Mike Preston and Norm Vigre Join BTC Foundation Board of Directors
The Bellingham Technical College (BTC) Foundation recently elected two new members to its Board of Directors. Mike Preston and Norm Vigre will each serve a three-year term on the BTC Foundation board from 2020-2023.
“BTC is incredibly fortunate to have Mike and Norm join BTC’s Foundation,” said BTC President Dr. Kimberly Perry. “Their manufacturing and operational management experience offers BTC real-world insights and will be of great support to our programs and mission.”
Mike Preston is the Operations Manager at Phillips 66. He been involved with BTC’s Process Technology program by hiring our graduates, ensuring representation on BTC’s Program Advisory Committees, and offering tours at Phillips 66 for BTC students. He and his wife are both chemical engineers, and enjoy golf, boating, hiking and exploring the PNW. He received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from UC Santa Barbara and a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Louisiana University. He and his wife Amy have a ten-year old daughter and a six-year-old son.
“I am proud to become a member of the BTC’s Foundation. BTC provides our local community with a strong, well-prepared workforce. Phillips 66 has hired many of BTC’s graduates and has seen firsthand that BTC provides students with the hands-on experience needed to enter the workforce. I look forward to working with everyone at BTC, and serving the college and students in a more in-depth role,” said Preston.
Norm Vigre is the president of Brambleberry, INC. located in Bellingham, Washington. His company’s employees have long sought additional educational skills at BTC to improve their employment opportunities in multiple programs. He and his wife Megan enjoy travel, fishing and mountain biking on Bellingham’s many trails. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Washington Start University. His wife is the principal of Sumas Elementary and they have a fifteen-year-old son in high school.
“BTC serves an integral role in educating our community, by allowing individuals to change their lives through education. BTC’s highly technical, hands-on training supports our industries with a solid workforce. I look forward to serving as a board member at such a recognized college,” said Vigre.
BTC’s Foundation Director, Dean Fulton says "Mike and Norm’s industry experience and familiarity with what BTC’s programs offer will benefit our foundation and college greatly. We welcome them both enthusiastically."
Mike Preston and Norm Vigre join existing BTC Foundation Board of Members, comprising David Blair (Emeritus), Pam Brady, Mike Burke, Debbie Granger, Crystal Greear, Dustin Henry, Steve Kimberley, Chip Lauckhardt, Walter Michelutti, Mike Morse, Gary Nelson, Lin Nelson, Dennis Williams, and Russ Whidbee (Emeritus).
They replace outgoing members Max Legg, Rob Farrow and Paul Meeks.
About Bellingham Technical College Foundation:
Bellingham Technical College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to raising funds to support excellence in workforce education and student success. The Foundation focuses its work on securing gifts for student scholarships, faculty and employee professional development, program lab and equipment upgrades, and special campus initiatives. Over the last three years, the BTC Foundation has raised $2,180,512 million to support BTC students and the college.
More About BTC Foundation
Bellingham Technical College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and offers seven transfer degrees such as pre-nursing, computer science and business. Completion of these degrees prepares BTC students to transfer with a junior status to participating colleges and universities in Washington State. BTC offers 39 associate degree, 55 certificate options and two bachelor of applied science degrees providing professional technical education to support local and regional industry workforce needs. For more information, go to www.btc.edu.
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