Pierce College Committee

* It is clear that the letter writer (“Pierce College,” Letters to the Valley Edition, Nov. 30) is prejudiced against [Jerry Katell], a respected and taxpaying businessman whose credentials offer much to the Pierce College facilities master plan steering committee.

Katell possesses a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from MIT and a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University, in addition to his experience as a successful business executive. Also, he was recently named a governor of Urban Land Foundation, the research arm of the Urban Land Institute.

Katell’s views, ideas and suggestions are potentially as valuable to the steering committee and to the college as those of the other 19 members of the committee.

Our concept of Pierce College’s “community” includes the business sector.

We seek collaboration and partnership with any segment of the community at large, especially those willing to help the college’s academic program beyond statements of good intentions.

LARRY KRAUS

Chairman, Nominating Committee, Master Plan Steering Committee, Pierce College