Diane Joens, and Stephanie Purinton join Valerie Wood and Joan Meyers on Board; Remaining 24 Board members from Prescott area
The highly influential Yavapai Community College Foundation added three new members at its annual 2018 May meeting. They are: Diane Drexler, Chief Nursing Officer at Yavapai Regional Medical Center; Diane Joens, former mayor of Cottonwood; and Stephanie Purinton, owner of Bella Vita Healthcare located in Cottonwood.
It was not clear from the press announcement from the College whether these appointments were to be added to the current 28 Board members or that they were replacing three members who left the Board.
The Foundation’s composition is hardly representative of the County. While the east side of the County accounts for more than 70,000 residents and the West side about 140,000, the Board membership is 24-4 in favor of the West side of the County. Furthermore, the College administrators, despite what some believe is a direct conflict of interest, remain on the Board.
There are two District Governing Board members on the Board, Pat McCarver and Steve Irwin, who are listed as Foundation Board members (liaisons). Traditionally, there is only a single member of the Governing Board “elected” as liaison by the Governing Board. However, apparently because he recognizes the enormous influence the Foundation has on the direction of the College, Steve Irwin asked to be appointed to the Board. Both are members of the West County voting bloc that controls the District Governing Board.
There are 28 members of the Foundation Board with seven Foundation executive committee members including Dr. Penelope Wills. Only a single member of the executive committee, First Vice President Valerie Wood, is from the Verde Valley. Of the 21 remaining directors, only three, Joan Meyers, Diane Joens, and Stephanie Purinton are from the Verde Valley.
Joens is the former mayor of Cottonwood who lost an election in 2016 for County Supervisor to Randy Garrison. Purinton is a certified nurse midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner in Cottonwood. Joan Meyers is President, Friends of the Southwest Wine Center. Valier Wood is President and Certified Executive Coach of Valerie Wood and Associates, LLC., where she provides commercial real estate consulting and helps motivated leaders and businesses improve their performance and quality of life.