South Suburban College Board of Trustees Elects New Chair for First Time in 34 Years

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College (SSC) Board of Trustees elected Trustee Terry Wells to succeed Frank M. Zuccarelli as Chairman at an emotional Meeting of the Board of Trustees on January 20. Zuccarelli passed away on January 3 after 43 years of service to the board and while serving as Chairman each year since 1987.

“I would like to thank the board for their confidence in me,” said Wells, a Phoenix resident who was appointed to the SSC Board of Trustees in 2001. “No one can replace Chairman Zuccarelli. We now have a huge void in our lives with his passing and with our recent loss of John Daly – they represent over 75 years of combined experience and service to South Suburban College. Our goal must be to work together to ensure Frank’s programs are continued and his aspirations are fulfilled. His dream for the Allied Health & Nursing Center will become Frank Zuccarelli’s legacy.”

Chairman Wells previously served as Chair of the Board’s Legislative Committee. He also continues his work as President of the Village of Phoenix, a position he has held since 1993. He is a retired history teacher of Thornton High School and has served as past President of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association.

Following a closed session to discuss the appointment to fill the board seat, the SSC Board of Trustees reconvened the meeting to elect Prince Reed, of South Holland, as Trustee.

Reed is a Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Certified Master Facility Executive who has worked for Fortune 100 companies like Goldman Sachs and Kodak and served as Chief Operating Officer for a small startup medical practice. Currently a Senior Director of Asset & Facilities Management for DaVita Kidney Care, he has oversight for more than 3,000 clinics across the United States. As a licensed and ordained Elder in the Church of God in Christ, Inc., Reed serves at Christ Community Church in South Holland, Illinois. He is also serving his second term as an elected Trustee in the Village of South Holland. A firm believer in lifelong learning, Reed has obtained Bachelors of Arts in Leadership, an Executive MBA in Management and Leadership, a Masters of Divinity with a focus on counseling at Trinity Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Care.

Additionally, college attorney Stanley Kusper read a Resolution in Memoriam of Frank M. Zuccarelli, which the board adopted. In a moment of levity, Chairman Wells remarked about Zuccarelli’s discontent with the board’s unanimous decision to change the monthly Regular Board Meeting times from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The SSC Board of Trustees previously appointed new Trustee Vincent E. Lockett, of Country Club Hills, to the board on December 9 following the November 11 passing of longtime Vice-Chair John Daly. Trustee Vivian Payne, of Lansing, was elected to serve as the new Vice-Chair at the same meeting and will continue that role moving forward.

South Suburban College is a community college located in South Holland, Illinois, with an extension site in Oak Forest. The college serves 21 communities including parts of the Chicago Southland and Northwest Indiana. SSC provides a variety of support services to its students in addition to a wide range of affordable academic pathways. For more information about SSC’s programs, admissions and registration, please visit www.ssc.edu or contact the Admissions Office at (708) 210-5718.

Prince Reed (pictured left) was sworn in as South Suburban College Trustee
PICTURED – Prince Reed (left), of South Holland, pledges his oath of office for SSC Trustee to Martin Lareau (right), Secretary to the Board of Trustees, at the January 20 Board Meeting. Reed was appointed to the position vacated by the recent passing of longtime Chairman Frank M. Zuccarelli.