March Edition of Good Morning North Central features new president of Mount Wachusett Community College

 
The next edition of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s popular Good Morning North Central breakfast series is scheduled for Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 6:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA.  The March edition is sponsored by Avidia Bank.

The Good Morning North Central series is a high-profile, fast-paced and educational breakfast program geared towards executives, senior managers, professionals and business owners.  Each of the programs has a business-oriented focus and features popular speakers to present on topics of interest to local businesses.

The featured local speaker for the March edition is new Mount Wachusett Community College President, Dr. James Vander Hooven who was approved by the Board of Higher Education on Tuesday, January 17, 2017.  Dr. Vander Hooven will be only the third president of MWCC since its founding in 1963. The program also includes a presentation by Ashley Ellefson, Director of Operations, of The Drone Racing League.

Dr. Vander Hooven is currently serving as the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Landmark College in Putney, Vermont. In this role, he serves as the College’s chief enrollment officer, manages recruitment activities, enrollment and admissions processes, and administers the Office of Financial Aid. He also oversees the Office of Transfer, Career, and Internship Services.

Prior to joining Landmark College, Dr. Vander Hooven was president of Tohono O’odham Community College, a Tribal College located on the Tohono O’odham Reservation in Arizona. In that role, he oversaw the $9 million construction of a new main campus, strengthened programs in the areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and developmental education, and represented the Tribal Colleges in annual presentations on Capitol Hill.

Ashley Ellefson will be presenting on the growing market of E-Sports, how The Drone Racing League (DRL) fits into this emerging market, and how communities can take advantage of this new wave of sports entertainment. DRL launched in January 2016 as the only global professional drone racing organization, hosting five professional races in its inaugural season. They are currently in the middle of filming for their upcoming 2017 Championship Race Series, which includes six races that culminate in a Championship and crowning the World’s Greatest Drone Pilot.

The cost is just $25 for Chamber members/$40 non-members and includes a breakfast buffet. Season Tickets are also available for purchase.  Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or visit www.northcentralmass.com.