John began working in Ottumwa, IA as a State of Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, and for over 36 years assisted clients with becoming employable or helping them find financial support to attend college to become employable.
Over the years, he has devoted numerous hours volunteering and helping others in the community. A few of these include: helping with two local food pantries, assisting with set up/dismantle of the winter Holiday Nights and Lights display, serving on the Ottumwa cemetery’s board, serving on Indian Hills Community College Diversity committee, being active in the Kiwanis Club, active in his church and president of the local TPA group.
John retired in 2010 and in 2013 he received the Ottumwa Area Chamber of Commerce Gene Community Service Award. He and his wife, Sylvia, received the Indian Hills Community College Foundation Outstanding Retiree Award in 2018. In 2021, he was awarded the Iowa Governor’s Award for volunteering. They are dedicated supporters of IHCC basketball team, following their games and making frequent trips to Texas to visit their son, Jason and his wife, Deatta.
Janet Lea (Boyd) Lake
Janet Lea (Boyd) Lake left her public education in 1976 while a freshman at Grundy R-5 High School to enter the workforce and begin the next phase of her life as a wife and mother. Janet and her husband, Rick Lake, were married in 1980 and welcomed their first child, Sarah, in 1984. During the next four years, they welcomed three children, Samuel, Seth and Sallie, to their growing family. While taking care of her family and working at various jobs, Janet came to realize she needed to improve her situation by completing her education.

After earning her GED through North Central Missouri College, she attained a Child Development Accreditation in 1990 while driving a bus for the Green Hills Head Start program. Three years later, she started work as a full-time special education aide with the Grundy R-5 School District and enrolled at NCMC. Janet completed her Associates in General Studies degree in 1996 and her Bachelor’s degree from Graceland University through NCMC in 1998. After graduation, Janet accepted a pre-school teaching position at Pleasant View R-6.
“I have remained in my preschool position for the past 24 years,” Janet shared. “I am very blessed to do what I love.”
In 2001, Janet received a Masters degree from Northwest Missouri State University.
Through their union of 41 years, Rick and Janet are the proud parents of their four children, including Sarah, who died in 2006, and have been blessed with 11 grandchildren.
Nick Sottler
Nick Sottler is a contract employee at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Department of Defense.
Joining the agency’s college, the National Geospatial-Intelligence College (NGC) in 2002, he has served as a course developer, as an executive assistant to the Director, NGC, as an instructor/facilitator on NGC’s Faculty Development Team and, since 2015, has been an instructor/facilitator supporting NGA’s New Employee Orientation Seminar.

Nick attended Trenton Junior College in 1970-71 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (Construction Science) from Kansas State University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Averett University.
Graduating from Kansas State in December 1975, Nick entered the United States Marine Corps as a commissioned officer in January 1976. His primary military occupation was as an Infantry Officer. He was educated and trained for a secondary military occupation as a Communications Officer.
As a Marine, Nick served seven years in combat units, one year with an operational support unit, six years on recruiting duty, attended two formal schools and served over four years as a primary staff officer working force structure issues at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, VA, and at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C.
Retiring from the Marine Corps in 1996 – and prior to joining NGA in 2002 – Nick was a contractor at the Marine Corps’ Battle Staff Training Facility, working in the Combat Modeling and Simulation Branch where he led a team that supported the tactical/operational training of commanders and staffs of combat and combat support organizations.
Nick is a student/hobbyist of human behavior, the art of leadership and American history. He is an American Car enthusiast (vintages 1950s-1960s) and a devotee of pro-football and of early Rock and Roll music – Elvis Lives!
Nick and his wife, Theresa reside in the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria, VA. They have one son, Aric, who is a Foreign Service Officer, presently posted as a Vice Consul at the American embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
For Pirates Ball ticket information or reservations contact NCMC Director of Development Alicia Endicott at 660-357-6403 or by email at [email protected].
The NCMC Foundation is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works with North Central Missouri College to transform lives and empower people. The Foundation Board is made of up TJC/NCMC alumni, business and community leaders and friends of the college, all who support the objectives of the Foundation and the mission and vision of NCMC. To learn more about the NCMC Foundation and to view the list of Distinguished Alumni visit https://www.ncmissouri.edu/alumni/.