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(& Windows) Opens Doors A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Mohawk College Mohawk Diploma Fall 2004 OPENSOPENS DOORSDOORS (&(& WINDOWS)WINDOWS) Peter Rakoczy, Mohawk Alumnus and GM of Worldwide Microsoft Consulting Services Strategy shares some ‘Words of Wisdom’ Publications Mail Agreement 40065780 ALSO INSIDE: Movin’ On Up ~ Turn Up the Heat ~ Life of the Party FEATURES O N T H E COVER 24 WORDS TO LIVE BY Peter Rakoczy’s Mohawk diploma helped him open doors to become one of the top players in Microsoft’s global empire. In this exclusive interview with In Touch he shares some words of wisdom about the secrets of his success. BY KATE SCHOOLEY LIFE OF THE PARTY 16 Mohawk grad Doug Dreher’s career has blown-up big time. DEPARTMENTS As General Manager of the Pioneer Baloon Company the Welcoming Words. 4 decision to go to Mohawk inflated his career opportunities Alumni News. 6 and left him flying high. BY K. L. SCHMIDT Upcoming Events . 8 Alumni Varsity . 9 STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS Around Campus . 10 Fundraising Update . 14 22 Mohawk President MaryLynn West-Moynes shares her Strategic Plan for keeping Mohawk College at the forefront Keeping In Touch . 36 of education in Ontario. BY KATE SCHOOLEY Looking Back . 38 MOVIN’ ON UP 28 Recent renovations to the Mohawk Student Association ALSO INSIDE aims to increase visibilty of the services the MSA offers MOHAWK IN MEMORIAM 35 to students. BY LYNN JAMES A Fighter, A Friend Mohawk College remembers TURN UP THE HEAT the many contributions that 32 Meet Mohawk Alumnus Chris Dennis, who used his Mohawk Alumnus, and local Mohawk Diploma to help build his family’s business into politician Dominic Agostino a leading-edge supplier of heat-treat services. made to his community, BY ANGUS GILLESPIE province and country. MOHAWK COLLEGE: IN TOUCH | FALL 2004 3 welcoming WORDS from the Alumni Association President... An Education ...and so much more Alumni Association President Morgan Seele s I write this message, summer conclude that their time at Mohawk your experience at Mohawk beneficial is still here but September, the was wasted. With a little honest to you? 2) Couldn’t other people Atraditional “back to school” thought, I think both they and you benefit from that same experience? season, is almost upon us and will will discover that over the long term 3) How often do you share this be by the time you receive this. For they benefited from much more than experience and recommend Mohawk recent graduates, back to school just the hard facts or specialized skills to others? season may mean less in their working that were advertised in the program As proud members of the growing world as it’s become just another brochure for that specific profession. family of 64,000 Mohawk College month of the year, while for others You made friends, some of whom graduates, I encourage you to share its significance may have changed as may have taught you as much as any your positive Mohawk experiences their children prepare for a new year class. You developed competence with others and suggest that Mohawk of study. In either case it should also and more importantly confidence to may indeed be for them, too. After be a time for you to reflect on your enter the working world in whatever all, you didn’t turn out too badly now own schooling experiences, including field. Finally, you learned a bit about did you? those at Mohawk and how they’ve yourself. Even if one of those lessons been beneficial to you. was that the intended profession of Of course there are some who’ll graduates from program X just wasn’t be quick to point out that they for you! graduated from program X at When you think of your time Mohawk and have never worked a at Mohawk specifically, I ask you day in the specific trade/profession to consider the following three Morgan Seele, President they thought program X led to and so questions: 1) How many ways was Mohawk College Alumni Association ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 2004 - 2005 SLATE OF OFFICERS Morgan Seele, Sandra Richardson, President Vice President Programs and Krysia Iwanek, Services Past President Lynn James, Director Susan McDonald, Kim McCartney, Director Vice President Finance and Lyla Miklos, Director Development Kyle Smith, MSA President Lidia Siino, Gene Stodolak, Director Vice President Marketing and Michael Wall, Director Communications Ron Worrall, Director The Alumni Association thanks these individuals for their valued contributions to Alumni activities, committees and meetings on behalf of the Alumni of Mohawk College. We appreciate your dedication. 