National Park College (NPC) has selected Hot Springs native, Bill Ritter, as vice
president for Workforce. Ritter will be introduced at the regular monthly Board of
Trustees meeting Wednesday, May 22.
Ritter has served as the interim vice president for Workforce since March 11, 2024.
With a 24-year career in education, Ritter holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s
degree from Henderson State University. His journey in education began in public schools,
where he spent many years teaching before joining NPC in 2013 as an instructor in
Adult Education. His leadership and commitment to education earned him a promotion
to director of Adult Education in 2015.
Ritter has been instrumental in expanding educational opportunities within the community.
He played a pivotal role in establishing classes at the Garland County Detention Center
and collaborated with the Hot Springs School District to develop the Gardner Center.
Under his guidance, the Adult Education program flourished, introducing several no-cost,
short-term training programs, including certifications for Nursing Assistants, Phlebotomy,
Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians, and Medication Assistants.
After eight years at the helm of Adult Education, Ritter advanced to associate vice
president for Workforce, overseeing both Adult Education and the NPC Career Academy.
His tenure saw the first enrollment increase at the NPC Career Academy since 2019,
the expansion of the high school marine repair technology program, and the introduction
of construction technology and welding programs. Ritter is a proud father of his daughter,
Isabel, and an avid runner and cyclist.
Vice President for Advancement and Government Relations and incoming president, Dr.
Wade Derden said, "I have known and worked with Bill Ritter for several years now.
He is entrepreneurial in his approach to meeting the needs of the community, and he
cares deeply about doing what is right to benefit students. I have every confidence
in him as part of the new leadership team of NPC.”
Ritter said, “I am passionate about our community’s workforce and passionate about
National Park College. I grew up in a blue-collar family with hard-working parents
who were small-business owners. I have some understanding of the difficulties our
workforce and employers face. Seeing the challenges my parents faced and the time
I have spent in education uniquely prepared me to fill the role of National Park College’s
vice president for Workforce. Serving our students and the businesses and industry
in our area are my highest priorities and I am humbled by the trust Dr. Hogan and
Dr. Derden have placed in me. I am honored to be selected for this position and truly
excited to work with the team Dr. Derden is building for his tenure as president of
National Park College.”
