ACCT

Regional Director Candidates

Central Region
Thomas M. Bennett
Parkland Community College, IL
Tom Bennett currently serves as Vice-Chair of the ACCT Board. He has chaired the Finance and Audit Committee and currently chairs the Member Communications and Education Committee.
Tom is a past chair of the Illinois Community College Trustee’s Association. He has served as a trustee for more than 12 years and currently serves as Vice-Chair on his local board.
Tom has been a high school science teacher, a computer software developer and trainer, and now an IT manager for a national insurance company. He has a BS in Education, BS in Computer Science, an MBA, and is now working on his DBA. Tom believes in education and in community colleges. “Education gives people a chance to dream, to do things they never thought possible, and to make a difference. Community colleges can help make these dreams come true and are critical to the long-term well-being of this nation.”

Northeast Region
James R. Perry
Union County College, NJ
My name is Jim Perry. I am a candidate for re-election to the ACCT Board from the Northeast region. I am Vice-Chair of the Union County College Board of Trustees.
Education, including Henry Ford Community College, has opened doors for me. From HFCC to Western Michigan University for an MBA, education has provided a base and created options. My educational background was expanded in 2003 at the Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Program in Public Policy at Harvard.
My Trusteeship of Union County College has fostered the following experiences:
• Member, ACCT Board of Directors; ACCT Regional Chair
• NJ Council of CC Chair
My experience at all levels of community college governance provides an understanding of the policies and decision making that benefits our students and colleges.
I ask for your vote for re-election to the ACCT Board.

Pacific Region
Rebecca Garcia
Cabrillo College, CA
I believe my work with Cabrillo College, California Community College Trustees (CCCT) Board, and ACCT qualifies me for the position of Pacific Region Director. Because of my advocacy for student success, there has been an increase in transfers, degrees, and certificates at Cabrillo College. I also am a strong
advocate of diversity that has resulted in Cabrillo being recognized by the California Chancellor’s office three times.
As a member of the CCCT Board of Directors, I have had an influence on policy, research and budget. I currently serve as President and am advocating for the passage of an initiative that will increase community college funding and reduce students’ fees.
At ACCT, I have presented workshops, participated on the Kennedy Awards Committee, was a member of the Nominating Committee, and currently serve on the Diversity Committee. This year, I was the recipient of the Pacific Region Trustee Leadership Award.

Southern Region
Peter E. Sercer, Sr.
Midlands Technical College, SC
Over the last three years, I have had the privilege of serving as a Board Member of the Association of
Community College Trustees - an association comprised of incredibly dedicated and committed individuals. I would be honored to continue working with this excellent organization.
Education has always been of primary importance to me. When on active duty with the Air Force, I spent
four years as a professor at the University of South Carolina, teaching coping skills, management skills, and aerospace studies. Upon retirement from the Air Force, I took over the Irmo High School
AFJROTC program, where our goal was to build better citizens.
My 2006 retirement gives me even greater time and opportunity to devote to ACCT. I pledge to continue to work tirelessly and passionately with each of you in helping ACCT reach its full potential in educating and advocating on behalf of our community colleges and students.

Western Region
Diane Olmos Guzman
Houston Community College, TX
My life in Houston has been dedicated to public service and to higher education. My parents were among the early voters who created the Houston Community College (HCC) District, and serving as a longtime HCC board trustee is a high honor and privilege for me. I commit countless hours to HCC’s mission of student success and I am frequently a spokesperson for my Southeast Houston district as our college campus expands and increases enrollment. I work with regional industries and have helped develop partnerships leading to more workforce programs that provide real world training for students. I helped establish a partnership between HCC and Mexico’s Tec de Monterrey to exchange students, faculty and programs. I have the experience, the dedication and the leadership skills to serve ACCT with energy and intelligence.

Director-at-Large
Denise Chachere
St. Louis Community College, MO
Since my election to the St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees, I have been an active member
of ACCT at the state (presenting workshops) and national levels (serving on three different committees, attending every semi-annual Board meeting and volunteering for special assignments). One reason for my involvement is my belief that ACCT has the right focus on legislative advocacy and improving governance practices by community college trustees.
I am convinced that ACCT has a vital role to play in advancing the missions of community colleges. Another reason for my involvement is my personal interest in leadership and service, and I view the opportunity to serve on the ACCT Board as a privilege. I also believe that my breadth of experience in strategic management, governance and public policy, as well my prior service to ACCT, have prepared
me to contribute effectively as a member of the national Board.

Clare Ollayos
Elgin Community College, IL
My respect and affection for community colleges began in 1975 when I enrolled as a part-time student
at Elgin Community College. It was as academically rigorous as any courses I’d experienced at four-year schools. ECC was again an affordable and flexible help six years later when I needed an additional chemistry course for chiropractic college admission.
With my strong background in performing arts, I was invited to serve as ECC’s community chairperson for the grand opening of our Visual and Performing Arts Center. I became a co-chair for a $1.5 million capital campaign for the ECC Foundation.
In 1995, I was elected to the ECC Board. I have served three years as Vice-Chair, two years as Chair, and as ICCTA President in 2006-2007. I have served as a Session Evaluator for ACCT, presented on pre-conference panels, and led roundtable discussions.
I would love the opportunity to serve as a Director-at-Large.

James K. Polk
Illinois Central College
James K. Polk is currently serving as Chair of the ACCT Diversity Committee and Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association.
James Polk is a trailblazer and pioneer in promoting diversity and civil rights for more than 35 years in the Peoria area. His accomplishments while serving on the Peoria County Board and Peoria City Council were instrumental in achieving stabilization and revitalization in Peoria’s inner city.
James has worked diligently, ensuring that diversity is represented by people of all ages, races, economic backgrounds and physical ability. He has worked hard to establish a board policy with a commitment to diversity at Illinois Central College.
James, who had polio as a child and was unable to walk for part of his life, is sensitive to ensuring that all people are treated fairly and have an opportunity to succeed.

Carmie Lynn Toulouse
_Central New Mexico Community College _
I would be honored to continue my service to ACCT on the Board of Directors. My local experience as a nine-year Governing Board member at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) is complemented by my current national experience on the ACCT Board of Directors, ACCT Finance and Audit Committee and previously as a member of the Diversity Committee. CNM is New Mexico’s largest community college, with four campuses and a workforce-training center serving over 30,000 students of Anglo (40%), Hispanic (40%), Native American (7%) and other ethnicities. I have served as Board secretary since being elected to my first term and have chaired both the Finance and Planning committees. That considerable experience, along with knowledge gained serving on several community boards, provides me a solid foundation, for effective membership on the ACCT Board. My promise is to continue to serve our member colleges with dedication, interest, fairness and concern.