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Marin County, CA November 3, 2009 Election
Smart Voter

What qualifies you to serve on the COM Board of Trustees?

By Diana M. Conti

Candidate for Board Member; Marin Community College District

This information is provided by the candidate
Candidate Diana Conti provides answers to important questions about her experience and qualifications
I have a 30 year track record directing nonprofits. I have raised millions of dollars for programs, and demonstrated skills with fiscal management and balancing financial and program needs. I have taken several agencies from the brink of financial disaster to become thriving organizations. Leading more than 25 boards has provided vast experience with team building, transparent governance, and guiding organizations.

I am currently the executive director of Parca, a nonprofit that serves people with developmental disabilities and am on the following boards:

  • American Public Health Association Executive Board
  • Founding President of West Bay Housing Development Corp. (special needs housing),
  • Chair of Thrive, the Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo County.

My Marin County experience includes:

  • Executive Director, Novato Human Needs Center
  • Executive Director, Marin Institute
  • The Alcohol and Other Drug Advisory Board (Chair)
  • Canal Community Alliance Board (President)
  • Marin Child Abuse Council (President)
  • Marin Partnership for Children and Families (Chair)
  • Marin Council of Agencies (Chair)
  • Private Industry Council
  • Marin People Care Board (now called the Helen Vine Center)

I know both personally and professionally how vitally important it is to have a thriving community college system. Several of my family members have attended community colleges and then graduated from universities. Many of the people who have been served in the organizations I have directed rely on community colleges for their education and jobs skill training.

What are major issues facing the jurisdiction and how would you deal with them?

The College needs a fresh perspective and new skills to adapt rapidly to a changing college environment. Declining state and property tax revenues for the College of Marin along with lower enrollment and higher tuition at Cal State Universities will require the College to do more with less of its traditional funding.

  • Measure C building improvements and the Master Plan need to be implemented;
  • both campuses need to be fully utilized;
  • programs need to be reviewed to make sure they are responsive to current technology and job markets;
  • programs for ESL, special needs, college transfer courses, basic education, and lifelong learning need to be preserved.

I will work to assure that the College:

  • increases its donor base and fundraising activities
  • increases its enrollment on both campuses
  • develops better branding and marketing efforts
  • forges partnerships with business and the community to develop workforce programs for good, local jobs
  • completes Measure C tax funded building and retrofitting projects on time and on budget
  • preserves programs that are important to the community

In addition, I will use my skills in board governance and team building to help move the College forward from its history of difficulty resolving issues of competing interests. At the heart of many of these conflicts is insufficient funding (forcing difficult no-win choices over many years) and limited consistency in vision and planning due to competing interests.

I will help the College move forward to provide both a new vision and the skills and resources to make it a reality. Students, parents and the community can be proud to use the College of Marin.

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ca/mrn Created from information supplied by the candidate: November 2, 2009 07:51
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