAE Board. Evans used his considerable influence with its members and was responsible for the adoption of the program by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. This relationship continues today and grows stronger each year as the role of technical college graduates increases in importance in today’s economy and communities in which they live.
Because of his successful efforts on behalf of GOAL and contributions to NGTC, Evans was recognized by the NGTC Foundation board of directors with the establishment of a scholarship in honor of him and Jim Marlowe. The Marlowe-Evans Scholarship is given annually to one of the top 12 GOAL finalists at NGTC to recognize a student’s outstanding contributions to the community and others in need.
“Bob has been generous with his time, talents and financial resources, and North Georgia Technical College would not be the quality educational institution that it is today if Bob had not been part of its volunteer leadership,” says NGTC Director Of Institutional Advancement Cynthia Brown. “He always comes with a smile and offers the very best advice and encouragement to others. Bob is loyal and supportive of technical education and epitomizes the concept of service above self. The North Georgia Technical College Foundation board of trustees is honored to have Bob as a constant friend and supporter and is proud he has received the 2019 Distinguished Service Award.”
