612 N. Main
612 N. Main
Dr. Jason Warren
612 N Main welcomes Dr. Jason Warren to the turret!
Dr Warren shares his story from growing up in Western Kentucky to becoming the President and CEO of Henderson Community College. You're going to want to hear this one!
We also welcome Special Guest Jennifer Preston into the discussion. Jennifer is a family friend and outstanding community servant. Together the three of us have a great time sharing our thoughts.
To get started on your next academic journey click here.
Interested in supporting the HCC mission click here.
Hey guys, welcome to six 12 north of Maine. If you're interested in learning more about the Henderson Evansville Owensboro area, well, you're in the right place. This is where you hear the story of us and amazing stories. They are to sit back and relax while we welcome our special guests to the turn. And we're back in the turret. Thank you so much for all the listeners that have sent in comments about the show suggestions and appreciation for learning a little bit more about those of us in the Henderson, Owensboro, Evansville area. If you want to reach out to the show you can@brentatsixonetwonmain.com. That's Brent at six 12 north main, or you can find us on Facebook and send us a message. I'm super excited today because my guest is someone that I don't know. Well, we've met we're acquaintances, but we have some similar passions and I can't wait to bring in Dr. Jason Warren, Dr. Warren, welcome to six, 12. Good
Speaker 2:Morning. It's great to be here. And, uh, I love this podcast and for somebody like myself, who's relatively new to the community. It's been a, been a joy to listen to some of the folks, uh, and tell their stories.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Thank you so much. Well, speaking of stories, we're going to get right to yours right away. Dr. Warren, we want to know who is Jason Warren?
Speaker 2:Well, I guess I'll start off by, I am a husband to page my high school sweetheart from Webster county. Guess I'm a, I'm a father of Kendal 17 year old daughter who we adopted from China. Um, I guess I could say I'm a, uh, new hinder Sonian, uh, last two and a half years. And, uh, educator administrator, uh, musician, uh, played the trumpet flugel horn landscaper. I have really too many hobbies I think, but, uh, just a really enjoyable, I have a true Kentucky in love, the Kentucky Derby bourbon and everything that, uh, this state has to offer. And, uh, I'm an outdoorsman. Uh, love the lakes, fishing grew up hunting, uh, just really loved the outdoors and appreciation for, for that. So, uh, Kentucky is a special place. Henderson finding that Henderson is even more special and just love this community. And I love being out at the community college.
Speaker 1:We're glad you're here and we can't wait to hear more about, uh, what brought you here and how you came to be the president of the Henderson community college. But first I want to ask you about adopting a daughter. That was the first thing I heard that really kind of jumped out to me and tell us about that. What was your, what was your journey there?
Speaker 2:It's really was a journey. In fact, we had a, had a blog as we traveled called journey to Kendall, that many people in the community, uh, uh, at the time that where I was living, uh, followed, I think it it's, it's the reason I'm an optimist because my wife and I, uh, page, we had a few struggles with, uh, uh, trying to have a child, several, several, uh, uh, miscarriages and, uh, and a stillbirth spent a lot of time in Nashville. We're not the greatest of memories at that point, but, uh, it truly was meant to be, uh, we, we got very fortunate and got connected with some folks, uh, who had adopted from China and, uh, connected with a group of families and, um, uh, sort of a support group, I guess, of families who had adopted and learned a little bit about it. And, uh, did the dossier took about six months to do all of that background process and learned a lot about that. And then normally the referral process was several years, but, uh, our referral, uh, took place six months later. So, uh, we were very fortunate and spent, uh, I guess, uh, uh, that whole year, the first six months of doing the dossier and the six months of waiting. And then we got the message and the referral that picture looking at that picture was amazing. I'll never, I'll never forget that experience. Look at that picture that they sent. Uh, we got the, uh, travel arrangements made and we traveled with a number of families. So we still get together with every year. Uh, had, we spent 10 days in China, uh, three days in Beijing, really getting to know the culture and the tourist spots and all they arranged for that. And then we were 10 days in going Joe in the Southern part. Uh, we got a chance also to make a two hour bus drive to her orphanage, or they called him, uh, the welfare institutes that, that they that's how they refer to them. But, uh, uh, we got a chance to see the crib that she spent time in, in the first 10 months of her life. And so that was really impactful and, um, took a tour of, uh, she's from young drunk city in the Guangdong province and had an opportunity to, uh, to see the pharmacy is an outdoor pharmacy. That I've pictures of. That's where she was dropped off by a mother who wanted her to have a better life. And so, uh, just, it changed our world and, uh, she's been fantastic and really proud of her. And as the ma added immense joy to our lives, and now she's 17. So it's a little different than when she was 10 months old or those those ages of middle school in elementary school. But, uh, um, it's been, it's been quite a journey, as you said, what
Speaker 1:An amazing story that, that is so special, both for you and your wife, but for this young lady who has the world before her with all of the opportunities that she has at her disposal. Uh, thank you. Is what I want to say, I think, uh, to you and your wife and congratulations, that's, that's amazing. There is nothing like being a dad, is it
Speaker 2:There's really not. And, um, uh, because of that responsibility, I think when I had this opportunity to come to become a president CEO of HCC, uh, two and a half years ago is certainly certainly a family decision. Uh, she had already been through her freshman year at, uh, uh, at Madisonville north. Uh, we, we were living at the time and, uh, thought long and hard about how that would disrupt her high school years, which are certainly formative years. And, uh, I can't say enough good things about this community, this community welcomed our family welcomed her. And, um, those first couple months I worried, but now that I've talked to her, she loves this area. She has made so many friends and, uh, she's, she is an outgoing, uh, social butterfly I'll say, and I'm really proud of her for that, but, uh, she's made connections with so many, uh, families and kids of her age and, uh, working through work and tennis and cheer and all that sort of thing. But it spoke to me just how awesome this community is. Unprompted. She talks about how glad she is to live here now. And that puts a dad at ease who was truly worried about how a decision professional decision would impact her life.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I would agree about how Henderson is, is open and welcoming to those who want to participate. Uh, I was, I'm not local myself and, you know, all you have to do is look around for an opportunity and there are plenty of there and jump right in. And I'm glad to see that that exist on the teenage level, as well as the adult level, uh, where you a band kid. Like I was,
