fb icon myAcc icon

Alpena Community College Board of Trustees Biographies

Alpena Community College Board of Trustees

Trustee Biographies

John Briggs

   

John Briggs, Chairman 

John Briggs is a native of Grand Ledge, Michigan, and a 1964 graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management from the College of Business. From 1964-1969, Mr. Briggs was employed by the University of Michigan as a food service manager and residence hall building director while earning a M.A. in counseling from Eastern Michigan University in 1968. He was later employed by Delta College from 1969-1975 as director of conference development and from 1975-1976 by the Human Development Commission in Caro, Michigan, as field and program operations administrator. 

Mr. Briggs and his family moved to Alpena in 1976 when he joined Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency, Inc. (NEMCSA) and currently serves as NEMCSA’s chief operating officer. Mr. Briggs’s responsibilities include management of human services programs in 22 counties with 643 employees and an annual operating budget in excess of $37 million. Mr. Briggs was elected to the Alpena Community College Board of Trustees in 1987 and is currently serving as its chairman. Briggs' current term expires on December 31, 2024, and his board seat will be up for election in November 2024.

Mr. Briggs can be contacted via email at briggsj@alpenacc.edu.

Teresa Duncan

 

 

 
    Teresa Duncan

Teresa Duncan was appointed on February 17, 2011, to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Judith Grenkowicz, who resigned her seat on January 16, 2011. Duncan has owned and operated Thunder Bay Therapy and Sports Medicine in Alpena since 1995. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Michigan-Flint in 1987 and has been a clinician since her graduation. She and her husband, Bruce, both natives of the Alpena area, have two children, both of whom have attended Alpena Public Schools. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association plus special sections on Private Practice, Sports, Orthopedics, and Aquatics; locally she is a member of Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, Blue Line Club, and Huron Shores Fellowship. She was reelected in November 2016 and November 2022; her current term expires on December 31, 2028, and her board seat is up for election in November 2028.

Mrs. Duncan can be contacted via email at duncant@alpenacc.edu.

Joe Gentry

 

    Joseph Gentry II

Mr. Gentry is presently Executive Director of the United Way of Northeast Michigan. He has worked in human relations for First Federal of Northern Michigan, industrial relations/safety for Lafarge Corporation and Besser Company as personnel manager/safety director. Mr. Gentry holds associate degrees in Business and Building Construction from Alpena Community College, a B.A. in Business Administration from Michigan State University, and post graduate M.B.A. studies at Lake Superior State University. Mr. Gentry sits on several boards including InsuranceCenter of Alpena; president, board of directors Lutheran Housing Corporation of Alpena; president, Great Lakes District Council Jos. Holmes Safety Association joint cooperative safety association between MSHA & industry; treasurer and director, Wellness Council of Northern Michigan; director, Fitness Council of Northern Michigan; an industry representative, Health Fitness Advisory Council; and Industrial Technology Advisory Council, Alpena Community College. Mr. Gentry was appointed to the Board in April 2004, and elected to the office in November 2005. His term will expire December 31, 2024, and his board seat is up for election in November 2024.

Mr. Gentry can be contacted via email at gentryj@alpenacc.edu.

Lisa Hilberg

 

    Lisa Hilberg

Prior to retirement, Dr. Lisa Hilberg was a teacher and principal with the Alpena Public Schools. Mrs. Hilberg holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University;  M.A. in Education from Spring Arbor University with a concentration in curriculum and instruction; a Michigan Professional Certificate from Spring Arbor University with a major mathematics (K-12), a minor in science (K-8), and a minor in elementary education; a B.S. in Community Development with a concentration in Public Administration from Central Michigan University; an Associate in Arts from Alpena Community College, coursework at the Michigan Technological University, University of LaVerne, and Michigan State University. Dr. Hilberg holds memberships in the Remembering our Children Organization and Michigan Educational Association - Retired. Lisa has a rich history in community service and plans to devote her retirement years to educational advocacy.  Dr. Hilberg was appointed to the board in October 2008. She ran for reelection in November 2009, 2016, and 2022, and her current term will expire on December 31, 2028; her board seat is up for election in November 2028.

Dr. Hilberg can be contacted via email at hilbergl@alpenacc.edu.

Sue Stender

   

Susan Stender, Treasurer

Sue Stender is currently the Chief Financial Officer for WMCR Corporation in Alpena. She is a native of Alpena and graduated from Alpena Community College in 1977 with an Associate in Applied Science – Accounting degree and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ferris State (College) University in 1979. Sue, her husband John, and their two daughters spent 27 years in Owosso, Michigan, before returning to Alpena in 2006.  From 1979 through 2006 Sue worked at three different companies, Universal Electric, Robert H. Hoschner P.C., and Toledo Commutator, working in several accounting capacities. When she left Toledo Commutator in 2006 she was the Accounting Manager in charge of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and general ledger. In 2008 Sue took a position with Bank of Alpena who in 2014 merged First Federal of Northern Michigan. There she was the Controller until May 2018. Sue is a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and has been involved in many high school girl’s athletic programs and clubs. She was elected to the ACC Board of Trustees in November 2016 and was reelected in 2022. Her board seat is up for election in November 2028 and her current term goes through December 31, 2028.

Mrs. Stender can be contacted via email at stenders@alpenacc.edu.

Florence Stibitz

 

 
    Florence Stibitz

Florence Stibitz is a long-time resident of Alpena whose commitment to service in her community is demonstrated through a rich history of personal involvement. She attended both ACC and the University of Michigan with an emphasis in education. She was founder and chair of the ACC Spotlight Series; ACC College Day for Women; institutional representative and past-president of the Michigan Community College Association; founder of the Cultural Arts Alliance; and is a board member of the Association of Lifelong Learners at ACC. Mrs. Stibitz was a member of the board of the Alpena Community Concert Association; board member of League of Women Voters; and member and past-president of the Alpena Lions. She was voted the Zonta Club Woman of the Year in 1998, and was nominated for the Athena Award. Mrs. Stibitz was elected to the board in 1983 and has been elected to consecutive six-year terms since that time. Her current term will expire December 31, 2026, her board seat is up for election in November 2026.

Mrs. Stibitz can be contacted via email at stibitzf@alpenacc.edu.

Tom Townsend

 

    Thomas Townsend, Vice Chair

Mr. Townsend is the President of R.A. Townsend Company, a family-owned and operated wholesale plumbing and heating company located in Alpena. Mr. Townsend is a 1971 graduate of Alpena Community College, and he holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1973 and an associate degree from Ferris State University in 1975. Mr. Townsend currently serves on the board of First Federal of Northern Michigan. He and his wife Jena have two grown children. Mr. Townsend was elected to the board in November 2001 and re-elected to a second term in November 2007. Mr. Townsend’s term will expire on December 31, 2026, and his board seat is up for election in November 2026.

Mr. Townsend can be contacted via email at ttownsend@alpenacc.edu.