Tri County Tech Leaders Receive CareerTech’s Highest Honors

Tri County Technology Center Superintendent Anita Risner and Marketing and Public Information Director Tiffany Bruce have received Oklahoma CareerTech’s top awards. The awards were presented Aug. 4 at the 41th Annual Career and Technology Education Summer Conference at the Cox Business Services Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

 Risner is the 2008 recipient of the Francis Tuttle Career Excellence Award, the highest honor given by the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education. Bruce received the 2008 Oklahoma Association of Technology Centers Outstanding Communication and Marketing Award.

Oklahoma ACTE is the professional organization for the state's CareerTech administrators, teachers and staff members.

The Francis Tuttle Award was established in 1985 in honor of Francis Tuttle, former state director of the Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education and “architect” of what is now called the CareerTech system. The award recognizes individuals whose careers exemplify Tuttle’s dedication to the development of people through career and technology education.

“In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins defines a Level 5 leader as ‘an individual who blends extreme personal humility with intense professional will, while building enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend.’ This definition describes the very being of Anita Risner and her leadership within the CareerTech system,” said CareerTech Director Phil Berkenbile.

“As the superintendent, Anita has established Tri County Technology Center as one of the premier CareerTech centers in the nation,” Berkenbile said. “Her drive for continuous improvement and passion for student success truly make her a leader’s leader.”

Risner is an advocate of employee well-being. The employee satisfaction rate at Tri County is 92 percent, well above the national average.

“Anita commands great respect from business and industry leaders, administrative peers at all levels of education, and most importantly – her employees,” Berkenbile said. “She is continuously looking for ways to improve this score.”

The Communications and Marketing Award recognizes a staff member who demonstrates outstanding communications and marketing skills above and beyond normal responsibilities. Recipients of this award must have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique or novel programs that are serving to improve and promote CareerTech education.

The recipient is also a member of the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education, the professional organization for the state’s CareerTech education administrators, teachers and staff.

Bruce, in one word, is passionate about CareerTech education and in making a difference in the lives of all students in the district, according to OATC President Bill Coleman. Coleman, who presented Bruce with the award, is a board member of Southern Oklahoma Technology Center in Ardmore.

“Tiffany’s work and attitude align with TCTC’s philosophy, ‘If you are not taking care of students, take care of someone who is,” Coleman said.

“Her excitement for reaching everyone who wants a CareerTech education is so strong that she was an integral part of the Pawhuska school district annexation election campaign in 2007,” Coleman said.

 “Passage of the annexation allows Tri County Technology Center to provide much needed training in the Pawhuska community, which will result in better jobs, a skilled workforce and additional economic development opportunities for all residents.”

She has also been instrumental in increasing the employee satisfaction rate at Tri County through her focus on internal communications and customer service. Bruce has worked to raise the level of professionalism of the CareerTech system by serving in local, regional, and statewide leadership roles.

Al Tuttle, son of the late Francis Tuttle, presented this year’s Career Excellence Award to Anita Risner, superintendent of Tri County Technology Center, at the 41th Annual CareerTech Summer Conference held in Oklahoma City.
The Communication and Marketing Award was presented to Tiffany Bruce, Tri County Technology Center marketing and public information director.

Posted August 27, 2008

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