Speaker 2:Uh, I was, uh, played trumpet, uh, starting in fifth grade, played all the way through. I got to looking at how it might play in college and ended up, uh, uh, in the university of Louisville was Cardinal marching band and their basketball pep band. And, um, further solidified me as a Kentucky in, because I was part of the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Derby band, uh, uh, U of L plays the, at techie home at the Kentucky Derby, uh, each year standing in the grass, the finish line, uh, with 140 plus thousand people singing along, uh, chills on my forearms. I'll never forget that. So it's hard for me to go back to the Derby because I'll never have as good as seats as I had back then. Um, but truly it connected me with, I guess, uh, horse racing wasn't as familiar with that, uh, until I went up there, but that was a wonderful experience and I'm a sports guy, so it was great to be a part of the pep band. And, um, and we also, we played the halftime show at the Fiesta bowl and, uh, when we beat, uh, Alabama, I don't think been a while since we beat Alabama, I guess, but, uh, uh, that was, uh, that was pretty awesome. Been a while since
Speaker 1:Anybody beat Alabama, unfortunately, but, uh, uh, that, you know, bands as a social group and a family are just pretty cool. It helps, I think it trains you in how to deal with life. There are, uh, certainly cliques within the band, I think, and you have to deal with that, but some of my very best as friends have been my, my, uh, uh, I had no talent okay. Uh, which is kind of running theme in my life, but, uh, I had no talent, but I was big enough to hold up a tuba. So I got to sit in the back. And so, you know, I'm sitting back there with percussion and maybe the not so good trombone players. And, and those were my buddies and, you know, uh, we would talk and when we're not supposed to talk and all that kind of stuff, but it became, it became my family for a long time. And you can do that in sports. You can do that in cheer and, uh, business class or whatever, whatever you're into. I know my daughter was really into the whole marketing thing in high school, which I didn't know existed until she got into it. But, uh, was, uh, I'm going to assume that the man was kind of a part of your extended family, uh, as you not only grew up as a kid, but into earliest. Don't
Speaker 2:Like it, it really was. And in those settings, both in high school and in college, but you're so right in it, everything we do is about relationships. And there are so many personalities in a band like that. And I know Dr. Bob Lawson our superintendent. Now he's a big fan of, uh, extracurricular activities and athletics and how they develop character and leadership abilities. And so I think that involvement in whether it be band or athletics and all, I think that's why we all play so much importance on that because it helps develop our folks. And, uh, when you get in the real world and, and you've got a lot of personalities at a very small organization or large organization, those skills you develop in, uh, in working with other people, um, who are from all walks of life, uh, you, you draw on those skills and those relationships and how you navigated the challenges and all the things you were dealing with back then. Um, so I've just, I will continue to be an advocate of students being involved, whether it be cheer or, or band, or any kind of athletic football, basketball, whatever it may be. But I just think it's so important for students both, uh, in, uh, elementary, middle school, high school and college to be engaged and involved. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Find your tribe and, and, you know, it's, it's an awesome thing. It really is. So you're a Western Kentucky guy, you grow up in, uh, the area here, you make your way to Louisville for a college. Did you always want to go into education? I knew that I wanted to
Speaker 2:Be in a helping profession, uh, guidance. Uh, I wouldn't be a guidance counselor, actually a career counselor. I was interested in that. And, uh, the, the funny part back then, uh, my wife, Paige and I, we, uh, we, we dated, I think we're standing side by side and our second grade composite, we went to our eighth grade prom or junior prom or senior prom. So when we went off to Louisville, she was already, I grew up my family, UK fans, and, and, uh, she was a little famous. So they thought, because we were dating that I was just traveling on, off following her to college. And I always tried to make the case that I got a band scholarship, but, uh, never could never could get that across, but they said I was following her. So, um, we, we made that journey there. And, um, uh, she only dumped me six times in college. I think if I remember correctly, but, uh, um, but both of us having, she was from Providence and is for Providence. And, and, uh, I grew up at a clay address when school in Dixon, my parents taught in Providence, but I lived in a little Hamlet called Littmann. Uh, there's a dote Tiki mind there, um, in that location. And, uh, uh, and, and Litman was not a whole lot there. Thank God. When the coal truck ran over a sign, I think, uh, that pretty much did away with Lisbon almost, but, uh, my mom was always one that wanted to make sure to get those signs back up, but, uh, uh, it was great growing up in a small community. Uh, and so I was a bright, odd when I got to the, uh, uh, to Louisville and the urban setting. And I think it was probably one of the best things I've ever done is it opened my mind. Uh, I feel like that I can, uh, weave right into and enjoy. I love cities put me, drop me in New York city. Um, I'm good, Chicago, I'm good. Put me in a boat out in the middle of the middle of the water and, uh, uh, light Barkley or, or in the woods I'm comfortable there too. So it really helped broaden my horizons, I think, and, uh, meet people who, um, who were different from me and had different backgrounds. It opened my eyes to that. So, uh, I wouldn't trade that. I just love my experience and all that. We were there for eight years, uh, got my undergraduate and graduate degree there decided to, uh, the undergraduate was in guidance counseling. The master's degree was in higher education ministration. And, um, I started working for the university, uh, as a student worker in the library system. And, uh, uh, I guess my freshman year and ended up getting a full-time position that paid for classes. So I worked my way through school and, and, uh, had eight years of, of experience working in the extra, in public collaborate. And then later on the courthouse or health sciences library downtown, uh, some people say I moved there because my wife was in dental school and I'll follow her again. Uh, it was kind of funny there too, but, uh, but we, we really, both of us had good experiences there and met a lot of people and I think it was good for both of us to, to, to be in a new setting.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Fantastic. So your wife finishes dental school, I guess. And yeah,
