Kathy Watkins

Profile: There are many reasons that Kathy Watkins, Safety and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, was nominated for the Spotlight on Learning. Kathy Watkins is consistently looking out for the well being of others. She stays in close contact with local emergency response agencies to make certain that CPCC stays current with all safety policies and procedures and willingly shares her knowledge with others. For example, Kathy was recently invited to an early childhood class to teach students who will eventually work in local day care centers about how to best implement fire drills and other safety procedures. Because of the volatility of today’s world, Kathy feels that it is imperative to help everyone understand that all of us play a role in preparing for emergencies and ensuring a safe environment.

Brenda Leonard nominated Kathy for this spotlight recognition and states, “this particular initiative has become mission critical”. Kathy has an innate ability to work effectively with different departments and committees. Some of these include: College security, ITS, campus deans, Diversity Committee, and Community Relations and Public Affairs. Brenda adds that “Kathy assesses the individual needs of each campus and works closely with the College staff to implement appropriate procedures and processes to best meet their needs”.

Kathy interacts with diverse groups of people both internally and externally with grace and simplicity. She takes the time to explain every necessary detail so others can comprehend. Tracie Tallant also works closely with Kathy and says “Kathy makes others feel comfortable by removing barriers in communication and speaking to the person on the same level”. In the true spirit of a Learning College, “Kathy is a lifelong learner and a translator of new knowledge, thus helping to ensure that the College is adequately prepared to respond in an emergency or crisis”.