Gerald McFry
Ginger Mathis
Jan Webb
Jeffrey Johnson
Patty Hart
Ron Vick
Scott Spears
Tom Bojo
Megan Watson
Georgia Northwestern Technical Collegeis moving forward with plans to be operational at the Whitfield Career Academy by fall semester, 2011.
Dr. Craig McDaniel, president of GNTC, has chosen the following individuals to staff and become the leadership team at the new Whitfield Murray Campus:
Dr. Ginger Mathis will serve as associate vice president of Academic Affairs, Tom Bojo will serve as campus manager and dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jan Webb as director of Student Affairs, Patty Hart as director of Business and Industry Services, Ron Vick as instructor for Computer Information Systems, Scott Spears as instructor for Industrial Systems Technology, Gerald McFry as instructor and program director of Business Management, Megan Watson as secretary of Academic Affairs, and Jeffrey Johnson as technology specialist.
With the exception of one individual, all of the faculty and staff are current GNTC employees and have served the college for many years.
Dr. Ginger Mathis earned a doctor of education degree in Higher Education in 2005 from the University of Georgia, a master of science degree in Computer Science in 1997 from Southern Polytechnic State University, and a bachelor of science in Computer Information Systems from the University of South Alabama in 1986. She currently serves as the associate vice president of Academic Affairs for GNTC on the Walker County Campus.
Prior to that time, Dr. Mathis served as GNTC’s coordinator of curriculum and staff development. At Northwestern Technical College, she served as assistant dean for the Business and Information Technology division of the college from 1997 to 2009. She also served as Computer Information Systems department chair from 1994 to 1997.
Dr. Mathis joined the college in 1989 as an instructor of Computer Information Systems. Prior to her career at the college, she worked as Data Processing manager for S.F. Parker and Co. P.C., an accounting firm in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. Mathis serves as an advisor to the Whitfield County Career Academy Board of Directors and serves with the University of Georgia Archway Partnership for Dalton-Whitfield County.
She is a 2010 Leadership Catoosa graduate and chairs the Education Committee for the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Mathis served as the chair for the Technical College System of Georgia Statewide Faculty Consortium Committee for Computer Information Systems. She is an active member of GraceBridge Church in Chattanooga, where she serves on the leadership team.
Under the leadership of Dr. Mindy McCannon, vice president of Academic Affairs, Dr. Mathis will be responsible for leading Academic Affairs in the northern counties of Catoosa, Dade, Murray, Walker, and Whitfield, leading the development of the Whitfield Murray Campus, and leading the Catoosa County Campus project.
Tom Bojo received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic Sciences and master’s degree in Public Administration from Jacksonville State University. After serving 21 years as a City of Rome Police Officer, Mr. Bojo was hired by Coosa Valley Technical College in 2003 to begin the Criminal Justice Technology program.
Mr. Bojo was named Coosa Valley Technical College’s Rick Perkin’s Instructor of the year for 2007 and 2008. Also in 2008, he was named director of the Coosa Valley Technical College Basic Law Enforcement Academy. During the merger of Coosa Valley Technical College and Northwestern Technical College, Mr. Bojo was appointed dean of Public Service Technologies which included seven different certificate, diploma, and degree level programs. Bojo also serves as a member of the Community Criminal Justice Foundation Board of Directors, Advisory Board member for the Gordon County and Calhoun City CTAE programs, and a member of the Northwest GA Emergency Planning Committee.
Mr. Bojo currently serves as president of the Rome High School Baseball Team’s Dugout Club and 4th degree Knight of Columbus at St. Mary’s Church in Rome.
As campus manager, Mr. Bojo will be responsible for direct administration and daily operations of the campus, supervising all faculty and staff, assisting with the scheduling and room assignments, being the liaison with local school districts, coordinating participation in local school district activities, participating in internal and external activities relevant to the campus and college operations, promoting the college to public and private organizations through community involvement, ensuring college policies and procedures for security, emergency preparedness, and severe weather plan are followed, and maintaining a working environment with positive leadership and strong team orientation.
As dean of Academic Affairs, Mr. Bojo will be responsible for coordinating and supervising quality technical programs, planning and organizing the unit's work to meet the technical college's objectives, promoting the instructional program to public and private organizations, reviewing and approving all requests for supplies and materials, including all curriculum materials for the program, and preparing the instructional program specifications and budget.
Dr. Jan Webb received a doctorate of education in Higher Education from the University of Georgia and a master of education in Community Counseling from the University of West Georgia. She has been employed with GNTC in Student Affairs for the last 14 years and has most recently served as a career planner and testing coordinator.
As director of Student Affairs, Dr. Webb’s primary responsibilities will include supervising student affairs staff and overseeing admissions, financial aid, placement testing, registrar functions, and student activities at the Whitfield Murray Campus. She will also work closely with the local high school systems to ensure their students are fully served by our college.
