SANFORD — Central Carolina Community College’s Board of Trustees swore in two new and five reappointed members for four-year terms during its July 29 meeting at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. The board also elected its 2009-2010 officers.

Two chairmen of county boards of commissioners now serve on the board: George Lucier, of Chatham, and Tim McNeill, of Harnett. The college’s service area includes Chatham, Harnett and Lee counties. 

Bobby Powell, of Sanford, was re-elected as chairman of the board. He is a retired golf professional and former head PGA professional, club manager and superintendent at Sanford Golf Course. Powell, who was appointed by the governor, has served on the board 16 years and is now in his third year as chairman. 

“This board is a pleasure to work on because it makes policy that allows the people at the college to do their jobs well,” Powell said.

 

Frances Warner, of Lemon Springs, was elected vice chairman. She is a retired postmaster of Lemon Springs and has served on the board since 1999. The Lee County Board of Commissioners appointed her to the board.

“I consider it an honor and privilege to serve on the board,” Warner said. “I love education and serving others. There’s no better place to be at this time.”

The two new trustees are George Lucier and Ophelia Livingston. Reappointed members are Dr. Tracy Hanner, R.V. Hight, Tim McNeill, Clem Medley, and Doug Wilkinson Jr. Susie K. Thomas, Lee County Clerk of Superior Court, administered the oath of office.

George Lucier, of Pittsboro, is chairman of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. He was appointed by that board to serve as a college trustee. Lucier holds a doctorate in agriculture. He has a long record of public service at the local, state, national and international levels, from former chairman of the Chatham County Planning Board to advisor to the World Health Organization. He retired in 2000 as associate director of the nation’s largest toxicology research and testing program. 

“I am honored to be a member of the CCCC Board of Trustees,” Lucier said. “Our community colleges provide essential educational and job training opportunities to the citizens of this region. I am impressed with how effective the community college is in adjusting to changing times with new courses and a forward-looking building construction program.”

 

Ophelia Livingston, of Sanford, was appointed by the Lee County Board of Commissioners. She is the License and Compliance manager for The Pantry, Inc. Livingston holds a Master in Business Administration and a M.S. in Information Systems. She has a number of certifications, including Certified Governance, Risk & Compliance Manager and Certified Internal Control Management Professional. Her community service includes past or present membership on several boards, including Habitat for Humanity and the Environmental Affairs Board Industrial Facilities.

 

“I want to serve on the board to provide guidance in the marketability of the college,” Livingston said. “I also want to help champion the unique educational opportunities of the college to local businesses, the local community and surrounding areas.”

Members reappointed were:

Dr. Tracy Hanner, of Bear Creek, was reappointed to the board of trustees by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. He has served as a trustee since 2005. Hanner is the clinical associate veterinary coordinator for Lab Animal Science Education at N.C. A&T University.

R.V. Hight, of Sanford, who was reappointed by the Lee County Board of Commissioners, has served on the board since 2005. He is the Special Projects editor for The Sanford Herald.

Tim McNeill, of Cameron, chairman of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners, was reappointed by the commissioners. He has served as a trustee since 2001. McNeill is the regional sales manager for Central Carolina Tire & Disposal and also serves as chairman of the BRAC Regional Task Force.

Clem Medley, of Dunn, was reappointed by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners. He has served since 2005. Medley is president of First Federal Bank.

Doug Wilkinson Jr., of Sanford, was reappointed by Gov. Beverly Perdue. He has served as a trustee since 1999. Wilkinson is president of Wilkinson Cadillac Pontiac GMC.

Tanya Haislip, of Cameron, SGA president, is the non-voting student representative on the board. She was appointed by the state legislature.

The out-going trustees, Patrick Barnes and John Daniel III, had served since 2005. They were unable to attend the meeting and certificates of appreciation for their service were later presented to them. Barnes, a former Chatham County commissioner, is a general contractor. He had been appointed by the Chatham commissioners. Daniel, owner of Daniel and Associates, had been appointed by the Lee County Board of Education. 

Other current members of the board are John T. Bonardi Jr., estimator/project manager for S.T. Wooten Corp.; Ed Garrison, vice president/branch manager for Davenport and Company; Jan Hayes, executive director of United Way of Lee County; Tony G. Lett, president of Lee Builder Mart; Julian Philpott, secretary/general counsel for N.C. Farm Bureau Federation; and William T. Wilson Jr., attorney, Wilson & Reives; all of Sanford. Also serving as a trustee is Frank Stewart, of Lillington, a retired teacher and farmer.

The board consists of 17 residents of Chatham, Harnett and Lee counties who are appointed to four-year terms by various government agencies. The governor, Lee County Board of Education, and Lee County Board of Commissioners appoint four each; Harnett and Chatham counties boards of commissioners appoint two each. A non-voting student member is appointed by the state legislature each year. The college president serves under the board and reports to it.