Speaker 2:She did. And I got a job, uh, six months before she graduated. Uh, we got a job at Hopkinsville community college as the first director of their, the, the director of their first upper bound program, federally funded trio program that, uh, connects high school students with college and sores summer camp and enrichment, uh, culture Richmond, uh, deal there. And it was, it was a great experience. Uh, uh, I moved back, is it funny? I moved back six months, uh, uh, live with my parents for awhile for that six months until she finished there and, and, and, uh, started the job. And then we finally bought a house there in Madisonville. We chose Madisonville because at the time, uh, we split the difference between our two jobs. Uh, she went into practice with her dad, uh, six months after I got my job. And as we both ended up back in Western Kentucky, uh, she joined, uh, his dental practice in downtown Providence and, uh, uh, continued on and, uh, had a number of positions, marketing, public relations at Hopkinsville community college eventually was the foundation director, uh, for about 10 years and then Dean of student affairs for 10 years. And, um, so eight years at U of L and ultimately 24 years at, uh, at Hopkins, looked me in college and, uh, made that commute. And I actually got an enjoy. We were talking about podcasts earlier and just radio just became her podcast and radio guy. Cause I spent so much time in, in the car driving back and forth and, uh, really enjoyed those, those thanky moments. I could decompress a little bit, um, but we made it work and, uh, and, uh, really, uh, uh, have enjoyed, uh, enjoyed that part of our life. And, uh, I was really pleased that when this opportunity came to come to, uh, HCC, um, that she was able to, uh, maintain her practice. And she still does, uh, there in Providence four days a week. And, and now she's on the community side a little bit, but, uh, it works out pretty well. I had to do it five days a week. She's only doing it four days a week. So, um, so we, we've just, we both loved this community. Uh, just page like Kendall, she's made many comments about just how much, uh, um, how, how much we enjoy being here. And, and she, she already knew a number of people here as well. Like I did, we had some friends here, um, already. So, um, uh, her doctor, I mentioned Dr. Bob Lawson superintendent just a little bit ago, um, mentioned him again. And he was speaking, uh, uh, earlier in the week. And he was talking about, uh, a program he's encouraging as far as, uh, choose Henderson because his family and our FA my family, uh, we've chosen to come back. And I think that speaks volumes to this areas that we've, we've decided to, to come back and, um, reestablish our roots in this part of the country. And, uh, and, and we want to tell others, we want to get more folks to do the same, cause there's, this is a special place.
Speaker 1:And, uh, we're recording this in early August of 2021. Uh, you know, hopefully folks will still be listening to this, uh, far into the future, but we had some amazing news last week in terms of economic development for the first time, in a long time, it was announced that a new company is bringing I think 320. So, uh, jobs, the Pratt paper company, if I understand correctly, I just feel like things are going really well. I, 69 is continuing to progress slowly. We all knew it was going to be slowly, but it's getting there. So things feel really good for Henderson. Uh, and, and there's been a lot of people that have been working on that and including you, and I know Henderson community college is getting ready for all that we're going to need to do in the future and, and have those capable, skilled adults out there that are ready to work. So, uh, as we kind of migrate to the community college, I have a couple of things I want to share with you. First, I have a question, uh, it's been a recurring theme that, uh, several folks that I've interviewed and, and, and I include myself in this, in this of people I've had the opportunity to temporarily live downtown in Henderson. Uh, I lived above Kurt Hamilton's law office in what we call the, the lifeboat, uh, apartment and man, that was so cool. It was the right place at the right time. Uh, it, it was one of those things that, that, uh, you may not know it at the, at the time, but it was just kind of life-changing. And I think you live downtown temporarily, too. When you first came. I
Speaker 2:Did, I, uh, I moved here in January, started the job in February of 2019, uh, page, uh, page. I need to sell our house and buy another one and Kendall needed to finish the school year. So we were a part again, it's kinda interesting to have that six months when I went to Hopkinsville, that's six months of transition living somewhere else, living apart, but we did the same thing here, lived on Elm street, Elm street in an apartment. And I wouldn't trade that experience for anything either because it, it, uh, it, the festivals that were going on and this was before the pandemic. So I got to experience some of the festivals and, um, I had forgotten how much I missed the Ohio river and a river community. And, uh, I got, uh, really, uh, a strong connection to the river and the, uh, downtown in downtown Louisville. And that, and I sort of, I think reconnected did a lot of walk in on the river walk and, uh, meeting a number of people there during that time, and just gave me an appreciation for, for downtown and, and how all the businesses downtown seemed to work together and support each other. And that doesn't happen in every community. And that spoke to me a lot while I was, while I was living downtown. So, um, it, I encourage anybody, if you have an opportunity to do that and have, have that, w we, uh, uh, it really shapes you in how you think about this community. And, and, uh, cause sometimes we get so busy going from here and there and all, and, um, and, and I know growing up, and that's why I'm so excited about the bridge and some of the changes and some of the, the new gateways that are going to happen into downtown. I'm really excited about that because I remember growing up, uh, traveling from Webster county to Henderson, to Evansville, there's so many people that all they thought of Henderson was this strip that they didn't know anything about downtown. So if you're, if you're pulled down there and then once you experience it, once you've been the handy fast, or any of the other festivals or eaten downtown, you start to realize just how awesome it is, uh, to, to be downtown. There's nothing like you have to experience it. The sunsets, the, uh, uh, I already mentioned the Riverwalk, um, and the sense of community. Um, and I think that sense of optimism too. I get excited about that. And downtown tourism, they get that. That's a, that's an awesome office. You're right there on the,
