Veteran human resources professional Jim Beck began service March 3 as director of development for Bainbridge College (BC).

“I am delighted to have Jim Beck join the Bainbridge College family,” said BC President Dr. Tom Wilkerson as he announced Beck’s appointment March 3. “He will make an outstanding director of development for the college and foundation. Great things are ahead.”

Beck, who served 12 years on various BC advisory boards and the foundation, retired in 2007 after 34 years with Propex and its predecessor companies. His last 20 years with Propex he was human resources manager. He had joined its predecessor organization in Nashville, GA, two days after college graduation.

The Waycross native graduated from Valdosta State College with a bachelor of business administration degree in management, having worked his way through college with full-time employment.

In his work with the college, Beck will focus on planning, developing and maintaining private and public sector fund-raising programs to enhance the mission and vision of the Bainbridge College community.

As he begins his work, Beck expects to visit civic groups in the BC service area as he gets to know their communities. He is active in Bainbridge Lions Club, which he served twice as president, the Bainbridge-Decatur County Arts Council and is an officer in the Decatur County School System Foundation. Familiar with his home county, Beck looks forward to getting to know the people in the surrounding counties.

“The main thing I will be doing is to come up with strategies to work closely with the college, the BC Foundation and Dr. Wilkerson as we prepare for the college’s growth to soar,” the new development director said. “We have a wonderful story to tell. My responsibility is to get involved with every community that any student comes from and share that story and get their involvement.”

“I’m real excited about getting into the other communities and getting involved,” said Beck, an avid bass fisherman and golfer, who enjoyed his year of relaxation in retirement as he considered the next phase of his professional life.

Beck and his wife, Shirley who teaches in the BC Technical Studies Division, have two grown children.