Cochise College has hired a new Vice President for Administrative Affairs, announced in November.
LaMont D. Schiers was selected for the senior administrative position that serves as the chief business officer of the college. He officially began his duties on Dec. 2.
LaMont D. Schiers. (Photo by Rick Whipple)
“We are excited to welcome LaMont to our administrative team,” said Cochise College President J.D. Rottweiler. “His knowledge in finance and background in construction will be a great asset to the college as it faces future budgeting challenges while seeking new and innovative opportunities for students and our community.”
Schiers most recently served as the Director of Facilities for Sodexo Campus Services at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Administrative Services at Bakersfield College in California, the Director of Physical Plant for Sodexo Campus Services at Keuka College in New York, and the Assistant Director of Facilities at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y.
“I’m pleased to be part of the process that allows individuals to improve themselves,” Schiers said. “I’ve worked in higher education for 16 years now, and I’ve benefited personally from acquiring an education. Community colleges serve a niche and a way for many first-generation family members to seek education beyond high school at a cost they can afford. It’s not cheap or free, but it’s reasonable and realistic. I like to be part of that process.”
Schiers earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from Brigham Young University and a Master of Science in Management from Keuka College. He grew up in Southern Idaho, and though he enjoyed his time going to school and later working on the East Coast, he said he’s most fond of the West, where the majority of his and his wife’s family live.
“I love the outdoors, and being in the Rocky Mountain region is where I consider home,” he said. “I was very interested in Arizona because of the ties we have here. We have a lot of family in this area.”
Cochise College’s Vice President for Administrative Affairs is responsible for guiding financial services and physical infrastructure programs, services, policies, procedures and personnel in the areas of financial services, budgeting, procurement, and physical plant. Schiers said an important aspect is focusing on making processes more efficient and ensuring the college is planning and then budgeting, rather than the other way around.
“Administrative services takes care of a lot of different aspects on campus,” he said. “In finance, it’s all about numbers, and numbers don’t lie. It’s very easy to go back and evaluate historical data to understand trends and see where the money is going. And given the right circumstances and the right individuals to work with, it becomes easier to forecast.”
Schiers and his wife, Heidi, have been married 21 years and have four children. He said he’s looking forward to being part of future opportunities at Cochise College.
“My goal is to make sure that as we move forward and dollars are limited, since we’re seeing a reduction in funds from the state, to make sure the college can continue to grow,” he said. “If we do that, we’re in a win-win situation: the college can expand, and additional or new programs will meet the needs of the surrounding community.”