News and Features

• Caldwell Rose and Khalif Rhodes reappointed, Pat Rodgers and Brad Muller newly appointed  
• Trustees elect new leaders to oversee Board

Central Piedmont Community College shared multiple updates regarding its Board of Trustees during today’s Trustee meeting.

Reappointment and new appointments

The North Carolina Senate appointed Patricia (Pat) Rodgers and Bradford (Brad) Muller to the Board. Rodgers' term will run for three years through June 2028; Muller’s term will run for four years through June 2029.

Rodgers is a trailblazer in the construction industry and the previous chief executive officer of Rodgers Builders, a nationally known contractor based in Charlotte. As a proud attendee of Central Piedmont, Rodgers has poured herself into the college community, serving as a previous chair of the Central Piedmont Foundation Board and vocal advocate for the college’s mission to serve as a steward in the community, maximize student success, and create workforce development pathways in the county. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to expanding public-private partnerships, serving on non-profit and community boards, investing in workforce development and economic mobility initiatives, and setting the standard for the construction industry’s civic leadership.

Muller is a marketing and communications strategist with more than 35 years of experience in public and corporate affairs, international and government relations, manufacturing and business marketing, crisis management, and media training. He spent nearly a decade in Washington, D.C., including stints with the U.S. State Department and Edelman Worldwide, the largest public relations and public affairs agency in the world. Currently, Muller leads corporate communications and government affairs for Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, a fifth-generation, family-owned manufacturer based in Charlotte. Founded in 1901, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is the leading U.S. producer of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings for plumbing systems. Muller earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Kenyon College in Ohio.

Additionally, Caldwell Rose has been reappointed to the Board of Trustees by the North Carolina House of Representatives. His reappointment extends his service for four years, through June 2029. Khalif Rhodes has been reappointed to the Board of Trustees by the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners. His reappointment extends his service for four years, through June 2029.

“I am delighted Brad and Pat have been appointed to the Central Piedmont Board of Trustees and Caldwell and Khalif will continue their service with their reappointments,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president. “As Trustees, these leaders will leverage their extensive experience across a wide range of industries to shape the future of the college and champion our ambitious strategic plan as we continue expanding the exceptional opportunities we offer to students across the region.”

New Board of Trustee leadership 

The Board of Trustees of Central Piedmont Community College has elected a new chair and vice chair during the July 9 Board meeting.

Caldwell Rose, president of NAI Southern Real Estate, will now serve as the chair, succeeding Jim Dunn. Lucia Zapata Griffith, chief executive officer and founding principal of METRO Landmarks Construction and METRO Landmarks Architecture, will serve as vice chair.

Rose has served as Central Piedmont trustee since 2015. He most recently served as vice chair and, prior to that, he was the chair of the Board’s finance, facilities, and audit committee for several years. Rose joined NAI Southern Real Estate in 1988 and has spent more than 29 years in the commercial real estate industry, specializing in all areas, including land assemblages, office and medical office sales and leasing, as well as investment sales and representation. Recognized by the Charlotte Commercial Board of Realtors as a top producer, Rose is also actively involved with the Charlotte community and with multiple charitable organizations. He is a graduate of St. Andrews College with a degree in business administration. He holds real estate brokerage licenses in both North and South Carolina.

“A lifelong learner myself, I believe deeply in the power of education in our communities,” said Rose. “Central Piedmont is creating opportunities for thousands of people living right here in Mecklenburg County – serving as a workforce engine, supporting economic mobility, and bolstering our community with highly trained graduates ready to enter the workforce or expand their skills. I feel privileged to serve as chair and look forward to supporting and promoting the institution’s strategic initiatives and mission.”

Zapata Griffith has served on the Board since 2022 and most recently served as the chair of the Board’s finance, facilities, and audit committee. She founded and has led Metro Landmarks Construction and Metro Landmarks Architecture since 1996. Prior to then, she was a partner and principal architect with AR&D. Zapata Griffith is an active community leader, with significant involvement in the arts, Latina-based mentoring organizations, as well as economic mobility and workforce development efforts. She is a registered architect in North Carolina and Peru, as well as a licensed real estate broker and licensed general contractor in North Carolina.

