2026 NCATC Board NOMINEES
Board Nominee
Board Nominee
Board Nominee
Jay Bouis
Assistant Dean, Applied Technology and Logistics
Community College of Baltimore County (MD)
TERM: 2027-2030
Board Nominee
Board Nominee
Board Nominee
Darryl L. Grayson
Director of Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Programs
Clark State College
TERM: 2027 - 2030
Board Nominee
Board Nominee
Board Nominee
Peter Jensen
Program Developer
Lorain County Community College (OH)
TERM: 2027 - 2030
Board Nominee
Board Nominee
Board Nominee
Laura Thero
Associate Dean, Engineering Technology Macomb Community College (MI)
TERM: 2027-2030
Jay Bouis
Jay Bouis
Assistant Dean, Applied Technology and Logistics
Community College of Baltimore County (MD)
Jay Bouis serves as the Assistant Dean of Applied Technology and Logistics in the School of Continuing Education at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), a multi-campus college in central Maryland. He leads workforce and career education initiatives spanning Building and Industrial Technology; Information Technology Career Programming; Registered Apprenticeships; and Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics.
With more than 30 years of experience across the public and private sectors, including 18 years dedicated to community college workforce programs, Jay has built a reputation for advancing industry-responsive education and training programs. His previous roles at CCBC include Director and Coordinator. Prior to joining CCBC, he was a Partner with Multi-Dimensional Integration in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, and worked on systems engineering projects for major companies regionally, nationally, and abroad.
Jay is passionate about expanding career pathways through hands-on learning, industry engagement, and workforce innovation. A frequently requested speaker and convener, he collaborates with leaders from business, education, government, and nonprofit organizations to address workforce challenges and strengthen talent pipelines. He has extensive experience developing partnerships, securing resources, and implementing laboratory- and equipment-based training programs that prepare individuals for high-demand careers.
Major projects include a new Welding and Trades Center building that will open in 2027 and a Commercial Driver’s License training facility that began operation in 2021. Recognized as an expert in apprenticeships for skilled trades and non-traditional industries, he founded the CCBC Apprenticeship Center in 2020. Jay also has wide-ranging knowledge in consulting, corporate training, industrial automation, information technology, and small business ownership. He has worked with companies such as Becton Dickinson, Johnson & Johnson, Johnson Controls, McCormick & Company, Procter & Gamble, and Volvo.
Jay holds a Master of Arts degree in Contemporary Communications from Notre Dame of Maryland University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems from Stevenson University. He is a 2013 alumnus of Leadership Baltimore County.
Darryl L. Grayson
Darryl L. Grayson
Darryl Grayson is a 32-year corporate executive who has strategically led large and small organizations in transformative innovative ways. Darryl is a very energetic and profound leader who can reach, inspire, and encourage professionals at every level in an organization.
Darryl is currently the Director of Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Programs at Clark State College where he is the liaison between academic and professional credit programs.
Prior to higher education, Darryl spent 27 years in manufacturing and corporate leadership, technical training and consulting, and family relationship and strengthening programs. Darryl has served as CEO and Managing Director of INROADS Pittsburgh-Erie, COO of Urban Light Ministries and Process Coordinator at USX/US Steel corporation.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Darryl has served in numerous governance and community leadership capacities, including Vice Chair of the Bon Secours Mercy Health Board of Directors, President of the Geneva College Engineering Advisory Board, member of the Springfield City Schools Oversight Commission, Board member of the Nehemiah Foundation, and board member of Urban Light Ministries.
Darryl is also a highly regarded safety professional who routinely presents safety topics and seminars for corporate and non-profit organizations. Some of these organizations include So Cal Edison, The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Madison and Prebble County’s Safety Councils, Milacron, IPL Global, and Hyde Park Partners.
Peter Jensen
Peter Jensen
Program Developer
Lorain County Community College (OH)
Peter Jensen is a Program Developer at Lorain County Community College (LCCC, Elyria, OH) in the Talent & Business Innovation unit, where he develops and manages grant-funded workforce and economic development initiatives which connect education, industry, and public-sector partners. His work focuses on strengthening the manufacturing and engineering technology talent pipeline through strategic partnerships and data-informed program design, coordinated across academic, workforce development, and K-12 partnership programs.
In addition to his institutional responsibilities at LCCC, Peter serves as a project manager for the Ohio Technical Skills Innovation Network (Ohio TechNet, OTN), a statewide consortium facilitated by LCCC of more than 45 community colleges, universities, and technical training centers focused on meeting Ohio’s manufacturing and technology talent demand. In this role he leads and supports initiatives that advance Industry 4.0 education, expand Earn & Learn opportunities, and create guided pathways that connect youth and adult learners to high-demand manufacturing and technology careers. His expertise includes federal grant project management, performance measurement and evaluation, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement. Peter has presented at numerous state and national conferences, and was a member of the inaugural cohort of the Ohio Excels Education and Workforce Policy Fellowship.
Currently, Peter principally serves as the statewide project manager for the Ohio TechNet Defense Industrial Base STEM Consortium, a collaboration of community colleges and universities addressing advanced manufacturing and I4.0 workforce needs across Ohio and the nation's defense manufacturing ecosystem. In this capacity he coordinates partnerships and initiatives to help education and training providers align programs with emerging defense manufacturing priorities, and supports replication and expansion of Industry 4.0 trainings across institutions. Peter also facilitates collaboration between LCCC/OTN and several Manufacturing USA institutes, including NextFlex, the ARM Institute, America Makes, and CESMII.
Prior to joining LCCC, Peter worked in student services, client services, and program management positions across higher education and nonprofit organizations. He earned a bachelor's degree from Wittenberg University and a master's degree from Indiana University.
Laura Thero
Laura Thero
Associate Dean, Engineering Technology
Macomb Community College (MI)
Laura serves as Associate Dean of Engineering Technology at Macomb Community College, where she provides leadership for academic programs, workforce initiatives, industry partnerships, and strategic projects that support the region's advanced manufacturing and technology sectors. With nearly 15 years of experience in higher education, she has built a career centered on creating innovative pathways that connect students, educators, employers, and communities.
Throughout her career, Laura has worked at the intersection of education and workforce development, leading initiatives that strengthen talent pipelines and expand opportunities for learners. Her experience includes grant development and management, program administration, community outreach, employer engagement, apprenticeship coordination, curriculum development, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. She is recognized for her ability to bring diverse stakeholders together to develop collaborative solutions that respond to evolving workforce needs.
At Macomb Community College, Laura oversees initiatives that align educational programming with industry demand while advancing student success and economic mobility. Her work includes supporting faculty, partnering with employers and workforce organizations, and leading projects that enhance workforce readiness in engineering, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies. She also provides oversight for the Center for Advanced Automotive Technology and has played a key role in expanding partnerships that connect education with real-world career opportunities.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Communication and Marketing from Central Michigan University, a Career Pathways Leadership Certificate from the National Career Pathways Network, and a Master of Education in Career and Technical Education from Concordia University Portland. She is passionate about building strong educational ecosystems that support lifelong learning, workforce innovation, and student achievement.
Her leadership philosophy is grounded in collaboration, continuous improvement, and creating opportunities that empower individuals and strengthen communities.