Become a partner

It’s easy—and rewarding—to become an Industry Preferred Partner of the Northwest Career Colleges Federation. Join the outstanding vendors, service providers and professional organizations who have partnered with the Northwest Career Colleges Federation.

What's new

The 2012 Careers That Work! Scholarship program makes available five $1000 scholarships to every high school – public and private – in Oregon, Washington and Idaho to award to graduating seniors headed to one of the NWCCF participating member colleges. This includes alternative high schools and skill centers. High schools select the recipients.

Did you know?

The first recorded private “venture” school opened in 1705 in Colonial America, the first business college opened in Washington in 1886 and Perry Technical Institute opened in 1941, making it the oldest, continuously operating private career college in Washington. In 2011, private career colleges are highly efficient educators, integral to the economy’s turn-around by providing career-focused education.

Our Board

President

Christine Cote | President | Perry Technical Institute | Yakima, WA

Christine Cote has 25 years of professional experience in career college administration and development. Ms. Cote has served as President of Perry Technical Institute since 2008. She joined Perry’s administrative team in 1997 as Foundation Director and was appointed Vice President of Operations in 2007.

Under her leadership, the school’s enrollment has grown by more than 200 students. She has overseen a major construction project, a campus renovation and led the school through the process of adding three new training programs.

Ms. Cote earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Health from Central Washington University. She is an active member of the Yakima community serving as Past President of the Yakima Kiwanis Club, as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce and as an ASPIRE youth mentor. She serves on the Board of Directors of the South Central Workforce Development Council, and as Vice President of the Northwest Career Colleges Federation.

Vice President

Walter Leathers | Vice President | Interface College | Spokane, WA

Walt Leathers is currently the Vice President of Interface College in Spokane, WA. Prior to that he served as Executive Director of the Portland and Spokane campuses of Apollo College from May 2005 through 2008.

Walt came to Spokane Apollo campus in October 2005 from Apollo's Albuquerque, New Mexico campus where he was the Director of Admissions. While in Spokane, the campus had earned US Education's Campus of the Quarter award. Under his leadership in Albuquerque and during an interim Executive Director position at the Apollo Tuscon campus, staff and faculty also received numerous recognitions.

Secretary

Danielle Horras | Executive Director | Carrington College | Boise, ID

Danielle Horras is the Executive Director of Carrington College in Boise, Idaho. In this role she provides leadership and support to faculty, staff and students while managing the daily operations of the campus. She has over seven years of experience in higher education and has served in management roles in the departments of Admissions, Career Services, and Student Services.

Mr. Horras earned a B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Idaho and a M.Ed in Counseling and School of Psychology through the University of Idaho. An Idaho native, Danielle lives in Boise with her husband Joseph, and son, Maxwell.

Treasurer

Meredyth Given | Regional Vice President of Operations | Corinthian College | Northwest

In 1999, Meredyth Given began her career at colleges as an instructor for Seattle Massage School, later to become Everest College. Meredyth has served in numerous roles in her tenure with Everest schools. Most recently she served as President of the Everest College in Everett, Washington. Currently, she is the Regional Vice President of Operations for Corinthian Colleges for the Northwest schools. She has vast experience in every aspect of school operations and remains passionate to her commitment of ensuring students a quality, dynamic education that will provide quick access into their chosen career field.

Meredyth graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Education degree from the University of Illinois.

Immediate Past-President

Wayne Matulich | Director | ITT Technical Institute | Portland, OR

Wayne Matulich is currently the College Director for ITT Technical Institute, Portland. Wayne has over 30 years of experience in all areas of corporate management in the Technology Industry. He has held positions in operations, business development, information systems management, systems and application development and as an internal consultant in the area of reengineering / business performance improvement.

Mr. Matulich has conducted numerous reengineering and process design projects resulting in dramatic improvement to business and
technology performance in areas including consumer relations, hotel operations,consumer and mortgage loan origination, ATM and EFT processing operations, direct marketing, technology fulfillment, strategic planning, cash management and post-secondary education.