The chair and vice chair have one-year terms, with the potential for re-election for a second year.  

Dr. Deninne Pritchett, PhD., ACUE, has been selected for the Fulbright Specialist Program, a globally acclaimed international exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Pritchett, the faculty director for Central Piedmont’s Truist Honors Program, becomes one of the select few to join the Fulbright Specialist Roster. The program has just a 20 percent acceptance rate, and Pritchett was selected due to her experience developing the honors program and her research efforts with honors scholars and doctoral learners.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program, offering unparalleled opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.

With this appointment, she will participate in international collaboration, sharing her expertise with host institutions across the globe and fostering a new generation of leaders in education, cultural exchange, and global understanding.

Pritchett is currently reviewing open projects to determine which host country and organization she can best collaborate with and how her partnership with them can create additional opportunities for Central Piedmont students. At any time, host institutions can select her to work on an existing project or develop one based on her skill set.

Pritchett's achievement is a testament to her dedication to academic excellence, enthusiasm for scholarly engagement, and ability to inspire and empower others. As a Fulbright Specialist, she will have the opportunity to connect with visionary leaders from diverse backgrounds, industries, and cultures, driving meaningful change and innovation.

In addition to her work with the Truist Honors Program, Pritchett is also an associate professor in psychology. She has earned the Mary W. and Wilton Parr Faculty Teaching Award at Central Piedmont and serves on the North Carolina Community College System Undergraduate Research Advisory Board.

The devastation from Hurricane Helene continues to be felt throughout the region, and several Central Piedmont Community College faculty members have lent their talents to help with the recovery. 

Both Matt Miller, chair of sustainability technologies, and Matthew Smith, associate dean of transportation, live in the Hickory area, not far from where Helene left its most extensive destruction. Once the storm passed, they jumped into action to help those in the area. 

Smith and others in his neighborhood immediately used chainsaws and other equipment to help clear trees that blocked driveways and streets. Once that was finished, and the magnitude of the storm’s damage was realized, Smith knew he had to do more to help. 

Smith traveled to Boone, where he had always gone hiking, and connected with Samaritan’s Purse to help with the relief efforts. 

“There's nothing like it,” Smith said. “You have people that are in absolute dire straits, and then an army of people that just showed up from all over the place to help. It was humbling and restored your faith in humanity, seeing people band together to help each other.” 

Smith and other volunteers came across a house with an elderly couple trapped inside due to a mudslide that enveloped their property. The mud had entered their garage and basement and pushed an outbuilding on their land down near a creek. 

Thanks to an excavator and a front loader, it took about four and a half hours to clear the mud away. Smith and others cleared trees and mucked out the basement, trying to bring good cheer to the homeowners by asking questions about the items they tried to salvage. 

“We would get them laughing about some things they didn’t even know they still had,” he said. “The gentleman in the house told us how they spent four days standing on their deck looking out at their yard, wondering how they would get out. We just encountered story after story like that from people we met.” 

Smith made four more trips to the Boone area and brought colleagues from the Transportation Department to help. 

Miller found similar inspiration to assist in the relief efforts, particularly after seeing the damage to his alma mater, Montreat College. He responded by utilizing something he teaches in his classes – creating mobile solar generators – and donating those to the relief efforts. 

So far, seven of those units have been built and donated, which allow families to charge portable devices and small medical equipment. However, Miller is not done there, as his travels to donate those units sparked a new idea for him. 

“Driving through Swannanoa into Black Mountain, there were families tent camping on the side of the road and the Swannanoa River with campfires and bottles of water,” Miller said. “There are walls of plastic water bottles all around these people, and it occurred to me that all the water they need is right there beside them. So, my class is working on a project to create a solar water pump that will pump that water through a filter and come out clean on the other side.” 

Miller praised the assistance he received from his colleagues as well, including Amber and Shawn Dobbins, Chris Facente, Stephen Gerhardt, Brittany Holleran, Jason Johnson, John Monagle, Cory Palmer, and D.I. von Briesen. 

Facente, the dean of skilled trades and transportation who oversees both Miller and Smith, praised them for their work in the community and the impact that they have made. 

