&dquo;It was really serendipitous,&dquo; said Mike Gavin, the college&squo;s director of Marketing and Community Relations. &dquo;Kate&squo;s experience and abilities really match up with the role of running the Polk campus.

&uot;Former director Cindy Ramsey gave her notice a few weeks ago to take another position. So the opportunity to move Kate into the job just kind of presented itself.&dquo;

Barkschat moved to Polk County 30 years ago from Pennsylvania with her husband, Neil. The couple&squo;s grown daughter, Aleshia Skye, graduated from Polk Central High School. Kate and Neil ran a stained glass business for 14 years before she went to work for WNCW.

&dquo;I really look forward to coming back to work in Polk County and connecting with the community,&dquo; said Barkschat. &dquo;I&squo;m also looking forward to building on the strong programs we already have.&dquo;

Barkschat, who lives in Green Creek, will start her new job at ICC on Tuesday, Sept. 8.