Jim Rhea Retires After 37 Years

Jim is due to retire by the end of July and slowing down is the last thing on his mind. "Now I'm going to become my son's part-time worker," he says with a laugh.

Jim Rhea, chairman of Health and Physical Education, is a fit, athletic looking man with unbridled energy and enthusiasm. He does not seem like a man who is looking to slow down. Although Jim is due to retire by the end of July, slowing down is the last thing on his mind. He will still be working in the health and physical education department two days a week as an adjunct instructor, but will also have the freedom and flexibility to devote to his other interests as well. He is excited about the trip he and his wife have planned for Canada, as well as joining his son who owns a trout hatchery in Haywood County. "Now I'm going to become my son's part-time worker," he says with a laugh.

Exactly 37 years ago, Jim walked onto the campus of A-B Tech to start his career as an educator. At first, he came here as an intern from N.C. State, but when his supervisor left, then A-B Tech President Tom Simpson offered Jim a full-time position. For four years, he was an instructor of Drafting and Design, then in 1970, he also took on the role as athletic director. After the Athletics program was disbanded in the early eighties, he became the chairman of the Health and Physical Education Department, where he resides to this day. Being the most senior faculty member, Jim has seen a lot of changes here at A-B Tech. Most notably has been its size. When he first started working here, there were 50 faculty and staff members, and only three buildings that made up the campus. "We called them A, B, and C buildings," he says with a hint of incredulity in his voice.

Although it is obvious that he is proud of all that A-B Tech has become, he recalls with fondness when it was smaller and had more of a "family atmosphere" where everyone not only knew each other, but knew each other's families as well. "Always on payday, the president never failed to walk on the campus and hand deliver everybody's paycheck personally,"he says with a smile.

Jim Rhea has been a dedicated educator and motivator who has had an influence on both his students and fellow faculty members. Of the 18 students he advised this year, half are going on to senior universities to pursue careers in the health and physical education field. After 37 years, Jim is still proud to be a part of A-B Tech. With obvious pride in his voice, he tells of how he has been on the campus of 44 out of the 58 community colleges in the state, and that "A-B Tech is head and shoulders above the restŠ. This has been the only job I've ever held as a full-time employee and it has been a very enjoyable trip through the last [three] decades." Return to top

OD Corner: SACS Accreditation Process Under Way

Although all of the little details have not been worked out, the college has started its SACS accreditation reaffirmation process. For those of you who have been involved in this process in the past, forget about it! This approach is totally new.

The basic organization structure has been established. The President's Council, which has representatives from all divisions, the Faculty Association, and the College Forum, is the group that will oversee the entire process. The Leadership Team is a small group of folks who will more directly guide the day-to-day process and keep the President's Council informed about the progress that we are making. The Leadership Team includes the President, the Vice President of Instructional Services, the Vice President of Student Services, the Accreditation Liaison (Carol Rovello), the Chair of the Institutional Effectiveness Council (Ned Fowler), and the Quality Enhancement Team Leader (Deborah Lonon).

The new accreditation process has two distinct components, compliance review and quality enhancement planning. The Compliance Review Team will have the primary responsibility for ensuring our compliance with established core requirements, comprehensive standards, and federal mandates. The Accreditation Liaison chairs this team, which has the following members: the President, the Vice President of Instructional Services, the Vice President of Student Services, the Vice President of College Relations, the Vice President of Administrative Services and the Director of Research and Planning.

The Quality Enhancement Team, under the guidance of the QE Team Leader Deborah Lonon, will facilitate a comprehensive quality enhancement planning process. This process will have its official kick-off at Professional Development Afternoon on Thursday, Sept. 19. In the meantime, the college is reviewing employee input to select the broad issue that will serve as the focal point for the Quality Enhancement Plan. Thanks to those of you who submitted your input regarding this issue. We look forward to everyone's enthusiastic participation as we work together to positively impact student learning on our campuses and in our community. Stay tuned!  

Carol Rovello
Director of Employee and Organization Development
A-B Tech
828-254-1921 ext. 178
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Five New Employees Join A-B Tech

Mike McCarthy has joined A-B Tech as coordinator for the Focused Industrial Training and the New and Expanding Industry programs, covering Buncombe and Madison Counties. Mike received his B.A. from the University of Florida and M.Ed. from Kent State University. He has 25 years of business consulting experience aimed at improved job performance for measurable results. He also co-wrote a business book titled "You Made My Day."

Melanie A. Bradford will be a nursing instructor for the evening program. Melanie has an A.A.S. degree in nursing from Gardner-Webb College in Boiling Springs. She has been a nursing instructor for Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine for five years and was a Staff RN in the Emergency Department of Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville for eight years.

Jill A. Earwood, also a new nursing instructor, has a P.N.E. diploma and A.D.N. degree from A-B Tech as well as a B.S.N. degree from Winston-Salem State University. Jill has experience as a Staff RN at Mission St. Joseph's for six years and as an LPN/RN at Asheville Pediatric Associates for four years. She also has been a Public Health Nurse II for the Buncombe County Health Center and a RN, case manager/care coordinator for Visiting Health Professionals in Asheville.

Larisa Kirilin joins us as a new custodian with Plant Operations. Larisa has a high school diploma from the Ukraine and experience as a custodian for Gray Beard Realty in Montreat.

Susan A. Williams signed on as a payroll accountant for Business Services. Susan has an A.A.S. degree in Accounting from A-B Tech. Her Asheville-based experience includes client financial coordinator, Partners Healthcare Group, and teller/vault Teller, Centura Bank.

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LRC Art Exhibit

A-B Tech Library Assistant Madalyn Rogers will be the featured artist for an LRC sponsored one-woman exhibit. The exhibit is scheduled to open concurrently with the General Staff meeting at 3 pm July 22.

Paleno Makes a Clean Sweep

Bailey Donny Paleno, a 2001 graduate of the Culinary Technology program, is now managing the Sourwood Grill at Springdale Country Club in Canton, which recently received a sanitation grade of 100.

Wedding Bells

Congratulations to Systems Librarian Thomas Gore, and LRC Computer Lab Assistant Amy Knight, who were married on June 15.

Goodstadt Names Mystery Sculpture

Chairperson of Social and Behavioral Sciences Randee Goodstadt won the LRC Mystery Sculpture Contest with the title, "From the Head of Zeus." Randee was awarded a $25 gift certificate for naming the sculpture created by LRC Director Shirley McLaughlin.

Tech Talk is produced for employees of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College by the College Relations Division

Send Submissions to Mona Cornwell, director of communications at <mcornwell@abtech.edu>. Publication of the next issue is scheduled
August 1. The deadline for submission is July 18.

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