Friday, Sept. 19, 2008

 

 

MWCC FOUNDATION NAMES SCOTT B. HOWARD 2008 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

By Janice O'Connor

Scott Howard has been named the 2008 Harold E. Drake, Jr. Citizen of the Year by MWCC Foundation. (Photo by Dana Armstrong)

Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation, Inc. will honor long-serving community volunteer Scott B. Howard as the 2008 Harold E. Drake, Jr. Citizen of the Year. Howard, chief operating officer of Bemis Associates, will receive the award during the Annual Foundation Dinner in October at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner. Outstanding MWCC students who receive foundation scholarship funds also will be honored.

“Scott Howard is an ideal Citizen of the Year,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “Recipients traditionally have been people who give back to the community. He’s done that personally, and takes it to the next level. Civic engagement is at the heart of the Bemis organization.”

Leading by example, Howard has advanced the Shirley-based company’s philanthropic spirit, which benefits the lives of countless North Central Massachusetts residents. Each year, Bemis contributes approximately $40,000 to the United Way of North Central Massachusetts in corporate sponsorship and participation in the annual Day of Caring, and additional support through employee pledges, including last year’s contribution of $116,935.

Bemis also contributes more than $35,000 annually to the Town of Shirley to support school and town programs, including a $17,000 contribution direct to the schools, $9,000 for scholarship funds for high school students, and contributions to the Police and Fire Departments, Hands On Art Museum, Hazen Memorial Library and various recreational groups.

Among numerous other activities, Bemis employees volunteer a collective 60 to 65 hours monthly at Loaves & Fishes food pantry in Devens, and this November, the company will sponsor its 11th annual Thanks by Giving luncheon for 350 senior citizens from Leominster, Shirley, Lunenburg and Sterling. Bemis also provides its employee with the opportunity to volunteer a full work week each year on a project of their choice, with pay.

Howard, who has served on the United Way Board of Directors for nine years and is a past chairman, said philanthropy has been woven into the fabric of the century-old company for generations. Howard and his brother, Steve, president of Bemis, have carried on the tradition of giving.

“Our community involvement comes from the culture of our company. Our father was very active in the United Way, and he passed that on to us, that being a good corporate citizen, being good to your employees, customers and the community, was more important than profit. It was ingrained in us, and we’ve just always felt the same way.”

Howard said the company’s community service initiatives intensified as a result of MWCC’s Decade of Civic Engagement, initiated by President Asquino in 2001.

“I am honored to receive this award, but more honored to be a member of this community,” Howard said. “I think that’s what sets this region apart – the commitment of business and academic leaders to improve our communities through civic engagement. I am constantly amazed by this large group of individuals working on behalf of the community.”

Bemis, a manufacturer of adhesives, coatings and specialty films used in the apparel, automotive and woodworking industries, has been owned by the Howard family since 1930. Its products are used in a wide variety of name-brand merchandise, including the swimsuits worn by Michael Phelps and other members of the U.S. Olympic swim team in this summer’s Beijing games. Previously located in Watertown, Mass., the company relocated to Shirley in 1987. Howard joined the family business in 1985. He and his wife, Betsy, live in Littleton with their three children.

The Harold E. Drake, Jr. Citizen of the Year Award is presented in memory of Harold E. Drake, treasurer and former president of Royal Steam Heater Co. and Lynde Hardware & Supply, Inc. The award recognizes community members who exemplify Mr. Drake’s extraordinary commitment to the North Central Massachusetts region.

Tickets to the Annual Foundation Dinner are $75 per person. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Reservations are required and may be made by contacting Darlene Morrilly at (978) 630-9276 or dmorrilly@mwcc.mass.edu.

BROADCASTING & ELECTRONIC MEDIA DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES 'PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS' SPEAKER SERIES

By Janice O'Connor

Freelance video engineer Gabe Nucci shared stories about his experiences working at the Summer Olympics in Beijing with Broadcasting and Electronic Media students. (Photo by Tina Wilson)

"Luck is when opportunity meets preparation." That message, ascribed to the Roman philosopher Seneca and echoed for two millennia, resonated with 21st century Broadcasting and Electronic Media students during the first session of the department's new monthly speaker series, Professional Connections.

Gabe Nucci, recently back from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, shared insights into his work as a freelance video engineer and technical manager – the person in charge of setting up equipment for a production. A member of the department's advisory board, Nucci works for networks including NBC, ESPN, and Comcast Sportsnet. In Beijing, he oversaw a crew of 15 working for NBC at the boxing venue, and was among 1,500 professionals the network assigned to the summer Games overall.

