Front and Center: Chris Riddell

Chris Riddell

This month we give a tip-of-the-hat to Chris Riddell, who has obviously been putting his Master of Science in Internet Engineering degree to good use. Chris has recently been named to the new position of Chief Information and Technology Officer at Vermont's nationally-known Goddard College.

Chris credits the Grad center in helping him prepare for his new responsibilities. He noted, "The experience of continually presenting what I had learned to the faculty and my fellow students, whether through formal presentations or ongoing conversation, helped me hone my analysis and communications skills. The project management and systems development classes I took coupled with the experience of planning and executing my capstone project gave me the skills and confidence needed to pitch a major reorganization of the library and IT departments at Goddard College."

"The more I learned about the curriculum and the blended approach of weekend classes with an online component, the more the Grad Center appealed to me."

When asked what attracted Chris to the Grad Center, his response echoed those of so many of our alums. "I wanted to enroll in a program that would allow me to blend my passion for technology with my commitment to progressive education. And, of course, allow me to continue my professional and personal life while studying. I had heard about Marlboro's innovative graduate programs. The more I learned about the curriculum and the blended approach of weekend classes with an online component, the more the Grad Center appealed to me."

Chris is going to have plenty to keep him busy. He'll be guiding the college by envisioning innovative uses of information technology and resources to support Goddard's ongoing experiment in education; leading the integration of library and information technology services; developing strategic technology plans as part of the college's integrated planning process; and leading the college's business continuity and disaster recovery efforts.

While that looks like enough to fill anyone's day, Chris doesn't stop there. He also reads, goes camping and travels (mostly warm places when it's cold). And, if all that weren't enough, he co-hosts a radio show on Goddard's campus station, 91.1FM, every Thursday morning.

Chris we know you'll bring the same energy and knowledge to your new position that so impressive while you were with us. Congratulations, and best of luck.

Fall Open Houses

We're off to another great start and are excited about our programs, faculty and students. You can help a co-worker or friend be part of the Grad Center by urging someone you know to attend one (or more) of our Fall Open Houses. As a supportive alum, you are the best spokesperson the GC can have.

We're having an All-Programs Open House on Saturday, November 3rd ,1 0:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., with a light lunch included. Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about our programs
• Tour our facilities
• Talk about their career plans
• Meet with faculty, student, and alums
• Discuss their plans with admissions counselors
• Learn about financial aid

In addition, we're hosting two Virtual Open Houses: a "chat" session on Wednesday, November 7th, and a Second Life Open House on Thursday, November 15th. Both will run 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

For more information, see http://gradcenter.marlboro.edu/news/openhouse.html.

Commencement '07

Family, friends, faculty, staff, and alumni gathered for Marlboro College Graduate Center's tenth Commencement to honor members of one of our largest graduating classes in years. Thirty-four MCGC students joined the ranks as new alums. The event was held Saturday, August 18, at the Whittemore Theater on the Marlboro College campus.

Dr. Stephen Stearns

With our new graduates prepared and eager to achieve their dreams, it was fitting that someone who has spent a lifetime achieving his dreams and inspiring others to do the same should be their Commencement speaker. Combining humor and passion, Stephen Stearns, Ph.D., Shakespearean actor, professional mime, and founder of the New England Youth Theater, entertained with personal anecdotes and motivated with the wisdom of his six "laws."

For all of you dreamers and achievers, here they are:

• FIRST LAW: YOU NEVER KNOW. Life is filled with uncertainty but also wonderful surprises. Anything you can conceive and believe can be achieved
  
  
• SECOND LAW: WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. Whatever you send out, good or bad, will eventually come back to you multiplied many times
  
  
• THIRD LAW: LEAP AND THE NET WILL APPEAR. YOU…NEVER KNOW, so risk to go through all doorways of opportunity.
  
  
• FOURTH: COMMIT TO MEMORY AND PRACTICE DAILY THE SIX P'S:
  #1 Stay Positive
  #2 Have a Major Purpose and one you can pursue with
  #3 White Hot Passion
  #4 Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
  #5 Be Patient. Give yourself adequate time to succeed
  #6 Have Persistence, Believe in yourself and press on, no matter what.
  

Jill Hart

Jill Hart of Keene, NH was the Class Speaker. This honor goes each year to the student whom the faculty choose as most personifying the academic and personal ideals of the Graduate Center. Through personal anecdotes - with which our new alums could easily identify - Jill stressed the great satisfaction that comes from setting high goals and persevering to reach them.

Other highlights included the annual President's Awards being presented to Laura Batcha, Chris Riddell, and Harrell perkins. This award is given to the graduates whose Capstone Projects are rated as the most outstanding by the Graduate Center faculty.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held for the graduates and their guests.

Marlboro Grad Center Set for Next Decade

When Marlboro College Graduate Center opened its doors ten years ago, we caused a national stir. It was the first institution in the country to offer a combination of face-to-face and online technology-based graduate programs. Atlantic Monthly termed the Grad Center "the next phase of the digital revolution," and CIO Magazine noted that the Center was "just the thing to meet the sky-high demand for web-conversant executives."

