News

Alan Pike Takes A New Position at GTCC

(Released 8/30/10)
JAMESTOWN - Former banking executive Alan Pike has taken the newly- created position of executive director of institutional advancement at Guilford Technical Community College.

The position will bring together both the GTCC Foundation and the school's marketing and public information department. Pike will supervise the directors of both of those departments.

Pike said that his mission is to provide leadership in "pulling the two departments together," while exploring new concepts in ways to raise money for the college. While fund-raising will still be a key objective of the new department, Pike said that he will be responsible for developing "an aggressive multi-platform business development plan, and integrating building on our marketing and communication strengths."

It will be the department's goal to "cultivate a robust fundraising strategy including leveraging gifts and corporate and foundation support," Pike said.

"Most importantly, it will be my job to lead the development of a new concept of being able to make money, not just raise funds in the future," he said.

GTCC President Don Cameron said, "We are excited about Alan joining our team at GTCC. He has the right background and experience for this new position. He will provide the leadership we need as we develop a new strategy for marketing and for our foundation."

Pike has more than 28 years of experience in banking, and last served as an executive for Bank of North Carolina. One of his major accomplishments with that bank was to "transform 16 branch banks into a focused, cohesive team," he said.

Pike, who lives in Greensboro, has a Bachelor of Arts degree from UNCG and a master's degree in business administration from Wake Forest University. He also is a graduate of Babcock Graduate School of Management.

He and his wife, the former Laura Gilchrist, have three children, Emily, Alan and Ethan, all educated in Guilford County public schools.

Pike moved to Catawba County from the Midwest while an eighth grader and graduated from Bandys High School. He lived in St. Louis, Omaha and Indianapolis before moving to rural North Carolina.

He started his banking career in 1982 as a commercial loan officer with NCNB in Greensboro and Winston-Salem. After more than five years at NCNB, Pike became commercial banking manager for First Home Federal in Greensboro.

He later spent seven years with First Union National Bank, more than eight years as market CEO of SouthTrust Bank, and more than two years as regional president of FNBSoutheast bank.

Pike's civic endeavors include serving as a member of the Guilford Educational Alliance and on the Board of Visitors at UNCG. He likes working in an educational environment, and sees his experience in the financial world as a plus in his new position. "I'm convinced of the need for young people to get a top quality education and gain critical skills in preparation for a more demanding workplace.

"There is a tremendous need for workforce development and education will be a key to our future and economic growth," he said.

"At some point in your life, you ask the question 'what do I want to do with the second half of my career?' And I think this is it for me.

"I like having the opportunity to use the relationships I've built in the community to help meet our critical educational needs in the community, and build new partnerships with business and industry to support our economic future," Pike said.

"I like what I see at GTCC. I'm delighted to come on board at a time when GTCC is expanding to meet the real economic challenges in the Triad. In this new position I will be able to help us think more about the future - and how we can be more creative, working together in our community," Pike said.

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