Ted Suhr, vice president for administrative services at Southeast Community College, received the 2011 Nebraska Community College Association Administrator’s Award Tuesday night during a ceremony in Grand Island.
“I’m very honored and grateful to receive this award,” Suhr said. “I’ve had a long history of working with colleagues at institutions within the NCCA on various topics and issues, and that has been very rewarding.”
The NCCA presents annual awards to faculty, governor, administrator, and friend of community colleges. This year’s ceremony took place at the Midtown Holiday Inn. Special guest was Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Community Colleges.
Suhr’s involvement with the community college system in Nebraska has been extensive. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Nebraska Community College Insurance Trust, serving as president of the Trust since its inception on July 1, 1995. He also manages the investments of the Trust, maintains the books of the Trust, prepares the financial statements, prepares the premium tax returns, and serves as the contact person for the Trust with the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
Suhr played a key role in the development of the Mutual Gains Bargaining process used by SCC since the early 1990s. He has served on the MGB team since the process started and has served as the wordsmith for the MGB process, drafting minutes, contract language and justification of the outcomes of the process. Suhr also has served as the “numbers” person to provide data used in the MGB process.
Dr. Jack Huck, SCC president, said Suhr has made significant contributions to improve SCC as well as other community colleges in the state.
“For more than 29 years, Ted has demonstrated a level of professionalism and knowledge that has made him a leader, not only at SCC, but within the NCCA,” Huck said. “His lengthy resume of accomplishments is outstanding. Whatever he is involved in, whether at SCC or the state level, Ted works very hard to ensure a successful outcome. He is very deserving of this award.”
Suhr has served on the NCCA Council of Business Officers for more than 29 years. During that time, he has taken a lead role in drafting and revising the State Aid Enrollment Audit Guidelines.
Past honors and awards include receiving the SCC Lincoln Area Milford Beatrice (LAMB) Award as Outstanding Administrator in 2006, the Community College Business Officers Regional Outstanding Chief Business Officer Award in 1998, and the NCCA Presidents Award for Leadership and Outstanding Service for the Community Colleges of Nebraska in Business and Administrative Services Area in 1995.