[ARCHIVED NEWS RELEASE]
11-15-2019
LeTourneau University welcomed back to its Board of Trustees three previous board members who are each beginning new four-year terms. The three returning trustees are Patrick A. Bertsche of Bartlett, Illinois; James Schreder of Yorba Linda, California; and John Solheim of Phoenix, Arizona. Roger Kieffer of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, was elected the new alumni representative. Retiring LETU trustee Bud McGuire was named trustee emeritus.
Pat Bertsche, who also was elected to serve as vice chair for the 2019-2020 year, is president of Matrix Design, LLC, a subsidiary of Camcraft, Inc. At Matrix Design, he leads financial management, strategic planning and business operations. He has previously served as vice president of operations at Camcraft, and as school board president and then school superintendent for the Westminster Christian School. A 1989 graduate of LETU, Bertsche has served on the LETU Board since 1996 and has previously served as LETU board chair.
James Schreder is president and owner of Danjon Engineering and has been a licensed, professional civil engineer in California since 1987. From 1993-1999, he also owned an investment firm. He earned his master’s degree in civil engineering from California State University at Long Beach. Schreder is involved as chairman of the board for the Skylight Foundation, a non-profit organization for pastoral and disability housing in his community and serves as a committed trustee board chairman at his home church. He has served on the LETU Board of Trustees since 2010, bringing experience from various financial boards and his background in civil engineering to his role as trustee at LETU.
John Solheim is the president and chief executive officer of Karsten Manufacturing Company and PING, an American manufacturer of golf equipment, based in Phoenix, Ariz. He has managed PING Golf Clubs (PING Inc.) and its subsidiaries in several countries. He has extensive experience in business management and leadership positions and has served on the LETU Board of Trustees since 1992. He attended LETU as a student in 1964, and since then, has hosted numerous LETU golf tournaments and LETU alumni events. He supports the university athletics teams and employs several LETU graduates in his companies. Solheim chaired the Facilities Committee on the LETU Board of Trustees. The Solheim Recreation and Activity Center on the LETU campus is named in his honor.
Roger Kieffer of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, was named the alumni representative to the LETU Board of Trustees. A 1976 physical education alumnus, Kieffer earned his master’s degree in leadership and administration at the University of Arkansas and today is a self-employed higher education consultant. He completed a 37-year higher education career that included serving as LETU head baseball and wrestling coach and as an assistant professor before later serving in administration of admissions, financial aid, registration and records. He also served in administration at King College, Bluefield College and Trinity International University. Kieffer has served in leadership on the boards of three different churches, as well as professional organizations including two years as secretary, then two years as president of the National Association of Christian College Admissions Professionals (NACCAP) and 14 years on the Commission of Chief Enrollment Officers of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
OFFICERS ELECTED
LETU Board of Trustees also elected officers for the 2019-2020 year. Bill Anderson of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was reelected chair; Pat Bertsche of Bartlett, Illinois, was elected vice chair; Dean Waskowiak of Longview, Texas, was reelected secretary; and Merle Stoltzfus of Elverson, Pennsylvania, was reelected treasurer.
Bill Anderson is an executive mentor and consultant to CEOs and the principal of Bill Anderson Consulting, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He served as the president and CEO of Christian Booksellers Association for more than 20 years and made frequent appearances in the media during his time with CBA. He has been featured on numerous national radio, television programs and in national print media. He has served on nine boards in industry, ministry, education, business and leadership organizations. He is a cum laude graduate of LeTourneau College where he studied Bible and missionary technology.
Dean Waskowiak is founder, president and CEO of Encore Multimedia Advertising in Longview, Texas, a full-range advertising, marketing and branding firm that serves clients locally and across the nation. He earned an associate degree in design technology and his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from LeTourneau University. He has years of experience in business, insurance, ministry, public service, advertising and marketing. He has served on numerous committees and maintains involvement in various Christian and nonprofit organizations.
Merle Stoltzfus is a general partner for Stoltzfus Enterprises, Ltd., a custom homebuilder and real estate developer in Elverson, Pennsylvania. He has served in revitalization efforts and transportation advisory committees in his hometown area. He earned a degree in electrical engineering technology in 1971 from LeTourneau and has served on the Board of Trustees since 1997.
LeTourneau University is the Christian polytechnic university in the nation where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community. LETU offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a range of disciplines and delivery models at LETU’s residential campus in Longview, Texas, and online. For additional information, visit www.letu.edu.
Categories: President
