Interim board member ready to help on key issues

New MHCC at-large board member Paul Capell hopes to use his background in government and management to help bring the college to new levels with his fellow board members.

A former member of the MHCC Foundation board, current vice president of West Region Energy Lead at HDR Engineering Inc., and former mayor of Prineville, Ore., (1997-98), Capell has broad experience.

Appointed to the seat at an Oct. 21 board meeting, he came to campus the Friday before the Sunday meeting to interview for the position.

“I went in on Friday of that week and met with the remainder of the board and president and just had a conversation with them,” said Capell.

The board called Capell after they met Sunday and told him that he had been selected, with Capell accepting the role the following day.

Capell said he resigned from the foundation board at MHCC last week after taking on the new assignment. “Because of my involvement with the new board, I really couldn’t do both, and do it well,” he said.

Capell was happy to be chosen, he said. “I was very pleased. I was thankful that I was able to sit down and talk to the board as a whole and get to know them better and their decision making processes were and what their goals were.”

He joins the board as an interim member. He must stand for election next year, after filling the vacant seat left by Ralph Yates, who resigned this summer in protest of alleged lapses in campus oversight.

Capell said he intends to run to keep his seat, but wants to keep his focus on helping on the board, for now. “I personally agree and support what the board is trying to do, and want to support both MHCC and the board and their future success with the large number of issues and challenges at the college,” he said.

Capell is glad to join the board’s current search for a new school president. “I look forward to working for them both on the short term and as long as I can,” he said.

In the spring, the board also will lose board Chair Dave Shields and former chair Brian Freeman. Both say they have decided not to seek re-election. This will leave three seats open, counting Capell’s, come the spring election.

Asked how he can contribute to the board with the limited time he has, Capell said his experience in management and union negotiations provide the means to contribute positively.

“I think I can add value with any discussions with any professors, as well as assisting in the search for the new president,” he said.

Capell will participate on the board for the first time at its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at MHCC. That will follow a 5 p.m. board orientation session for him.