Manager Executive
Resume:
Richard W. Sullins
**** ***** ****** *****, *******, NC 27616
*******.*******@*****.***
Senior government and community relations manager with 30+ years of experience and proven skills in building and nurturing relationships with federal, state, and local officials in support of public higher education. Passionate about the exchange of information between education, government, and industry that creates a force for good in society. Recipient of the 2008 Karen Yerby Award. Skilled collaborator who thrives in a fast-paced work environment. Professional Experience
Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NC 2010 - Present Dean of Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships
• Serves as an information conduit between the college’s leadership with federal and state legislative delegations and executive branch agencies that increase the college’s visibility and make it a player in policy discussions.
• Conducts thorough and timely legislative research and makes recommendations to the President, executive leadership, trustees, and other college stakeholders.
• Develops and helps to build carefully-selected strategic partnerships through community relationships that can help the college to further its mission and goals. Dean of Sponsored Programs
• Led the Office of Sponsored Programs and Federal Relations in developing new grant projects on behalf of the college, with receipts of $10.9 million in FY 2016-17.
• Served as Authorized Organizational Representative for the College to federal, state, local, and private funding agencies.
• Served as college officer for governmental affairs contacts with federal legislators and agency staff in legislative and executive branch issues, and as the primary contact to federal officials on the impact of statutes and regulations on students attending Wake Tech. Director of Grants Development and Administration
• Identified, researched, wrote and submitted grant proposals on behalf of North Carolina’s fastest-growing community college, coordinated writing activities among staff so that college priorities were addressed, planned for new revenues to meet arising challenges.
• Supervised activities that support the purposes of grant funding that was awarded. North Carolina Community College System Raleigh, NC Executive Director of the State Board and Education Policy Liaison 2005 – 2010
• Executive Officer for the State Board of Community Colleges, chief contact for professional staff, college presidents, trustees, and the community in their relationships with the Board, prepared policy briefs; and facilitated meetings of the Board in Raleigh and at off-site locations.
• Represented the System President and members of the State Board at monthly meetings of the State Board of Education (public schools) and the UNC Board of Governors (public university system).
Richard W. Sullins Page 2
• Provided oversight for the day-to-day operations of the North Carolina Community College Foundation (assets $6.4 million).
• Chaired and organized work of the State Employees Combined Campaign for the System Office; arranged and provided support for Red Cross Bloodmobile visits; and provided staff support for other community giving projects of the North Carolina Community College System staff. U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC
Education Fellow, Congressman Cass Ballenger 2004
• Served as staff to the Congressman relating to his duties on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, along with economic development and health care.
• Developed and evaluated legislation on issues related to secondary and post-secondary education, workforce training, science and technology, labor, justice, and defense-related issues.
• Authored floor statements, speeches, and constituent correspondence on behalf of the Congressman.
• Successfully facilitated the expedition of $10 million in National Emergency Grants to counties in western North Carolina caused by two major hurricanes in the fall of 2004. Mayland Community College Spruce Pine, NC
Director of College Relations 1990-2005
• Served as government and community relations manager for the College with federal and state legislators, county officials, and community groups and organizations.
• Represented the college to the community in local economic development initiatives.
• Insured compliance with federal and state statutes and mandates, particularly with respect to personnel matters.
Special Assistant to the President
• Served as Chief of Staff to the college president and conducted special projects on his behalf.
• Established College Development Office and developed process for increasing college involvement in community and economic development.
• Responsible for contacts with federal and state governmental entities and elected representatives.
Assistant to the Vice President for Administrative Services Responsible for daily operations of the Administrative Services division of the college.
• Conducted government affairs contacts with federal, state and local units of government.
• Served as college’s Compliance Officer for federal and state fiscal matters.
• Prepared annual college budget requests from federal, state, and local sources. U.S. House of Representatives/ U.S. Senate Washington, DC Legislative Director and District Director 1984 - 1986
• Served Congressman and later Senator James T. Broyhill on matters relating to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
• Drafted legislative correspondence, floor statements, and speeches.
• Supervised handling of constituent inquiries related to education, justice, veterans affairs, economic development, technology, and science.
• Served as District Director for the Senator’s Western North Carolina office Asheville during 1986 and was his liaison to state and local governments and private interest groups. Richard W. Sullins Page 3
Education
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
M.A., Education, with concentration in Higher Education Administration B.S., Political Science; Minor, History, Constitutional Law Leadership North Carolina
Program Graduate
Rural Economic Development Institute
Focused training in rural economic development initiatives Western North Carolina Leadership Development Program Initial leadership training for emerging regional leaders Highlights of Presentations & Publications
What’s Going On in Washington and Why Higher Education Should Care. Presented at the North Carolina Council on Resource Development Annual Conference, Sanford, NC, October 18, 2018. A Review of Current Federal Issues Related to Higher Education. Presented to the Wake Technical Community College Foundation Board of Directors, Raleigh, NC, July 16, 2018. Good Community Relations for the Community College Trustee. Presented to the National Legislative Seminar of the American Association of Community Colleges, Washington, DC, February 12, 2018. Sullins, R. (2006). The North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Handbook for Members. Raleigh: North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. Sullins, R. (2010) A Part of All I Have Met. Raleigh, NC: Self-Published. Additional Accomplishments
Member of The North Carolina Society of Washington, DC Member of Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Science Past member of the Board of Directors of Past member of Mitchell County Economic Development Commission and the Mitchell County Development Foundation, Spruce Pine, North Carolina; Western North Carolina Tomorrow, Asheville, NC; Knowledge Coalition of Western NC, Asheville, NC; Western Carolina University Alumni Association, Cullowhee, NC; and Mitchell-Yancey Partnership for Children, Burnsville, NC (Vice Chairman)
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