Two BC employees receive top honors

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Two BC employees receive top honors

Posted Monday, July 28, 2008

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Ron Bonnette, left, Division Chair for Computer Technology and Office Administration and Tom Fowler, Director of Construction and Mechanical Technologies/Workforce Development at Brazosport College.

On June 20 Ron Bonnette, Division Chair for Computer Technology and Office Administration, and Tom Fowler, Director of Construction and Mechanical Technologies/Workforce Development at Brazosport College, graduated from the Academy for Leadership and Development after successfully completing the program requirements.

“I had been a classroom teacher for over 25 years when I stepped in to the role of Division Chairman. The only management training I had was in my college years,” said Bonnette.

The Academy for Leadership and Development is a program developed by the Chair Academy, a division of the Maricopa Community College District in Mesa, Arizona, for the purpose of advancing organizational leadership and providing succession planning for leaders in post-secondary institutions.

“The Academy allowed us to spend two intensive weeks with peers from community colleges around the nation. It was a remarkably creative setting for problem solving and long range thinking,” said Fowler.

The Academy is a year long program which includes an initial week of on-site training, a practicum experience involving implementation of an individualized professional development plan focusing on the application of skills learned during training, a mentor and coaching program, and a final week of on-site training consisting of additional leadership issues.

“When I returned to my routine after the final week, I had a much better idea of my strengths and weaknesses and was able to make more sensible decisions based on my Academy experiences,” said Bonnette.

“The Academy is a very effective format for academic leadership development and I thoroughly enjoyed this experience,” said Fowler.
Participants in the program are selected and nominated by their individual colleges to attend.

“We congratulate Ron Bonnette and Thomas Fowler for the successful completion of this program,” said Dr. Millicent Valek, President of Brazosport College.