Partnership director takes on job at local college
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 28, 2010 1:46 PM
Don Magoon
Don Magoon, executive director of Partnership for Children of Wayne County since 2002, has accepted a job at Wayne Community College.
Effective Monday, his new title will be chief of administrative support services.
Making the announcement to the board of trustees Tuesday night, Dr. Kay Albertson, WCC president, said, "We're excited that he's going to join us. He will be working very closely with the building and facilities plan."
His areas of responsibility will also include buildings and grounds, maintenance, technology, campus security and human resources.
Magoon will spend the bulk of this week tying up loose ends at the Partnership, which governs Smart Start and other children and family programs.
It's a role he leaves with mixed feelings, he said.
"I loved that job. It's been a great job, and it's like a family over there," he said. "We have gotten a lot done, not everything I would like to do, but certainly a lot.
"I think the staff has grown tremendously while I have been there. I wish them lots of luck, not that they need luck, they have lots of talent. It was fun seeing what we could do for young children."
In his resume, Magoon indicated he was interested in an executive-level position at Wayne Community that would utilize the many skills he has gained throughout his education, management career and volunteer activities.
"I wasn't looking for this job," he pointed out. "I had my eyes on it about 10 years ago. It came open and I said, I have got to take this opportunity.
"I hope it's everything I think it will be (while) all the good people at the Partnership are still there, still doing good stuff."
Meanwhile, the Partnership board has named Patty Huffman, director of program coordination/evaluation, as interim director once Magoon departs.
"There's a search committee looking for a long-term replacement," he said. "Of course, I would like to see Patty get that if it's something she wants."
Mrs. Huffman is on vacation this week and could not be reached for comment.
Prior to becoming executive director at the Partnership, Magoon was plant manager a Cooper Bussman Inc. from 1994 to 2002 and production superintendent there from 1989 to 1994.
He has also served on a number of boards, including Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, United Way and the WCC Foundation
For a time, he was volunteer athletic director for St. Mary School, where he is an active member and where his wife, Lynn, is principal.
Dr. Albertson said his extensive background in manufacturing and developing partnerships in the community were among the strong attributes that will help him do well in his new role at the college.