Board Announces Incoming Rcc President

By RCC Press Release

Board Announces Incoming RCC President

Rogue Community College (RCC) is happy to announce the selection of Dr. Randy Weber, currently Executive Vice President, Chief Student Success & Strategy Officer at Johnson County Community College (Kansas), as its next president.

Following a unanimous vote of confirmation by all members of the RCC Board of Education present on Wednesday, March 23, Dr. Weber will become the college’s 7th president, and will begin his tenure on July 1. A proven senior administrator, executive and thought leader, Dr. Weber was selected following an eight-month nationwide search led by a 20-member Presidential Search Committee appointed by the RCC Board of Education. The committee included a range of RCC District stakeholders including faculty, staff, students, board members, and community members.

Dr. Weber will succeed retiring president Dr. Cathy Kemper-Pelle at RCC, an institution recognized for its accessibility to students, responsive partnerships with regional employers and industries, excellent career and technical programs, and strong student transfer success to four-year institutions. RCC’s three campuses (Grants Pass, White City and Medford) annually serve over 6,800 students from Jackson and Josephine counties.

“Dr. Weber is a dynamic and innovative leader who is extraordinarily qualified to lead our college in the 21st century,” said Roger Stokes, chair of the RCC Board of Education, in making the announcement. “Like many of RCC’s

faculty, Dr. Weber demonstrates exemplary academic accomplishments coupled with student-focused responsiveness, both honed during his years of administrative leadership at three other large community colleges.”

Dr. Weber received an EdD at Baker University in Overland Park, Kansas and began his educational journey at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. As a first-generation community college graduate, Dr. Weber shared with RCC’s Board that he “places high importance on the commitment to access and completion for all students,” regardless of their background, challenges or aspirations.

Dr. Weber has fourteen years of cabinetlevel experience overseeing student affairs, finance, administrative services, enrollment, and institutional effectiveness in community colleges in both Colorado and Kansas. His resume includes leading collaborative initiatives with an array of community partners that improved student success rates, lowered entrance barriers for students, and increased student satisfaction and retention.

“Dr. Weber is bringing an inspiring vision for RCC just as our student enrollments are rebounding from the COVID crisis, which has affected all colleges,” said Stokes. “He recognizes that higher education is changing and that the future of work, student career advancement and community economic strength lies in close ties between academic programs and real-world employment. He is a strong choice to lead RCC into an exciting future filled with promise and opportunity.”

“I am truly honored to be selected as the next president at Rogue Community College. I look forward to working with dedicated faculty and staff in supporting the students and communities we serve throughout Josephine and Jackson counties,” said Dr. Weber. “Together we will continue to increase student success and effectively support regional workforce needs.”

Johnson County Community College, Dr. Weber’s current college, enrolls over 27,000 credit students and 25,000 noncredit students annually with approximately 3,000 employees and a $220 million operating and capital budget. At the national level, Dr. Weber has also served as a presenter and consultant on enrollment management and academic advising strategies for community college leadership conferences.

Sharing thoughts about the institution he will be stepping in to lead, Dr. Weber said, “I believe in all this institution has achieved since opening in 1970, and also believe RCC’s best days are yet to come. I know I am receiving the reins from an inspiring leader in Dr. KemperPelle, who has strengthened an already expert team. I feel confident together, Reflecting on Dr. Kemper-Pelle’s service to RCC, Stokes added, “Cathy KemperPelle has devoted six years to RCC’s success, and we are all better for her service. She has been a tireless champion for the college and our students, and we wish her a long and happy retirement.”

“My time at RCC has taught me that this college is constantly evolving, while always remaining true to its mission. I am sure that Dr. Weber will find the faculty, staff, community and students excited for the future and ready to move the college forward,” said Dr. Cathy Kemper-Pelle. “I wish him well, and I look forward to working together to ensure a seamless transition.” In alignment with Dr. Kemper-Pelle’s last day, June 30, 2022, a transition period will be undertaken with Dr. Weber.

