The Fayetteville Technical Community College Board of Trustees elected new officers on Monday, Aug. 21, and welcomed a new board member.
William L. Hedgepeth II was elected board chair. The retired banker, who joined the board in 2017, had previously been vice chair. Ronald C. Crosby Jr., an attorney who has been on the board since 2009, was elected vice chair and Caroline C. Gregory, a new appointee to the board, was elected secretary.
Gregory, an attorney, was appointed to the Board of Trustees by Gov. Roy Cooper to replace businessman William S. “Billy” Wellons, whose term expired on June 30 of this year. Gregory was officially sworn in as a board member earlier this summer but a ceremonial swearing-in was held at the beginning of Monday’s board meeting with Cumberland County District Court Judge Caitlin Evans administering the oath.
Gregory is a native of Fayetteville and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and Campbell Law School.
Wellons, who attended part of Monday’s meeting, said he has been stepping away from serving on boards in recent years. He said the FTCC board, where he served for 20 years, including two years as board chair, was his last.
“It has been a real pleasure to be on this board,” Wellons said. As a businessman, he said, he liked bringing a business perspective to board issues and he gained deep appreciation for FTCC’s mission of educating students of all ages and at all stages in life.
“This is a great place,” he said. “It’s all about the students.”
Wellons said he is proud of his service on the board and leaves feeling FTCC is in good hands and on a good path. “We’ve done a lot at this school to progress… and we have planned well for the future,” he said.
FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells presented Wellons with a thank you gift for his service and also presented gifts to outgoing board chair David Williford and to two previous board chairs, Crosby and Charles E. Koonce. Like Crosby, Williford and Koonce remain on the board.
William Hedgepeth II was elected Board Chair.
New Trustee Caroline C. Gregory was sworn in by Cumberland County District Court Judge Caitlin Evans.
New Trustee Caroline Gregory and Cumberland County District Court Judge Caitlin Evans.
FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells thanks outgoing Board Chair David Williford for his service as Chair. Williford, a member of the Board since 2014 and Board Chair from 2021-2023, remains on the board.
Dr. Sorrells stands with Billy Wellons, who retired from the Board of Trustees in June after 20 years of service.
Dr. Sorrells stands with Ron Crosby, a member of the Board of Trustees since 2009 and Board Chair from 2017-2019. Sorrells presented gifts to several recent Board Chairs in recognition of their service as Board Chair. Crosby remains on the Board of Trustees.
Dr. Sorrells stands with Charles Koonce, a member of the Board of Trustees since 2006 and Board Chair from 2015-2017. Sorrells presented gifts to several recent Board Chairs in recognition of their service as Board Chair. Koonce remains on the Board of Trustees.