Ivester Officially Named Next NGTC President

Mark Ivester 2016It’s official.

Dr. Mark Ivester of Toccoa will take over as North Georgia Technical College President on August 1.

Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Gretchen Corbin made that announcement after the state board of the Technical College System of Georgia voted unanimously during its monthly meeting Thursday to accept the recommendation of Ivester.

Ivester will be the sixth president of North Georgia Technical College and he succeeds president Gail Thaxton, who will retire on July 31.

Dr. Ivester has served as Vice President for Economic Development at North Georgia Technical College since 2008.

He has served on the college’s executive team for 17 years, including as Vice President of Administrative Services and as Acting President.

Also, he has served as an adjunct instructor and since 2011, has been responsible for all Adult Education activities at the college as well as the commercial truck driving and electrical lineman programs.

Prior to joining North Georgia Tech in 1998, Dr. Ivester held leadership positions in private industry at numerous locations.

His community service includes establishing a regional Economic Development Council in 2013 to bring together local school superintendents and industrial leaders to lead the effort on major workforce development activities in northeast Georgia.

Dr. Ivester also has participated in workforce development committees for both the Stephens County and Habersham County Chambers of Commerce, serves on the local WIA board with the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, and serves as president of the Clarkesville Rotary Club.

Commissioner Corbin said that Dr. Ivester has displayed outstanding leadership during his time at North Georgia Tech; he knows the college inside and out and he is the right person to continue its excellent record of service to the students and the community, adding he has deep ties with business and industry in the region and understands how technical college students can fulfill workforce development needs.