After a decade of success, we're still in the forefront.

For starters, there's our new Masters of Business Administration in Managing for Sustainability. Says MBA program director Ralph Meima, "An increasing number of businesses are sustainability driven simply because their customers or their investors demand it. Those who recognize this now are the pioneers who will be the leaders of tomorrow."

And the Grad Center still believes in employing up-to-date technology. As have some other notable institutions, the Center we record our classes on the weekend and then podcasts them. "Unlike the old system of relying on notes - that can often be incomplete - students get a chance to review every word from the actual class," says academic director Kevin Bell.

In addition, we have been expanding our use of virtual reality. Joining Princeton, Stanford, MIT and other major colleges, the Grad Center has created our own "island" in Second Life, the latest multi-user virtual environment. Currently, this "island" is being developed to host discussion groups and virtual open houses and Second Life is being assessed for its further applicability in teaching and business.

As he looks toward the next ten years, Kevin adds: "We're proud that we are seen as a leader in graduate education, and we're always interested in analyzing new technologies and gauging their effect on sound teaching and the community at large."

Class Notes

Erin Weisburger updated us: I have been taking an advanced CSS class at Lodestone Digital's new NYC office. A coworker and I are the first two people to take classes at their new Manhattan facilities. We have PRIVATE class! It's awesome! And it's nice to brush up on things I learned at the GC but never had the opportunity to implement, and learning new things too! And, leaving for Peru in a month to do some camping/trekking/backpacking. Yay! Vacation!

David Mortensen, MSIE '00 added: I'm back at Marlboro Gradcenter - this time pursuing my MS in Management. I'm hoping to get promoted from Programmer to Manager of the IT team at my company and needed some skills and credentials. In the last eight years, the Internet Engineering degree has served me well and I have high hopes for the new one.
editor's note: Welcome back, we're delighted you're with us again.

Kilana Butler sent us the following: I live in Portland, OR now. I work at Mt. Hood Community College. I help with all the ESL students and out of work ESL. They come to me if they need help with their resumes and job search. We have over 50 nations that need help. Last term I had over 30 people in my computer lab. I was very busy. I picked up a word or two from each student. Tah Tah for now!

Joshua Farber filled us in: Two years after our move "down south," we've finally settled into our rural lifestyle in Monson, MA, with the construction of a new deck and a backyard transformation over the summer. Fellow MAT grad Neil Manders stops by often to see his grandchildren, wife, and son-in-law -- that's me! -- and to share news about his work with Learning Networks. My worklife as Instructional Specialist and teacher for a 7-8 public middle school continues to be challenging in all the best kinds of ways. Big changes this year I'm especially proud of include getting out of the business of booking labs and loaning out equipment so I can focus on working with teachers planning curriculum (hoorah for paraprofessionals!) and spearheading/piloting/developing a new "anti-training" model for teacher training in our district that rejects the usual "sage on the stage" mode of training teachers, and replaces it with a more nuanced model which invites teachers to do more guided exploration, and with more choice about doing so in the way that best suits their own learning style, as they are asked to learn about and adopt new technologies, and rethink technologies they already use. The new approach includes asking teachers -- especially those who do not self-identify as "early adopters" -- to take turns running "trainings", and to do so with the same project-based, exploratory approach to classroom and learning strategies that we all remember and love from our days as MAT students. Because part of the goal here is to both model and take advantage of our "diversified instruction" approach to teaching learners with a vast spectrum of learning modes and needs, we end up having to prepare multiple delivery infrastructures for each professional development activity -- for example, our recent "training" for preparing teachers to have web pages for each class through Edline involved a visual/spatial walkthrough, a "list" walkthrough, and a live presentation alternative for teachers to choose from as they learned about why and how to post pictures and grading rubrics -- but the investment is well worth it. The resulting rise in teacher excitement and ownership for new technology initiatives is astounding. You'd be amazed at how revolutionary it seems to finally adopt, for ourselves and our own work with teachers, the same pedagogical approach we've already learned is best for working with our students. You'd probably NOT be amazed at how much teachers appreciate and benefit from moving away from the one-mode, "sit still and watch the powerpoint presentation" model that still, despite what we all agree about teaching and learning, seems so prevalent at conferences and training sessions.

Career Opportunities

Java Developer
US Customs
Springfield, VA

This permanent opportunity requires a candidate to have 4+ yrs of Java Developer experience. Candidate must have the ability/background to receive a certain security clearance before being able to start (the ideal candidate would be a candidate with an active TS clearance who could start immediately). Salary range will be between $85k - $120K/year depending on experience.

