Reading, PA – Seventeen local mental health agencies attended the 4th Annual Mental Health Fair held in the Zogas Student Union Building on Wednesday, October 16.  The purpose of the event was to reduce the stigma of mental health issues, raise awareness of mental health treatment, and to inform the RACC community of the many local resources available.
 
Approximately 25 representatives from the agencies brought literature and talked with students, staff, and faculty from 10:00 until 2:00.  Students attending were given “passports” to “travel” among the agencies to learn of the services offered.  The passports earned door prize tickets for those attending. 
 
Phi Theta Kappa is the Honor Society for two-year colleges.  The Mental Health Fair originated with Kristy Whitekettle, RACC alum who previously served as President of Phi Theta Kappa’s local chapter.  She also served as an officer in Psi Beta, the Psychology Honor Society, and engaged Psi Beta and RACC’s Student Affairs Department to co-sponsor the event.  Although Whitekettle graduated, she is committed to continuing to hold the Mental Health Fair and returns to organize the annual event.  A post-fair survey revealed that the agencies attending were positively impressed with the diversity of agencies present and the wealth of knowledge those agency representatives shared with the RACC community. 
 
For more information about Phi Theta Kappa or the Mental Health Fair, contact Chapter President Leann Woolf or Advisors Dr. Danelle Bower and Dr. Donna Singleton.

Washington DC - On Wednesday, October 9th, President Donald Trump announced that RACC Board of Trustees Chair, Mr. Guido M. Pichini will be appointed to the Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of distinguished citizens charged with selecting and honoring the nation’s top graduating high school seniors. 

Established in 1964, the Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. A panel selects scholars who demonstrate exceptional accomplishments in academics, the arts and an outstanding commitment to public service.

Pichini will join more than a dozen other commissioners who work in education, medicine, law, social services, business and other professions. 

“I am honored to be able to provide this public service, especially because of the role the Presidential Scholars play in the development of leadership for our nation’s future,” says Pichini.

During a decades-long career of public service and educational capacities, Mr. Pichini has served as councilman in the Borough of Wyomissing Hills, and four terms as Mayor. As a member of the President’s Council at Alvernia University, and presently as a member of Alvernia University’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Pichini has served as a member of the Council of Trustees of Kutztown University (serving three terms as Chair). He served on the Board of Directors of the Kutztown University Foundation, and as President of the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees. He presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Reading Area Community College, on the Reading Area Community College Foundation Board, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the PA Commission for Community Colleges. Mr. Pichini served twelve years as a Governor of the PA State System of Higher Education, serving five terms as Chairman of the Board. In 2016, Mr. Pichini was honored by being named Chairman Emeritus of the PA State System of Higher Education Board of Governors. Guido served as a member of the executive committee and co-chair of the education committee of the PA Workforce Investment Board. Mr. Pichini also served as a commissioner on the PA Post-Secondary Education Commission.

Learn more about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Reading, PA – On Thursday, October 3, 2019, the Schmidt Training and Technology Center on the Reading Area Community College campus hosted over 125 local and regional manufacturing leaders and vendors for a SMART Automation Summit. Working with the business strategy and consulting firm Nimble Leader, the summit featured keynote speakers Craig McAtee, executive director at the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers, Nimble Leader Managing Directors, Steve Van Valin, founder and CEO of Culturology and T. Brett Wilmotte, director of cyber security for Enterprise Ventures Corporation.

“Smart Manufacturing is the 4th Industrial Revolution that uses the internet of things to create interconnected manufacturing systems that communicate, analyze and use this information to drive intelligent decisions/ actions back to physical equipment and processes.  As an educational institution, our goal is to provide learning and resources for both employers and students to improve manufacturing technology and talent readiness as we transition into a SMART Automation era,” says Bonnie Spayd the Reading Area Community College executive director of workforce & economic development.

The event also highlighted state-of-the-art technology demonstrations on electronic sensors, cloud and robot integration, networking and cloud-based manufacturing.  

“The Automation Summit serves as a great platform to exchange ideas around the impact of technology in the manufacturing markets, and explore new technologies for current and future manufacturing,” says Mike Salute, Reading Area Community College director of workforce development.

In additional to guest speakers and demonstrations, breakout workshops were held during the afternoon. Workshops ranged in topic from sales lead generation, optimization and conversion, to corporate branding and robotics automation.

For more information about programs at the Schmidt Training and Technology Center, call 610.372.4721.

Reading, PA – On September 27, 2019, Reading Area Community College President Dr. Susan D. Looney delivered RACC’s state-of-the-college address to a large crowd in the Miller Center for the Arts on the RACC campus.

The event offered an opportunity for the Berks community and members of the RACC faculty and staff to reflect on the accomplishments of the college during the past year and look ahead with confidence to the new academic year.

”The state-of-the-college address offers a moment for our college, and our community to take note of key initiatives and accomplishments achieved by the hardworking and dedicated people who are continually advocating for students, partnering with us and striving to advance our college, and our community,” says Looney.  

Dr. Looney spoke to the four hallmarks that drive her leadership: access, opportunity, excellence, and hope. Among the college’s successful initiatives during the past year, she highlighted renewed and expanded partnerships with Alvernia University, Bucknell University, Kutztown University and Shippensburg University; introduction of new career pathways, and introduction of “Industry 4.0” education and training to the community and industry partners.

The president also highlighted four key goals outlined in the newly-adopted RACC five-year strategic plan: student learning and success, proactive community partnerships, maintaining a viable and effective workplace, and being known for excellence.

Also participating in the ceremony was Cindy Seaman, RACC senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, Alex Espinal, RACC student government president, Emma Wright, a RACC Honors student and Presidential Scholarship recipient, and the national anthem was performed by Barry Wilson, RACC director of advising and academic services.

Reading, PA – On Wednesday, September 11, 2019, over 250 people gathered at DeSales University to honor the top financial executives of the Greater Lehigh Valley at the 2019 Lehigh Valley Business CFO of the Year Awards. Sixteen financial professionals were recognized as finalists, with winners in a variety of categories.

Reading Area Community College Senior Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services/College Treasurer Kenneth E. Dearstyne, Jr. was the winner of the 2019 Lehigh Valley Business CFO of the Year (large nonprofit category). 

“It is an honor not only to win this award, but to be included in this group of talented individuals. In addition to thanking my wife, Janet, for her encouragement throughout my career, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to my colleagues at RACC and our board of trustees for their support which makes this award possible. Also, thank you to the judges panel for the honor and recognition,” says Dearstyne.

Finalists in all categories were: Best Growth Manager: Timothy McNair, BRD Noise and Vibration Control, Inc.; John Snead, Polytek Development Corp. CFO of the Year-nonprofit (small): Ed Eppler, Discover Lehigh Valley; Art Troccoli PBS39. CFO of the Year-nonprofit (large): Lisa Hazler, Fellowship Community, Randy Lease, Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, Devon Reynolds, YMCA of Reading and Berks County; Bob Richards, Phoebe Ministries. CFO of the Year (private company): Aelish Brooks, Good Life Companies; Ray Burke, Weiler Abrasives Group; Kyle Lance, Transform Rehabilitation, LLC; Mark Wilkin, Andesa Services, Inc. 

Judges for the event were: Tara Fleureton, CFO, Greater Valley YMCA; Gregory Krzemien, divisional CFO and senior financial director, NCR Payment Solutions; Maureen Michael, chief administrative officer and CFO, Da Vinci Science Center; and Gregory Yocco, CFO, MCS Industries, Inc.

For more information about the CFO of the Year Awards, visit Lehigh Valley Business.