Jackie Cole has been appointed president of the Alamance Community College Foundation Board of Directors effective January 1, 2024. Serving a two-year term, she succeeds Ami Hill.
A member of the ACC Foundation Board since 2018, Cole is a graduate of Duke University and is Vice President and Secretary of ColeCo, Inc. She served for 12 years as a member on the Alamance Burlington Board of Education, including Chair and Vice Chair, and served as Chair of the North Carolina School Boards Trust and as treasurer and board member of the North Carolina School Boards Association. Cole is Vice Chair of the Alamance County Extension Advisory Board, Program Director for the North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center, and is the current Chair of the Board of Directors of Lutheran Retirement Ministries of Alamance County (Twin Lakes). An avid community volunteer, Cole has earned the ACC Foundation’s Star Award, recognizing her efforts in raising thousands of dollars for financial aid and support for special educational initiatives.
Six individuals are also joining the ACC Foundation board as new members in 2024 for four-year terms. They are:
Yazmin Garcia Rico is Director of Latinx and Hispanic Policy and Strategy with the NC Department of Health and Human Services. There, Yazmin leads cross-system strategies to meet the needs of Latinx/Hispanic communities in North Carolina. A graduate of Guilford College and UNC-Chapel Hill where she received a Master’s in Social Work, Garcia Rico has more than ten years of experience focused on improving the life outcomes of the Hispanic/Latinx community in the state. She has worked in the nonprofit and health sectors to advocate for the health and well-being of the Hispanic/Latinx population, increased access to higher education for youth, and served uninsured populations. She works across multiple divisions and teams to ensure that DHHS policies and initiatives consider and incorporate the unique needs of Latinx/Hispanic populations into their design, implementation, and rollout.
Kelli Harrell is Owner and President of Carolina Supply, Inc., a prominent local distributor in the plumbing supply industry. Harrell oversees the operation of locations in Burlington and Asheboro. A 2002 graduate of Alamance Community College, Harrell graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2004. While at ACC, she served as a Student Ambassador and represented the college through community events, fundraising and outreach.
Harrell is dedicated to both her industry and her community and promotes the value of jobs in the trades. She has served on the ACC Alumni Council, and as a board member of the Alamance Caswell Home Builders Association and Southern Wholesalers Association (SWA). In 2024, she will begin her term as Chair of the Women in Industry through SWA.
Tom Humphrey is Business Controller – Finance at Sandvik Coromant. A businessman with over 40 years of experience as an accounting professional in CFO and Controller positions, Humphrey has worked at Sandvik Coromant since 2019. He has also worked in the non-profit sector, including fundraising in western Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Humphrey is currently a board member and treasurer for the Alamance Regional Community Foundation at Cone Health, and is targeted to be Chairperson of ARCF Board in January 2024.
Elizabeth Kirkpatrick is Chief Financial Officer of Triangle Grading & Paving, Inc. There, she is responsible for finance and business operations. She previously worked in the Federal Audit department of KPMG’s Washington, DC office where she audited high-level federal organizations. A native of Burlington, Kirkpatrick earned a degree in Accounting from Elon University and a Master’s in Accounting from NC State. Licensed as a CPA in both North Carolina and Virginia, Kirkpatrick recently taught Auditing and Assurance at ACC. She has seen firsthand the importance of making high-level education accessible to all and is passionate about providing opportunities for children and young adults to engage in trades.
Christine Mathews is Chief Financial Officer/Vice President of Finance at Glen Raven Custom Fabrics. Prior to joining Glen Raven, Mathews served as Vice President of Finance for Newell Brands. A native of Lubbock, Texas, she earned both her undergraduate degree and MBA from Texas Tech University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Mathews is an alumna of Leadership Alamance and is currently serving as Community Impact Education Champion.
Troy Woodard, Jr. is retired from American National Bank where he served as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending. He previously lent his expertise in finance while a member of the Board at St. Marks Community Church. Woodard is involved with numerous nonprofit organizations, and previously served as Board Chair of the Alamance Chamber. He also served on the Alamance Arts Council Board and is a former member of the Graham Rotary Club member, and is a Paul Harris Fellow. A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, Woodard’s father, Troy Woodard, Sr., previously served on the ACC Foundation Board.