Tag Archives: community building

Ellen Grondine

Ellen Grondine

Ellen Grondine is the Dean of Law, Education and Social Professions at Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence and Haverhill, Massachusetts.  She has also held administrative positions in the K-12 public education arena specifically related to curriculum and instruction and has extensive teaching experience in both early childhood and special education.

Ellen is an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator, a Process Management Trainer and a member of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) team of trainers.  Her expertise in strengths based team building, her understanding of tools for critical analysis, and her work in building effective inter-group coalitions have been instrumental in academic and strategic planning, divisional training and goal setting, and her community outreach efforts on behalf of the college.  She has facilitated collaborations among the college and veteran’s service agencies, community partnership councils and public school settings by providing workshops, program development and resources.  Her work within the K-12 setting also includes the design and implementation of Appreciative Inquiry teacher training as a means of strengthening parent-teacher relationships and facilitating communication among public school administration and community members.

Ellen earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University in Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Science from Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts.

Hire This Expert >

Specialties:

  • Academic Master Planning
  • Appreciative Inquiry
  • Community Building
  • Community Building & Community Partnerships
  • Continuous Process Improvement
  • Curriculum Development
  • Developing Enthusiasm in Teaching or Training
  • Process Improvement
  • Strategic Planning

Nicholas Holton

Contact Information:

Address:
610 W. Rose City Road
Rose City, MI USA 48654

Email:
nick.holton@kirkland.edu
holtonn2006@yahoo.com

Phone:
Work: (989) 275-5000 ext. 412
Home: (989) 685-3290

Skype: NicholasHolton

Website(s):
Beechwood Communications

Social Media Networks:
LinkedIn

Working Portfolio:
Download Resume

Nick Holton_Profile Pic 2013

Nicholas Holton has worked as a professional educator his whole career. First as a math instructor and now at a community college as an Associate Dean for General Education, Nicholas has been a leader in innovation by design. His workshops have visited four continents, and include strategic planning, appreciative inquiry, service learning, and engaged learning techniques. He is sought out as an invited speaker and his keynote and other presentations draw an international audience. Nicholas’ appreciative inquiry teams work with small nonprofits and whole community colleges. He conducted an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Workshop (AIFT) in Perth, Australia and his clients are located all over the world including: Scotland, Chile and India. His professional passions include anything that helps people improve the human condition. He is committed to this also in he personal life as he sits on several nonprofit boards and volunteers regularly at community events.

 

 

  • Appreciative Inquiry Consulting & Training
  • Board Training & Retreats
  • Faculty Development
  • Grant Writing
  • Keynote & Plenary Presentations
  • Large-Scale Summit Design
  • Leadership Development & Training
  • Non-Profit Services
  • Organizational Development
  • Service Learning
  • Small Business Consulting
  • Strategic Development
  • Student Leadership Training
  • Workshop Facilitation

Presentations:

  • Community College: Is it right for you?
  • Incorporating Service Learning Into a Traditional Curriculum
  • Indicators of Engaged Institutions
  • Myths Of Service Learning
  • Reaching Out, While Reaching In
  • Rural Service Learning: Special Obstacles and Great Opportunities
  • Service Learning On A Shoestring
  • Service Learning: What Works And What Doesn’t!”
  • Tech Prep and Service Learning: A Natural Combination
  • Top Ten Issues Related to Successful Service Learning Experiences”
  • Using Appreciative Inquiry To Transform Your Teaching

Appreciative Inquiry Summits:

  • Campus Compact Presidential Summit: Facilitator
  • College Wide Strategic Planning Summit
  • Great Start Collaborative Strategic Planning
  • HeadStart Strategic Planning
  • National Rural Service Learning Summit
  • National Summit, Event facilitator
  • Service Learning Advisory Board Strategic Planning
  • Strategic Planning, COP Collaborative

Workshops:

  • Appreciative Inquiry Strategic Planning Workshop
  • Appreciative Inquiry Team Building
  • Appreciative Inquiry Team Building Workshop
  • Developing Our Strengths: Appreciating Our Differences
  • Faculty Course Design Workshop
  • Faculty Workshop on Service Learning

Keynote:

  • Reframing The Social Contract in Higher Education

Webinars:

  • Issues in Rural Service Learning

International:

  • Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT), Co-trainer
  • Creating High Performance Teams Using Appreciative Inquiry
  • International Service Learning: Guatemala & Nicaragua
  • ACTS Academy (Bangalore, India)
  • American Association of Community Colleges
  • Central Michigan University
  • Community College National Center for Civic Engagement
  • Company of Experts
  • Georgia State Government
  • Great Start Collaborative
  • Houston Community College
  • Kirtland Community College
  • Lake Superior State University
  • Macomb Community College
  • Michigan Campus Compact
  • MSU Extension
  • North East Michigan Community Service Agency
  • Northern Essex Community College
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Oakland Community College
  • Ogemaw County Humane Society
  • Rondo Tree Service
  • Rose City Greenhouse
  • Rural Alliance for Service Learning
  • Rural Community College Alliance
  • Smart Schools Foundation
  • St. Clair Community College
  • University of Alaska
  • “I have known Nick since 2009, and was fortunate enough to take part in an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT) that he tutored. The four days of the AIFT were both inspiring and exciting, and Nick made the training relevant to the wide variety of participants. I have also followed with interest Nick’s service learning program, and am impressed that all of his students think so highly of him.” ~ Anne Tierney, Senior University Teacher at University of Glasgow
  • “Mr. Holton, as I have addressed him for the last 27 years, was my high school math teacher who became what I consider my mentor. Five years ago, as I did some grant writing for his company, he thought it was time I called him by his first name. I just couldn’t due to the enormous amount of respect I have for this man. His motto has always been learn more, better yourself, and hopefully as a result make the world a better place. This is what he encourages, inspires, and aids others to do, whether they are students, business associates, or friends. I feel privileged to have been all three!“~ Michelle Jacobs, Independent Consultant, Electrical & Controls Engineers at Match Point Controls, LLC

Linda Watkins

Linda Watkins

Linda Watkins has been associated with community colleges for 20 years.

