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Jill Janov, Marketing and Public Relations(505) 428-1776

Dr. James Fries, GROW Santa Fe Community College Foundation(505) 428-1819

Dr. James Fries Named Interim Executive Director for Fundraising

Santa Fe, NM, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005 — Educational leader Dr. James Fries has been selected to be the interim executive director of GROW Santa Fe Community College Foundation, the college’s new fund-raising arm.

Dr. Fries, president emeritus of College of Santa Fe and former interim president of New Mexico Highlands University, has worked with several non-profits and educational entities including Northern State College in South Dakota where he served as director of development. He has also worked with the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education, Monte del Sol charter school and the Santa Fe Symphony.

“Dr. Fries, one of the most experienced educational leaders in New Mexico, will lay the groundwork for the GROW Santa Fe Community College Foundation. He will work with board members to initiate several activities over the next few months, with a focus on supporting the region's educational and training needs,” said Dr. Sheila Ortego, president of GROW and executive vice president of SFCC.

Dr. Fries has experience in the areas of fundraising, program development, fiscal planning and management, strategic planning, board development and public relations. He will oversee GROW Santa Fe Community College Foundation by working with its newly appointed board members as well as existing and potential donors.

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Interim Executive Director (Page 2)

"SFCC is a vital resource for everyone in the greater Santa Fe area, and I look forward to building support for the college's students and programs. I appreciate the work others have done in the past and hope to involve everyone who is interested in quality education as we address both current and future needs and opportunities at SFCC,” Fries said.

Fries will replace Dr. Mark Gelber, a consultant who has been serving as acting director of GROW Santa Fe Community College Foundation since December.

“Special thanks go out to Dr. Mark Gelber, who has successfully directed development of bylaws, spending and investment policies and the preliminary activities of GROW Santa Fe Community College Foundation,” Santa Fe Community College President Jim McLaughlin said.

The GROW Santa Fe Community College Foundation board of directors currently includes Carole Brito, vice chair of the SFCC Governing Board and vice president of GROW; President McLaughlin, secretary/treasurer of GROW; Rob Hoffman, a financial adviser with UBS Financial Services, Inc. in Santa Fe; Harry Hummer, a retired banking professional who is the chair of Santa Fe Economic Development Inc.; Charles E. “Chuck” Pacheco, office leader for the University of California at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a former member of the governing board of Santa Fe Community College; Kathy Rael, chief executive officer of Rael, With and Ahrendsen; and Heidi Tilton, vice president and senior trust team manager at Wells Fargo Bank.

About Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe Community College serves more than 14,500 students per year in its credit, noncredit and adult basic education programs. For further information, visit or call (505) 428-1000.

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