Michael BECHTEL (Not Applicable)

913 Taft Avenue
913 Taft Avenue
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001-6961
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My name is Mike Bechtel, and I am running for a spot on the Board of Trustees for Laramie County Community College. I am 55 years old and I would like to take a moment to introduce myself.
I am a carpenter by trade, and my wife Anna is a school teacher and graduate of the University of Wyoming. Together we raised three children. Our oldest Jack is a senior at the University of Wyoming, majoring in civil engineering. Our next is Will, he attends Dakota Wesleyan University and is currently in the master’s program for athletic training. Our youngest is Tom, a freshman at Laramie County Community College, majoring in business and accounting. Our children are graduates of South High School, where Anna and I participated in the parent advisory group. We have always stressed the importance of education. Our children are my biggest reason for running for the board. There is a saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I cannot remember where I first heard it, but I believe it to my core.

I do not have a degree, and I have never held public office. I do have over 30 years of frontline manager experience, and I am a carpenter by trade. I am a construction supervisor for a local contractor.

I have used community colleges in the past, not to get a degree, but to provide me with the necessary skills to succeed at my endeavors. I attended the University of Arizona, while I did not graduate it opened the door to the value and community that can be found in education. I attended Pima Community College to learn how to read blueprints and work on my reading. Laramie County Community College has helped me with multiple business courses which have allowed me to succeed professionally.

From teaching catechism to showing neighborhood kids how to shoot a jump shot. I have coached youth soccer and have made myself generally available to assist in all activities my children have participated in. Now that I am an empty nester, I would like to get more involved.

Anna and I have always stressed the importance of education. Our children are my biggest reason for running for the board. There is a saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I cannot remember where I first heard it, but I believe it to my core and that is why I am running.
My children’s friends and families, teachers, administrators, secretaries, custodians, coaches, bosses, and even their opponents have helped my children succeed. As I start this new chapter in my life as an empty nester, I would like to spend it giving it back to the community that has given to us. And I believe education in all its forms is the most important asset a community can have. While I do not possess the degrees or have experience in public office, I have been a frontline manager for over thirty years and know without a doubt that Education and Growth are synonymous.

I think three issues facing LCCC are: funding, focus, and retention/completion.
As we witnessed during the last legislative session, funding is constantly under attack. I believe we need to be proactive in letting the community know where our funding comes from. I believe we also need to be financially responsible with our funds to show gratitude to the community.
Focus is on two sides in this case; we need to focus on the needs of our students but also on the needs of the community we serve. We need to look past the numbers and acknowledge that not all our students are looking for a degree or a certificate. I attended LCCC to learn Excel after my first staff meeting because I needed to be able to understand, categized, and manipulated numbers. I had no desire for a degree; it was about succeeding at work.
In hindsight a degree would have been a blessing, and that is why retention and completion are issues that should be addressed. High school graduation rates are roughly 80% and it’s free and they must be there, in theory. LCCC graduation rates are half that and they pay and choose to be there. Retention rates should also be a strategic concern for the faculty and staff. I don’t believe success can happen without the faculty and staff as they are truly the beating heart of the institution and extensions of the community.