US CITIZEN ONLY
Description:

• At least 4 yrs of Java Developer and Programming experience
• Ability to wait and obtain a Clearance
• Bachelor Degree in related field or equivalent experience/combined education
• Knowledge/Experience with Java Swing
• Knowledge/Experience with Client/Server programmers
• Knowledge/Experience with J2EE and other Java technologies
• Strong verbal and written communication skills that non-technical users can understand.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to handle a constantly changing priority list and multi-task on several issues
• Responsible self-starter and motivator.
• Enjoys working with people

For more information visit: www.synerfac.com

SQL/VB Programmer
Westaff is seeking a SQL/VB Programmer for one of its clients

Candidate must proficient in:
Microsoft Transaction SQL programming language; SQL Server Enterprise Manager; Visual Basic programming of interfaces to SQL Databases; Microsoft Access programming with VBA. Should have knowledge of SQL database design and administration. Should know how to program database updates in T-SQL Stored Procedures with full input/output/error logging.

This position is located in the central VT/NH border region.

To learn more about Westaff, visit www.westaff.com

Program Manager
MARKEM
Keene, NH

Project/Program Management Relevant Work Experience: 10+ to 15 Years Education Level: Bachelor's Degree
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the "cross-functional" team in making decisions that balance competing demands resulting from market, competitive, engineering or functional factors.
• Structure the overall project plan, i.e., a plan for activities within each stage to be performed in parallel, not sequential, by a cross-functional team.
• Responsible for understanding the market, competition, customers and channels for the product.
• Understand tests and modify the business plan, marketing plan, distribution channel plan and product launch plan as may be necessary. May lead sub-teams, or adjacent teams that focus on developing market channels, commercial partners or other capabilities needed to deliver the product to the market.
• Responsible for the product launch "through steady state".
• Ensure that high quality and on-time deliverables are submitted to Gate Meetings.
• Schedule and conduct the post project reviews (covering project management and sales plan/profitability performance).

The successful candidate will have: a Bachelors Degree and a minimum of ten years of multi-functional business experience, with at least five years in industrial product management, distribution or product development; excellent supervisory, communication, interpersonal and leadership skills; demonstrated project planning and management skills; experience using Microsoft Project; creative problem solving skills; the ability to drive, share and influence the vision/goals of the project and the company; commercial experience sufficient enough to understand, develop, test, modify, articulate and execute the project`s business objectives and key challenges; international travel experience and a willingness to travel up to 40%.

For consideration, please forward a copy of your resume and salary requirements to: rmassucco@markem.com or mail to: Ron Massucco, Sr. Human Resources Manager
MARKEM Corporation
150 Congress Street
Keene, New Hampshire 03431

Sr Project Manager - Advanced Services
Comcast
Manchester, NH

DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, TASKS
1. Lead Division wide projects end to end by: identifying and coordinating appropriate resources within the Division needed to support projects; determining and meeting project scope; managing and communicating project timeline, deliverables, issues, risks, ROI and success metrics. 30%
2. Ensure projects align to the strategic initiatives defined for the Business. Gather appropriate information from individuals and project team in order to make correct decisions or create detailed, viable options for the SLT. 20%
3. Complete accurate, high quality documentation of projects. Create and implement project schedules and plans, monitor cross-functional teams to complete projects on time and within budget. 20%
4. Work with functional project managers to coordinate projects and act as liaison between Division, Regions and Corporate. 10%
5. Continually enhance self understanding of the business processes. 10%
6. Provide consulting and facilitation support for functional teams both within the Division and at Corporate. 10%
7. Other duties as assigned.

Punctual, regular, and consistent attendance.
EDUCATION:
BA/BS or equivalent work experience
Professional Project Management certification preferred.

EXPERIENCE:
8 or more years experience successfully applying project management methodology.

If interested, please apply online at http://track.jobviper.com/ViewJob.asp?id=418137-3-983

Information Architect
PixelMEDIA, Inc.
Portsmouth, NH

Relevant Work Experience: 2+ to 5 Years
Education Level: Bachelor's Degree

Requirements:

• Facilitate requirements gathering sessions with the client.
• Conduct end user needs assessment and task analysis.
• Conduct business needs assessment.
• Work with client to gain an understanding of the business model, key drivers, and measurements of success.
• Develop a solution strategy that aligns with and supports business needs and end user goals.
• Perform heuristic evaluations and competitive product analysis.
• Working with fellow team members, create and revise information architecture documents including but not limited to experience briefs, site maps, user profiles, user scenarios, use cases, wireframes, content matrices, flow diagrams, and detailed functional requirements.
• Working with team members, create information structure and navigation flows for internet, extranet, and intranet sites as well as other online applications.
• Clearly and concisely, present various stages of the information architecture development to the client.
• Help conduct usability testing and other user validation exercises.
• Understand and apply the latest user experience trends and best practices for addressing design challenges.
• Help drive proposals, cost estimates, schedules, and customer expectations in support of new business.

Contact Information:
PixelMEDIA, Inc.
Address: 222 International Dr.
Suie 175
Portsmouth 03801