She currently serves as President of San Jacinto College South in Houston, Texas. Before becoming President, Linda taught on all levels from middle school through graduate school. She has served in various administrative roles, including department chair, dean, Vice President of Instruction, and Vice President of Student Services.

Linda has been certified by Company of Experts.net as an Appreciate Inquiry Facilitator. She works with many local organizations in the areas of planning and organizational change. Linda holds a doctoral degree in Secondary and Higher Education, a masters degree in sociology, and a bachelor of arts in language studies. She works with groups to bring about change through systematic planning and by building upon the strengths of individuals and institutions.

Hire This Expert >

Specialties:

  • Active Learning
  • Appreciative Inquiry
  • Academic Master Planning
  • Accreditation and Program Assessment
  • Assessment of teaching and learning
  • Building Teams
  • Community Building
  • Community College Mission and History
  • Creative Thinking
  • Dealing with Difficult Students and Situations
  • Department Chair training and development
  • Group Processes
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Keynote Speaker
  • Organizational Change
  • Quality Improvement
  • Restructuring
  • Servant Leadership
  • Transformational Leadership
  • Women in Leadership

Sue Tsuda

Sue Tsuda

Sue Tsuda has experience in the complementary arenas of local government and community colleges. Sue has served in staff positions in local government ranging from intern to city manager in Oregon and California. She also has served as an appointed and as an elected official including city council. Her experience in education includes coordinating programs in CalWORKs, Workforce Development, Student Support Services, career and transfer planning, providing instruction in student success, life skills, workplace skills, career planning, tutor training, history, and government. She also is a successful grant writer. Land use planning and economic development are particular areas of interest.

Ms. Tsuda has her Masters degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelors degree in Political Science from California State University, Fullerton. She also has a certificate in Urban Planning from University of California Extension, at Irvine and post-graduate work toward another Masters Degree in Urban Planning at Cal-Poly, Pomona.

Sue came into local government as a volunteer with the League of Women Voters and later went to work in the field she loves. Her greatest compensation is the opportunity to help others help themselves. The day she was hired as the first Town Manager of Yucca Valley, CA, the town experienced a 7.6 earthquake. The silver lining was the law that allows a fast track to formation of a Redevelopment Agency that is useful as an economic development tool.

Ms. Tsuda’s career has provided broad experience in both local government and community college issues and opportunities.

Hire This Expert >

Specialties:

  • Adult Learning
  • Building Teams
  • Career Development
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Coalition Building
  • Community Building
  • Community Development and Community Partnership
  • Continuous Learning
  • Creativity and Innovation
  • Dealing with Difficult People
  • Economic Development
  • Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn
  • Goal Setting and Time Management
  • Government relations/ lobbying
  • Job analysis and design
  • Mentoring
  • Reaching consensus
  • Service Learning
  • Spirit in the workplace
  • Teaching at-risk students
  • Training

Frank Gornick

Frank Gornick

Frank Gornick is chancellor of a community college district in California serving one of the poorest regions of the nation. Enrollment has increased three fold since 1994 while the total district revenues have been matched with an aggressive federal and state grant program. The district consists of two colleges, as well as centers throughout the 3,000 square mile service area.

In 2002, the district was recognized by the Met Life Foundation “For excellence in promoting education and economic advancement for underserved youth and adults.”

In 2004, the college district was awarded the prestigious California Community College Chancellor’s Diversity Award for Excellence for its work in promoting and hiring a diverse administrative staff.

Campus Compact recently featured this college in its spring publication: One with the Community: Indicators of Engagement at Minority-Serving Institutions.

Dr. Gornick has led an aggressive campaign for child care in his district with a goal of placing a college-operated child care facility in every community the district serves. The district’s intent is to address the whole family’s educational needs and promote access to education through the use of these centers.

He has fostered the aggressive use of technology by forging strategic partnerships with Cisco Systems, Pacific Bell, Federal agencies, local Workforce Investment Boards and others to deliver low cost solutions of access to technology. This effort has led to one of the most advanced on-line educational programs in the state–if not the nation. Retention rates exceed 75 percent. His staff has exploded the myth that poor citizens without access to computers will shun on-line educational opportunities.

His low-key yet high energy approach to leadership encourages people by example and with enthusiasm. He has transformed the college into a district that knows what it is doing and cares about the people it is enabling.

Dr. Gornick joined forces with community college presidents, AACC and business leaders to begin the discussion of the future of education in our country. Dr. Gornick wrote an article for the Community College Journal, December/January 2006 edition titled: A Call to Action: Reclaiming our Competitive Advantage. Dr. Gornick and the other leaders are beginning the dialogue on a national level this year.

Hire This Expert >

Specialties:

  • Academic Master Plannings
  • Accreditation and Program Assessment
  • Board Training and Development
  • Community Building
  • Community Development and Community Partnerships
  • Creating Learning Organizations
  • Developing Cultural Inclusion in Teaching or Training
  • Distance Education
  • E-Learning
  • Economic Development
  • Enrollment Management
  • Government Relations/ Lobbying
  • Innovation in the Workplace
  • Performance Management
  • Learning Centered Teaching and  Training Workshops
  • Management Consulting
  • On-line Education
  • Planned Change
  • Resource Development
  • Strategic Planning
  • Visioning and Futuring