When Northwest College President Lisa Watson spoke last week to the college board about the college’s latest audit and the hard work required to do it, she spoke with a lot of personal knowledge. Watson, who has been the interim president since November 2020 and full president since March 2022, is still doing her old vice president of administrative services and finance position as well due to the college being unable to find a suitable candidate to replace her.

That is actually one of two vice president positions the college has been trying to hire for, as Interim Vice President of Student Services Dee Havig has been putting off retirement to keep the position going while a search continues.

Watson said administration has reworked the job description for the latter role and plans to repost that position over the holidays, while holding off until the spring to try again for her old role. As such, trustees also unanimously agreed to extend her contract to perform the VP role.

Clean audit approved

After having one issue in last year’s audit due to a mid-year change in reporting requirements for pandemic-era federal funds, Watson said her team doubled down on making sure something like that didn’t happen this year.

The hard work paid off, and Dec. 11 the NWC board approved a clean audit.

“Thanks to new finance director Mark Grant, and Joanne back there cracking the whip,” Watson said, noting the importance of all those in finance and related departments. “It’s a big task.”

New board leadership

The Northwest College Board of Trustees has new leadership heading into 2024.

Tara Kuipers replaces Mark Wurzel as president, Denise Laursen is the new vice president in place of Kuipers, and Bob Newsome remains secretary.