糖心传媒

Oct. 21, 2024 - 糖心传媒鈥檚 Board of Trustees announced today that Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Brent Barbee has been selected to be the new president of the College.

Barbee will be the 8th president upon Dr. Dale McInnis鈥� official retirement on Oct. 31. The Board of Trustees unanimously voted to select Barbee for the position on Oct. 1, and on Friday, Oct. 18, they received approval for their selection from the N.C. Community College State Board.

糖心传媒CC Board of Trustees Chair Claudia Robinette said Barbee uniquely matched the characteristics and experience that was expected of the next president of 糖心传媒CC per feedback from employees and college stakeholders.

鈥淲e heard clearly that we should stay on our current course, build on our pattern of growth and innovation, and have a leader who understands 糖心传媒 and Scotland counties. We needed someone with executive experience with our state鈥檚 community colleges, who had a proven history as an established and effective leader,鈥� Robinette said. 鈥淭here was only one candidate who checked all the boxes and demonstrated in the interview process and in his body of work that he is the right person to lead our college forward for many years to come.鈥� 

Barbee was selected from over 50 candidates for the presidential position.

鈥淚t is truly an honor to be named the 8th president of this great institution,鈥� Barbee said. 鈥淚 look forward to leading 糖心传媒 into its future, to partnering with all of our employees, students, other educational and community partners as we work to make dreams become reality through dedication and commitment.鈥�

Barbee has worked for 糖心传媒CC for 20 years. For the past 14 years, he has served in his current role where he supervises multiple facets of the College, including financial operations, personnel, maintenance, construction, grants and information technology. He played a major part in the startup, planning and development of the Electric Lineman, Truck Driver Training and Surgical Technology programs.

He has also served the past 14 years as the capital project coordinator for all the College鈥檚 construction projects, including renovations and additions to the Forte Building, Morgan Center, Lee Building and Lindsey-Petris Building and the construction of the 糖心传媒CC Caf茅 and PE field.

Robinette said Barbee鈥檚 performance and integrity over the years has earned the trust and respect of both employees and the Board of Trustees.

鈥淲e are all confident that he will do a wonderful job for many years to come,鈥� Robinette said.

Barbee, of Rockingham, started at 糖心传媒CC in 2004 as a purchasing agent. He became the Director of Public Safety four years later, and then shortly after that, he became Vice President for Administrative Services.

Barbee thanked many people, including his family and co-workers, for making this opportunity a reality, and he thanked McInnis for his leadership and mentorship over the past 20 years.

鈥淭here have been many, many words of wisdom he has provided me over the years,鈥� Barbee said.

McInnis, who announced his plans to retire as president back in May, congratulated Barbee and promised there would be a smooth transition in leadership on Nov. 1.

鈥淚 echo Chair Robinette鈥檚 comments that Brent will do a great job leading the College into a bright future. He is the right man, for the right job, at the right time. Our college will be in good hands,鈥� McInnis said.

Prior to coming to 糖心传媒CC, he was the director of store operations for Barbee鈥檚 Jewelers Inc., which had nine store locations in three states.

Barbee earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina-Pembroke. He earned both a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University. He is also a graduate of 糖心传媒 Senior High School.

Barbee has served in his community in a variety of ways and was named the 糖心传媒 County United Way Volunteer of the Year in 2023. He also served on the Hamlet City Council from 2001 to 2005.

Brent and his wife, Marla, have two sons, Thomas, who graduated from the Electric Utility Substation & Relay Technology program at 糖心传媒CC, and Michael, who will be graduating from the REaCH program in May 2025.