Board of Directors

Martha Johnson, Board Chair
Retired, Ashland Inc.
Martha C. Johnson, chair of the GCTC board of directors, is a retired corporate executive and a resident of Melbourne, Ky. She retired from Ashland Inc. in 2007 as vice president of communication and corporate affairs after a 20-year career with Ashland that included successful experience in team-building, strategic and operational communication planning and implementation (employee communication, media relations, advertising and brand management, and shareholder communication), corporate contributions, community relations, and issue management. Prior to joining Ashland, Ms. Johnson had positions of increasing responsibility in marketing or communications with Stuckey & Speer diamond importers in Houston, First American Bank in Ashland, Ky., and Johnson’s Dairy, also in Ashland. She holds an associate degree from Ashland Community and Technical College, a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University, and a master’s degree from Gonzaga University. She was appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher in 2007 and her term on the GCTC board expires in November 2013.

Richard Fowler, Board Vice Chair
Ninth Street Baptist Church
Richard Fowler is pastor of the Ninth Street Baptist Church in Covington, Ky. A native of Covington and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Rev. Fowler worked for Procter and Gamble for 28 years and became pastor of the Ninth Street Baptist Church in 1983. Rev. Fowler serves on numerous civic boards and committees. He has worked closely with the Covington Independent School District on several projects, especially the review of the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate task force. During his tenure, OASIS Inc. was formed as an outreach ministry of the Ninth Street Baptist Church. OASIS operates several programs that make a positive impact in Covington’s Eastside as well as the Northern Kentucky region. Rev. Fowler resides in Wilder, Ky. A member of the GCTC founding board having been appointed by Governor Patton, Rev. Fowler was reappointed to a second term by Governor Ernie Fletcher in 2007. His term will expire in November 2013.

Brent Cooper, Board Secretary
C-Forward
Brent Cooper is secretary of the GCTC board of directors. A resident of Fort Thomas, Ky., he is the founder, president and owner of C-Forward, an information technology services company with locations in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky and Columbus, Ohio. Reflecting his entrepreneurial skill, C-Forward has received awards, including the Small Business Success Award from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Torch Award from the Better Business Bureau, the Excellence Award and Community Involvement Award from the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and has been named as one of the area’s “Emerging 30” companies on four occasions. A University of Kentucky graduate, Mr. Cooper has more than 19 years’ experience in computer networking and has received many industry certifications. He serves on numerous civic boards and has received multiple awards for his community involvement and that of his company. Mr. Cooper was appointed by Governor Fletcher in 2007 and his term will expire in November 2013.

Katheryn Cook, Parliamentarian
Cincinnati VA Medical Center 
Katheryn Cook is parliamentarian of the GCTC board and a resident of California, Ky. She is Chief Nurse, Medical & Surgical Nursing, at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Prior to her present position, she served in various positions with St. Luke Hospitals and was a vice president there prior to St. Luke’s recent merger with St. Elizabeth Health System. Active in community affairs, she has served on the Northern Kentucky SANE Committee, Northern Kentucky Community Health Committee, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Health Care Issues Committee, and the Kentucky Hospital Association Legislative Committee. She is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Health Council. Ms. Cook earned an associate degree in nursing from Maysville Community and Technical College, a bachelor of science in nursing from Northern Kentucky University and a master’s in nursing from Bellarmine University in Louisville. She was appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher in 2007, and her term will expire in November 2013.

Jeff Groob
November Strategies
Jeffrey Groob is a management consultant and principal of November Strategies, LLC, and Groob Turnaround & Growth Partners. He is also an adjunct professor at Northern Kentucky University, Thomas More College and the University of Phoenix. A graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering, Mr. Groob holds an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati. He developed his consulting businesses following a successful career as an entrepreneur and marketer with TechneGrowth, Inc., and Zonic Corporation. Early in his career, as an engineer at GE Aircraft Engine Group, he provided airline support to KLM, Air France and Lufthansa. Mr. Groob serves on the board of advisors of Remtec Engineering/MBS Associates and the steering committee of ConnectKentucky. He is active in engineering professional associations and honor societies. He was appointed by Governor Steve Beshear in 2009 to fill an unexpired term, and his term on the GCTC board expires in November 2013.