To introduce Dr. Weber to students, faculty, staff and the community, RCC will host an informal event over the summer and again as fall term begins. Details on those events will be posted on the RCC website and in local press.

RCC was assisted in the search process by Gold Hill Associates, a community college executive search firm that has facilitated over 100 community colleges in searches for new presidents and executives.

By Press Release https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leigh-gower-joins-dutch-bros-coffee-ascompanys-first-chief-technology-officer-301453927.html

Leigh Gower Joins Dutch Bros Coffee as Company's First Chief Technology Officer

Experienced businesswoman Leigh Gower has joined Dutch Bros Coffee as the drive-thru beverage company's first Chief Technology Officer. Gower brings a 20 year background of helping companies transform customer service using technology.

"Leigh has dedicated her career to customer-focused, transformative work. She recognizes the need to seamlessly integrate technology into everything we do to create a flawless, personal experience," said Joth Ricci, President and CEO of Dutch Bros. "We're excited about the expertise she brings to this role and look forward to her guidance in connecting with our customers in new ways."

Gower assumed the role of Chief Technology Officer on Dec. 1, 2021. Prior to joining Dutch Bros, Gower served as Vice President, Technology at Blue Nile. Prior to Blue Nile, Gower served as a Senior Director, Product & Technology at T-Mobile and as a Management Consultant at Slalom Consulting. "My passion has always been enabling businesses with effective technology to power compelling customer experiences," said Gower. "Dutch Bros is a disruptive brand defining its own path, and passionate about speed, quality and service as core values. I look forward to working with an incredible team and approaching new ways of reaching our customers with a culture of curiosity and collaboration."

About Dutch Bros

Dutch Bros Coffee is a drive-thru coffee company dedicated to making a massive difference one cup at a time. Headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon, where it was founded in 1992 by Dane and Travis Boersma, it's now sharing the "Dutch Luv" with more than 500 locations in 12 states. Dutch Bros serves specialty coffee, smoothies, freezes, teas, its exclusive Dutch Bros Blue Rebel energy drink and nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee. Its rich, proprietary coffee blend is handcrafted from start to finish.

In addition to its mission of speed, quality and service, Dutch Bros is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. Through its Dutch Bros Foundation and local franchisees, the company donates several million dollars to causes across the country each year.

To learn more about Dutch Bros, visit www.dutchbros.com

By Oregon Historical Society News https://www.ohs.org/support/history-makers.cfm

Sid Deboer honored as a 2022 Oregon History Maker by the Oregon Historical Society

History Makers

The Oregon Historical Society’s annual Oregon History Makers Awards & Dinner recognizes contemporary individuals and organizations that are positively shaping the history, culture, and landscape of Oregon. Event sponsorships, ticket sales, and donations in honor of the History Makers support the Oregon Historical Society’s important work to collect, preserve, and interpret Oregon’s past.

ohs.org

Who Is An Oregon History Maker?

Each year, the Oregon Historical Society honors living leaders and organizations that are making history through scientific discovery and exploration; innovations in business, communications, and the arts; or service in their communities. Whether they were born here, lived here, or work here, these Oregon History Makers represent the best of what the state has to offer.

Sid DeBoer

VISIONARY BUSINESS LEADER AND PHILANTHROPIST

Growing up in a large family in Ashland, where he and his siblings worked at their father’s Lithia Motors dealership, Sid DeBoer learned the automobile sales business from the ground up. When he took over the business after his father’s death in 1968, DeBoer created his own legacy by making Lithia Motors a symbol of hard work, honor, and family — with nearly 300 locations, it is now the third largest automotive retailer in the United States. Believing that greatness is determined not by what you have, but by what you give, DeBoer is the founder and president of the Sid and Karen DeBoer Foundation, which supports youth-mentoring programs, hospitals, the arts, cancer research, and universities, among other worthy causes. DeBoer is also the founder of Lithia4Kids, an initiative dedicated to teaching, inspiring, strengthening, and empowering today’s youth through more than $5 million in donations to organizations and programs that enrich the lives of children and their families.