Mr. Needles currently serves as Vice President of Engagement and Student Experience at Montgomery County Community College. During his time with the College, Mr. Needles has provided leadership and support for multiple strategic initiatives at the College including operational launch of the Culinary Arts Institute and Virtual Campus, grant-supported efforts sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and development and launch of the College’s eSports program and Global Academy platform. Mr. Needles has been a national presenter at EDUCAUSE, Achieving the Dream, AACRAO, and AACC conferences, and has also co-published multiple writings.
Mr. Needles joined the College serving as Dean of Business and Entrepreneurial Initiatives overseeing academic and professional business programs, the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Culinary Arts Institute, Virtual Campus, and Center for Workforce Development. He has also served as Strategic Advisor to the President, and is a graduate of the League for Innovation's Executive Leadership Institute. Previously, Mr. Needles served as Dean of the Institute for Business and Information Technology at Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington. Prior to that appointment he served as Assistant Dean for Strategy and Planning at UMKC’s Bloch School of Management and also as Programs Manager for UMKC’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Mr. Needles began his career in education at the University of Miami School of Business Administration where he was Assistant to the Dean for Planning and Assessment. He also oversaw the school’s Entrepreneurship Program and was the recipient of the school’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
Professionally, Mr. Needles has served as: Content Consultant for a Walt Disney Internet Group International entertainment and educational product in Europe, Japan, Latin America, and Australia; Director of Programming for Disney TeleVentures, a Walt Disney Company interactive television and broadband content joint venture; and Senior Consultant with Andersen Consulting (now accenture). He also co-founded and oversaw business operations for an integrated entertainment experience media company.