The Milwaukee Area Technical College District Board Appointment Committee has confirmed four individuals to volunteer positions on the board.
Three new members were appointed to the board and one current member was reappointed:
Katrice M. Cotton, Ed.D, district administrator of the School District of Brown Deer, was appointed to represent district school superintendents.
Dr. Cotton was named district administrator at the Brown Deer school district in July 2024. The Milwaukee suburban district serves 1,650 students at two schools in kindergarten through 12th grade. She previously held several positions with Milwaukee Public Schools, including chief school administration officer, regional director of schools, principal and language arts/social studies teacher.
Dr. Cotton has served as a board member for several community organizations, including Employ Milwaukee, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee. She is also active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Dr. Cotton holds a doctorate in education from National Louis University, master’s degrees from Marian University and National Louis University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Charlotte Hayslett, chairperson of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee Board of Commissioners, was appointed as an additional member.
Hayslett is a human resources and management professional with more than two decades of experience in leadership, organizational development, governance reform, executive-level coaching, and culture transformation.
She was appointed to the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee Board of Commissioners in November 2024.
Hayslett most recently served as the vice president of human resources with Visit Milwaukee, the destination marketing organization for the Greater Milwaukee area. She previously held positions with Milwaukee County, Devry University, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the City of Memphis. She also is actively involved in the community with initiatives that focus on empowering underserved populations and fostering community engagement.
She holds a master’s degree in human services-organizational management and leadership from Springfield College and a bachelor's degree in business administration from LeMoyne-Owen College.
James M. ‘Buddy’ Robinson IV, president of Fabricated Metal Products and Finnco Fabricating, and founder of Newel Capital, was appointed as a director representing a district manufacturing employer with 15 or more workers.
Fabricated Metal and Finnco Fabricating are two large metal fabrications firms in southeastern Wisconsin. Robinson also founded Newel Capital in January 2019, working with companies in manufacturing, consumer products, industrial products, financial services, telecommunications and retail.
Previously, Mr. Robinson served as senior vice president – general counsel, corporate secretary and business development for Kohler Co. for six years, and as senior vice president and general counsel at Bucyrus International, Inc., from 2009 to 2011.
Mr. Robinson holds a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and French from the University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Waleed Najeeb, the medical director and CEO of the Medpoint Clinics and vice president of medical affairs of the Independent Physicians Network, was re-appointed to the board for a second term.
Dr. Najeeb has more than 40 years of experience in the medical field including more than 30 years as a physician in Wisconsin. His medical career includes serving in private practice as a pulmonary and internal medicine practitioner.
Dr. Najeeb was first appointed to the District Board in 2023. He serves as a board director representing district employers with 15 or more employees.
Their terms began July 1, 2026, and will expire June 30, 2029. The appointments were approved by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board at its May 2026 meeting.
At the MATC District Board’s annual organization meeting held Monday, July 13, the following officers were elected:
Chairperson: Erica Case
Vice Chairperson: Citlali Mendieta-Ramos
Secretary: Dr. Waleed Najeeb
Treasurer: Charlotte Hayslett
The MATC District Board has the responsibility to ensure that MATC is meeting its commitment in increasing the potential and productivity of residents in the district through the development and delivery of high-quality educational programs consistent with current and emerging educational and labor market needs.
About MATC: Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 180 academic programs — many that prepare students for jobs immediately upon completion and others that provide transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 45 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.