Governing Board Member

Veteran Silicon Valley business journalist, financial analyst and public agency governing board member with demonstrated track record of leadership in media, publishing, higher education policy development, business, entrepreneurship and technology trend analysis, corporate, financial, construction and organizational oversight. Collaborative problem-solver with expertise in areas of public and government relations, human resource management and regulatory compliance. Published author of more than 600 articles on current business, finance and management issues, including reviews of best practices. Experienced board committee member and chair, task force leader and executive performance analyst.

Core competencies include:

• Executive Oversight
• Financial Analysis
• Media and Public Relations • Strategic Planning
• Budgeting
• Education Administration • Technology Integration
• Regulatory Compliance
• Trend Analysis

CAREER EXPERIENCE

Foothill-De Anza Community College District, Los Altos Hills, California, 2003 – Present
Vice President, Governing Board of Trustees
Chair, Audit and Finance Committee 2004-2006

Serve as one of five governing board members overseeing the operations of two of California’s largest community colleges with approximately 45,000 students, 2,500 faculty and staff and an annual operating budget in excess of $170 million. Also responsible for overseeing the District’s approximately $700 million program of bond financed construction, facilities and technology modernization. Review and approve financial statements, forecasts, budgets, staff development efforts and purchasing and procurement programs. As Chair of Audit and Finance Committee oversee relationships with and review and approve reports from internal and external auditors, retained financial services firms and government agencies. Oversee development and execution of personnel and compensation policies, general accounting functions, including AR/AP, account reconciliation, and cash management. Collaborate with Board President and CEO to develop Board agendas and with senior managers to monitor organizational performance.

• Spearheaded implementation of revised technology-based procedures that achieved significant procurement cost reductions for District projects.
• Led Board in evaluating and selecting financial services team to underwrite $490 million bond measure.
• Served as key leader in boosting organizational revenues at a time when comparable institutions suffered declines in overall revenues.

Society of Industry Leaders/Vista Research, 8/05 - Present
Consultant

Provide consulting services to institutional investors through this subsidiary of Standard & Poors.

CNBC.com, 7/99 – 8/01
Silicon Valley Correspondent

Covered all aspects of the Silicon Valley economy, including networking hardware, executive leadership, wireless technologies, web business platforms, business and financial performance, software, XML and peer-to-peer applications. Emphasis on financial and corporate performance related to securities valuation.

SFGate.com - Hearst Corporation/San Francisco Chronicle, 8/98 – 12/02
Technology Columnist

Topics covered include search and portal business strategies, marketing, new technologies and services, trends, e-learning, energy deregulation options, streaming media platforms, open source software, patent law reform, online marketing, biotech research, and nanotechnology projects and policies.
Independent Business and Financial Analyst, Author and Commentator, 1984 – 2003

Author of more than 500 articles on entrepreneurship, business trends, management, search and portal business strategies, marketing, best practices, software development, new products and technologies, e-learning, energy policies and deregulation, electronic and technology systems analysis, six sigma procedures, open source software, streaming media platforms, patent and intellectual property law, marketing, biotech research, financial management, and nanotechnology. National and international publishers include:

• Inc. Magazine, Inc. Technology Magazine, and Inc. International Magazine.
• Harvard Business Management Update and Harvard Communications Update.
• Forbes ASAP
• International Business Magazine
• Family Business Magazine
• Biotechnology Magazine
• Securities Industry Daily

Marketplace Radio/Public Broadcasting System, 11/88 – 11/90
Co-creator, founding editor of Marketplace, a daily public radio international business news program broadcast nationally via The American Public Radio Network.

EDUCATION

Associate of Arts, History (1985)
Foothill College – Los Altos Hills, CA
Bachelor of Arts, Behavioral Sciences (1986)
San Jose State University – San Jose, CA
For a complete list of publications see archives at www.halplotkin.com