All from West County; East County has only 2 seats on 27 member Board

The highly influential and powerful Yavapai Community College Foundation has added three new members.  They are all from the West side of the County. The three were highlighted in the most recent issue of the Foundation’s Focus magazine. (You may click here to go to the online version of the magazine.) 

Charles Leon is a past member of the Yavapai College District Governing Board representing the West side of the County in old District #4. 

Lenora Nelson currently serves as President of Bennett Oil Company, a third generation family owned business that has serviced Arizona’s petroleum needs since 1938.  She has served as the Chair of the Board for Prescott Chamber of Commerce.

Marnie Uhl l is the President/CEO of the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce having served in that capacity since 2006.

You may view the biographical sketches of all Foundation Board members by clicking here.

Based on population and concept of “fair representation by population,” the Verde Valley should have from 7 to 9 members on the Board; it has 2

There has been little change in the residence of the members of the newly announced Yavapai Community College Foundation 2017-18 Board from earlier Boards. (You may click here to review the biographies of all the current Foundation members.)

Its composition is hardly representative of the County. While the East side of the County accounts for more than 70,000 residents and the West side about 140,000, the Board membership is 25-2 in favor of the West side of the County. Furthermore, the College administrators, despite what some believe is a direct conflict of interest, remain on the Board.

There are two District Governing Board members, Pat McCarver and Steve Irwin, who are listed as Foundation Board members (liaisons).  Traditionally, there is only a single member of the Governing Board who is “elected” as liaison by the Governing Board.  However, apparently because he recognizes the enormous influence the Foundation has on the direction of the College, Steve Irwin asked to be appointed to the Board (never done before.) Both are members of the West County voting bloc that controls the District Governing Board.

There are 27 members of the Foundation Board with seven Foundation executive committee members including Dr. Penelope Wills. Only a single member of the executive committee, First Vice President Valerie Wood, is from the Verde Valley. Of the 20 remaining directors, only one, Joan Meyers, President, Friends of the Southwest Wine Center is from the Verde Valley.

The Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation and is independent from the College. It is enormously influential in terms of the direction of the College. Therefore, you find such amenities intended for citizen use (and student use) on the Prescott campus such as a professional seven court tennis complex, indoor heated swimming pool and therapy pool, an excellent childcare center and the 1,100 seat Performing Arts dinner theater. No other campus or Center in the County has College facilities like these although all County taxpayers and student tuition pay for  them on the Prescott Campus. It is argued that the Foundation has been politically instrumental in the development of these facilities on the West side of the County.

A booklet reporting on the Foundation activities handed out at the May meeting to those in attendance may be found by clicking here.

Only two of the 29 members from the East side of Yavapai County on the 2016-17 Board

The powerful Yavapai College Foundation held its annual meeting on May 11, 2016 at the Performing Arts Center. New board members were elected. Of the total of 29 members, including the Executive Director and liaison from the Governing Board, only two  persons come from the east side of Yavapai County. They are Joan Meyers, president of the Friends of Southwest Wine Center Auxiliary and Valerie Wood.  Ms. Wood is second Vice President of the Foundation. The East side of the County accounts for more than 70,000 residents; the West side about 140,000.  The overwhelming majority of members live in Prescott or in close proximity to that city.

The Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation that is independent from the College. It is enormously influential in terms of the direction of the College. Therefore, you find such amenities intended for citizen use (and student use) on the Prescott campus such as a professional seven court tennis complex, indoor heated swimming pool and therapy pool, an excellent childcare center and the 1,100 seat Performing Arts dinner theater. No other campus or Center in the County has similar College facilities.

Yavapai College President Penelope Wills is a member of the Foundation Board’s Executive Committee. Clint Ewell, the Vice President for finances at the College is a member of the directors. Because of the technical independence of the Foundation from the College, some would argue that having the College’s top administrators as members of the Foundation Board is a conflict of interest.

A booklet reporting on the Foundation activities handed out at the May meeting to those in attendance may be found by clicking here.

The Community College is inviting you to help plant the final acre of the vinyard on the Verde Campus in Clarkdale. For more information about how you can help or to become a sponsor, please call (928) 776-2359 or email foundation@yc.edu. Register Online Now

Community College operations and Foundation are now “somewhat” independent

The appointment of Paul Kirchgraber to Executive Director of the Yavapai College Foundation, which was announced March 22, 2017, was a good one. Among other things, it begins the process of separating the interests of the independent Foundation from the wishes and desires of the Yavapai Community College administrators desires and wishes. However much needs to be done.

Kirchgraber’s predecessor, Mr. Steve Walker, was hired in 2006 as both the Executive Director of the Foundation and as a College Vice President. He resigned earlier this year. The conflict of interest with Mr. Walker wearing two hats simultaneously is obvious. While the Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization, and operates to support the Community College, it may at times have goals that are not necessarily in agreement with Community College administrators. With Mr. Walker as Executive Director and a vice president of the College, his ability to influence Foundation members in the direction of the wishes and desires of college administrators was enormous.

A Conflict Remains:

Although Mr. Walker has retired, College President Dr. Penelope Wills remains as an elected member of the Foundation directors and sits on its executive committee. Vice president Clint Ewell also sits as a director on the Foundation. These two individuals carry enormous weight and influence within the Foundation. It makes it difficult, if not almost impossible, for the Foundation to operate independent of their influence. Hopefully, that will change in the future.

You may find a list of the current Yavapai College Foundation board members by clicking here.

Brings more than 25 years of experience in a variety of roles in higher education and non-profit organizations

Paul Kirchgraber has been hired as the Executive Director of the Yavapai College Foundation. He replaces Steve Walker who resigned earlier this year. 

Kirchgraber brings more than 25 years of experience in a variety of roles in higher education and non-profit organizations where he led annual and major gift fundraising programs and high-level operational areas in management, communications and donor relations.

You may read the College press release regarding Mr. Kirchgraber by clicking here.