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Featured Photo: Six Blue Ridge Community College team members completed community college leadership programs over the past year. Pictured, left to right: Crystal Bradshaw, Kerby Placak, Shawn Moore, Benjamin Rickert, Dr. Sarah Parlier, and Kate St. Jacques. (Photo by: Rich Keen.)
Marketing & Communications Dept.
Blue Ridge Community College recognizes six employees who recently completed state and regional leadership development programs designed to strengthen collaboration, professional growth, and leadership across North Carolina’s community college system.
“I am incredibly proud of these employees and their commitment to personal and professional growth,” said Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood, Blue Ridge’s president. “Strong leadership is essential to the future of community colleges, and each of these graduates brings talent, dedication, and a deep commitment to student success. Their willingness to grow, collaborate, and lead will continue to strengthen Blue Ridge and the communities we serve.”
This spring, five Blue Ridge employees graduated from the 2025-26 Western Community College Leadership Academy, a regional professional development partnership among Blue Ridge Community College, Haywood Community College, Isothermal Community College, McDowell Technical Community College, Southwestern Community College, Western Piedmont Community College, and Asheville-Buncombe Technical (A-B Tech) Community College.
The academy is designed to develop values-driven leaders who collaborate effectively, think strategically, and strengthen their institutions and communities. Throughout the academic year, participants explored topics including leadership styles, effective communication, teamwork, change management, and trust-building while reflecting on their own professional growth and leadership goals.
Blue Ridge’s 2025-26 academy graduates included Crystal Bradshaw, success coach; Shawn Moore, supervisor of facilities and maintenance at the Health Sciences Center; Dr. Sarah Parlier, director of teaching and learning; Kerby Placak, continuing education program and operations specialist; and Kate St. Jacques, recruiter and customer relationship management system manager.
Barb Cooney, director of professional development at A-B Tech, served as the academy’s lead facilitator alongside human resources representatives from participating colleges. At Blue Ridge, Human Resources Director Lorri Allison served as the program’s campus lead.
In addition, Blue Ridge Director of Marketing and Communications Benjamin D. Rickert graduated from the 2026 North Carolina Community College Leadership Program, a six-month statewide leadership initiative hosted by the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University. The six-month program included representatives from community colleges across North Carolina and focused on strengthening leadership skills, collaboration, and strategic problem-solving to address current and future needs within the North Carolina Community College System.
Information about current career opportunities at Blue Ridge Community College is available at www.blueridge.edu/careers.