Candidate for
Board Member; Contra Costa Community College District; Ward 3

I have lived in California for 18 years, arriving in 1992 from New York City where I had lived for 8 years. I was born in Washington DC living in Northern Virginia until I was 5. I grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida (13 years) and went to college in Gainesville FL (4 years) and then moved to Madison, Wisconsin (8 years).

My first job (outside of working during school) was as a financial economist at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. My college work prepared me well for that job. I monitored the financial activities of billion-dollar electric utilities.

In 1984, one of my professors from the University of Florida had moved to New York City to work for Merrill Lynch. He asked me to work for him. After a year, he had left and I was asked to work for Salomon Brothers. I spent 7 interesting years there, applying what I learned in college as well as at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and learning a lot "on the job." I started as a junior analyst and left as a Vice President and Senior Common Stock Analyst (More commonly called a "Wall Street Analyst").

In 1992, I moved to Kensington CA (north of Berkeley in Contra Costa County) to set up my own firm in Oakland advising institutional investors (banks, insurance companies, and mutual funds) on their investments. In 1996, I sold the company and decided to leave the financial analysis business.

During 1997 and 1998, I did a lot of volunteer work including at my church, various social service agencies, and at a local hospital. Because I kept reading about the need for substitute teachers, I started doing substitute work. Many teachers told me to become a math teacher so I started the teacher education program at California State University, Hayward (now East Bay). I have received the Single Subject (Mathematics) Teaching Credential.

I have taught math at two public high schools, four private high schools, and a private middle school. I enjoy being a math teacher because students must learn about math to succeed in America today.

My decision to run in 2002 for the Ambrose Recreation and Park District Board of Directors (which serves my community) was based on both my belief that my financial experience would help but also my concern that I want the 6-year-old boy and 9-year-old girl in my house to have the best recreational and park opportunities possible. They, their mom, and I want the Ambrose facilities maintained and expanded.

Working as a team, the five-member Board was able to set policies and guide the staff to many improvements. We converted the unused tennis courts in back of the Ambrose Center to heavily-used basketball courts.

I have also been a member of the Contra Costa County Library Commission, serving the 5th Supervisorial District, since 2004. This work has broadened my knowledge of the County as I have visited all 25 branch libraries.

I have also been active in the process being used by the Council City Council to reuse the Concord Naval Weapons Station. As a park and recreation board member, I have advocated for creating a world-class sports park. NOT a stadium but a beautifully landscaped collection of fields for baseball, soccer, and other sports as well as a track with field events.

As a result, I have learned a lot about the Concord City Councilmembers. When elected to the Contra Costa Community College Governing Board, I will actively ask the councilmembers for their recommendations. I will also ask other city and area councils (Concord, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, Walnut Creek, Pacheco and Bay Point) as well as school boards and special districts for their advice.

I have taken at least one course at each of the three colleges: Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, and Los Medanos College. I am still taking the DVC and LMC classes now. I have learned a lot about how the CCCCD operates from that experience. I pledge to take at least one CCCCD course each year.

I ask you to vote for me, Greg Enholm, a high school teacher, community leader, and former financial analyst for the Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board, Ward 3. I want to assure that students are able to get the courses they need and graduate or transfer on time.