New England Institute of Technology Blog

Alumni

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Construction/Design Networking Night

A networking event for students and alumni from Construction Management, Building Construction/Cabinetmaking, Architectural Building Engineering, Interior Design & Civil Engineering was held on Wednesday, October 26 from 4:30-6:00 in the design studio on the East Greenwich campus. 17 companies were in attendance, including 7 alumni who are employed by several of the companies who participated. Each company had a table where they displayed their information and spoke with students and faculty in a casual setting. Bethany Schaarschmidt from NEIT’s Admissions office also participated and provided information about the Master’s program in Construction Management. Food and prizes rounded out a great event that received a lot of positive feedback from both employers and students, with one employer stating it “exceeded expectations”. The Career Services Office would like to thank everyone who participated and helped to make this another successful event!

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Attendees were: Arden Engineering, Pawtucket, RI; Bond Brothers, Providence, RI; Colt Builders, Warwick, RI; DeCristro Designs, Narragansett, RI; D’Ambra Construction, Warwick, RI; General Dynamics/Electric Boat, North Kingstown, RI; JH Lynch & Sons, Cumberland, RI; JL Marshall & Sons, Seekonk, MA; La-Z-Boy, Attleboro, MA; Millwork One, Cranston, RI; Rhode Island Builders Association, East Providence, RI; Riverhead Building Supply, North Kingstown, RI; Ryan Iron Works, Raynham, MA; Sherwood Lumber, Westport, MA; STV/Diversified Project Management, Hartford, CT; Sugrue & Associates, Scituate, RI and Thielsch Engineering/Creative Environment Corp., Cranston, RI.

Alumni: Jeremy Rogers (’14 CMTB), Arden Engineering; Christian Naula (’11 CMTB), Colt Builders Corp.; Brett Martins (’14 ABTA), J.H. Lynch & Sons, Inc.; Ashlee Acampora (’11 IDB), La-Z-Boy; Seth Golbitz (’14 ABTA), Ryan Iron Works; Tiffany Oest (’03 ABT), Sherwood Lumber; Forrest Smith (’14 ABTB); Thielsch Engineering/Creative Environment Corp.

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NEIT to Offer New Master of Public Health Program

East Greenwich, RI – Dr. Douglas H. Sherman, Senior Vice President and Provost at New England Institute of Technology, announced that the university is now offering a Master of Public Health (MPH) program. This program utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to prepare professionals in public health science with a foundation of management and leadership skills. Graduates of the MPH program will acquire the knowledge and skills to successfully practice public health in a supervisory/management role to oversee, plan, evaluate and improve population health programs and initiatives.

The MPH program focuses on essential public health services along with critical management principles giving graduates a balanced view of public health science with emphasis on the leadership, budgeting, supervision and project management skills necessary to lead successful public health efforts.

This hybrid program includes a combination of online and on-ground weekend classes designed to meet the needs of the working professional. With an innovative use of technology and student interaction, public health professionals will be introduced to emerging topics that include informatics, emergency preparedness, quality improvement and global health through lectures, lab work, materials review, seminar-style courses and assigned work.

Students can complete this interdisciplinary MPH program in as little as two years (eight quarters), taking two classes per quarter. To meet graduation requirements, a minimum of 48 academic credits is required, including a 120-hour field experience in a public health or similar entity. Students would work with a preceptor on a pre-determined project, prepare a paper and give an on-campus presentation.  Students will participate in other online webinars and professional development opportunities thus making the MPH program a well-rounded approach to public health practice, while broadening the perspectives and views of public health theory.

Graduates of the MPH program can work in a variety of public health settings including local, state and federal public health agencies. Other employment opportunities include community health organizations, foundations, coalitions or advocacy groups working in support of chronic diseases and  environmental concerns, allied entities such as Medicaid, program evaluation agencies and health insurers, policy issues, college campuses, private non-profit agencies, and wellness and employee assistance programs.

The Master of Public Health program complements several of NEIT’s health sciences degree programs.  The university offers Associate in Science degree programs in nursing, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant, surgical technology, respiratory care, medical laboratory technology, clinical medical assistant, and paramedic technology as well as its fully online RN to BSN bachelor’s level program and online/hybrid Master of Science degree program in Occupational Therapy.

For more information on the Master of Public Health program or any of New England Tech’s more than 50 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and online/hybrid programs, contact the Admissions Office at 800-736-7744, 401-467-7744, by email at NEITAdmissions@neit.edu or visit www.neit.edu.

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Spotlight: Chris Esper, 2012 Digital Recording Arts Graduate

The Career Services Office recently asked New England Tech graduates to share their success stories with us. NEIT is always proud to hear how well our graduates are doing. This week we are featuring a 2012 graduate from the Digital Recording Arts (now called Digital Media Production) program: Chris Esper.

