MCC Daily Tribune
My Thanks to All Involved in the FWD Center Project
On Monday, MCC inspired the way forward from the inside out as I joined Governor Kathy Hochul, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, SUNY Interim Chancellor Dr. Deborah Stanley, Susan Dundon from The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and other project partners in announcing the grand opening of the Finger Lakes Workforce Development (FWD, pronounced “Forward”) Center on MCC's Downtown Campus.
The $11.4 million 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art FWD Center focuses on short-term and accelerated, technology-oriented training programs that place individuals in high-demand jobs within advanced manufacturing, information technology, skilled trades, apprenticeship-related instruction, and professional services.
Among the guests at the ceremony were construction project partners as well as leaders in industry and the community.
The excitement in the room was palpable and reached a crescendo after Ms. Dundon, director for Young Adult and Working Families with The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, announced a $3.2 million grant to MCC to support the startup operations and equipment at the FWD Center. We are excited to open the doors to high-quality, affordable education to more New Yorkers.
In the coming weeks, the MCC community will have an opportunity to attend an open house to see innovation and collaboration at work that will move the workforce into the future. I encourage you to participate in a walk-through. Please regularly check the MCC Daily Tribune for updates.
The FWD Center represents years of hard work by our many talented MCC staff, faculty and students. They worked with our partners in business, industry and the community in helping shape the vision for the FWD Center. They also provided oversight and expertise to the construction project, transforming vision into reality for the future of our community.
Please join me in thanking the following MCC staff, faculty and students for their dedication and important contributions:
Christy Woods – SUNY Trustee/Faculty Council of Community Colleges President/MCC Professor of Mathematics
Academic Services – Phil Oettinger
Communications and Network Services – Scott Broberg and James Clement
Counseling & Disability Services – Stephanie Lee
Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Services – Kristin Sine-Kinz, Dan Raimondo, John Troy, Carly Rooney, Jim Gertner, Joseph Snowden, Dr. Marcy Lynch, Kelly Brown Lonis, Bill Rotenberg and Christina Bakewicz
Facilities – Toni Custodio, Jim Charlton, Sandy Wolf, Mike Morf, Tim Brancato
Faculty – Anthony DeBona, Wayne Beyers, Richard Cooper, Joseph Giannoccarro, Dean Locke, Marcus Parker and Shannon Wright
Faculty Senate – Dr. Nayda Pares-Kane
MCC students – Isabella DeRubeis (Student Government Association) and Paola Serrano
Strategic Resource Development & Grant Management – Carolyn Hunt and Charles Baldwin
Support Staff Planning Council – Jenny Petersen and Diane Wilson
President’s Cabinet – Dr. Calvin Gantt (Diversity, Equity and Belonging); Darrell Jachim-Moore and Greg Hinton (Administrative Services); Dr. Kim McKinsey-Mabry (Academic Services/ Student Services); and Gretchen Wood (Institutional Advancement)
Although he officially assumes his role as vice president of economic development, workforce and career technical education in June, Dr. Robin Cole Jr. was engaged in the planning of the grand opening event for the past three weeks and flew in to attend the ceremony. His presence at the event is appreciated.
Special gratitude goes to Bob Cunningham, who came out of retirement to lend his valuable expertise and ensured this project was successfully completed.
Last, but not least: Dr. Todd Oldham, former vice president who led the project since its inception, and Blaine Grindle, retired associate vice president of Facilities who worked alongside him during those seven years, both leaving their indelible imprint on MCC.
Together, we will inspire the way forward in providing access and upward opportunities for residents across all ZIP codes in our region.
Caption:
From left: MCC Board of Trustees Chair Allen Williams; City of Rochester’s Department of Recreation and Human Services Commissioner Dr. Shirley Green; Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy; SUNY Interim Chancellor Dr. Deborah Stanley; Monroe County Executive Adam Bello; MCC President DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna; Governor Kathy Hochul; MCC Vice President of Economic Development, Workforce and Career Technical Education Dr. Robin Cole Jr.; The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Director for Young Adult and Working Families Susan Dundon; and Greater Rochester Enterprise President and CEO Matt Hurlbutt.
Attached Files:
FWDCenter-ribbon-cutting web.jpg
DeAnna Burt-Nanna
Office of the President
05/25/2022