North Idaho College to hold open forums for chief communications, government relations officer

A North Idaho College search committee has named four candidates for the open Chief Communications and Government Relations Officer position as well as forum dates in which the public can meet the candidates. The position was vacated by Mark Browning earlier this year.

There will be one open forum for each candidate Dec. 12 and 13. Forums will be held in the Edminster Student Union Building (SUB) on NIC’s main campus. The public is welcome to attend all forums.

• Barbara O’Malley, St. Louis, Mo.

10 to 10:45 a.m. Monday, Dec. 12 SUB Blue Creek/Echo Bay Room

Barbara O’Malley currently works as the chief communications officer at Webster University in St. Louis. She previously served as the associate vice president for Marketing and Communications at the University of Akron from 2008 to 2011 and the executive director of Marketing and Communications at Southern Illinois University from 2004 to 2008. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications/journalism from Black Hills State University and a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Denver.

• Ethan Huffman, Ammon, Idaho

2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12 SUB Blue Creek/Echo Bay Room

Ethan Huffman currently works as the regional director of U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson’s Eastern Idaho office. He previously served as external affairs manager for Idaho National Lab from 2011 to 2012 and national security communication lead for Idaho National Lab from 2004 to 2011. He has a bachelor’s degree in communication from Idaho State University and a master’s degree in communication leadership from Gonzaga University.

• Mark Snider, Boise

10 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 SUB Lake Coeur d’Alene Room

Mark Snider currently works as the public affairs manager for Suez Water in Boise. He previously served as the senior communications adviser for Gov. Dirk Kempthorne from 2003 to 2005 and Gov. Kempthorne’s press secretary from 1999 to 2003. He was Kempthorne’s press secretary when Kempthorne was a U.S. senator from 1992 to 1999. He has a bachelor’s degree in speech communications with a broadcasting emphasis from Oregon State University.

• Laura Rumpler, Coeur d’Alene

2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 SUB Lake Coeur d’Alene Room

Laura Rumpler currently works as the director of communications for Coeur d’Alene School District No. 271. She previously worked as the assistant director of development for Inland Northwest Health Services from 2004 to 2008 and communications manager for the city of Bend, Ore., from 2002 to 2004. She has a bachelor’s degree in public relations and speech communication from Gonzaga University.