"The series is designed to introduce the Broadcasting and Electronic Media students to working professionals in the various sectors of the industry," said department chair Joel Anderson. "Every month, somebody from a different part of the industry will come in, talk about what they do and ideally help the students gain an understanding of what the industry is like. It's important for them to hear advice and the experiences of the people they may ultimately work with or for."

Students from introductory to advanced courses are encouraged to attend the lectures, and in some courses, attendance is required, Anderson said. The lectures are open to all MWCC students who are interested in attending.

Students were treated to an overview that included tips and advice, pros and cons of freelance work, and practical steps they can take to break into and succeed in the industry. The flexibility to set your own schedule, the opportunity to travel and the ability to do work you enjoy were among the positive attributes of a freelance career, a number of students in Tina Wilson's Introduction to Broadcasting & Telecommunications course noted in written reports following the lecture.

Nucci, who began his academic studies at a community college in Florida and has 20 years experience in the broadcasting business, explained the importance of clear, concise communication, thoroughness, dedication and integrity as keys to success. He also encouraged the students to be willing to start out with entry level assignments to hone their skills, and work up the ladder to build a career and reputation.

"You can be as lucky as you're prepared to be," Nucci said. "Work hard and keep your eyes open and the opportunities will present themselves."

AREA NONPROFITS COMPLETE BUSINESS PLAN PROJECT SPONSORED BY MWCC & UNITED WAY

Attending the Community Wealth Ventures business plan presentations were, from left, Community Wealth Venture consultants Stephanie Norwell and Nicole Hanrahan, Pete Cormier of Cornerstone Performing Arts Center, Kristi Ianacone of MultiService Center, Tim Cohen-Mitchell of Young Entrepreneurs Society, United Way of North Central Massachusetts President Phil Grzewinski, Jennifer Potts and Paula Cattel of Cornerstone Performing Arts Center, MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino, Stephen Murphy of the Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Inc. and Christine McMahon of Young Entrepreneurs Society.

Five area nonprofits have discovered new ways to strengthen their organizations and generate revenue, thanks to a six-month business planning process sponsored by United Way of North Central Massachusetts and Mount Wachusett Community College.

The Community Wealth Workshop Series, facilitated by the Washington, D.C.-based Community Wealth Ventures, Inc., has helped Cornerstone Performing Arts Center, House of Peace and Education, Inc., Multi-Service Center, Inc., The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Inc., and Young Entrepreneur’s Society, Inc, with strategic and financial planning.

The Workshop Series provided monthly peer learning sessions and one-on-one consulting for the nonprofit management teams. The teams presented their business plans to a panel of business executives on Sept. 17 at the Four Points Sheraton. Raymond LaFond, Jim Garrison and Scott Howard shared insights and advice with each team.

The Cornerstone Performing Arts Center of Fitchburg developed a plan designed to help them increase their income from theatre productions. The multi-denominational organization, dedicated to inspiring, educating, and entertaining through theatre, dance, and music, will focus on ticket pricing, as well as other possible income opportunities such as concessions, special VIP performances and season subscriptions.

Gardner’s House of Peace and Education, an interfaith organization committed to counteracting violence and promoting peace, plans to expand its Pals program, a component of its HOPE for Kids program for young children.

The Multi-Service Center of Leominster, which focuses on wellness and prevention programs, plans to expand its Summer Scene and Winter Scene youth theater programs as well as initiate a program for participants those who have aged out of the Summer Scene program.

The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, which serves children and adolescents with serious emotional, behavioral, and family problems, will launch a consultation and training services in evidence-based practices.  The Worcester-based agency will provide training targeted to nonprofit mental health organizations, relevant government agencies and independent practitioners such as social workers and licensed counselors.

The Young Entrepreneurs Society, which helps young people ages 13-21 in the rural North Quabbin and greater Franklin County regions unlock their potential through entrepreneurship, job readiness, finance, and technology, will continue to develop its existing venture, the YES BizCenter/Teen Cyber Café located in Orange. The initiative offers full service copying, document finishing, faxing, notary services, office supplies, FedEx and UPS shipping, bulk mailing, and wireless internet access and other services.

In October, 2007, MWCC’s Institute for Nonprofit Development was awarded a three-year, federal Compassion Capital Fund grant. The grant, $200,000 each year, is being used to provide social service agencies in North Central Massachusetts with intensive, collaborative strategic and financial planning, including participation in this workshop series in partnership with the United Way.

United Way of North Central Massachusetts invited Community Wealth Ventures to the nonprofit community after hearing its founder, Billy Shore, speak at one of its events. Community Wealth Ventures, Inc. is a for-profit subsidiary of Share Our Strength, one of the country’s leading anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations. Share Our Strength launched CWV in 1997 to help organizations increase their social impact by building on their own internal assets, rather than relying on support from external organizations.