4 MOHAWK COLLEGE: IN TOUCH | FALL 2004 from the Alumni Relations Office... PUBLISHER Life isn’t about Mohawk College Alumni Association FINDING YOURSELF EDITOR Greg Chew ...life is about DESIGN AND PRODUCTION CREATING YOURSELF Copperlen IMA - George Bernard Shaw Linda Marshall, PHOTOGRAPHY Director, Alumni and Kelly Dunham, Lisa Fitzpatrick, Corporate Events Marketing & Public Relations erhaps it’s the environment of showcasing our new look. Department Mohawk College, Bernetta change but it is overwhelming to With a database of 64,000 strong we Scime, Lidia Siino, Stephen Veerman, Mark Wiley, Kathleen Thorne Pappreciate the significant forward face an ongoing challenge – keeping in movement Mohawk has witnessed. The touch. For many years, trackers have CONTRIBUTORS challenges we faced have been met by industriously made phone calls and K. L. Schmidt, Kate Schooley, talented, enthusiastic people who have enquiries trying to find alumni who Angus Gillespie, Lynn James, the privilege to call themselves “alumni.” had moved, married, changed jobs and Alumni Association Marketing and Communications Committee, Linda As the new person responsible, I wish careers, divorced, moved again, changed Basso, Kelly Bates, Sanela Cosic, to extend a heartfelt thank you to those jobs again, married again (oh, what Kelly Dunham, Lisa Fitzpatrick, Nancy who have shared with me the work and complicated lives we lead!) in an effort to Fleming, Cheryl Flower, Jelena Lukic, responsibilities that such change brings. keep our substantial community together. Debbie Logel-Butler, Donna Luker, Kim McCreary-Stewart, Francesca Petulla, Last December, we welcomed a new We will continue with our efforts to find Morgan Seele, Julianne Simpson, president at Mohawk College, MaryLynn and keep you close, but, in accordance with Stephen Veerman, Lacey Williams, West-Moynes, who has since been new privacy legislation, we will also keep MaryLynn West-Moynes. developing, with input from all facets your information safe. Please remember of the college, a new strategic plan –Six us when you change your address, or find EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Ronald Holgerson, Executive Director, Cornerstones to Success – of which the that special job. We always want to hear Marketing and Communications;Linda Alumni Relations department is proud from you. Contact our office at 905 575- Marshall, Director, Alumni and to be a part. Like our President, I am 2258, by fax at 905 575-2443, or email Corporate Events; Lidia Siino, Vice constantly reminded of the high calibre us at [email protected]. If you President, Alumni Board of Directors of Mohawk graduates, their influence would like to reach fellow graduates, or CONTENT CO-ORDINATOR and support in the community and their brag just a little, send us a bit of history Barbara Lynn Evans generosity of time and effort, all aimed and/or pictures for our special section at building and enhancing the college’s “Keeping In Touch – Where are they In Touch Magazine is published semi- enviable reputation. We have also had now?” annually by the Alumni and Corporate Services Department of Mohawk the good fortune in this college to have Unlike other areas of the college the College.This magazine is circulated college staff, volunteers, and mentors alumni department doesn’t experience to Alumni and Friends of Mohawk of the current Association, who helped the semester system. Our level of activity College. establish a firm base on which we can is always high, and our board of directors, continue to build and grow. inducted at the June AGM, have also Ideas and opinions published or expressed in “In Touch” do not Among our numerous projects and been working through the summer. In necessarily reflect those of Mohawk priorities is service to Mohawk graduates. 2004/05 we still produce the 25-Year Club College, the Alumni Association, or the While we continue our highly successful Reunion, our bi-annual magazine and the Editor. affiliations with Bank of Montreal Alumni of Distinction Awards. To update your alumni record, please Mastercard® and Mainway Insurance, Like Shaw said, life is about creating contact: we have also negotiated an alumni cruise oneself. As part of this process, Mohawk Mohawk College which will sail to the Caribbean in April, College has had a hand in the creation Alumni Relations Office, and by popular demand, a return to a of you, as a graduate. The Alumni P.O. Box 2034 taping of the “The Red Green Show” at the Association and this Mohawk College Hamilton, ON L8N 3T2 end of October. New alumni merchandise both nurture that creation and enrich it Phone: 905-575-2258 and diploma frames will also be available, by promoting the talents and skills of our Fax: 905-575-2443 with secure shopping on-line for the alumni, as well as rewarding their efforts; Email: [email protected] convenience of our members locally and something we have endeavoured to do for around the world. Soon, we will also the last 20 years. Canada Post Publication Agreement Number 40065780 launch an enhanced website of our own, MOHAWK COLLEGE: IN TOUCH | FALL 2004 5 alumni NEWS Alumni Association Contributes to a Celebration of Nursing Education The Alumni Association is proud to be among the contributors to this magnificent stained glass panel commissioned by the Celebration Planning Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
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