BCTC Welcomes New Associate Vice President of Organizational Development and Chief Human Resources Officer

Published on Jul 22, 2025

LEXINGTON, KY – Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) is proud to announce the appointment of James “Chip” Barton as the new Associate Vice President of Organizational Development and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective July 16, 2025.

James “Chip” Barton brings over two decades of human resources leadership experience across a broad range of industries, including higher education, non-profits, healthcare, manufacturing, and state government. Most recently, Barton served as Director of HR Outsourcing and Assessments at Hanna Resource Group (HRG), where he led a team of HR professionals in delivering comprehensive HR solutions to clients across the country.

Prior to joining HRG, Barton served nearly a decade as Chief Human Resources Officer for the Council of State Governments (CSG), overseeing HR operations across multiple national offices and spearheading key initiatives in policy modernization, benefits redesign, and diversity and inclusion.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chip Barton to the BCTC leadership team,” said Dr. Greg Feeney, President of BCTC. “His extensive HR expertise and proven ability to lead organizational transformation will be invaluable as we continue building a culture where our employees feel supported, empowered, and engaged. I look forward to the innovation and insight he will bring to our college community.”

Barton's background also includes HR leadership roles at SRC of Lexington, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, and contributions to large-scale HR initiatives, including internal investigations, compliance auditing, and HR system implementations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Western Kentucky University and is certified through both the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP) and the Human Resources Certification Institute (PHR).

With a career defined by strategic thinking, inclusive leadership, and operational excellence, Barton is well-positioned to help advance BCTC’s mission of transforming the Bluegrass Region—one student, one employee, and one community at a time.