Office of the President

Welcome to the Bellingham Technical College website.

It is gratifying and inspiring to see how BTC effectively serves our students and community through innovative professional technical education programs supported by excellent student services practices.

We are proud to be this community’s technical college and to have served over 5,400 students last year, even while operating under pandemic conditions. Our Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff all remain committed to fulfilling BTC’s mission to provide student-centered, high quality professional technical education for today's needs and tomorrow’s opportunities, ensuring that students receive an exceptional educational experience. Our relationships with community, business, and industry partners continue to grow in strength and BTC’s reputation reflects our pursuit of excellence.

As part of our commitment to continuous quality improvement, BTC is implementing a Guided Pathways approach to instruction, clustering individual programs into areas of study such as Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation & Mechanical Technology, and Allied Health and utilizing navigators to provide consistent wrap-around support to students. This model will increase instructional effectiveness, improve retention and persistence, and reduce time to completion.

BTC has augmented our offerings to enhance after-graduation opportunities for students by developing new Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in Engineering Technology and Operations Management, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the early stages of approval.

In addition to these expanding degree opportunities, BTC provides continuing education, industry certificates, and customized training to incumbent workers.

Of course, we are proud to maintain our partnerships with local school districts as well. The IMPACT! Program is re-engaging at-risk youth and getting them back to school to earn their diploma, GED, or professional technical credits, and BTC supports CTE Dual Credit and Running Start dual enrollment programs in collaboration with high schools across Whatcom County.

Whether you are a high school student, traditional student, or lifelong learner, BTC has great things happening. Come see for yourself today!

Important Links

BTC Notable News
BTC's Strategic Plan, Mission, and Vision
Diversity at BTC

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Legislative Advocacy

Bellingham Technical College’s office of the president is responsible for bringing together campus members including, BTC Board of Trustees, Associated Student Body, Administrators, Deans and other constituents to advocate and influence public policy and opinions about BTC and the CTC system priorities and challenges. These participants uphold BTC’s vision and mission by sharing the college's accomplishments, and highlighting BTC's long-standing dedication to the community through education, which strengthens the colleges connectivity, reputation and perception within the community and beyond. Read more about BTC's Legislative Advocacy.

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Board of Trustees

BTC is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. Each member is appointed by the governor, and serves a five-year term.

The Board’s activities include strategic planning, policy creation, appointing the College President, approving operating budgets, and awarding tenure.

For additional information regarding the Board of Trustees please contact the College President's office at 360.752.8334.

Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule 2022

Upcoming Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda

Debbie Ahl

Appointed to the BTC Board of Trustees in March 2011. Served as Board Chair 2017-2019.

CAREER PROFILE:

Founder and Managing Partner, Edgewater Advising. Currently works with small businesses and entrepreneurial startups to support economic growth in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. (Retired) President & CEO Sterling Life Insurance Company. (Retired) President & CEO, Olympic Health Management Systems, Inc.

EDUCATION PROFILE:

Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Washington University in Communications.

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Joint Quality Committee for Peace Health St. Joseph Hospital. Board for the Center for Excellence in Management Education for the College of Business & Economics, Western Washington University.

Bradley Smith

Appointed to the BTC Board of Trustees in March 2018. Current Board Vice Chair.

CAREER PROFILE:

Dean of Huxley College of the Environment at WWU (1994-2012); Prior experience includes: Director of the Office of Environmental Education for the US Environmental Protection Agency; Special Assistant to the administrator of the EPA; and, Acting Associate Administrator for the EPA. Dr. Smith was appointed to the U.S. Senior Executive Service in 1991. In addition, he was a professor of political science and biology, Director of Michigan’s Tobico Marsh National Refuge and also served as adjunct faculty at the Air Force Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment

EDUCATION PROFILE:

Ph.D. from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and the Environment.

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission, current Chair; Bering Sea Fisheries Advisory Board; National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology; National Environmental Education Foundation; North Pacific Research Board; member of the Arctic Working Group; Washington State Sea Grant Board; and, Washington State Sustainability Commission.

Richard Kaiser

Appointed to the BTC Board of Trustees in July 2020. Current Board Chair.

CAREER PROFILE:

Project Manager, AIS Software; Owner, Seaprest Company. Prior work experience: Sehome High School, AP Computer Programming Instructor; Anvil Engineering, Mechanical Engineer; Whatcom Community College, Intertidal Ecology Instructor; Rocket Research Company, Development Engineer, Test Engineer, and Computer Programmer; University of Washington College of Oceanography, Oceanography Instructor.

EDUCATION PROFILE:

Bachelor of Arts & Sciences, Biological Oceanography, University of Washington, 1977; Master of Science in Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, University of Washington, 1984.

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Current: Technology Alliance Group, Member; Rotary Club of Bellingham, Member. Past: WWU College of Science & Engineering, Advisory Board President; Mount Baker Theatre, Board Member; Northwest Washington Engineers Club, President; Bellingham Bay Aquarium Project, Board of Directors.

Jim Groves

Served as a BTC Trustee from 2009-2020; reappointed to the Board of Trustees in February 2020.

CAREER PROFILE:

Retired Journeyman Electrician, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 191.

Ann McQuade

Appointed to the BTC Board of Trustees in February 2022.

CAREER PROFILE:

Retired Lt Col United States Air Force Nurse Corps Staff Nurse Medical Surgical Unit and Emergency Department. Element Leader Family Medicine Clinic, Flight Commander Family Practice and Pediatric Clinics. Flight Nurse, Flight Nurse, Aeromedical Technician, BattleField Nursing, and Critical Care Air Transport Course Instructor. Flight Commander Medical Readiness and Training.

EDUCATIONAL PROFILE:

University of Nebraska Bachelor of Science Nursing, University of the Incarnate Word, TX Master of Science Nursing.

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Society of Air Force Nursing Pacific Region, Brighton Crest HOA and Septic Assn Secretary/Treasurer, Former Assumption School Chair School Commission and Parent Teacher Club.

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Hours & Contacts

Office of the President

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