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The 2015 Paul A. Elsner International Leadership Award Honorees
bRUCE baRkER
Bruce Barker is a graduate of Ripon College and Marquette University Law School.
He began his career as an Assistant City Attorney with the City of Eau Claire,
Wisconsin. He moved from public to private practice when he joined the Milwaukee-
based law frm of Mulcahy & Wherry, SC. He specialized in the areas of labor,
employment, government, and education law.
Bruce left private practice and entered the corporate world of health care as Vice
President of Human Resources/Legal Counsel for Luther Hospital. He served in that
The Chair Academy’s 24th Annual International Leadership Conference
capacity during Luther Hospital’s merger with a large, local physician practice,
Midelfort Clinic, and, subsequently, another merger where they became part of Mayo Clinic.
He joined Chippewa Valley Technical College in 1999 as the Director of Human Resources. The following year he
became the Vice President of Operations where he supervised all of the college’s business operations, facilities,
and human resources, and served as the college’s primary spokesperson with the employee unions. In 2008 he
was selected as the 10th President of Chippewa Valley Technical College. His presidency has focused on provid-
ing quality programming—emphasizing certifcation, accreditation, and compliance with industry quality measures.
Bruce is a member of the Chair Academy’s International Presidents’ Advisory Board and is the Presidential Liaison
for the Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute. Bruce is active with the Wisconsin Technical College System
(WTCS) and was instrumental in developing the Wisconsin Advanced Leadership development program. Bruce is
also the President Sponsor for the Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute (WLDI) and has been since 2008.
As the President Sponsor, Bruce advocates funds for the program, monitors program effectiveness and fosters
a strong relationship with the Chair Academy team. Bruce is committed to leadership development locally and
within the state of Wisconsin. He stresses the close alliance between education and business and industry. Bruce
strongly believes that business needs are student opportunities.
DEbbIE NELLIS
Dr. Debbie Nellis served as Professor/Director of Post-Secondary Articulation’s and
Program Development until she retired in June 2014, after twenty-one years of service
at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). Debbie is currently adjunct faculty for the
Abraham S. Fischler School of Education (FSE) Teaching in the Leadership Program.
Debbie developed partnerships and articulation agreements for FSE with higher
education institutions such as the Chair Academy, League for Innovation and the
Association of Florida Colleges. While at NSU Debbie served as lead faculty for the
development and implementation for the Doctoral Programs in Community College
Leadership.
In 2005, the partnership with the Chair Academy was completed, including a tuition grant for association members
and staff entering the FSE doctoral program and transfer of credit for those who completed the Chair Academy
Foundation or the Advanced Training. In 2010 Debbie initiated the Title V B Grant Project with the Chair
Academy, and in 2012, Debbie successfully established the Florida and International Chair Academy Foundation
Training at NSU.
Debbie’s career in higher education began at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada where she
served as a counselor eventually becoming Director of Recruitment and Outreach Services.. Other experiences
include teaching, counseling, and administration at the elementary, secondary, community college and university
level. Debbie also created a non-proft agency leading to her receiving America’s Outstanding Young Woman
Award for Nevada.
10
bRUCE baRkER
Bruce Barker is a graduate of Ripon College and Marquette University Law School.
He began his career as an Assistant City Attorney with the City of Eau Claire,
Wisconsin. He moved from public to private practice when he joined the Milwaukee-
based law frm of Mulcahy & Wherry, SC. He specialized in the areas of labor,
employment, government, and education law.
Bruce left private practice and entered the corporate world of health care as Vice
President of Human Resources/Legal Counsel for Luther Hospital. He served in that
The Chair Academy’s 24th Annual International Leadership Conference
capacity during Luther Hospital’s merger with a large, local physician practice,
Midelfort Clinic, and, subsequently, another merger where they became part of Mayo Clinic.
He joined Chippewa Valley Technical College in 1999 as the Director of Human Resources. The following year he
became the Vice President of Operations where he supervised all of the college’s business operations, facilities,
and human resources, and served as the college’s primary spokesperson with the employee unions. In 2008 he
was selected as the 10th President of Chippewa Valley Technical College. His presidency has focused on provid-
ing quality programming—emphasizing certifcation, accreditation, and compliance with industry quality measures.
Bruce is a member of the Chair Academy’s International Presidents’ Advisory Board and is the Presidential Liaison
for the Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute. Bruce is active with the Wisconsin Technical College System
(WTCS) and was instrumental in developing the Wisconsin Advanced Leadership development program. Bruce is
also the President Sponsor for the Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute (WLDI) and has been since 2008.
As the President Sponsor, Bruce advocates funds for the program, monitors program effectiveness and fosters
a strong relationship with the Chair Academy team. Bruce is committed to leadership development locally and
within the state of Wisconsin. He stresses the close alliance between education and business and industry. Bruce
strongly believes that business needs are student opportunities.
DEbbIE NELLIS
Dr. Debbie Nellis served as Professor/Director of Post-Secondary Articulation’s and
Program Development until she retired in June 2014, after twenty-one years of service
at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). Debbie is currently adjunct faculty for the
Abraham S. Fischler School of Education (FSE) Teaching in the Leadership Program.
Debbie developed partnerships and articulation agreements for FSE with higher
education institutions such as the Chair Academy, League for Innovation and the
Association of Florida Colleges. While at NSU Debbie served as lead faculty for the
development and implementation for the Doctoral Programs in Community College
Leadership.
In 2005, the partnership with the Chair Academy was completed, including a tuition grant for association members
and staff entering the FSE doctoral program and transfer of credit for those who completed the Chair Academy
Foundation or the Advanced Training. In 2010 Debbie initiated the Title V B Grant Project with the Chair
Academy, and in 2012, Debbie successfully established the Florida and International Chair Academy Foundation
Training at NSU.
Debbie’s career in higher education began at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada where she
served as a counselor eventually becoming Director of Recruitment and Outreach Services.. Other experiences
include teaching, counseling, and administration at the elementary, secondary, community college and university
level. Debbie also created a non-proft agency leading to her receiving America’s Outstanding Young Woman
Award for Nevada.
10