 More MWCC News:

• MWCC's Admissions Office will host the annual New England Association of College Admissions Counseling (NEACAC) College Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Fitness and Wellness Center. The fair is the largest college fair held in Worcester County and allows attendees to interact with representatives from more than 160 public and private colleges and universities, as well as military institutions. The fair is open to the public and is geared toward high school juniors and seniors from the college's service area as well as MWCC students interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree after completing their associate's degree. More than 1,200 people attended last year's fair. For more information, contact the MWCC Admissions Office at (978) 630-9284 or online at www.NEACAC.org.

• "Recent Painting and Collage," an exhibition by artist Heidi D'Entremonte can be viewed through Oct. 12 in the Raymond LaFontaine Fine Arts Center. An artist's reception will take place Friday, Sept. 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. D'Entremont, a founding member of the Central Massachusett's chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art, earned a BFA in painting from Montserrate College of Art in Beverly. The exhibit is sponsored by the Art Department.

• "Save Energy – Save Money” is the theme of Mount Wachusett Community College’s 2008-2009 What’s Next? Speaker Series, sponsored by the Center for Democracy and Humanity in partnership with The Trustees of Reservations and Hannaford Supermarkets. The series will kick off on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. with tours of The Trustees of Reservations’ gold-rated “green” building in Leominster – the Doyle Conservation Center. At 6:30 p.m., Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Philip Giudice will give the keynote address. Giudice, a geologist and management professional with more than 30 years experience in the energy industry, will speak on the new programs and opportunities being developed by the Commonwealth to help municipalities, businesses and individuals save money by saving energy. Reservations to the free event are required and may be made by contacting Nancy Hawkins at (978) 630-9163 or nhawkins@mwcc.mass.edu

• "Developing Your Business Plan," a presentation by Lisa Derby Oden, director of MWCC's Leominster campus and the Entrepreneurial Resource Center, will kick off this year's SB2 workshop series on Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. at the North Central Chamber of Commerce, 860 South St., Fitchburg. The Entrepreneurial Resource Center provides seminars, an Incubator Without Walls, and an award-winning regional business plan competition. The SB2: Supporting Home based and Small Businesses program is led by a group of local business professionals in combination with staff from the NCCC. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact NCCC Program Director Marissa Torres at 978-353-7600, ext. 235.

• The Little Sisters of Hoboken return to Theatre at the Mount in Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue! Those fun-lovin’, singin’ and dancin’ nuns from Nunsense are back – and this time, they’re taking over Las Vegas. The setting for the newest adventure of the world’s most popular Sisters is the Pump Room Lounge, high atop the third floor of the Mystique Motor Lodge in the soul of Sin City. And that means more fans, more feathers, more hats, more canes, more hoopla and more hijinks that ever. Theatre at the Mount is hosting the central Massachusetts Premier of Nunsensations with Gail Steele as director, Diane Cushing as Music Director and Choreography by Susie Michaud. The production runs October 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and October 12 at 2 p.m.For tickets to Nunsensations, call the Theatre at the Mount box office at (978) 632-2403 or purchase tickets online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu and remember “What happens at Theatre at the Mount, stays at Theatre at the Mount!”

• "Prelude to New Work," an exhibit of new works in clay by Professor Joyce Miller, is on display in the glass cases of the East Wing Gallery through Oct. 20.

• The enrollment center is offering Information Sessions on a number of academic programs. Upcoming sessions will take place on the following dates: A.S. Nursing: Oct. 14 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Center, Room 12; Practical Nursing Certificate: Oct. 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Devens campus; Dental Hygiene: Oct. 1 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Burbank Campus in Fitchburg; Complementary Health Care/Massage Therapy & Physical Therapist Assistant: Sept. 29 and Oct. 20 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Center, Room 12; Clinical Laboratory Science: Oct. 15 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital, Laboratory Education Area; Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing: Sept. 23 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Devens campus and Oct. 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Gardner campus. In addition, General Information Sessions and Tours take place on Mondays (except holidays) at 3 p.m. at the Enrollment Center. Prospective students interested in attending an information session are asked to call the Enrollment Center at (978) 630-9110 (TTY (978) 632-4916), or send an email to admissions@mwcc.mass.edu

• The Entrepreneurial Resource Center at MWCC is accepting applications for the fourth annual Business Plan Competition. The competition, open to residents in MWCC's 29-town service area, gives innovators an opportunity to submit business plans and vie for up to $12,000 in cash prizes and more than $8,000 of in-kind services. One finalist will be chosen in each of the following three categories: start up profit, expanding profit business and start-up and expanding nonprofits. A grand prize winner will be selected from among the three finalists. Competition guidelines and applications are available at http://erc.mwcc.edu. For more information, contact Lisa Derby Oden at (978) 840-3221 ext. 163.