Chris Esper, 2012 Digital Recording Arts graduate

We asked Chris to share a little bit about himself and asked a few questions. Here’s what he had to say:

To start, I now own and operate my own production company, Stories in Motion, where I make narrative films, music videos, corporate videos, commercials, wedding videos, etc. My work has had the honor of playing in multiple film festivals across the country as well. Back in 2014, I also managed to intern at OddLot Entertainment in Los Angeles, CA, where I got to read screenplays from various writers and share my feedback with the story editors of the company.

I also recently self published my first book. It’s called The Filmmaker’s Journey, which is about giving advice on starting a career in independent filmmaking based on my own experiences, successes, hardships, struggles, etc. The goal is to help others and to show how to ultimately survive in what is a very difficult career. It was just released on Amazon on Kindle and paperback: http://amzn.to/2908y2l.

  • Did you always know you wanted to pursue a career in film? What/who inspired you to pursue such a career?

Film has been something I loved since I was a child. I think I’ve always subconsciously knew that film is what I wanted to do, but it took me a while to get there. When I was younger I wanted to be in front of the camera as an actor and/or comedian. Slowly, though, my focus started to shift behind the camera with directing. In my teens, I discovered that I could combine everything I loved into one medium, that being film. I think it was when I first saw Martin Scorsese’s classic “Raging Bull” that I got a deep understanding as to what cinema is truly about and it greatly inspired me to want to make movies.

  • Were there any experiences you had while you were in school that you believe helped you once you entered the work force?

There were lots of experiences that I feel helped me once I graduated. I think I grew as a person in how I approach my work as a creative and professional through my professors and classmates. While I was in school, I took advantage of what the New England film community had to offer from internships to working on various sets. Those experiences taught me a lot in never being afraid to aim high, always do my best and to put myself out there as much as possible. All these things and more have helped me a great deal since graduating in 2012.

  • What kind of challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

I think my biggest challenge was self doubt and rejection. No matter how well I made a project or did well in a task, I focused on the negative side and just questioned myself. Finally, I just gave all that up and told myself that I’m not the only one and that this is part of the journey. Ultimately, I think those who are looking to get into any field of choice, especially creative fields, should look at the biographies of their idols and look for their failures. That will put things in perspective. We never hear enough about what our idols went through to make it to the top, when we should. The media tends to focus on their successes, but I firmly believe that failure is what drives us to be a success. One has to receive a lot of ‘No’s before they can receive a ‘Yes’.

  • What do you consider your greatest achievement thus far?

I would say setting out to write and finish my book. As a filmmaker, shifting to another medium is quite difficult, especially one that is not a visual medium. My goal was to share my story and advice based on my own successes, hardships and failures. My goal is to give back what I learned to others who also want to get into the field of filmmaking. What started out as a simple video blog on my YouTube page, turned into a bigger project that is so far proving to be successful.

  • What do you attribute your success to?

I believe my success comes from my tenacity and determination. I think without that, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve as much as I have achieved. I also think I have a huge support system that surrounds me, especially my parents. They instilled their work ethic into me and also taught me to do what I love in life without settling for less.

  • What advice can you offer to students/graduates interested in pursuing a career in film?

It’s a long hard road, but if you don’t give up and keep creating, you will eventually reach your goals. You can have all the talent in the world and the greatest resume in the world, but it doesn’t matter. You need to network with people and put yourself out there. Nobody is looking for you, so you need to make the first move.

If you are a graduate of NEIT, or know someone who is, and would like to share a success story, please contact Caitlin Beagan at cbeagan@neit.edu.

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NEIT Grants Degrees to British Virgin Island Students

BVI Grads 2016EAST GREENWICH, RI, USA – Dr. Douglas H. Sherman, Senior Vice President and Provost at New England Institute of Technology, is pleased to announce that the following graduates received their degrees at the university’s 76th Commencement Ceremony held on May 1, 2016.  New England Tech awarded more than 1160 graduates with an Associate in Science (AS), Bachelor of Science (BS) or Master of Science (MS) Degrees.

British Virgin Island graduates and the Minister of Education are pictured from left to right.

Myron Walwyn                        Minister of Education

Shaun Mactavious                  Associate degree in Criminal Justice Technology

Akeymo Percival                   Associate degree in Information Technology

Sherebe Lettsome                  Associate degree in Automotive Technology

Chad Rymer                           Associate degree in Surgical Technology

Jakeem Williams                    Associate degree in Architectural Building Engineering Technology

Shaheda Christopher             Associate degree in Criminal Justice Technology

Karen Vanterpool                    Bachelor degree in Business Management Technology

Creighton Brewley                  Associate degree in Electronics Systems Technology

Not pictured:

Carlos Rodriguez-Turnbull     Associate degree in Architectural Building Engineering Technology

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A Salute to a NEIT Occupational Therapy Grad

n.petrucci picNatalie Petrucci, MS, OTR/L, is a three-time graduate of New England Tech! Her degrees include an  Associate in Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. Currently, she is employed at Fatima Hospital and works in its two inpatient psychiatric units. Natalie also serves as the student coordinator for Occupational Therapy (OT) students who require placement in a mental health setting.