“Both exemplify the values of collaboration, excellence, accountability for their communities, and courage,” Facente said. “They were not asked to take these tasks on, but they knew it was the right thing to do.”

U.S. Congresswoman Alma Adams joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 13 to open a new Campus Wellness Center on Central Piedmont Community College’s Central Campus.

The new Campus Wellness Center offers Central Piedmont students and employees a range of mental health services such as therapy dogs, yoga, counseling, and other resources designed to help individuals navigate the complexities of academic and personal life. The center’s staff will provide a confidential and empathetic space where students and employees can discuss their concerns, manage stress, and develop strategies for maintaining a strong and resilient mind.

Congresswoman Adams, who represents the NC 12th district and part of Mecklenburg County, helped the college secure a $575,000 congressionally directed award through the Health Resources and Services Administration to renovate and upfit space for the mental wellness center. Adams, Central Piedmont President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, and others cut the ceremonial ribbon during a midday celebration and toured the new facility located at 1425 Elizabeth Ave., in Charlotte.

“Central Piedmont believes a strong community begins with fostering the well-being of every individual,” Deitemeyer said. “We recognize that a thriving community is built upon the foundation of both a strong mind and healthy body. We understand the challenges of academic life, combined with the demands of daily living, can impact individuals in profound ways. We envision the Campus Wellness Center as a central hub for our students and employees to access the resources needed to support their success academically, in the workplace, and in the community.”

Adams commended the college for prioritizing the mental well-being of its students, faculty, and staff.

“A person’s mental health is critically important to their ability to learn, work, and function successfully,” Adams said. “I am happy to see Central Piedmont pursue resources to care for its community.”

Central Piedmont will announce operating hours for the Campus Wellness Center soon.

Central Piedmont Community College’s Board of Trustees recently had one member reappointed and two members appointed for the first time. Each will serve a four-year term through June 2028.

Jim Dunn, a seasoned executive and human resources professional, was reappointed to the Central Piedmont board by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. Dunn is the President and CEO of LD Human Capital Consulting and has spent more than 30 years developing expertise in strategic human resources, organizational development, and leadership. He has served as a Central Piedmont Trustee since 2020.

Carrie Baker received her appointment from the N.C. Senate. Baker is the Chief HR Officer for Resolution Life US. She serves as a member of the company’s executive leadership team, which is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction for the company’s U.S. market. A talented HR professional, she has more than 20 years of experience building and managing large-scale human resource strategies for major finance companies.

Arrington Mixon was appointed by the N.C. House of Representatives. After a successful and impactful career with Bank of America, Mixon has followed her desire to engage more deeply in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community as a senior member of one of the largest charitable foundations in North Carolina. Since 2017, she has served on the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Capital Management Trust.

“I am delighted with the reappointment of Jim Dunn and the appointment of Carrie Baker and Arrington Mixon to Central Piedmont’s Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president. “Each of these individuals brings years of executive leadership experience in a variety of roles and a depth of wisdom that comes from serving on other boards and providing sound counsel. The college is in a period of enrollment growth and yet we have the capacity of serve more Mecklenburg County residents and employers. We look to our trustees to be the college’s champions and to help share our story of service and transforming lives in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.”

At the board’s July 10 meeting, Dunn was elected to serve as chair for a second consecutive year. Caldwell Rose, president of NAI Southern Real Estate in Charlotte, will serve a second year as vice chair.

Featuring an array of vegetables, flowers, trees, and ferns, Central Piedmont’s Horticulture Technology students held their semi-annual plant sale on Cato Campus April 19-20. 

The plant sales draw not just employees and students from the Central Piedmont community, but plenty from the public as well. 

Jacquelyn Sumrell, a first-year student who is making a career change and eventually would like to be a horticulture instructor, said the plant sale provided an opportunity to put her skills learned in the program to practical use. 

“We do everything in this process, from cleaning up the plants, preparing them for sale, tagging them correctly, and helping spread the word by marketing the sale,” explained Jacquelyn Sumrell, a first-year student. “It’s helped me gain a better understanding of the process of growing a plant from start to finish. I also have a better appreciation of what the customers are looking for and how to help them.” 

