John Kurjata was appointed to the board in 2012 and elected as Vice Chair in 2013. Recently elected as Board Chair, he replaces outgoing chair Karen Simpson who served in the position since 2012.
“I am looking forward to continuing with the board, now in the capacity of Board Chair,” said Kurjata, “the Board Chair is an interesting and dynamic position and I’m excited to be a part of the team that will drive this institution forward progressively.”
Kurjata is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and partner in Schilds Kurjata Kelly, a public accounting firm in Dawson Creek. Prior to achieving his CPA, he was the owner of a trucking company and a managing partner in a truck parts and repair business.
Kurjata also currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Lake View Credit Union and is a past member of the Board of Directors of Community Futures Peace Liard. A past president of the Rotary Club of Dawson Creek Sunrise, Kurjata is an active member who has taken on many roles within the club.
“My wife, Shari, and I have lived in the Dawson Creek area for most of our lives and it is an honour for me to serve on the board for the College because I believe we are truly growing the futures of our local families and their children through the opportunity to attain a post-secondary education,” said Kurjata.
“It is not only about job opportunities, it’s about long-term, positive community impact as well,” agreed new vice chair Dennis Armitage, “The College is poised to do great things with all the economic development going on in the region, and our collective effort as a board is to ensure our strategic direction serves both our students and our communities.”
A third generation resident of Dawson Creek, Armitage is the perfect example of a local success story. He apprenticed as a parts person, and then completed his journeyman parts/warehouse training, becoming a partner in an automotive dealership at age 23. He worked as a co-owner for 12 years before moving into his own dealership in 1987 and retired in 2009. Currently he is a director of the Lake View Credit Union and, like Kurjata, is an active member of the Rotary Club of Dawson Creek Sunrise.
“My connection to NLC’s Automotive programming, through business and the community, was my participation in automotive steering groups, and the development of those programs,” said Armitage, who was appointed to the NLC board in 2012.
Now elected as Vice Chair, Armitage said he understands this is a very exciting time for NLC.
“The College is such an integral part of the community that my motivation and my specific role is advocacy for the College to build the community and in turn to watch the community grow the College – it is a great time to be part of the process,” he said.
The 12-member NLC Board of Governors is empowered by the College and Institute Act of British Columbia to manage, administer and direct the affairs of the institution, and is required to make bylaws for the orderly conduct of its affairs.
Board members include: NLC’s President and CEO Dr. Bryn Kulmatycki, eight appointed members, and four elected members of the community, including two student board members, one support staff board member, and one faculty board member.
The NLC Board of Governors meets several times a year to conduct board business. To learn more, visit: http://www.nlc.bc.ca/About-NLC/Board-of-Governors.