Speaker 1:So the whole downtown vibe is just fantastic. I love continuing to live downtown just a little bit farther down main street than where I was, uh, originally. But, um, let me tell you a little bit about my community college experience, and then we're just gonna, uh, let you talk about how wonderful, uh, community colleges are. Uh, so, uh, I'm, uh, I'm a senior in high school and back in the mid eighties. Yes. That's how old I am back in the mid eighties, we were given these, uh, hard copy catalogs of all of the colleges in the state. And you go through there and you flip through, and, and you're reading about center and you're reading about UK and Louisville and Murray and come across inner city community college. And I turned to my friends and we laugh out loud about who's going to go there. And fast forward, I go to all of our new university. I was an Auburn fan, my entire life. I grew up in Alabama. It was my dream to go to the Plains and become a, uh, uh, a metallurgical engineer like my dad. And if you wanted to do that, you wanted to go to Auburn. So I'll go down there and I go to class and there are 250 people in this, um, Western Civ technology class that I'm in. And there are 150 people in my chemistry class. And, um, uh, it was not for me. I could not, I was not ready for that socially immature. Uh, I was not ready to have to actually study, uh, you know, I'll kind of walk through high school, making pretty good grades. Uh, and I didn't really have any study skills cause I didn't, I didn't have to that much. So I had a 1.4, four GPA at the end of the first quarter first. Yes, we headquarters back then three months, 1.4, four GPA. Uh, and, uh, I decided to exit Auburn university and it was the first time I ever told my dad, uh, no, uh, my dad was my best friend, uh, until the day he died. Uh, and it was the first time I ever said that. Um, I know you want me to go back, but I'm not going back. That's not for me. So I'll go back home to Owensboro. And there was this brand new community college that was spinning up. And I knew I didn't want to stop going to school because I was scared. I would never go back. It was Henderson community college. They were actually the surrogate for Owensboro that was coming on board and building. Uh, and so within one year of me, scoffing at going to Henderson community college, uh, had to swallow my pride and go to this school that was just forming. It was January of 1986. We met in Kroger stores that had been closed and abandoned. We met in the penthouse restaurant. We had a great biology lab there. We met in, uh, the, uh, some borrowed chemistry rooms in Ohio, uh, in Owensboro high school. Uh, we met anywhere they would let us in. Okay. And it was the best blessing. And my collegiate career, I go on to graduate from Owensboro, community college, with a associates of science degree, uh, uh, jumped from there to university, Tennessee Memphis and get a doctorate degree in pharmacy. And then I go to USI and get a master's degree in healthcare administration. None of that would be possible without community college in my life. It was the right size. It had talented, interested professors that w that, um, and instructors that wanted me to succeed and wanted me to, well, they knew my name. First of all, you know, I wasn't, you know, chair of 21, a on the west side of the room, it was exceptional. And I thrived there. And, uh, it was a great lesson for me in that, uh, you have to find, uh, the, the college experience, if that's what you're going to do, you have to find the college experience that fits you and helps you get to where you need to be. Uh, and I will forever be grateful to all the people that made that possible. Uh, and it's, uh, a lesson that I tell every kid that I know that's, that's funny, that's on their way to leaving high school and moving on to college. I tell them that story, it's like never laugh at a community college. You have no clue as to how beneficial they are, not only for you, but for our community. So with that said, tell us what Henderson community college offers students and the community of Henderson.
Speaker 2:I love to hear stories like you just shared. I mean, that's why we get into what we do. And, and, um, it's a reminder that, uh, I heard Dave Ramsay, uh, say one time that our life is not a photograph. It's a, it's a film strip. And, uh, it doesn't matter what your GPA was, what the situation is. There's an opportunity and a C student, uh, here's some examples like yours, congratulations to your success and how you, uh, how you handled all of that. And, and thank you for telling that story again and again, as many times have you had, as you have, because, um, it, sometimes I feel like we are, we are hidden gym, um, and we don't want to be, we want to, we want to be more out there. And so we, we definitely want to showcase our former students because, uh, even, even more because as I go throughout this community, I hear so many stories. Like you just shared my entire career. I've heard so many of those. Um, and I think that's one of the things I'm so proud of with, with HTC is that there are so many different starting points from, uh, right now think about the dual credit opportunities that we're offering the early college academy while students are still in high school. If they're ready to do that, they're, they're good to go. And we've got some programs for, um, students, as you, as you mentioned, who go off and come back, um, and, and decide that that's a route after they've already had an experience, uh, that, that didn't work out so well. Or the, uh, the 40 or 50 year old career changer that comes out there. Uh, the reason why I'm so passionate about HCC and just community colleges in general, is that all those stories, like you said, but also we have that transfer mission. That's so important. The associate of arts associate science degrees that allow us to in, in great two-plus to partnerships with Murray state and all the regional universities and U of L UK, and, and really in, in, beyond outside the state as well across the nation. Um, but we also have that, um, that technical component, um, with our, uh, our welding program and our industrial maintenance and HCC fame, and then pretty ship model, um, working and providing all of those opportunities, uh, whether in early childhood education and, uh, computer information technology, there are just so many of those two that, that we offer and then the healthcare. So proud of our healthcare folks, we just, uh, uh, went through three accreditations with, uh, our nursing program, medical assisting, and also a clinical lab technician program. All three went through those accreditations with flying colors, uh, adding a farmer. We just added a pharmacy tech program for this fall. And, and, uh, we've got the CNA and phlebotomy and all of those. So there's something for, for everyone. And it doesn't have to be. And really years ago, four years people talked about, well, four years is a long time, four year degree for 40 years, a long time. And then, okay, well, two year degree. Well then today, I think for sometimes two years, seems like a long time for folks. And what I love about the way we're structured now is we have a number of embedded certificates are stores, they're stackable credentials. So you can take a class or two and get a credential and, uh, along the way, get several of those along the way, and then they they're stackable. So they you're working towards, so you, you, you