Left to right (Front row, seated) RCGC President Frederick Keating and GCCC President & CEO Les Vail. (Back row) Freeholder Heather Simmons, RCGC Board of Trustees member Benjamin Griffith, Freeholder Lyman Barnes and GCCC Board Chair Lisa Morina.

Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) faculty and staff met with Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce (GCCC) officials and members to sign into place the “Chamber of Commerce Education Partnership.” This new partnership will enable eligible GCCC members and their employees to pursue an associate degree at RCGC at a 33 percent discount on tuition and fees.

“This is another great partnership that will continue to strengthen our workforce,” remarked Freeholder Director Robert Damminger. “We have a very proactive Chamber of Commerce and this tuition discount for Chamber members is a perfect example of what happens when you have like-minded leaders working together to strengthen our economy.”

“The GCCC prides itself on being a catalyst to improve the business climate throughout the region,” said GCCC President & CEO Les Vail. “Education and educated employees are the greatest asset to any business, so this partnership allows us to provide another value-added benefit to our members.”

This opportunity will be extended to GCCC members and their full- or part-time employees, provided they pursue a program of study related to their field of employment. Students must meet all RCGC admission and application requirements to qualify. Students will be required to register for at least three credits per semester and maintain a minimum grade point average. RCGC credits easily transfer to four-year schools for those students who choose to continue on to complete their bachelor’s degree.

“On behalf of the Board I congratulate the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce and its members on this tremendous new partnership with RCGC,” said Freeholder Lyman Barnes, education liaison. “When our workforce is at the top of its field, whether it be in healthcare or marketing, our employers are benefitting and that benefit will trickle down to the employees to create prosperity in our entire region.”

The partnership was launched in response to a survey conducted in 2015-2016 by GCCC’s Education Committee. The survey found local business owners to be in need of employees with an associate degree or higher. Following this discovery, the GCCC worked closely with RCGC to create the “Chamber of Commerce Education Partnership” to fill this need within the local business community.

“The ‘Chamber of Commerce Education Partnership’ allows our College to extend a hand to the local business community through the Chamber of Commerce, to offer access to an affordable, quality education,” remarked RCGC President Frederick Keating. “RCGC’s premier partnership with Rowan University presents even further value, providing a path for those students who choose to continue on to complete their bachelor’s degree.”

RCGC Student’s Poem Published in Literary Magazine

It was a college initiative to share poems and short stories with children at a community fall festival and the chance to be published in a literary magazine that provided the motivation for Carlo Lingesso’s “A Natural Departure.”

Lingesso, a communications major at Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC), was one of 23 student writers to respond to English instructor Andrea Vinci’s request to submit original work for a community literacy event co-sponsored by RCGC, the Rowan University Writing Arts Department and Philadelphia Stories, a literary magazine. The project provided creative students the opportunity to showcase their talents while also giving back to the community. Inspired by the autumn foliage, Lingesso admitted that his winning seven-line poem took only about five minutes to write.

“I received an email about the writing contest and thought, why not?” said Lingesso, who has been penning poetry for about two years and is in the process of composing a poetry book. “I began writing poetry due to my love for music and film, but lack of talent in both areas. I love the fact that both platforms tell their own style of stories so I wanted to try my hand at it.”

For Vinci, the response she received from the students exceeded her goal — that one of RCGC’s poets was chosen to be published was a bonus. “I was excited to see how many of our students willingly participated in this event and shared their talent as young writers with members of the South Jersey community,” she said.

Lingesso is no stranger to sharing his feelings about love, depression and societal issues with others, using his website and social media to circulate his poetry. The Marlton author also applies a more unusual approach to get his work noticed, at times using an old-fashioned typewriter to craft his pieces and strategically placing poems in public places. Friends call him the “wandering poet” because of his propensity for leaving poems on display in a variety of locations, such as at drugstores, coffee shops, bookstores, gift shops and on the RCGC campus. Recently, an individual contacted Lingesso about one of his poems, which addressed self-image issues, explaining that the piece resonated and touched her.

“I write for myself in a sense of relaying my thoughts, feelings and life experiences onto paper for people to enjoy and have emotional responses to,” said Lingesso. “In my opinion, the most satisfying reward from writing is hearing somebody’s passionate and genuine response to one of my works.”

Lingesso’s winning poem, “A Natural Departure,” can be read online in Philadelphia Stories Winter 2017 issue at philadelphiastories.org/junior.

World Cafe Live Programming Director Meets with RCGC Business Students:
Mixing the Music Industry with Business Makes for Entertaining Career Choice

For Christianna LaBuz, director of programming for the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia and Wilmington, combining a love of music with business savvy has resulted in a career both entertaining and fulfilling.

Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) students in Professor Barbara Turner’s Management Information Systems classes learned how LaBuz, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry with a concentration in Business from Drexel University, tailored her education to fit a niche in a competitive job market. LaBuz talked to the students about promoting musical artists and events seven days a week for two shows a night, acknowledging how she relies on electronic business applications and technology, naming Ticketfly, Facebook, Twitter, email and Google ad words as primary examples. Responsible for overseeing the booking and promoting 800+ shows and events per year on four stages across two venues, LaBuz coordinates artist contracts, oversees musical selections, marketing and production budgets.

“The energy flowing through Rowan College at Gloucester County’s campus is contagious. I loved meeting their students and educators who have as much passion for their work as I do; we really fed off of each other in the classroom sessions. I’m happy I was able to share how important a role technology plays in our day to day operations, during our shows and private events as well as in our restaurant.” said LaBuz.

World Cafe Live, an independent music venue with locations in the University City District of Philadelphia and in downtown Wilmington, is known for showcasing live music and inspiring new talent. Performers who have played at World Cafe Live on their rise to stardom include Adele, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton and other singer-songwriters.

“Ms. LaBuz’s presentation showed our class how information systems are being operated in a hometown business most of us know,” stated James Dean, a business administration major at RCGC. “It was good for me personally to see what we are learning in class being applied commercially. What we are learning in the Management Information Systems course will benefit our careers long after the final grade for the class.”

During her presentation, LaBuz also revealed a few lessons learned where technology “can sometimes be your worst enemy.” Citing lighting issues while videotaping a show, smoke and haze machines causing particle sensor problems and some artists just not keeping pace with technology, LaBuz has learned over the years how to adapt and be flexible.

“Information technologies and systems are an integral component of every career path. Guest speakers like Ms. LaBuz, sharing their experiences with various technology applications, offer students great insights,” said Turner. “Learning how to use technology doesn’t end in the classroom but continues throughout one’s career. Job opportunities are continuously growing as well as the employment demand.”