Patty Hart received a bachelor of business administration with a concentration in Management from University of West Georgia. She has worked for Georgia Northwestern since 1990 as an instructor. Most recently, she was the coordinator of the Georgia Work Ready program.
Ms. Hart was awarded the Administrator of the Year in 2009 by the Georgia Office of Workforce Development. Georgia Northwestern's Work Ready Team was also awarded the 2010 team of the year. Ms. Hart is also an authorized OSHA trainer and ACT Job Profiler. She has served on the Walker County Board of Education for 10 years, served on the Regional Youth Council, and been a volunteer for Kids on the Block and Relay for Life.
As director of Economic Development, Ms. Hart will be responsible for promoting the business and economic development interests in the Whitfield and Murray counties.
Ron Vick received a bachelor of arts degree in Bible from Freed-Hardeman University. He received a master's of science degree from Regis University in Computer Information Systems with a concentration in Executive Information Technologies and Systems Engineering. Mr. Vick served as a minister for the Oak Hill Church of Christ for 20 years. He also worked for Coosa Valley Technical College in Technology Services serving as Network Administrator.
He has been an instructor in CIS (Computer Information Systems) department of Georgia Northwestern Technical College for 10 years, serving both the Floyd and Gordon County Campuses. Mr. Vick is an active member of Oak Hill Church of Christ where he serves as an elder, Bible class teacher, and an interpreter for the deaf.
As instructor for Computer Information Systems, Mr. Vick will be responsible for scheduling and instructing the CIS classes on the Whitfield Murray Campus.
Scott Spears received an associate of applied science in Electronics Technology and a diploma in Electrical Control Systems from Georgia Northwestern Technical College. He has been an adjunct instructor for the past year on GNTC’s Walker County Campus.
As the Industrial Systems instructor, Mr. Spears will be working with GNTC students and local high school students to prepare graduates to install, program, operate, maintain, service, and diagnose the electro-mechanical equipment used in automated manufacturing plants.
Gerald McFry received a bachelor of science degree in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and attended Dresser Management School in Dallas, Texas. His career in management has spanned over 20 years.
Mr. McFry worked as Product Design Draftsman, General Foreman, and eventually as Operations Cost Analyst at Harbison Walker Refractories Operations in Calhoun. He studied the Japanese management philosophy at Katsushiro Matex in Osaka, Japan, in 1990, before becoming production manager at their first overseas operations in Shannon, Ga.
Recently, while working at Berry College, Mr. McFry developed and managed the Berry Information Technology Students program as the flagship student work program at Berry College. He started his career at Coosa Valley Technical College as an instructor for Computer Information Systems before becoming program director of the Management & Supervisory Development program in 2003.
Mr. McFry currently serves as the state chairman for the Instructional Faculty Consortium Committee for Business Management. He is active with the United Way, Gordon County Chamber of Commerce, and graduated from Leadership Calhoun-Gordon County in 2007.
As program director and instructor of the Business Management program, Mr. McFry will be responsible for oversight of the program, including recruitment of students, scheduling classes, advising students and teaching classes.
In addition to traditional classes, online and evening classes will be offered at the Whitfield Murray Campus.
Megan Watson received a diploma in Business Administrative Technologies and is currently pursuing an associate degree in Business Administrative Technologies from Georgia Northwestern Technical College. She will graduate in July, 2011.
For the past year, Ms. Watson has served as secretary of Academic Affairs on the Gordon County Campus. Prior to becoming secretary, she served as receptionist in Student Affairs on the Gordon County Campus from May 2008 until April 2010.
As secretary of Academic Affairs on the Whitfield Murray Campus, Ms. Watson will be responsible for helping and contributing to the Office of Student Affairs, Administrative Services, Campus Bookstore, and Success Center.
Jeffery Johnson received a diploma in Computer Information Systems, a certificate in Cisco Specialist, and a certificate in PC Installation and Repair all from Georgia Northwestern Technical College. Mr. Johnson has over 10 years of experience in computer networking and technical support. Mr. Johnson worked as the information services and production control coordinator for Jefferson Southern Company for nine years. He also served as the PC Technician for Galey & Lord Incorporated for two years.
As Technology Specialist, Mr. Johnson will be a vital part of the Technology Services team and will troubleshoot, manage, and coordinate all GNTC technology and data resources at the Whitfield Murray Campus. This will include desktop computer support, printer support, application software support, access layer connectivity services, and basic server support.
“These individuals are well experienced and possess the talent and qualifications to make our entrance into this new service area a success,” said Dr. Craig McDaniel, GNTC president.
Many of the individuals will begin working on the Whitfield Murray Campus as soon as April 18. GNTC plans to have all faculty and staff in place by June 15. Additional faculty and staff will be assigned or hired during the next several weeks.