get those carrots along the way of, of recognized, um, that credentials that are recognized by employers. Um, but you're not having to wait until the two years of the four years to complete. And you, you mentioned the, the Pratt industries announcement, uh, recently too. Um, we recognize that the customized training is a very important mission that we have. Uh, we've been doing some, uh, some welding training for a local industry here that has gone really well and, uh, uh, training their incumbent workers. And, um, that's, that's a role that we have, and there's some trains grants opportunities to some funding for new industries that we'll be tapping into to support Pratt industries when they, uh, when they start up and, uh, attended that announcement. They're just thrilled. That's thrilling for the community and, and, uh, have had discussions, uh, had discussions at the announcement with, uh, with some of their representatives and, and, uh, just told them we're, we're there for them. Uh, we want to, to, to be there to support them along the way. Um, so we have such a broad mission of, of, of helping folks like, like, like yourself and that story that you, you shared. Um, but folks of all ages and, and circumstances. And, um, yeah, I'm proud of the folks that like yourself who graduated from the community college and, and, and showcase those successes. I get excited about, uh, you know, seeing, uh, Missy Vanderpoel in her role and her experience with HTC and Whitney Risley and her experience and tie rod out and his experience at HTC at I could go on and on with the different people. And, um, I, I'm just so impressed with those individuals and what they're doing. And, um, and it's, it's, it's an honor for the community college to have been a small part of their growth and development, and I really appreciate them for, and you for telling the story so that we, we can reach out to others and we'd love to have more students out there. And that's, that's the thing that, um, this day and age, that, uh, we're competing with a lot of other, um, online, uh, universities and colleges, and, uh, we know folks now in the middle of a pandemic, or, uh, they're challenged with childcare and work responsibilities and the sandwich generation of family taking care of, uh, uh, older family members. So they've got a lot on their plates and so we really wanna want to be there for them. And I think what makes us distinctive is really a culture of care. You alluded to that a little bit, that they can make a connection, a personal connection with folks at our institution, um, that I think is special and they're not in a classroom with 150 people. They, they can have those, uh, more one-on-one conversations right after class and before class. And we offer the, the online too. I mean, we, we, we're staying up with technology and we want to provide that convenience for the people who attend HCC. Um, but, but it is much smaller. And I think that th the small nature of our campus, uh, gives us that leg up where we're there not just a number of students,
Speaker 1:Not, it's absolutely a benefit. You have the culture, you have the, um, academic opportunities there, you offer so many different courses and pathways. Uh, you have some fantastic staff, you also have amazing facilities and they just keep getting better and better. And I was so impressed when I had an opportunity to go on some tours. I, I can't remember if it was HLR or the chamber, but we looked at some of the technical, uh, building, uh, opportunities and, and the, the stuff that you have that students have access to the labs and, and the equipment. Uh, that's impressive. It's not a little concrete building on the hill. Uh, there are so much more to Henderson community college than I ever knew. It's
Speaker 2:An honor to work for the faculty staff there who do long before I got there, they promoted that culture of care, and I'm just really proud to work with them, but you're, you're right about the equipment. And I think that's a, it's a lesson we learned about, uh, manufacturing, for instance, the it's not the manufacturing of old, uh, they're, they're working on high tech equipment and it's a high skill thing. So, um, being able to show students those labs with, with, with all the different, uh, uh, PLCs and all the different electronics machines and things that, um, uh, that, that they're exposed to with advanced manufacturing that, uh, that we offer, uh, it's, it's helping us get the message out to, to the students that, uh, that are local manufacturers. Uh, it, it's not that a stereotype stereotypical image that they might have in their mind about manufacturing, manufacturing, um, is, is, is a much higher skill, uh, required situation there. So, um, uh, I get excited about that. When, when you, when students go through those tours, like you said, they, they see all that equipment and, and it's, uh, I think it, hopefully it reframes their perception of, of some of those, some of those careers.
Speaker 1:Yeah. You know, and as an employer, as someone, as a manager who is always looking for talented staff, uh, I'm going to be calling and saying, okay, I'm looking for a pharmacy technician, uh, who do you got, who who's your, who's your superstar? Who's the one that, that has what it takes, uh, for what we need. And, um, you have to get that question all the time. I guess
Speaker 2:We really do. And I think the responsibility, I think the thing that I like the best about, I love working at a university and think the world of our university partners. But I think what I really have enjoyed about working at the community colleges, it's not, I hate the, the conversation or the, the comparison of, uh, the transfer of the liberal arts versus the technical. If you ask any employer you need, they'll tell you that their, their employees need both. They need to be well-rounded. They need to have all of those transfers skills, uh, uh, that, that bucket of skills of communication and writing, and, uh, teamwork, all of that, uh, in addition to the very specific technical skills too. And that's what I'm proud of about being a part of a community college system that, that promotes both it's, it's not an either, or it's both.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Well, we've been talking a lot about the community college and, and one of the things we discussed was, was the incredible facilities that you have, and, and maybe the star of everything you have, there is the Preston arts center, what an exceptional, uh, facility that is. And, uh, I don't remember all of the story about how that happened to, to come to Henderson community college, but I know somebody that does, I bet, uh, we were very fortunate to have a special guest. We've never had a special guest. We've had some awesome guests, but we've never had a special guest as part of six, 12 north main. And we're going to bring in right now, Jennifer Preston, herself. Jennifer, thank you for joining us today.
Speaker 3:Oh, thank you. Um, I do feel very special, so it's, it's good to be here on main street with two very fine gentlemen.
Speaker 1:So you've been involved in the community college for quite a while. Tell us a little bit about your role and relationship with the community college.
