COM graduate, Blinka, returns as director of purchasing
Posted on: January 23, 2012
College of the Mainland graduate Sonja Blinka understands the importance of
community in a community college.
Blinka, who was hired as COM’s director of purchasing on Jan. 3, grew up in
Dickinson and now lives in Santa Fe.
“(My job is to) make sure the College finds the best value for all its products and
services in a legal and ethical way,” Blinka said. “(We want to) give opportunities
back into our local economy as much as possible.”
She credits her time at the College with helping develop her career. Two of her
children have attended COM as well.
“(COM) put me on the right career path,” Blinka said.
During her time as a COM student, Blinka was inspired to succeed by English
instructor Astrid Lowery and history professor Manuel Urbina.
Blinka earned an associate degree in general studies with an emphasis in business
in 2007 before graduating Magna cum laude from University of Houston-Clear Lake
with a bachelor’s degree in public service management in 2010.
Blinka has more than 20 years of purchasing experience, mostly recently as a
technology buyer with Clear Creek Independent School District.
She began her career through a cooperative education program at Dickinson High
School in the late 1980s in which she worked for Northrop Grumman Corporation.
After graduating from Dickinson High, where she represented the school as its
gator mascot, Blinka continued to work for Northrop Grumman’s purchasing
department.
Blinka and her husband, Paul, a reliability specialist consultant, are avid gardeners
in their free time.