Welcome to MCC>>Community Connections>>Business Advisory Board
Business Advisory Board
Marti Vocke
Graff’s Turf Farm
Marketing Director
Mount Marty College (Yankton, SD)
Bachelor Degree in Mass Communication: emphasis in advertising and public relations
Vocke, a central Nebraska native, launched her public relations career with VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) as the Executive Director of Morgan County Habitat for Humanity. From there she first landed a job with Impressions by Bird printing business and then a sales advertising job with the Fort Morgan Times. A promotion to advertising director took her to the Lamar Daily News before returning to Fort Morgan as their advertising director, a position she held until early 2005 when she worked for radio station KFTM before taking her skills to a new environment at Graff Turf Farms.
Community has been important to Vocke as evidenced by her service in clubs and organizations. Most recently she served 5 years on the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and was elected to its presidency for two successive years. She presently serves on the Fort Morgan Heritage Foundation Board and the City of Fort Morgan Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
“I appreciate MCC calling on the expertise of local professionals. I want to share my marketing and business knowledge with community members and the students,” said Vocke of her participation on the Business Advisory Board.
Dovie Moya
Fort Morgan Workforce Center
Governor Summer Job Hunt Specialist
Morgan Community College
Associate degree in progress
“Serving on the Advisory Board for Business allows me to be part of something that makes a difference,” said Moya. Although she is a new member, she looks forward to learning more about Morgan County and meeting business people in the community.
Moya’s current job finds her in area high schools where she registers students with the Workforce Center. She then places the students with employers and in positions that best fit their interests and abilities. Moya also offers classes for the young workers in ethics, working with others, working with money, interviewing, and preparing a résumé.
Cheryl Flair
Fort Morgan High School
Library/Media Secretary
Morgan Community College
Associate Degree in Business Management
For 16 years Flair has assisted in the FMHS Library/Media Center where she works in materials circulation, accounting, cataloging, up dating vertical files, textbook management, and school scrapbook organization.
Flair said about her appointment to the Advisory Board, “I think it is important for the community to have input into what is available to students in our local community college.
Lisa Craton
Weldon Valley High School
Business teacher
Bachelors Degree in Business Education
Masters Degree in Business Education
Craton serves on the Advisory Board to keep up with the trends and direction that affect post-secondary education. In that way she can better serve her high school students. She also has been on the receiving end of an advisory board and knows the value those members add to her program. “It is a good way to give back,” said Craton.
Deb Elrick
Coates Realty, Inc.
Broker Associate
Northeastern Junior College
Morgan Community College
Real Estate Certificate
“I am a strong advocate of business education for basic business skills in bookkeeping, keyboarding, customer service, to name a few, that are invaluable personally and professionally,” says Elrick. She finds it rewarding to be involved with an organization (MCC) that is constantly listening, evaluating, improving and expanding in order to continually meet the needs of both students and community.
When Elrick returned to college to earn her real estate license, she chose MCC because she did not have to travel. However, she says, “The benefits I received were so much more than not traveling!” She believes her education was superb; the classes were flexible, convenient and tough; and the accessibility to the instructor was invaluable to her. She went on to say, “I was able to pass the test on my first try and I contribute that to the education and preparation that was given to me by my instructor at MCC.”
Andrea Strand
City of Fort Morgan
City Clerk
Strand must maintain accurate records for the City of Fort Morgan. From keeping city council agendas and minutes to recording sales tax, liquor licensing, and cemetery records, she knows how business skills apply to the working world.
Strand’s membership on the Advisory Board gives her a chance to influence business industry decisions for the college. She endorses the value of offering local opportunities to the citizens of communities in the service area.
Sheri Johnson
Morgan Federal Bank
Controller/Vice President
Johnson speaks from experience when she states that as career opportunities change from year to year, it is critical to be one step ahead in providing programs that will benefit the next generation. “I continue to be impressed with MCC’s commitment toward excellence and am honored to serve as a member of the Advisory Board for the business department.”
Johnson is no stranger to MCC. She is a graduate and former employee. As assistant to the Dean of Instruction, Johnson said she worked with outstanding instructors who were dedicated professionals striving to build strong academic programs while motivating students to be successful.
Lorraine Herbel
Morgan County School District RE-3
Procurement Officer
Herbel is an MCC success story. She earned her associate degree at MCC before finishing her bachelor’s. For the past 25 years she has been in charge of purchasing and receiving for the school district. Her service on the advisory board for the business department allows her to pay it forward. “I had so many mentors and amazing instructors when I attended MCC, I want to give some of that back,” said Herbel.
Verna Foley
Food Service Director at Brush School District (10 years)
Department Manager at Gibson’s Discount Center (10 years)
Assistant Manager for Big T Family Restaurant (2 years)
Student at Morgan Community College
Business Administration in Management/Supervision
Morgan Community College-- A.A
University of Northern Colorado-- B.A. in Dietetics
Foley’s experience in the business community and as a student offers new perspectives to the Advisory Board. She has also been active in the student business organization Phi Beta Lambda, serving as president 2006-07.
Judy Hepner
Brush High School
Computer Applications Teacher
B.A. in Physical and Health Education
30 hours computer/Internet coursework
Hepner has been a teacher for five years at BHS where she also serves as the FBLA advisor. She would like to build a bond between the PBL organization at MCC and her high school group.