Speaker 3:Well, um, my friends joke that I've had many, many careers and many choices, and I think, um, when I reflect back on those many choices, I knew at the end of the day, I wanted to help people. And while I loved every non-profit that I had the opportunity to work for, I knew that my one role that I wanted to serve was the community college, the Henderson community college truly fulfills community. It's the community of students. It's the community of faculty and staff. And it's how it serves everyone. And as I've listened to both of your stories, I think back on my own life and my brothers and my sister, and most recently, um, you know, I suddenly lost both of my parents, um, several years apart, but my nephew, he had attended two universities. He didn't know what he wanted to do. He know he wanted to go into the medical field and he was a number as you both have mentioned. And I called on, um, bill Gary, find gentlemen in this community. I said, bill, I don't know what this kid's going to do with his life. I don't know what's going on with his transcripts. I know he has a lot of transcripts from a lot of places, and I know that you're not even his advisor. And he said, Cindy, my way, we'll figure it out. And it's those sort of, sort of stories that you hear over and over that we truly are serving our community. And so I just knew I had to be there and I joined about seven years ago. I left the zoo. My passion for animals is still there and I will always love mascara park zoo, but I was glad to be tome, be in Henderson and serve what I needed to serve at the community college. And so the Preston arts center was, um, formed many years ago. I think it's a collaboration of how well we are as a community of Henderson, where we had legislators. We had, um, individuals with an idea that they knew we needed an art center in this community. That was one thing that was missing in all of the green plans. And so they were able to work with the college work with the state and work with everything, to bring in that funding. And as always, when the community needs just a little more funding, we have very generous people that step in and say, okay, what else do you need to build this building? And the condition that it is in is like you said, it's a showcase because it's been around for a long time and you walk in, it's immaculate still. And I think that's shares what the community wants and how they want to keep it. You know, you can't bring a drink in because we have to protect our building. Everyone owns that building in this community and it shows every time there's a performance. Every time there's a party, anything that we all take care of that building because it is one of our points of pride, not only on the campus, but in Henderson,
Speaker 1:It's an amazing facility. They've had some pretty awesome shows there, some great talent I've been on the stage once or twice myself making a fool of myself trying to dance. Uh, but it's just, it's kind of like the physical and bod embodiment of Henderson. To me, there is an entertainment music portion. There is, uh, people coming together to do awesome things. And then we're just kind of celebrating, uh, within this campus. That is a cornerstone, you know, there, there are cornerstones and the community one is, you know, frankly healthcare. One is the, uh, education system and Henderson community college is such a major portion of that along with our Henderson county schools. Uh, you know, it's just one of those pieces along with maybe a government and, and, and all the other, uh, industry and all other important things that make up the community, this HCC, um, campus with its amazing facilities is fantastic, but that means nothing without the heart and soul of those instructors, those students, those administrators, and, you know, um, I shouldn't speak for Henderson, but I'm going to anyway and say, thank you to both of you for all that you do. What's next for the Henderson community college.
Speaker 2:I really think of us continuing to, uh, to provide that customized training, making sure that, uh, we never lose that really, that mix of, uh, um, the, the liberal arts and balancing that you mentioned the Preston arts center. I think, uh, the arts are so important because they influence creativity and our employers want people who are creative. And so I think the Preston arts center is that linchpin that kind of connects it all together, reminds us that, uh, we've got to continue to develop our workforce, uh, that we've got to develop those folks that, uh, have both the technical skills and that liberal arts side too, with all the, uh, all the skills we're doing. Some, uh, we just opened a, uh, a new Barnes, noble bookstore. The, uh, uh, the student center building was a little bit past its time. So we had to close that a cup, uh, about a year and a half ago. Um, and we're in the process of re-imagining our, uh, our student life. And, uh, the first part of that was to find a new location for the bookstore and Barnes and noble college, um, worked with us closely and we found a place in the first floor of the T building where all of our allied health programs are located and, uh, that's that we opened, uh, uh, that bookstore recently. And it's great for our community to have an official Barnes and noble bookstore, the, the, all the gift cards and everything are spendable there, and you can purchase them there. So that's really cool, but, uh, we've, we've, we're, we're trying to do some on that first floor to, um, add some student engagement areas. Uh, we just, uh, made a home for food services. So as we get past the pandemic, uh, we'll have a new vendor there with that. So we're really trying to, uh, uh, take advantage of the, the cyber cafe that, that student area in this, in the Sullivan technology area and build on that whole core door of, uh, of, of spaces that are for students. Um, and, and re-imagined student life. As, uh, as I said, we're also working through some, uh, we've got a project this fall of renovating the first floor of the NS building, uh, uh, with some of some significant donors who've supported us, uh, with some private funds that are gonna allow us to enhance that area for the childcare and also our early childhood education program, which is tremendously needed. We have great partners in that program with the Audubon area headstart, and, uh, uh, I have one story there and my mother-in-law was in a local hospital here. And I always asked the nurses when they come in, are you an HCC graduate? Uh, they always pepper them with questions and, uh, had had one of the nurses say, oh, yes, I'm an HCC graduate had a great time there, but she said, she reminded me. She said, I could not have done the program without access to the childcare that was provided on campus. And I came from a campus that did not have on campus childcare, and I'm forever grateful for that. Um, and that campus didn't have an on-campus art center either. So I've got two things there that I'm really proud of, of, of being a part of on our campus. But, um,
Speaker 1:I've never really thought about that if you're a young mom and you're trying to put yourself in a position to have more options, but you need childcare that man, that is a hard thing to do and facilitate if you don't have something like this program, you're talking about it really.
Speaker 2:Yes, our, our partners there at Audubon are, are tremendous. And I think the pandemic has been a reminder to all of us, of all industries, of how important quality affordable childcare is to, uh, given our, uh, our citizens and opportunity to go to school, to retrain, to go to work and fill the jobs and many jobs that are out there. So, um, it's a tremendous reminder. So we were wanting to give it some attention to that space and create some additional synergy within that building, um, that that really connects our early childhood education program. And they do the, they get, uh, they, they place those students, so they get real world experience. And then it's also practical service of being able to, to have automation on our campus. And it's accessible to those that are not students as well. Um, but our students do, uh, get, uh, their fair share of slots there. And so, uh, just really a good thing to have, because I think that's, you asked about the future. I think the more that we can continue to support our students and retain them because, uh, today students have so many more things on their plate. I mean, they're so many things, as I mentioned earlier, they're, they're balancing, uh, health and work and family and, uh, elder care and all of those many things that, uh, carving out some space to go to school isn't as easy perhaps is, uh, as in the past, I've got so many different things. Um, and I think the one message to that going forward is thanks to the generosity of this community, with the rotary kernels college program. And number of the scholarships are available from the state, the work ready, Kentucky scholarship. Um, my one message is that college is affordable. Agency was affordable already, as you've already mentioned, it's even more so because of the generosity of the community and some of the programs that emphasize, uh, uh, training the, the workforce. And so if a, student's worried about student loan debt, or they're worried about the cost of tuition, we want to have that time to talk to them that one-on-one, uh, to remind them that no, they can do it. There's there's ways we can make it happen. We can support them.
