Maine Community College System

Dan Belyea started his career within the Maine Community College System on August 22, 1988 at Eastern Maine Vocational Technical Institute, now known as Eastern Maine Community College. He’s served in multiple capacities within the system and currently serves as Chief Workforce Development Officer for the Maine Community College System. Dan, congratulations from all of us on this incredible achievement of 36 years. 

Meet Robert! Another outstanding employee at Maine's community colleges.   Robert Smith is the director of special projects for our Information Technology Services (ITS) department. Robert, known for his responsiveness and collaboration, is based at Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) and assists employees across the state. On a recent mailbox migration project, Robert served as both the go-to person for technical know-how and kept the project on track. His skills and leadership allowed the system to do the project in-house, forgoing a services contract and providing significant value to the system. Robert’s can-do attitude, personal knowledge of our college environments, and subject matter expertise around email administration are allowing ITS to perform at an extremely high level.   Robert says that over the years he has enjoyed the opportunity to explore every aspect of IT and beyond. He's taken that in-depth understanding of the NMCC campus and applied it to helping people throughout the system. What does he enjoy most about the job? There is always something new, different, and changing, he says, so every day may lead to new opportunities.   Thank you, Robert! We are proud to work with you.

Meet Michelle! Another outstanding employee at Maine’s community colleges. Michelle Hawley is deputy executive director of workforce development at The Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce, the short-term workforce training division of the Maine Community College System. She is incredibly dedicated to the mission, vision, and values of the system, which is reflected in her daily interactions, her strategic decision-making and foresight, and her ongoing efforts to ensure that all students have the tools they need to succeed.   At the Alfond Center, Michelle’s work directly benefits our local business communities, including her work to design a platform providing employers with real-time data that will enable them to make strategic decisions swiftly and accurately. Michelle is constantly focused on creating more opportunities for collaboration between education and industry, benefiting students, the incumbent workforce, and business partners alike.   Beyond her official duties. Michelle has served on the board of directors of her local chamber of commerce and does volunteer work. Her commitment to community service and fostering collaborations benefits our students, our colleges, and the broader community. Her service as a community leader not only enhances the educational landscape, but also ensures that our colleges remain responsive to the evolving needs of the workforce and the community at large.   Michelle said she enjoys working at the Alfond Center because the team is moving the needle on training frontline employees across the state. “I am privileged to work with such a great team that is willing to step up and help each other however they can,” she said.    Michelle has worked within the Maine Community College System for more than 28 years. She worked at Central Maine Community College for 26 years where she was the Grant Project Manager for the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Training (TAACCCT) 3 grant awarded to the MCCS. She then served as CMCC dean of workforce development before moving into her current role. Thank you Michelle! We are proud to work with you!

Curious about short-term workforce training and why it matters? Check out this article by Paul Fain, who describes Maine's community colleges as having "one of the nation's most ambitious pushes on short-term workforce training." The data make clear we need more skilled workers in Maine, and many employed workers need additional training. Our short-term workforce training programs are growing (we've trained more than 26,000 people in recent years) but it takes everyone working together to be successful. Fain captures our work developing the training with support from the Harold Alfond Foundation, state and federal partners, and employers such as General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. That robust network has been the cornerstone of making Maine a leader in this rapidly growing area of short-term workforce training. "Government support helps. But a growing number of employers are stepping up to pay for on-ramp training at two-year colleges, sometimes after philanthropies have contributed startup funding," Fain wrote. Join us! Opportunities abound for Maine employers of all sizes through the The Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce.

We're honored to have MCCS President David Daigler present at next week's College Promise National Convening!

  Meet Dianne! Another outstanding employee at Maine’s community colleges.   Dianne Berube, the ITS Help Desk manager for the southern part of the state, works tirelessly to keep the technology trains on schedule at Southern Maine Community College, York County Community College, and for all MCCS employees working in the region. Dianne helped launch our regional support model, realigning staff and instituting a cross-training program that closed support coverage gaps and allowed ITS to support SMCC, YCCC, and system office employees in a more comprehensive manner. Her supervisor said Dianne’s experience and expertise make her an invaluable resource, and she is a mentor to others on the team. What Dianne says she loves most about working in ITS is supporting the MCCS mission of preparing people for good jobs in today’ economy. “Every day is a challenge with a very worthy end goal!” she said.   Thank you, Dianne! We are proud to work with you.

Great working with you Ronald Barba! Thank you for showcasing our work!

Big news for Maine students! Pursuing higher education in Maine just got easier thanks to Transfer ME! When you enroll at any Maine community college, you now have guaranteed admission and a streamlined transfer process to Maine's seven public universities. What does this mean for you? * No additional admissions forms * No application essays * No application fees * No recommendation letters or transcripts Oh, and the best part? We reach out to YOU to help guide you through the process. This groundbreaking initiative removes common barriers to continuing your education, saving you time, money, and stress. Ready to take the next step? We'll be in touch! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/em49Xexg

Meet Tobby! Another outstanding employee at Maine’s community colleges. Tobby Bragdon, Ph.D., the dean of academic affairs at Central Maine Community College, recently gave a presentation about transfer pathways at Dirigo, our two-day system-wide conference. A transfer student himself, Bragdon’s presentation explored the realities of community college transfer students moving to public four-year institutions, and how to best support those students on their journey. "I am passionate about transfer pathways for community college transfer students because this work is true equity work in the field of higher education,” Bragdon said. “I, myself, was a first-generation college student who accessed higher education through a community college within the MCCS and that experience transformed my life.” Bragdon is a graduate of Kennebec Valley Community College, the University of Maine at Augusta, and recently earned his doctorate at the University of Maine. Thank you, Tobby! We are proud to work with you.

Meet Jody! Another outstanding employee at Maine’s community colleges. As assistant director of labor relations, Jody MacDonald, MBA plays a crucial role at Maine’s community colleges, making sure employees at our seven colleges and the system office have the information and support they need to excel at their jobs. Jody has an incredible work ethic and is the epitome of a team player. Mostly, she says, she enjoys helping others succeed. “It could be an employee you have provided advice to and helped along the way reach their goals or assisting a supervisor work through a challenging situation that resulted in an encouraging outcome,” Jody said. “Working in HR is a chance to help improve the lives of people and provide a positive impact, not only for our employees, but also for our students.” Thank you, Jody! We’re proud to work with you.