Your Future Neighbor: Dr. Lindquist
- Mar 27
- 5 min read
In our Your Future Neighbor series, we’ve had the opportunity to talk with many of the people shaping Johnston County’s future—leaders who are thinking not just about growth, but about how that growth translates into opportunity for the community.
At Johnston Community College, that work is happening every day. Under the leadership of Dr. Vern Lindquist, the college is playing a central role in preparing students, supporting local businesses, and aligning workforce development with the region's continued expansion. From record enrollment growth to the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Training Center in Four Oaks, JCC is helping connect people to opportunity in ways that are shaping Johnston County's future.
What drew you to a career in education, and what led you to Johnston Community College?
"I taught English, Latin, Greek, and history at a community college for nearly 20 years before moving into administration. Education always struck me as one of the most powerful ways people can change their lives for the better. I saw that transformation happen again and again in my own classrooms, and I wanted to be part of creating those opportunities for as many people as possible. That belief ultimately led me to Johnston Community College."
What has surprised you most about leading JCC in its current phase of growth and transformation?
"Frankly, it’s the pace of growth. Johnston County itself is growing quickly—about 7% per year—but the college is growing at roughly twice that rate. Since 2021, our enrollment has increased by approximately 60%, making JCC the fastest-growing community college ever over a five-year period, going all the way back to the founding of Joliet Junior College more than 100 years ago. Part of that growth is due to strong county support. The Commissioners Promise scholarship allows all high school graduates to attend tuition-free for four semesters, which is a tremendous advantage for students and families. But growth is also driven by how intentionally we serve students. We’ve built a highly sophisticated outreach and engagement system that supports students from their very first interaction. When someone applies, they immediately receive a personalized checklist with their name on it that tracks every step they need to complete. Our chatbot speaks 50 languages, and every interaction—whether it’s through the chatbot, a phone call, or an in-person conversation—is logged so students never have to repeat themselves. Students today expect immediate access and personalized service. We’re not really competing with other colleges—we’re competing with Amazon. Students expect us to know who they are and what they need from the very first interaction. That level of responsiveness has made a tremendous difference in fulfilling our mission."
How would you describe the role community colleges play in the long-term success of a growing region like Johnston County?
"Community colleges are essential to long-term regional success. A clear example is the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center we opened this year. It was a collaborative effort involving the county, the I-95/I-40 Crossroads of America Alliance, and state government, with each contributing roughly 30% of the funding.
Today, it is the most impressive training center for machinists and welders in the state, and it directly helped attract major employers like Vulcan Industries. Without that facility, those projects simply would not have happened.
Some questioned whether the multi million investment was too much. But when that investment helps secure a billion-dollar contract, it pays for itself many times over. And the impact doesn’t stop there. Large employers create entire ecosystems—suppliers, service providers, logistics companies. I saw this firsthand in Michigan with the auto industry, where a thousand jobs can quickly become five or six thousand once ancillary businesses follow. That’s the kind of impact community colleges can have when they are fully aligned with economic development."
In your view, what makes community colleges uniquely positioned to serve both recent high school graduates and adult learners?
"We truly have something for everyone. Through our Small Business Development Center, which is state-funded, we host small business summits and provide services to local entrepreneurs at no cost. We recently had more than 100 business owners—most over the age of 40—attend a keynote and networking event. At the same time, we bring every eighth grader in the county to campus for two days for JoCo Works so they can all explore career options. Employers such as Novo Nordisk, Grifols, Caterpillar, and local police and fire departments set up booths so students can see real career pathways available right here in Johnston County.From middle school students to adult learners to business owners, we serve the full spectrum of our community.
How does JCC align its programs with local employers and emerging sectors?
"Our Workforce Development Center, located near the county’s major industrial corridor, provides frontline employee training for our local biopharma companies. The funding model is innovative: companies contribute additional tax revenue beyond property taxes, and that funding supports the facility, staff, and operations.
We’ve built a production line with the same equipment and control systems used by industry, allowing both employees and students to train on industry-relevant systems. Students who earn a BioWorks certificate can move into excellent paying jobs after just a few weeks of training. That direct alignment between curriculum and employer need is absolutely critical."
How has investment in systems like Element451 changed student engagement?
Our CRM systems now track every student interaction, from the first website visit all the way to graduation. Because those systems communicate with one another and feed into a centralized data warehouse, we can be proactive rather than reactive.
For example, we can instantly generate a list of welding students who have missed more than two classes and send them a personalized message encouraging them to return. We can identify students earning D’s or withdrawing and prompt advisor outreach. We can even track which messages students open and adjust communication accordingly.
These kinds of interventions were always possible, but they used to require hours of manual effort. Now they happen almost instantaneously. If students begin to drift off path, we can catch them early.
What excites you most about the future of JCC?
We have an incredibly strong foundation. Our faculty are excellent, our support staff are top-notch, and the level of support from Johnston County is extraordinary. I know that I can call any county commissioner and they will take the call immediately. That level of partnership makes me very bullish on the college’s direction. In five years, the college will likely be twice the size it was when I arrived. We’ll have new buildings, a new campus, and we’ll be serving the community in ways people wouldn’t have imagined ten years ago.
Leaders like Dr. Vern Lindquist remind us that strong communities don’t just grow—they’re shaped with intention. Through education, partnerships, and a deep commitment to serving others, his work continues to create opportunities that extend far beyond the campus.
