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CCBT Consultants R-Z
John B. Romo
 John Romo served as President of Santa Barbara City College from 2002 to 2008. As president he provided strong educational leadership and strategic vision for the three-campus system and more than 90 satellite locations. Noteworthy college achievements under John’s leadership included:
- Establishment of the SBCC Partnership for Student Success
- Approval for the Construction of the School of Media Arts Facility
- Establishment of the SBCC Sustainability Center
- Establishment of a Director of Campus Diversity Position
- $25 Million Fundraising Success to Support students and programs
- Established a $5 Million capital campaign for the School of Media Arts
- Passage of a $77,000,000 Capital Construction Bond
John began his career at SBCC in 1977 as an instructor of essential skills. He went on to hold the posts of Dean of Instructional Services, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for the Continuing Education Division. He served the college for 27 years, leaving only to be Chief Operating Officer of the national office of Planned Parenthood in New York City from 1999-2002.
John’s active involvement in statewide community college issues included serving as chair of the Community College League of California Board of Directors and President of the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges, one of the league's governing boards.
John has received numerous awards, including being named recipient of the Pierre Claeyssens’ Award for Distinguished Service from Emmaus of Santa Barbara, the University of Redlands Alumni 2003 Career Achievement Award, the Santa Barbara Hispanic Achievement Council Award for leadership and service to the community, and the Distinguished Community Service Award from the Anti-Defamation League and Santa Barbara B’nai B’rith Lodge.
John Spevak
 John Spevak is a retired Chief Instructional Officer with 23 years of experience as an instructional administrator--seven as dean of off-campus centers and 16 as vice president of instruction at the same institution (Merced College). He also spent 14 years at the same college as a full-time English instructor and academic advisor, during which time he was an active member of his college's faculty senate. He earned his master's degree and Ph.D. in English from the University of Chicago.
John served for many years with the California Community College Chief Instructional Officers (CCCCIO) organization, first as a regional representative for several years, then as president-elect in 2000-01 and president in 2001-02. He has served on many statewide committees and task forces, including the Action Plan Group for basic skills and assessment, the System Advisory Committee on Curriculum (SACC), and the task force on repetition of noncredit courses. He worked with the Chancellor's Office and the Statewide Academic Senate, as well with the CCCCIO, in the creation of a paper entitled "The Real Cost of Education" in 2002. He also serves on the community advisory committee for the new Ed.D. program in educational leadership at California State University, Stanislaus.
John considers himself a generalist and a team player who believes in bringing people together to work toward the best ideas and solutions. He has a broad working knowledge of both credit and noncredit instruction, including occupational and basic skills curricula. He is also well versed in instructional support services, such as learning resources, tutorial services, learning communities, and supplemental instruction. John was actively involved at the college/district level in educational/facilities master planning, accreditation reports, program review, student learning outcomes, and interest-based negotiations.
Larry Toy
 Before retiring in the Fall of 2007, LARRY TOY had a 39-year career in the California Community Colleges. The past ten years were spent as the founding president/CEO of the Foundation for California Community Colleges.
Under Larry’s leadership the Foundation grew from a staff of one with no funding, to one of the largest operating foundations in higher education, with a staff of 120 full-time and 80 part-time and an annual budget of $35M. During that time, the Foundation secured over $150M in grants and contracts and provided support and savings to the colleges of over $100M.
Larry’s 28-year tenure as professor of astronomy at Chabot College began in 1969 and lasted through 1997. He served in many statewide leadership positions including president of FACCC.
Larry received the first Gerald Hayward Award for Excellence in Education from the Community College System and the Reed Buffington Faculty Excellence Award at Chabot. He has also been honored with two assembly resolutions sponsored by John Vasconcellos and Loni Hancock, the Faculty Member of the Year Award from FACCC, the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Harvard Club of San Francisco, and twice the Richard P. Codd Award from the Network of California Community College Foundations.
Larry received his Bachelors degree in astronomy from Harvard and masters and Ph.D in astronomy from the University of California, Berkeley. His area of research was in theoretical astrophysics modeling the atmospheres of stars.