Director-at-Large Position One, Expires 2012

Jason Ferguson | President | Heald College | Portland, OR

Jason Ferguson has over ten years of experience dedicated to postsecondary education. He began his career in 1999 at National University in San Jose, California, where he served as Regional Director of Student Services. In 2002 Jason began his tenure with Heald College. He first served students as Director of Admissions at the Salinas campus and in 2004 was promoted to Campus President. In January 2007 Jason was appointed President of Heald College in Portland, Oregon, where he continues to assist students with achieving their career goals.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Utah and a Masters of Business Administration from National University. He lives in Vancouver, Washington with his wife of 16 years and their four children, three boys and a daughter.

Director-at-Large Position Two, Expires 2012

John Paul Johnston | Director | Divers Institute of Technology | Seattle, WA

John Paul JohnstonDuring his distinguished 30-year career, Mr. Johnston was a member of the Navy's deepest diving team, reaching a depth of 1800 feet at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit in Panama City, Florida and participated in several major diving and salvage projects. Mr. Johnston commanded one of the Navy's largest diving and salvage ships, the USS Edenton (ATS -1). While in command, the USS Edenton conducted the first efforts towards salvaging pieces of the Civil War Ironclad USS Monitor. Additionally, he completed several assignments involving research, development, testing and evaluation of new diving equipment and systems. Mr. Johnston’s educational experience includes teaching navigation, ship handling and composite warfare concepts at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He has served as director of Divers Institute of Technology since 2000.

Director-at-Large Position Three, Expires 2012

Leigh Christopherson | Director | Anthem College | Beaverton, OR

Leigh ChristophersonLeigh Christopherson is the Campus President of Anthem College located in Beaverton, Oregon. She has been in her current position since the fall of 2008, where she provides leadership and operational direction to staff, faculty and students.

Leigh began working in post-secondary education in 2001 at Allied Medical College in St. Louis, Missouri. Since that time, she has held numerous training and management positions including Director of Financial Aid, Regional Financial Aid Director, Compliance Specialist, and Campus President.

Leigh holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University. Leigh lives in Tigard, Oregon with her husband and two daughters.

Director-at-Large Position Four, Expires 2012

Halene Sigmund | Executive Director | Construction Industry Training Council | Bellevue, WA

In February 1993, Halene Sigmund joined Construction Industry Training Council (CITC) as executive assistant. Currently she holds the position of Vice President - Apprenticeship. In July of 2010 Halene will become CITC's President. She has been directly involved with the management of CITC's growth, ensuring that the systems and company operations align with the mission of CITC and the vision of the Board of Trustees. Currently, Halene is responsible for CITC's apprenticeship programs. These duties include ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations of each set of apprenticeship standards approved under the Washington Administrative Codes (WACs) and the Revised Code of Washington (RCWs). Halene also ensures that consistency in policy making and the interpretation of CITC's seven standards of apprenticeship is adhered to between seven craft specific apprenticeship committees.

Halene was born in San Francisco and grew up in Southeast Asia. She has traveled extensively through Asia and Europe. She believes that it is through education that diversity is understood and where individuals are given options and access to opportunities that they may not have otherwise had.

Halene earned her B.A. in Art History from San Jose State University. She received her MBA in 2005 and is a certified by SHRM as a Professional in Human Resources.

Director-at-Large Position Five, Expires 2013

Kim Ierien | President | Concorde Career College | Portland, OR

Kim IerienKim Ierien has held the position of Campus President with Concorde Career College, Portland, Oregon, since September 2009, where her responsibilities include ensuring student and employer satisfaction, human resources, and maintaining compliance with federal, state and accreditation requirements. Prior to being named Campus President, Kim was Director of Career Services for four years and Academic Dean for 10 years. She holds a B.S. in Human Development and an AAS in Radiology Technology.

