Lake Tahoe Community College has one less vacancy in the front office.

Beginning June 29, Jeff DeFranco will be vice president of Administrative Services.

The board of trustees on April 24 voted on his hiring.

Jeff DeFranco

The title, while new to the South Lake Tahoe college, better reflects what DeFranco will do. This position replaces that of VP of Business Services. That job has been vacant for more than a year. The renaming was done by the board last fall, with a reorg spurred by LTCC President Kindred Murillo earlier this year..

Since July 2008, DeFranco has been director of communications and facilities at Springfield Public Schools in Oregon.

The district, which is near Eugene, has a staff of 1,300 staff, nearly 11,000 students, and an annual budget of nearly $100 million.

DeFranco believes his experience in difficult fiscal times will help him do his job at LTCC.

“I have been dealing with a very similar reduction environment here in Springfield. I believe community colleges have the capacity to be a real economic driver. When you are dealing with declining state revenue you must be as entrepreneurial as possible and use the power of partnerships to grow the revenue pie,” DeFranco said in a statement.

Murillo said in a statement, “Jeff brings an incredible skill set and energy to our college and community.”

DeFranco has a master’s in educational leadership with an emphasis in higher education administration from the University of Oregon. He earned his undergraduate degree from CSU Chico.

He has also been the sole proprietor of True North Consulting & Leadership for nearly 10 years.

DeFranco, who will be moving to Lake Tahoe with his wife and two children, is familiar with area. His grandfather built a cabin in Meyers in the 1960s, and he would visit every year.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report