Daytona State College Magazine, Fall 2016

DAYTONA STATE COLLEGE MAGAZINE ALUMNI ENTREPRENEURS, INNOVATORS MAKING A MARK, LIVING A DREAM HOMECOMING 2016

Vol. 2 • No. 2 • Fall 2016

UP CLOSE WITH L. GALE LEMERAND

2016 FOUNDATION GALA HONOREE BRIAN KELLEY OF FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE

Vol. 2 • No. 2 • Fall 2016

CONTENTS

pRESIDENT’S Perspective Dr. Thomas LoBasso

Entrepreneurial Spirit at DSC, From Academics to Sports Fall is a favorite time of year for me, next to celebrating our students’ graduation in May. Our fall semester opens new doors for students; for many, it’s a fresh start. It kicks off our academic year and a number of our sports seasons, including the inaugural men’s and women’s soccer program.

It also heralds fresh strategies and support for students to succeed.

That includes a 10-step plan to assist homeless and hungry students.

Our District Board of Trustees chair, Forough Hosseini, outlines the plan in her message on page 2.

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Hard working, inspired entrepreneurs

L. Gale Lemerand shares insights, advice

From famous to behind-the-scenes

Dr. Tom LoBasso interviews self-made winner

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Learning Scene

Students in Motion

Building a culture of service learning

Breaking into tech field,

Community Partnerships

Helping ESOL students

Resources for local business

6 Meet the Faculty EMS teacher of the year

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Spotlight on Health

Foundation Update

Fitness, aquatics centers

Gala raises over $130,000

This fall also brings key academic news: After a rigorous review process, the national Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology has accredited our Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. DSC is the only state college to join 17 universities in Florida with this prestigious affirmation.

In support of manufacturing needs, we were awarded a $3.7 million TechHire grant from the U.S. Dept. of Labor. We’re leading two sister colleges in this partnership grant for high-demand skills training for some 400 workers.

We continue to innovate our high-tech pathway programs; this fall we launched an Engineering Technology associate degree. It features specializations in digital design and additive manufacturing, along with college-credit certificates.

What’s Happening Student Center design, soccer fields underway

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Homecoming

Alumni Notes

Join us for Homecoming 2016!

Nov. 2-5

Latest news from classmates

COLLEGE MAGAZINE

PRESIDENT Dr. Thomas LoBasso DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Forough B. Hosseini, Chair Stanley Escudero, Vice-Chair Bob Davis Lloyd J. Freckleton Brad S. Giles Mary Ann Haas Betty J. Holness Garry Lubi Anne Patterson

___________________________________ DAYTONA STATE MAGAZINE STAFF Managing Editor Laurie White Editor, Senior Writer Harry Russo Art Director Lisa Deignan AS ‘92

Speaking of innovation, this issue of our magazine invites you to explore the entrepreneurial spirit, alive and well in the region, from well-known businessman L. Gale Lemerand to creative DSC alumni in a range of start-up and flourishing businesses.

Photography Aldrin Capulong AS ‘08 Nicole Guthrie AS ‘11 Erika Rech AS ‘12

There’s no limit on fields for innovation. Case in point and featured on our cover, alumnus and former Falcon pitcher Brian Kelley is blazing a path in country music as half of the wildly successful duo, Florida Georgia Line.

Proceeds from this year’s gala honoring Brian will go toward scholarships.

Coordinator Alison Ryan

Among new initiatives to support scholarships, we’re offering a Falcon MasterCard in partnership with our federal credit union. It’s easy to join, and each purchase you make with the card benefits scholarships.

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Daytona state

There’s a lot going on at DSC this fall – visit us at Homecoming Nov. 2-5 and see what’s happening at your college!

New Falcon MasterCard design

Editorial Contributors Kay Burniston Judy Haydt Cover design, Lisa Deignan Photo, Erika Rech Daytona State College 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 (386) 506-3000 • DaytonaState.edu

A Plan to Fight Hunger, Homelessness among Students A college campus is perhaps the last place you would expect to witness hunger and homelessness; however, these are very real barriers to student success at colleges and universities nationwide.

A 2014 survey of more than 4,000 undergraduates at 10 community colleges across the nation revealed that fully 20 percent struggle with food or housing insecurity and 13 percent are homeless.

Forough Hosseini DSC District Board of Trustees Chair

The Daytona State College District Board of Trustees, President Tom LoBasso, our executive staff and the entire college community deeply believe that it is our responsibility to give every student the chance to pursue a better life through education. This philosophy is rooted in our institutional culture, and we will work tirelessly to remove any barriers to student success.

Students facing hunger and homelessness are more likely to drop out. By paying special attention to their plight, DSC will help them graduate and become productive, contributing members of our community. A comprehensive effort is underway to address this very critical issue through a well-organized and thoughtful series of steps that brings together the college community, non-profit organizations and area businesses.