Director-at-Large Position Six, Expires 2013

Nancy Gale | Treasurer | Technology Learning Group | Bellevue, WA

Nancy Gale has served as Nancy Gale has served as Treasurer and Administrator for Technology Learning Group, Inc. dba TLG Learning since 1996. Prior to working with TLG Learning Nancy was the Executive Director for Options Healthcare and the Accounting Director for Group Health Cooperative. Nancy currently serves on the Private Career School Advisory Committee and also serves on other community boards.

Nancy has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington. She is married and has a teenage son.

Director-at-Large Position Seven, Expires 2013

Bill King | Director | ITT Technical Institute | Spokane, WA

Bill King Bill King has a career in education, starting in 1970 as a high school teacher and coach in Hayward, California. In 1978, he decided to leave public education and became an admissions representative at Heald College in Oakland, California. Bill served in varying positions in admissions until being named Director of Heald College, Hayward, California in 1986. He has been a director in many educational organizations since that date, serving most recently as Director of ITT Technical Institute, Spokane, since 1997.

Director-at-Large Position Eight, Expires 2013

Barb DeHaan | Director | Broadview University | Meridian, ID

Barb DeHaanBarb DeHaan graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology. She was an instructor at ITT Technical Institute in Boise, Idaho, for 21 years, developing and teaching classes in the medical secretarial/transcriptionist program as well as business office procedures and business communications. When the medical program was discontinued in 1995, Barb continued to teach writing classes for the associate degree programs along with social communications. A new opportunity as campus director presented itself in 2001 when Milan Institute (originally Academy of Professional Careers) opened in Boise offering classes in allied health. Within a few years an additional satellite campus was opened in Nampa, Idaho, which Barb oversaw as well. In 2010 Broadview University, formerly Utah Career College, expanded to Meridian, Idaho. Barb was offered and accepted the director position.

She has worked with and supported the Northwest Career Colleges Federation while employed both at Milan Institute and Broadview University and realizes the direct impact and influence the Federation has on the private schools of Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Non Voting Member

Theresa Taggart | McGraw-Hill | Santa Clara, CA

Theresa Taggart is a Senior Account Manager with McGraw-Hill Higher Education's Career College Group working with the career colleges in Northern California, Oregon and Washington.

She has been with McGraw-Hill for 14 years and has over twenty years experience in education, publishing and technology.

Theresa lives in Santa Clara, California with her husband Jim, son Chris, 16, and daughter Katie, 13.

Non Voting Member

Mary Lyn Hammer | Champion College Services | Tempe, AZ

Ms. Mary Lyn Hammer's belief that education is the vehicle for making dreams come true has led her in a passionate fight, that began in 1987, for identifying problems in the higher education industry and finding solutions to insure future participation for all students. Her innovative "Hands On" Default Management Program is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for its remarkable results. Ms. Hammer is the Owner, Founder, President and CEO of Champion College Solutions, an international company offering default prevention, job placement verification, skip tracing, education debt recovery, and consulting services.

Ms. Hammer has actively worked with the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Education since 1988. Her many recognized accomplishments include, most recently, the 2005 CCA National Achievement Award for the Allied Member of the Year. She has numerous elections to the Board of Directors and currently serves with Career College Association (CCA), the Northwest Career Colleges Federation (NWCCF) and is the Chairwoman of the Board for the HEAL Coalition (Higher Education Allied Health Leaders Coalition).

Non Voting Member

Tara Algeo | Pearson Learning Solutions | Columbus, OH


Tara Algeo is a Senior Career Account Manager with Pearson Learning Solutions working with career Colleges across the country, including schools in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

She has been with Pearson for eleven years and has a B.S. in Hearing and Speech Science from Ohio University. Tara lives in Columbus, Ohio with her fiance Trent and their three cats.

Executive Director

Gena Wikstrom | Northwest Career Colleges Federation | Redmond, WA

Gena Wikstrom has served as executive director of the Northwest Career Colleges Federation and its predecessor, the Washington Federation of Private Career School and Colleges, since November 1988.

As executive director, Ms. Wikstrom is responsible for management of the NWCCF, its functions and commitment to serve its members by focusing on the mission of the association. She is accountable to the NWCCF Board of Directors.