Office of the President
Welcome to Bellingham Technical College!
At Bellingham Technical College, we believe that the benefits of a high-quality education should be accessible to every member of our community.
Whether you’re looking for a degree or certificate that will earn you a meaningful job or are an experienced worker returning to college to train for the next level in your career, BTC offers a variety of programs to help you meet your goals. And with our Machining program now offering competency-based education, we are expanding our flexible options to ensure more pathways to a degree for current workers and busy parents.
We work with industry to make sure each of our programs give you the preparation and skills that employers are looking for, with hands-on training, high-tech equipment and opportunities for employer connections, such as internships, site visits and career fairs. BTC students have higher completion rates than comparable colleges in our region, the fields we train for have higher wages than the overall average for our area, and our graduates have high employment rates – 84 percent within nine months of graduation. So you can be confident that the time you spend on your education is going to pay off.
Student resources include programs that support first-generation and low-income students, as well as guided self-placement, tutoring and counseling. We also offer a variety of financial assistance programs and scholarships to help you afford college and cut down on college debt.
Our BTC community is excited to work with you on your path to a life-changing degree or certificate.
Sincerely,
James Lemerond, Ed.D.
President
Important Links
BTC Notable News
BTC's Strategic Plan, Mission, and Vision
Diversity at BTC
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.
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.
Bradley Smith
Appointed to the BTC Board of Trustees in March 2018.
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.
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.
Alex Hildreth
Appointed to the Board of Trustees in March 2025.
CAREER PROFILE:
Current Director of Facilities, Port of Bellingham. Previous Maintenance Manger, Maintenance Supervisor, Engineering Specialist, all at the Port of Bellingham; Engineering Technician, Leonard, Boudinot & Skodje, Inc.
EDUCATIONAL PROFILE:
Bellingham Technical College, A.A.S. Civil Engineering Technology.
Ann McQuade
Appointed to the BTC Board of Trustees in February 2022. Current Board Chair.
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.
Robert DeCoteau
Appointed to the BTC Board of Trustees in March 2023. Current Board Vice Chair.
CAREER PROFILE:
Director of Workforce Education, Northwest Indian College.
EDUCATIONAL PROFILE:
Associates in Business, Whatcom Community College; Bachelors in Business Administration, Western Governors University; Master in Management and Leadership, Western Governors University.
Hours & Contacts
- president@btc.edu
- 360.752.8334
- 360.752.7099
- College Services (CS) Room 214