William Vega
 WILLIAM M. VEGA is the Distinguished Faculty in Residence, at California State University, Long Beach, in the College of Education. He began his appointment in August, 2007. Dr. Vega recently completed a three-year assignment as Director (President), Dubai Men’s College, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Prior to that, he served as Chancellor of the Coast Community College District from 1993 to 2004, retiring as Chancellor Emeritus in June, 2004. Before his appointment as Chancellor of the Coast Community College District, he was the President of Coastline Community College, one of three colleges in the Coast District, from 1985 to 1993.
Dr. Vega has been an educator for thirty-eight years and has held positions in several California community colleges, including: Dean of Curriculum and Instruction at El Camino College in Torrance; Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs at Compton College in Compton; Associate Dean of Instruction at Contra Costa College in San Pablo; and Director of Outreach at Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles. He taught economics at Los Angeles City College and the University of Maryland in Europe. He also taught as an adjunct faculty at California State University, Long Beach, University of California, Irvine, and the University of Southern California.
Dr. Vega received his doctorate in higher and postsecondary education from the University of Southern California. He also holds an M.A. in economics and business from Appalachian State University in North Carolina and a B.S. degree in management from Indiana University.
Dr. Vega served on the board of directors of numerous national and international organizations and is the recipient of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) 2003 Pacific Region Chief Executive Officer Award.
An infantry veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, Dr. Vega was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Michael J. Viera
 MICHAEL J. VIERA, Ph.D., is superintendent/president of the Citrus Community College District, and is slated to retire in June, 2008.
Dr. Viera served as superintendent/president of Citrus College in 2003, and executive vice president and president of Fullerton College from 1995-1999. In 1976 Dr. Viera became a professor of political science at Chaffey College, where over the next 19 years he served in a variety of faculty and administrative roles.
Under Dr. Viera’s leadership, both Fullerton College and Citrus College received multi-million dollar Title V grants as Hispanic Serving Institutions. Citrus College also leveraged grant funding to add a associate degree nursing program. Dr. Viera has been involved in nearly a dozen accreditation reviews, including chairing several visiting teams.
Dr. Viera is currently the president of the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA), 2nd vice chair of the Community College League of California (CCLC) board of directors and sits on the CCLC Advisory Committee on Education Services. A member of the statewide Community College Facilities Coalition Board of Directors, Dr. Viera is a past member of the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges (CEOCCC).
Dr. Viera holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Riverside, an M.A. in comparative politics/international relations from the University of California, Riverside, and a B.A. in political science from Humboldt State University. His post graduate education includes Harvard University’s Institute of Educational Management, the League for Innovation Executive Leadership Institute, and the American Association of Community College’s President’s Academy.
Darroch “Rocky” Young
Chief Consultant
 Darroch "Rocky" Young was named Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District on May 4, 2005 and retired on July 31, 2007.
As Chancellor, Rocky initiated the first formal Strategic Planning effort in the District’s history. Under Rocky’s leadership the District solved its financial problems – it went from being on the Chancellor’s Watch List to having an ending balance in excess of 11% at his time of retirement and created a model for dealing with the unfunded liability of retiree health benefits.
Prior to his appointment as Chancellor, Young served as interim Senior Vice Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District. As Senior Vice Chancellor, Mr. Young took a leadership role in managing district expenses while enhancing revenue through creating astute enrollment management programs.
Before assuming the position of Senior Vice Chancellor, Rocky Young was President of Pierce College, a position he took in 1999. Under his leadership, the college increased its enrollment by 51%, making it one of the fastest growing community colleges in California.
Prior to coming to Pierce College, Rocky Young served as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs and Vice President of Planning and Development at Santa Monica College.
Rocky was awarded the 2007 Harry Buttimer Award, the 2003 Pacesetter of the Year by the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations, the 1998 ACCCA Leadership Award for Administrative Excellence in California Community Colleges, a 1998 CCLC Award for the Creation of the High School Concurrent Enrollment Program, the 1997 RBI Award for Education Contributions, and the 1997 CCLC Award for the Creation of the Academy of Entertainment and Technology.
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