Lindsey Bogner, Clara Barton Hospital’s foundation assistant, was on the hot seat Tuesday afternoon as she fielded questions at a forum at Barton Community College.  One of two candidates for the position of Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, having already met with Barton Community College Foundation board members, it was the faculty and staff’s turn, as well as members of the community, to interview her and provide their written feedback.
Having served in the Kansas National Guard as a public affairs representative, Bogner stood confidently in front of the filled-to-capacity seminar room at the Fine Arts Building, and first provided the crowd with her background and her hopes and dreams for the college.
She understands the importance of higher education, she said.  In order to pay for college, she served with the Guard, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Hays State University, with a specialty in communication systems.  She interned with the Great Bend Tribune, and went on to hold an advertising and marketing position with First Kansas Bank, and ever increasing responsibilities within the Kansas Army National Guard.  
In October 2013, she landed a position with Clara Barton Hospital’s foundation, and helped manage a $1.4 million capital campaign to build a new wing and expand the physical therapy program.  In the first year, over $1,070,000 was raised.  It also provided her with an opportunity to build connections with donors and philanthropic organizations in the area.
Those connections will continue to be strengthened if she is chosen to fill the position, she said.  
“The college and the hospital are already great partners, and we will continue to build that partnership,” she added.  
When asked what the biggest challenge she felt she would face, Bogner answered that the learning curve would be steep, and she would have some pretty impressive shoes to try to fill.  She looked to the current foundation board, confident they would provide the direction she would need.  
The ultimate reward, she said, would be to use her accumulated skills to further the reach of the college and to shift her focus towards education.  While she highly values healthcare, education is a direction she sees herself making a real difference with.  
“Education is nearer and dearer to my heart,” she said.  “Education is needed by everyone now.”  
The second candidate, Steve Webster, will have his chance to impress the faculty and staff on Thursday afternoon.  His forum will also be held in F-30 of the Fine Arts Building at Barton Community College’s Barton County campus.  The public is welcome to attend.     
According to Dave Barnes, Director of the Shafer Art Gallery and chair of the search committee, the position is key to the success of the college and the growth of the foundation.