Speaker 1:It sounds like that you've found a way to remove the hurdles from putting yourself in a better place.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I am passionate about, uh, helping our students avoid student loan debt because, and it's one of the things that makes me proud to be at HCC because it's just community colleges structured in a way that helps students to, to avoid that student loan debt. And, uh, uh, that student loan debt can, can cost a community because if we turn out a graduate that's burdened and saddled with that tremendous debt, then they can't buy their first car. They they're delayed their home purchase. So they're not as, uh, able to participate in the local economy and that hurts all of us. So we take that, that mission pretty, uh, to heart as well.
Speaker 1:So if I'm a student or if I'm thinking about going back, uh, which I'm always thinking about going back, uh, where do I start?
Speaker 2:Well, we have a, what's called a start center. And, uh, what's nice about that is it has it's one location. It's a one-stop area. Uh, haven't talked about adult education, but skills U adult education is also located there. So we do GED prep. That's another key component, but, uh, uh, admissions and financial aid and business office are all located there in the Sullivan center, uh, Sullivan technology center. Uh, we design that one-stop, uh, start center, um, because we want folks when they come in to, to be surrounded with all of those people who can help them. So they know right away that they've got a community that's there to support them. So
Speaker 1:Is there a phone number or a website or anything that you want to share with us?
Speaker 2:Yes. Our website is a henderson.kctcs.edu. Uh, we have a direct phone line at, to our start center, which is 2, 7 0 8 to 7, 18 67 and toll free 806 9 6 99 58. We do have a twenty four seven three sixty five call center that also is available. And, um, uh, uh, we've talked a little bit about the start center, but the start center is really designed there for, uh, in the Sullivan technology center, uh, that it houses our adult education. It has our financial aid office, our admissions, uh, uh, office or our academic advisors. So when someone in, uh, enters this element technology center and goes into our start center, it's that one-stop shopping, that they, they can experience and they can learn very quickly that, uh, there's a number of people who are there to surround them with support and guide them along the
Speaker 1:Way. So, um, I've been to that building multiple times. So, uh, maybe I can offer a little bit of a recommendation that there is parking back there behind. So what I would do if I was going to that building would be turned in next to the fine arts center and kind of take that access road back behind the fine arts center off of the highway. And you will obviously see the parking that's right there. Is that the best way to get there it is. And
Speaker 2:That's one of the things that we've spent a little bit of time here recently, when you have visited the campus in a while, we've, uh, completely, uh, upgraded all of our external signage, our wayfinding signage. And in fact, uh, we moved our large sign to that entrance that you mentioned off us, 60, um, and it, it has an arrow pointing to the start center, so right past it right down that lane. And, uh, we'll, we'll get anyone who wants to stop by. We can, we can definitely get them started.
Speaker 1:Perfect. Jennifer, I have a question for you if, uh, if I were passionate about education and I wanted to continue to support the Henderson community college, what is the best way to do that?
Speaker 3:Of course, the easiest way is to go to the website, the Henderson, kate.kctcs.edu. And we do have a giving page where you can learn more about opportunities to give and ways to give. You can give on a monthly basis. You can give a one-time gift and you can choose what you are passionate about while we say we're passionate about education, and we're passionate about innocent community college. Um, the greatest need fund allows for opportunity for Dr. Warren to examine what truly is the greatest need at the moment to help the campus. So he can continue to be proactive instead of reactive to maintain those buildings in the facility that we mentioned that are beautiful, and to make sure that our faculty and staff have everything that they need. Um, of course there are scholarship opportunities. We have a very generous, uh, donor base of scholarships. One thing that we've really been excited about, um, expanding recently is the adult scholarships. You know, you're in high school, your junior year or senior, you have, you know, many opportunities to receive those scholarships, but when you do want to make that career change, when you do want to maybe think, you know, it's time to go back to school to do something you need those funds. And so the fact that we can now offer scholarships to all ages has been a tremendous opportunity for, um, our, our campus and with that, as well as your childcare, you're ready to enroll.
Speaker 1:That's fantastic. That's amazing. That is so cool. Well, I think we have maybe covered the community college, how it's just a blessing. It's fantastic that we have this, this gift here in Henderson. Um, I want to turn back to, uh, to you and we're, we're talking about your story. Community college is a huge part of that. Uh, but there are other pieces, uh, you know, so you're an outdoors guy. Uh you're you're you said you enjoyed, uh, being on the lake. You enjoy, uh, hunting, you know, fall is coming. Uh, what are you going to be up to next?
Speaker 2:Well, we've been talking, trying to work all of our schedules when you've got a busy family, like ours is, as we know, it's hard to, hard to get our schedules all coordinated, but, uh, we, uh, Danica towel, Harbor marina right there across from cubies, uh, we have a pontoon boat there we've had for many years. Uh, uh, yes, I think that's what that one's called. We're right there. I mean, if you're, if you're having a, uh, having a drink there or eating right there on the, um, uh, on the new deck, you look right. Look right down. And there's a, about a 25 year old pontoon boat there that, uh, we've been, uh, my, my wife's, uh, uh, parents, uh, uh, enjoyed that with us and, and, uh, my father-in-law passed away, uh, last year. And, uh, my mother-in-law she's, she's battling Alzheimer's right now, but, uh, we continued the tradition down there, uh, and
Speaker 1:Just for a walk, right. Pass my boat every time you've walked a year. So we didn't know we were neighbors. We're going
Speaker 2:To connect to that. That's something that Paige and I talked about early on is what are we still going to be able to do that? And what we have found is half a Henderson is down at guitar Harbor marina, uh, every weekend. So, uh, that's, we're excited about that as busy as job's been. I haven't been able to go down to quite as much, but I need to rectify that, uh, pretty soon because, uh, uh, reconnect with the people that, that I live live with here in this community. We'll just reconvene down there at, uh, UBS,
Speaker 1:Just come on down to, on a dock. You can come on down to paradise, which is, uh, the houseboat that my in-laws own. I'll just invite you that they'll never know. They don't listen to this podcast anyway. So, uh, just come on down and, and, uh, we'll be on the front, uh, the bow and, and maybe share a heebies burger who knows.
