After conducting searches for replacements for several key employees who serve all of the college’s campuses, Colorado Mountain College is hiring a new collegewide director of facilities as well as a director of purchasing and contracts.
Sean Nesbitt has been named collegewide director of facilities. Nesbitt will split time between CMC and his current institution in June, transitioning to CMC full time in early July.
Julie Hanson has been named collegewide purchasing and contracts director.
In addition, CMC General Counsel Richard Gonzales has received an additional title of senior inclusivity officer. He is taking on an enlarged portfolio of responsibilities that includes diversity, inclusivity and equity.
“Richard has led many of our strategic planning efforts in this area over the past two years,” said Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, president and CEO of the college. “He has a keen eye and commitment to ensuring that we are not only legally and ethically compliant in these areas but also intentional, creative and mission-centered in all that we do to ensure a tolerant, safe and inviting institution for all students, employees and community members.”
Energy, expertise mark new leaders
Nesbitt joins the college from Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he has been the director of facilities planning, responsible for campus planning, design, operations, capital construction, and environmental health and safety, as well as emergency preparedness. During his nearly dozen years at MSU Denver, he has led the construction of four major capital projects: a hotel and hospitality learning center, a student success building, a major outdoor athletics complex and an aviation aerospace science building scheduled to open this fall. His background includes a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University and progress toward a master’s of urban and regional planning.
“I am incredibly excited to be joining the Colorado Mountain College community and helping oversee the future growth of the college’s facilities,” said Nesbitt.
Nesbitt’s work has involved studying mixed-use development, utility infrastructures, traffic planning, safety and sustainability. His work has also prioritized the relationships between the organization and surrounding community and the connections among facilities planning, student access and success, the teaching and learning environment, and community and economic development.
Hanson graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and communication studies and a minor in criminology, and received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver. For the past 12 years she practiced law at Beattie, Chadwick & Houpt in Glenwood Springs, which was the college’s long-term general counsel before Gonzales was hired in 2014. Hanson’s practice at BCH encompassed a wide variety of legal matters including complex real estate transactions, business formation, contracts, purchase and sale of businesses, construction liens and disputes, education law, employment law, mediation and civil litigation.
“Having worked with CMC for many years, it is an honor to join the team on the inside and I look forward to this new opportunity,” said Hanson.
“These three collegewide leaders bring with them such a wealth of experience,” said Hauser. “We have seen this through years of direct experience working with Richard and Julie, and Sean’s track record demonstrates he can step right into overseeing our facilities. Their perspective and skills will greatly benefit our students, our campuses and the communities we serve, as we launch into our next 50 years.”