The knowledge of the students was evident in their work with the customers. One prospective buyer asked a student for the best way to deter deer, rabbits, and squirrels from his garden, and was directed to the peppers to keep the wildlife at bay. 

Kelly Black, who is in her ninth year as an instructor in the program, praised the way the students have worked this year to ensure the success of the spring sale. 

“They take a lot of pride in the program,” Black said. “To take something they grow, then sell it to a customer, is special for them. They love the hands-on work that is involved in it.” 

Given the length of time it takes for some of the plants to propagate, students in this cohort are also finishing what previous classes started last year. That cycle will continue and is a point of pride for students in the program, some of whom return to the plant sale to see their work. 

As part of their coursework, the students are required to take a business class to help prepare them for that part of the work, and Black said they research the costs and set their own prices for selling the various plants.  

“We want them to have the experience of running their own business,” she said.

With menus inspired by their heritage, Central Piedmont’s Baking and Pastry Arts students have enjoyed a successful launch to Tasty Traditions Bakehouse & Takeout, a capstone project that doubles as a business venture for the students. 

Entering its second week, the students on Harris Campus sold out all their meals during their opening week of business and expect similar results moving forward. 

Offerings have ranged from Moroccan Chicken Salad to Pollo Guisdao to Pork Musubi and have represented a departure from typical selections one might expect from students in the program. 

“We wanted to do something ambitious for this class,” student Natalie Fischer said. “We knew we could just do a standard bakery pre-order, but we wanted to offer meals. It would challenge us more as students, but also be a benefit to staff and students here who usually have to Doordash their lunch.” 

There are nine students in the capstone class, and they rotate responsibilities during the course to further help prepare them for all the ins-and-outs of the food industry. 

“I’m in the front of the house now, making sure orders are packed and fulfilled,” student Ashlen Ramos explained. “We have a marketing team that oversees social media, distributing flyers, and using word of mouth to promote the business. Then you have the back of the house, which is really the backbone of this, to make sure orders are prepared and ready every day.” 

Instructor Jennifer Cubillos said the knowledge gained during previous classes, including a course on cost control and one in marketing, helps prepare the students to take the reins and run the business.  

“A lot of our students want to be entrepreneurs and own their own business, and this is a testing ground for that,” Cubillos said. “We want our students to understand the practice of creativity and the practice of leadership. The students are managing themselves with real money and real product. They must collaborate with each other – kitchens are team sports.” 

The success of Tasty Traditions and the overall program has gained some attention off-campus as well. People not affiliated with the college have purchased meals, and Queens University recently placed an order for sugar cookies. 

There are two weeks left to order meals through Tasty Traditions, and they also offer graduation cake sales as well. You can also follow Tasty Traditions on Facebook and Instagram. 

Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt visited Central Piedmont’s Parr Center on March 20 and delivered a lecture on his background as a civil rights pioneer, architectural innovator, and influential politician. 

“If you want to do something, you’ve got the capacity to do it,” said Gantt, the first African American student to enroll at Clemson University in 1963. “You might not go through the same types of struggles that I did, but that does not diminish the struggle you may be going through. If you believe in it, you can achieve it. You need to stay determined, and you can do well.” 

Gantt spoke for an hour to an audience of Central Piedmont students, primarily in the architectural technology program, and answered questions about his life and career following the event. 

Gantt’s story began in fifth grade, when a teacher noticed him sketching and drawing during class. Fearful that he was going to be admonished for not paying attention, the teacher instead encouraged him to continue his drawing and had him help design materials for the classroom bulletin board. 

While in high school, an English teacher and guidance counselor both encouraged Gantt’s pursuit of architecture. At the time, Gantt said, less than one percent of architects in the country were African American, but that did not daunt him. 

So off he went to Iowa State University, where he excelled in the classroom, but not in the frigid winter environment. His eyes wandered back to his home state of South Carolina and Clemson University, which continually denied his application to attend – not because of his academic record, but because of his race. 

Undeterred, a legal battle ensued, and Gantt eventually earned the right to attend Clemson – then one of the top architecture programs in the country – and graduated in 1965. Gantt later earned a Master of City Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1971 and moved to Charlotte to begin his professional career. 