Natalie first began her career at Fatima Hospital in May 2013 as a part time occupational therapist on the locked psychiatric intensive treatment unit (ITU).  Her role has grown considerably since then now serving as the main occupational therapist for the two adult in-patient psychiatric units. Natalie has integrated occupational therapy back into Fatima Hospital’s partial hospital program facilitating three groups on a weekly basis teaching coping skills, evaluating patients, and providing one-on-one therapy. She also serves on the behavioral emergency response team.

Natalie is the student fieldwork coordinator for psychiatric placements and coordinates schedules with NEIT, CCRI, Worcester State and Quinnipiac University to maintain a steady flow of students each year.  She passes her extensive knowledge and skills on to her students. Natalie said, “Students bring with them new ideas and new ways of learning. They are excited to work in this environment, which means they bring a lot of positive energy with them.”

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Auto Collision Repair Grad Shares Valuable Advice

Nick Mancini has been a busy man since graduating with honors from the Auto Collision Repair Technology in March 2015. One of only sixteen students in the country to be accepted into the prestigious BMW Service Technician Education Program (STEP) for Paint and Body, the NEIT “Best of Tech” recipient spent the last eight months training at BMW’s North American headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. He graduated from the STEP program on April 14, 2016, but not before receiving three different job offers with dealerships in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He visited the Access Road Campus the day after he graduated, on April 15, to share his experience with current students in the Auto Collision Repair Technology and offered some simple, yet important advice for auto collision repair students on how to prepare for a successful future, “Keep your driving record clean, come to class, and get good grades.”

It also helps to be ambitious, which Mancini exemplifies. The STEP program only accepts graduates of colleges with automotive paint and body programs, or technicians who already work at a BMW dealership. He credited Auto Collision Repair Assistant Professor Ray Mann with telling him about the program when he was only in his 3rd quarter. Mancini submitted his application a year early, was granted an interview, and made enough of an impression that BMW kept him on the top of their list for when he did officially become eligible. In the meantime, he worked for small auto collision repair shop but always knew he wanted to work at a larger facility, “Working for a good dealership is always a great opportunity because there’s a lot of money to be made when you’re working for someone who’s going to feed you work.” Mancini’s enthusiasm for the STEP program, and for his future career, was evident when asked why he decided to apply for the program, “I wanted to work for BMW and work on incredible cars every day.”

The training that students of the STEP program receive is state-of-the art and in a controlled environment, which Mancini said is not unlike the training students receive at NEIT; “It’s not the real world yet, but it prepares you for the real world.” BMW invests in the technicians they train, paying them an hourly rate throughout the program. Mancini explained that it would cost a dealership close to half a million dollars to train technicians on what they learn during their eight months in the program.

Alongside two instructors, who were graduates of the STEP program themselves, Mancini and his classmates were able to work on a number of high-end BMW’s, with the deconstruction and repair of a $125,000 hybrid vehicle being one of his personal favorites. He loved having the opportunity to work in a corporate facility that allowed him to see, and work on, the newest BMW models before the general public had access to them.

One of the things that stuck with him was BMW’s idea that “you can’t teach a good attitude, but you can teach skills”. He referenced a fellow classmate in the program who he thought embodied the motto, stating that the student came in with minimal hands-on experience, but showed up every day with a smile on his face and eager to learn. Before the program even ended, the student had a job offer lined up. “It just goes to show how far a good attitude can take you,” Mancini said.

While participating in the rigorous, five-days-a-week training program that began promptly at 8 am every morning, Mancini admitted there were times when he felt like packing up and going home. But when you have companies “that are literally fighting over you to hire you it helps put into perspective why you’re there.” And the effort paid off; he accepted a position at Wagner Motors in Worcester, MA as a Factory Trained BMW Technician, which he begins at the end of April. Mancini, though modest about his accomplishments at age 21, made sure to point out that determination is his key to success, “However hungry you are to get a job, that’s where you’re going to end up.”

For more information on BMW STEP, visit www.bmwstep.com.

(From L to R): Assistant Professor Ray Mann, Nick Mancini, Assistant Professors Manny Couto, Instructor Kevin DiGiovanni, and Steve Bova
(From L to R): Assistant Professor Ray Mann, Nick Mancini (2015 AUB grad), Assistant Professor Manny Couto, Instructor Kevin DiGiovanni, and Steve Bova

 

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Congratulations to Nick on his achievement!