Speaker 2:That's also my father-in-law. He, uh, when his favorite phrases and we used to make fun of him. There's an old road bed there there's an old road bed there. That's what he said over and over. He taught me how to head up, uh, uh, power, warm fish, and, and, uh, we used to troll for stripers for years and, uh, spend a lot of time right there, outside the prison. And, uh, water-skiing and, and so many great memories. And I know many more to come, but, uh, I'm glad you clarified. It was outside the prison. Yeah, I definitely did insert that. So,
Speaker 1:I mean, don't, you love driving by there? I mean, number one, it's an incredible edifice to look at, but it's a, it's a good reminder of, you know, stay on the right. It is.
Speaker 2:And also that, uh, it does when you get down to winter pool, that it is a little bit shallow. So I think we've broken a couple of props over the years. They're one rock that's pokes out right there. I think it gets every about
Speaker 1:Man for, you know, a little something about lake Barkley. Spend a little time. I've
Speaker 3:Spent a little time there. I agree. I've been to your, your boat. Yeah. And I am shocked. I'm going to have to remind them to listen to the podcast. So they'll know who they invite, but not only do I come on board, uh, and eat heebies burger and have a drink, but sometimes I'm like, so you have any, uh, opportunities to maybe get some, uh, services. What are we, you know, let's do some massage therapy. There's all kinds of things happen in that
Speaker 1:There are acupuncture, needles rings, whatever you need, we can take care of you. And there might be bourbon on the boat who knows.
Speaker 3:And I also remind everyone that there's a road there. So I'm with you. I get that phrase. And then I always point out the prison and I talk about Shawshank redemption. So I am familiar. It is my, like both of you, one of my favorite spots to visit.
Speaker 1:So Dr. Warren, let me, uh, let me, uh, take a left turn here. Cause I've got to get this in with was such an, an outstanding leader in the turret. I have to ask you, what is your leadership philosophy or you're a servant leader. Are you a coach? What is your, what is your thoughts on leadership? And Jennifer's about the, no, I'm
Speaker 3:Really curious. I mean, I'd like to know,
Speaker 2:I do believe strongly in, in, in servant leadership and uh, I want to do everything I can to, uh, uh, to support, support the folks. I think I have a responsibility of, of making sure I do everything I can to, uh, to make sure our folks have the resources that they can do, um, to, to, to have to do their job. And, uh, I take that responsibility really seriously. What we do is about relationships, relationship building, and connecting and being an example. Um, uh, I want to continue to be involved and engaged in this community. Uh, that is a culture that, uh, our campus also has of being involved in the backpack program and a number of other, a number of other, um, programs are out there that serve the community, uh, to connect us and, uh, serving on a number of different boards that way. But, uh, just really feel strongly that there's a quote that I, I brought that I, uh, that feels strongly about. And it's, uh, it's by George Santayana, he's a philosopher and it's, um, to be invested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. Uh, we have to embrace change. And I think part of the leadership style that I want to portray is just a sense of calm because higher education is in a, a mode of change. We're dealing with a pandemic, all of those, those kinds of things. And while I'm a Derby guy, spring guy and enjoy spring so much, um, and we can get into those modes where things are going just perfectly. Um, one of the things that we love back in Tucky is that, uh, there are many seasons and, and in life and in leadership and working with organizations, there are times when the season changes and, uh, it can't just be helplessly in love with spring. We've got to be able to shift gears, uh, look for opportunities when, uh, when things change. Um, and there's always a silver lining I'm going to turtle optimist. And I think, uh, just, uh, portraying a sense of optimism about the future, I think is a responsibility that I have as a leader, um, to, to be able to keep us moving forward and looking for those opportunities and not get sidelined. When you, when you have a have a pandemic, I think about right now, half of my administration right now has been under the pandemic and, uh, we've just got to continue to be flexible. And if I can portray that sense of calm and, uh, um, and, and sense of optimism about the future and ways that we can take advantage of new opportunities that, that occur because of unexpected changes, then I think it helps us all because, uh, if we can balance that with our core mission of that culture of care of what we do, um, and, uh, certainly want to lead by example and make sure they see me doing those kinds of things as well, but it is an honor to be at HCC. Uh, love the mission and, um, and, uh, definitely just want to be that servant leader that, uh, take care takes care of our folks.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for being here. It's been an honor to have you in the turret and part of six, 12 north Maine. We hope you're here for a long time in the C uh, the Henderson and Western Kentucky, uh, community. Uh, thank you for what you do. Special guests, Jennifer Preston. Thank you for being here. It's awesome to see you. Um, uh, we, we miss seeing you as much as we have in the past, but we love it when you come in.
Speaker 3:Thank you. It's always fun to be here, and I appreciate
Speaker 2:Your service that you're providing with this podcast. It's, it's, it's just another opportunity for us to get to know more in depth of the, the people who we see every day are our friends and neighbors here in this community. And, uh, it's truly a good service. This is an awesome place. And thanks for the opportunity.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you so much. And thank you for listening to six, 12 north main. You can find us on the web@sixtwelvenorthmain.com and on Facebook, if you want to be part of the show, send me a message or send me an email at Brent at six 12 north main[inaudible].