OKANAGAN - Following its annual general meeting the Okanagan College Foundation has announced five new directors have joined its board in 2015.

Anne Clarke, BA, B.Ed, MA (North Okanagan)
A retired English professor at Okanagan College, Clarke is an active community leader who has served in a variety of capacities on numerous boards and councils throughout the region and at the provincial level. Clarke served as a Councillor for the City of Vernon from 1984-1986 and as Mayor from 1987-1990.

Bob Eby, CA, (North Okanagan)
An experienced education administrator and chartered accountant, Eby served as Okanagan College’s Vice President of Finance and Administration for more than seven years, from April 2007- December 2014. He joined the College’s executive team following a 17-year career with the Vernon School District as Assistant Secretary Treasurer. He also previously served as Treasurer for the Okanagan College Foundation.

Gladys Fraser, MBA, PFP (North Okanagan)
Fraser has over 25 years of experience in banking as a Financial Services Manager, Personal Financial Planner, Business & Professional Banking Advisor. She also brings a wealth of experience in corporate social responsibility built through her position as a Branch Manager for Scotiabank. Fraser is currently a Director and Vice President of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, President of the Vernon Montessori Society and previously served as a Director and President of the North Okanagan Hospice Society.

Keith Grayston, B.Com, CGA,  (Central Okanagan)
Prior to his retirement in June, Grayston was the Director of Financial Services for the City of Kelowna; he was a member of the Financial Services Department for 18 years and has more than 35 years’ experience in the financial industry. He recently served as a Director on the Board of the Government Finance Officers Association of BC.

Alan Sanderson, CA (Central Okanagan)
With extensive experience in the accounting industry, Sanderson is currently a partner with BDO Canada and previously a partner of Sanderson & Company Chartered Accountants. Sanderson is actively engaged in the community and philanthropy in the Okanagan, having supported numerous charities and philanthropic projects.

“The mission of the Okanagan College Foundation is to advance the power of education by engaging individuals and communities in supporting Okanagan College,” says Foundation President Alf Kempf. “With a $7-million fundraising campaign now in full swing for the new trades training complex at the Kelowna campus, this is a crucial and very active time for our board.

“On behalf of my fellow directors, I am pleased to welcome our newest directors. They bring a great diversity of skills and depth of experience, and we look forward to working with them to achieve some important goals over the next term that will hopefully have a positive impact on students in the valley.”

Kempf says the board also wishes to extend a sincere thanks to three of its current directors who retired from the board at the Foundation’s annual general meeting in June.

Frank Richter retired after serving nine years with the Okanagan College Foundation, Vern Nielsen retired after serving five years, and Cher Watkins retired after serving four years.

Since its incorporation in 2002, the Okanagan College Foundation has raised and disbursed more than $9 million in scholarships and bursaries to students at Okanagan College’s campuses in Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm, and Vernon. In total, the Foundation has raised more than $23 million, including student awards, capital projects, programming and an endowment that now totals over $8.3 million.

More information about the Foundation’s current board members, mission, and projects is available at www.okanagancollegefoundation.ca.

— This story was updated at 4:18 p.m., July 7, 2015, with a correction from Okanagan College on Gladys Fraser.

News from © iNFOnews, 2015