I would like to express my sincere appreciation in selecting me to serve as CCBO’s president for the 2011-2012 year. I am deeply honored and look forward to working with the Board of Directors and membership in the coming year. I would like to thank Kurt Buttleman, Susan Clough, Rob Widmer, and Ron Rhames for their outstanding leadership and guidance of the organization over the past few years. I truly respect your contributions and commitment to CCBO. One thing we can all count on is CHANGE. I know many things have changed at Moberly Area Community College since I started 15 years ago. We have gone from one campus to offering courses online and at six additional sites throughout our service region. Our enrollment has gone from 2,000 students to over 5,000 students. Our state funding has steadily decreased while we have tried to minimize tuition increases for our students. I’m sure your institutions have gone through similar changes. CCBO has provided me and other members the opportunity to share concerns and solve problems.
During 2012, CCBO will be offering innovative networking and professional development opportunities with webcasts and the annual conference. The CCBO Leadership Academy under the direction of Darrel Roberts provides an amazing learning experience for community college business officers. If you know of anyone who may benefit from this opportunity please direct them to the CCBO website.
One of my goals for 2012 is to increase awareness and membership in CCBO. CCBO is truly a unique group of members from all types of community colleges. It is this diversity of large and small, rural and urban community colleges that make the networking opportunities valuable to all members. Being an active member of CCBO has created many opportunities for me to learn and grow as an individual and professional. I truly value my CCBO membership and hope you will help spread the word to others that may find the organization beneficial to them.
As always, the Board and I welcome your input on anything you believe would advance the organization. I wish you all the best in your personal and professional endeavors this year and look forward to seeing you at the 30th Annual International Conference, September 29 – October 2, in beautiful Orlando, Florida.
Sandra Marek
Director of Business Services
Moberly Area Community College
sandram@macc.edu