Mark Browning: Marketing NIC

Mark Browning recently joined North Idaho College as the new vice president for community relations and marketing.

He sat down to answer a few questions from the Press about his new role.

"At a time when the college is in the midst of strategic planning, Mark will act as a liaison between the college and the counties we serve, maintaining a constant presence in the community and ensuring that the needs of all constituencies are infused in our mission and vision for the future," said NIC President Priscilla Bell.

Give a few highlights of your career prior to joining NIC?

Wow-highlights. OK, Spent 23 years in broadcast journalism. Had the opportunity to meet and interview people, report on events that have stayed with me ever since. Have interviewed presidential candidates, industry leaders, star athletes, government leaders and the best: people like you and me. They always made the best stories. I have been a dog food delivery man, a play-by-play broadcaster, worked in newsrooms throughout Idaho and most recently for the Idaho State Board of Education as the Chief Communications and Legislative Officer.

Some first impressions now that you've had a chance to settle in?

LOVE IT! The people here at North Idaho College, Coeur d'Alene and across the five northern counties of Idaho are amazing. Everyone is so helpful, friendly and willing.

What do you see as your key responsibilities?

I am responsible for the public face of the college: marketing, community relations, governmental affairs and media. We have a great staff here who are honestly some of the best people in their positions in the state and the Northwest.

Can you talk about your plans/vision for community relations and marketing at NIC?

I want everyone to know just what an amazing place NIC is and it's RIGHT HERE. Any and everything we can do to effectively further that message getting to everyone is what we will do.

What does NIC want to see from this year's legislative session?

We need to start having a serious discussion about bonding for building construction. This is an opportune time for the state to leverage both its excellent credit rating (AA+) and the low construction costs, through bonding, to meet our future needs. It has to be combined with local college funding, but we need to begin moving in that direction.

Secondly, employee compensation is a growing issue for us. We are in danger of losing even more very talented employees to other institutions throughout the nation if we don't do something to stay competitive. Our folks are nationally known for their excellence and we'll lose them if we don't make improvements in this area.

Third: Tuition reimbursement. Currently out-of-tax district (everyone not in Kootenai Co.) students pay resident tuition and fees then their home county (once verified) reimburses the college for a portion of the difference in tuition/fees. Liquor tax revenues are provided to the counties to fund this purpose. The current rate of $500 per semester with a lifetime maximum of $3,000 has not changed since 1982! As a result, there is a significant and continued shifting of the funding burden to the home county taxpayer. We need to address this issue.

Fourth: Continued support for Professional-Technical programs (PTE). The demand for PTE and workforce training programs is strong and will continue to be so. Funding from the state has lagged and NIC is self-funding a growing percentage of these programs. If we are to continue to train and make ready the workforce of today and tomorrow-we must have continued support.

Fifth: Financial aid and the cost to students. We must all encourage the state to continue to fund and to build our state scholarships; Promise A, B, A for PTE and the Opportunity Scholarship. If we expect our "best and brightest" to stay in Idaho, we need to fund these state scholarships where their dollars are best utilized.

Sixth: Campus safety. Most folks know this issue as "Guns on Campus." This is NOT a right to carry issue. This is a local control issue. This is about keeping the ability to make the decision here in Kootenai County and not in Boise on the state level. The NIC Board of Trustees is in the best position to make the decision as to how to keep our students and visitors safe. We host thousands of youth on our campus every year through dual enrollment classes, participants in music programs, workshops, athletic events and competitions, even our child care facility. Each of these groups as well as you and I have the right to expect that our campus is a safe haven. We simply cannot make that guarantee if weapons are allowed on campus.

What do you hope to accomplish here?

It is my goal to help each person within our reach both close and far to learn what a spectacular and special place we have in NIC and to come be a part.

Have you learned a few keys you could share regarding the field of community relations and marketing? What does it take to succeed?

Just be honest. I cringe when I hear people refer to the field of public relations as "spin doctoring". If you "spin", you are not doing anyone, including yourself and your employer, any favors. I believe that people have a right to expect anyone in this position to be honest and genuine. My folks taught me the most valuable of lessons: be nice to people. Don't be a phony but be nice.

What is this community college doing well today in terms of communicating with locals and where could it improve?

I think NIC is really embracing all available avenues when it comes to reaching out to the community; traditional and new media, etc. Where can we improve? We ask that question daily. And we'd love to hear from you.

Where did you come from and why did you want to come to NIC?

I am originally from "just over the mountains"; western Montana - Bitterroot Valley - Stevensville. I have spent the last 30+ years in Idaho; Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Boise. I wanted to come to NIC because it is simply the best. It's the best place to work, to live and to raise a family.

How important is NIC to this community?

I don't think you can overstate the importance of NIC to the area. It is such a treasure to have the oldest two-year school in the state right here. We have tradition, we have excellence and we have the brightest of futures ahead.

What do you see as the community college's role in the region?

To prepare, educate and lead. We must prepare and educate current and future generations to be a ready and productive workforce. We must lead. We must be an example in dedication and excellence in all we attempt and we must be brave. I say brave because it takes guts to try new things in our current climate. But we must continually push ourselves to be better - and to be better, you must try new things where you can.

What would be the best way for the public to offer its opinion regarding NIC and its mission?

Call us, email us, come see us. All of our contact information in our website (which is terrific by the way). Send us a letter or postcard. We'll take a tweet - just reach out. We are listening.

If you had one main message to share about NIC, what would it be?

This is a special place where you and I can learn, grow and become anything within our dreams.