Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC Board appoints Courtney Wilton to fill Zone 3 vacancy

Photos and story by James Hill

The Portland Community College Board of Directors has officially appointed Courtney Wilton, who is the corporate finance officer for the Energy Trust of Oregon, to represent Zone 3.

Wilton spent most of his career in the public sector where he most recently worked six years as an administrator with Clackamas Community College. Wilton will represent Southeast/Northeast Portland and parts of Southwest Portland on the PCC Board. His term runs until June 2015, when he can run for election. Wilton replaces Bob Palmer, who retired from the board last year after 12 years of service.

In the past 33 years, Wilton has been known for his budget and finance management skills. He has extensive knowledge of public finance and related operations, including all aspects of business operations, human resources, risk management, contract compliance, information technology, and facilities planning and construction. These attributes made him an appealing candidate for the PCC Board.

“We are excited to welcome Courtney Wilton as the newest member of the PCC Board of Directors,” said Denise Frisbee, chair of the board. “Among a talented group of interested candidates, Courtney stood out for his highly relevant and strong background in public financial management. His knowledge and background in finance and his community college management experience will be tremendous assets to the board, particularly with respect to our responsibilities for financial oversight and adoption of the college budget within this era of declining state support. To add to his professional experience, Courtney is a strong supporter of community colleges and an avid supporter of the students who choose community college as their path to higher education and career and technical training. We are excited about his addition to the board.”

Before joining the Energy Trust of Oregon, Wilton was CFO and Vice President of College Services with Clackamas Community College (2007-2013) where he oversaw the institution’s financial affairs and business operations. Wilton has also worked as director of Administrative Services for the David Douglas School District, Executive Director of the Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission, and budget and research manager for the City of Gresham. He serves on numerous local boards, including as chair of the Oregon Facilities Authority, treasurer of the American Whitewater (national non-profit that protects rivers and river access for whitewater kayaking) and chair of the Multnomah County Audit Committee.

Wilton has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Oregon and did post-baccalaureate work in economics and accounting at Portland State.

The PCC Board of Directors consists of seven members elected by zones to four-year terms. The board members govern the college, which includes selecting the president, approving the hiring of other staff and faculty, approving the college budget and establishing policies that govern the operation of the college.