David Breckinridge, Domina Coleman Alford Join PEF Board

Read the article

posted August 26, 2009

The Public Education Foundation announced that David Breckinridge, general manager of ALSTOM Power, Inc., and Domina Coleman Alford, accounting manager for Hamilton County General Government, have joined the Public Education Foundation Board of Directors.

Mr. Breckinridge has worked in ALSTOM Power’s Chattanooga operation for 15 years, assuming the role of general manager in 1999.

In addition to his work with PEF, he is chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chattanooga Manufacturers Association and serves on the Board of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Engineering Industrial Advisory Board, and the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

“I am a product of the public education system and believe its future is integral with our community and business success,” said Mr. Breckinridge. “I joined PEF to hopefully make a difference by bringing my business and math/science background to provide perspective to some of the challenges the public school system faces today. I am truly honored to be selected to the PEF Board and look forward to working with the Board on addressing and supporting our public schools.”

Ms. Alford expresses a similar commitment, saying, “As a parent of children in Hamilton County Schools and as a person who has chosen to make Chattanooga home, serving on the board of an organization with the ability to have such a far-reaching positive impact is one of the greatest ways I can think of to show my commitment to success for all."

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve and hopefully improve the quality of life of our residents through the gift of a sound education.”

Ms. Alford is accounting manager for Hamilton County General Government. She currently serves on the County’s Diversity Taskforce, the United Way Campaign Committee, the Employee Recognition Luncheon Committee and serves as vice-chair of the Information Technology Users’ Group.

She also serves on the Chattanooga State Advisory Board for the Business Department, is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs, the Association of Government Accountants, the Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, a public service sorority.

“We’re delighted to have these two new members join our Board of Directors,” said Jim Hill, chair of the PEF Board. “We know they will both make great contributions as we continue our work to help boost student achievement in Hamilton County schools.”

The Public Education Foundation is a local non-profit that works closely with Hamilton County public schools and other partners to improve student achievement.

In addition to its College Access Initiative, PEF has been a major partner in designing and implementing the elementary Benwood Initiative, Middle Schools for a New Society, High Schools for a New Society, the Leadership Initiative for school administrators and teacher leaders, and a recently announced Teacher Residency initiative designed to recruit and train highly qualified math and science teachers.

Since 2000, PEF has raised over $60 million to help Hamilton County schools.