R. Richard Jordan
LSI Images
R. Richard Jordan is vice president and general manager of LSI Industries and a resident of Walton, Ky. Prior to his leadership position at LSI, he held management positions in the manufacturing sector for over 30 years with such companies as General Electric and Magic Chef. Mr. Jordan has been an active member of many industry organizations, including the Kentucky Manufacturing Association, Kentucky Associated Industries and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and has been an ardent advocate for the development of a community college in Northern Kentucky. He attended The Ohio State University and Franklin University in Columbus. Mr. Jordan was appointed to GCTC’s founding board of directors in 2001 by Governor Paul Patton and reappointed to a second term by Governor Ernie Fletcher in 2007. He was founding chair of the board and served in that capacity until November 2011. His term will expire in November 2013.

Kenneth Paul
Retired, Cincinnati Bell
Kenneth R. Paul is a communications consultant and retired executive of Cincinnati Bell. Mr. Paul’s 41-year career with the telephone company included management and non-management positions in sales and sales support and involved the direction of eight to 160 employees. Mr. Paul served as Campbell County Judge Executive (1986-1998), Campbell County Commissioner (1982-1986), Councilman and Mayor of the city of Southgate (1972-1982) and was a Southgate police officer from 1969 to 1972. He is past chair of the boards for the Tri-County Economic Development Corporation, Northern Kentucky Health Development and the Northern Kentucky Area Development District. He served four terms as president of the Campbell County Council of Governments. Mr. Paul is quite active in community activities and is a resident of Fort Thomas, Ky. He was appointed to GCTC’s founding board by Governor Paul Patton in 2001 and reappointed by Governor Fletcher in 2007. His term on the GCTC board expires in November 2013.

Thomas Santry, Student Representative
Thomas M. Santry is the student representative to the GCTC board. A resident of Independence, Ky., Santry is studying toward an associate degree in Information Technology and has a specific interest in information security. He has worked in the restaurant business for 10 years and has served as a general manager, kitchen manager, director of operations and beverage director for retail outlets of major restaurant chains. As director of operations for Quizno’s between 2004 and 2006, he oversaw the development of new locations. Prior to that time he worked for three years as a beverage director with the Lowery Group, managing more than five locations and implementing promotional events. Mr. Santry is versed in Windows OS environments (XP, Vista and 7), Windows Server 2008, and has national certifications in CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. He was joined the board in September 2011 for a one-year term.


Cindy Sproehnle
Staff Representative
Cindy Sproehnle is director of the GCTC Assessment Center and serves as the staff representative to the GCTC board of directors. She joined the college in 1996 and served as an admissions counselor before being named to her present position in 2000. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree from Xavier University. She previously served in Ohio public schools for many years. Ms. Sproehnle is treasurer and past president of the Northern Kentucky Counselors Association and past president of the Kentucky Career Development Association. She participated in the Northern Kentucky Educational Leadership Class of 2000, the KCTCS President’s Leadership Seminar of 2007-08 and was named GCTC’s New Horizons Staff Award winner in 2005. A resident of Loveland, Ohio, Ms. Sproehnle was elected to the board in 2004 and re-elected by the GCTC staff to a second three-year term in 2010; her current term will expire in June 2013.


Dr. Michelle Deeley Wilhite
Faculty Representative
Dr. Michelle Deeley Wilhite is associate professor of oral communication and coaches the GCTC Speech and Debate Team.  She joined Gateway in 1999 after serving as vice president of educational initiatives for the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, the Kentucky Communication Association and the Kentucky Forensic Association. She was named Margaret Greynolds Speech Coach of the Year for 2009-2010, Carter-Talbott Speech Coach of the Year for 2008-2009, Outstanding Young Educator in Kentucky by the Kentucky Jaycees in 2000, and Outstanding Young Alumnus by Northern Kentucky University that year. She received GCTC’s New Horizons Faculty Award in 2010 and is a 2001 graduate of the KCTCS President’s Leadership Seminar. She holds undergraduate and master's degrees from Northern Kentucky University, Miami University and the University of Louisville, where she earned her Ph.D. A resident of Florence, Ky., she was elected by the GCTC faculty to a three-year term that expires in June 2013.