He co-founded Gantt Huberman Architects and surrounded himself with a diverse staff – noting the same type of diversity he saw in the lecture hall full of Central Piedmont students. 

“We wanted our firm to be different,” he said. “Our firm needed to look like the people who founded it. We intentionally went out to find people who wanted to work in that kind of environment. There were not that many African American architects at that time, so we had to go out and find them. We tried to meld a culture where everyone was important, and contributions were made by everyone.” 

The firm went on to develop some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Charlotte Transportation Center, TransAmerica Square, ImaginOn, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, and the Johnson C. Smith University Science Center. Gantt shared stories with the students about how those designs came into play. 

“[It was so] enriching, this whole experience, to make a difference in public life, and make a lasting difference in the buildings we design for so many people,” he said. 

Gantt’s background in urban planning led him to pursue a career in politics, first serving on city council in 1975 before being elected mayor in 1983. He was the first African American mayor in city history and was in that role until 1987. 

During the question-and-answer session, Gantt left some parting words of wisdom for the students in attendance. 

“You will know when you want to do something in life that fits with who you are,” he said. “Something that allows you to be centered, that allows you to feel like you made a contribution. Whatever your struggle is, it can also be an opportunity to learn.” 

NC Campus Engagement (NCCE) has honored Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont Community College, with the 2024 Leo M. Lambert Engaged Leader Award. The Lambert Engaged Leader Award recognizes an NCCE president or chancellor who has fostered the creation and/or deepening of community engagement. 

NCCE is a collaborative network of North Carolina colleges and universities committed to educating students about civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy. NCCE fosters campus connections, shares best practice information and resources, recognizes outstanding work, and champions civic and community engagement in higher education.

In 2012, the NCCE Executive Board launched the Lambert Engaged Leader Award to honor the significant contributions of Leo Lambert, former Elon University president, who played a key role in the formative years of NCCE.

“I humbly accept the Lambert Engaged Leader Award, in honor of the faculty and staff of Central Piedmont Community College and in gratitude to our many corporate and community partners as well as those in higher education,” Deitemeyer said. “As I have learned and come to appreciate during my 30-plus years in higher education, our institutions cannot flourish without strong partnerships. Our colleges and universities do important work. We strive to improve the world through educating and empowering individuals. Thank you to North Carolina Campus Engagement for all you do to amplify our efforts.”

NC Campus Engagement is based at Elon University.

Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont Community College, was honored at a March 7 luncheon event as Queens University’s 2023 “BusinessWoman of the Year.” 

The event was held on the Queens University of Charlotte campus and attended by more than 100 business and community leaders; higher education leaders; and colleagues, family and friends of Deitemeyer. In its 38th year, the award and event celebrate female leaders who have made significant contributions to the Charlotte region through outstanding leadership and achievement.

“Kandi is a dynamic leader, educator, businesswoman, and now the senior chief executive of Charlotte’s thriving higher education landscape,” said Queens University President Dan Lugo. “Her strategic vision and unwavering commitment to student success have transformed Central Piedmont into a driving force of economic growth for Charlotte while empowering countless students and their families to achieve greater economic mobility. It is a great privilege and honor to recognize her with this year's Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year award.”

The distinction of being named Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year has been given to prominent figures in the Charlotte community including Diane Morais, president of Consumer and Commercial Banking at Ally Financial Inc; Tanya S. Blackmon, former executive vice president and chief diversity, inclusion and equity officer for Novant Health; Dena Diorio, Mecklenburg County Manager; Peggy Brookhouse, former president of Luquire George Andrews (LGA); and Carol Lovin, executive vice president and system chief of staff for Atrium Health.

“The award and today’s gracious event are gifts I will treasure,” Deitemeyer said in her acceptance remarks. “I will keep telling the amazing stories of our students, of our college, and of the significant work we are all doing together in this community.”

Deitemeyer came to Central Piedmont in 2017 to serve as its fourth president and second female leader. Dr. Ruth Shaw, the 1995 BusinessWoman of the Year, served as Central Piedmont’s president from 1986 to 1992.