Our 10-step plan includes:

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Creating a one-stop student-assistance resource center where students can get answers to counseling, scholarship, transportation, books, jobs, meals and shelter questions;

Offering transportation assistance by partnering with Volusia County and Votran to provide free bus passes for homeless and dual-enrolled high school students to attend any DSC campus;

Providing short-term shelter for qualified students by working with area hotels, as well as securing beds at Hope Place for students in need of longer-term care;

Providing food for our students in need, through a) DSC’s new Food Pantry, b) Sodexo, with a limited number of vouchers for free meals, and packaging daily leftover food, c) partnering with agencies for food bags for students with food shortage;

Assisting with healthcare needs through local hospitals to provide free care for DSC homeless students;

Covering test fees by using scholarship funds and donations for homeless students for tests required for workplace certifications;

Assisting with textbooks needed for class by using Follett scholarship funds and potential future donors for a special book fund for homeless students;

Increasing student support through faculty/staff mentorships, specialized classes and workshops, as well as other services on campus by community-based social service providers;

Working with area businesses to provide full- and part-time jobs to our homeless students, in addition to DSC work-study jobs;

Making funding for our hunger and homelessness initiative a legislative priority during the 2017-2018 state budget development process. Part of the funding request will be to create a new one-stop location on the Daytona Beach Campus for the Center for Women and Men. It will take a great amount of effort and collaboration to make Daytona State the first college in America to eradicate hunger and homelessness among its students. But I am confident that our work will be successful because it is the right thing to do, and because we as a community make the greatest progress when we work together.

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STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Howard Holley, Chair Bobby Thigpen, Vice Chair Denis Shelley, Secretary Bill Lenssen, Treasurer Jeff Abbott William Chanfrau, Jr. Tom Dietz Michael J. Duranceau Zina Grau Beverly Grissom Mary Ann Haas John Hodgson Kelli Jebbia Cherie Keemar Kathleen Mathen David Sacks Gregory D. Snell Greg Sullivan Debora Thomas Maggie Thompson EMERITUS BOARD Sally Gillespie Dirinda Maddy EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Kay Burniston, Executive Director Dr. Thomas LoBasso, President Isalene Montgomery, Senior Vice President/Chief Business Officer

Supporting Future Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs are a lifeline for our community.

They provide creative services, products and life-saving devices and procedures. Their products can simplify or enhance our lives.

Entrepreneurs take risks, experiment, fail, pick themselves up and succeed. They create jobs, they hire local employees, and they help fuel our region’s economic engine. They are passionate about their product and need a foundation to sustain and grow it.

Howard Holley DSC Foundation Board Chair

We all know the Bill Gates and Microsoft story.

He created a computer program that enhanced how we do everything. The job creation has been enormous.

He has amassed billions, but what is his focus now?

Philanthropy. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funds many initiatives, including healthcare and education.

As featured in this magazine, we see our local entrepreneurs - Gale Lemerand and Brian Kelley - and their influence on the community. Gale and Brian speak to groups, share their process and talk through others’ ideas. Both are known for their generosity of time, talent and money. Gale has given to many local organizations, including our Foundation’s scholarship fund, as well as hosts an entrepreneur series. Brian helped the college raise over $130,000 for scholarships through our annual gala.

Entrepreneurs like Gale and Brian foster innovation though their creativity, their passion and their drive for success. Their vision leaves a lasting impact on the community.

As we look at our lives, what is the legacy we choose to leave? What impact do we desire? How can we make a difference in our community?

Support the Foundation Donate.DaytonaState.edu

I hope you will ‘pay it forward’ in your own way, helping our students and future entrepreneurs thrive and enrich all our lives.

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 3

STUDENTS IN MOTION

Taking the Lead

ProblemSolving Talent

Helping Herself, then Others While barriers can appear overwhelming and block progress, Gilarys GarciaMilan saw her language obstacle as an opportunity to become bilingual and help others.

After her family moved to the region two years ago from Puerto Rico, Gilarys soon realized she had to stop counting on high school friends to translate for her.

“I knew I had to move on, so I decided to start doing things for myself, like reading a lot and practicing my vocabulary My ESOL class was a key part of my success; I ended up passing the FCAT and graduating with a 4.02 GPA,” she says.

Her excellent grades caught the eye of DSC’s Quanta Honors Program, prompting an invitation letter. “It looked interesting, with small groups and thinking outside the box,” recalls the second-year associate-of-arts student.

“In the program I’ve found a lot of support from Maggie Karda, my teacher and adviser, as well as from one of my other professors, Frank Gunshanan.

“I chose Quanta because I wanted more than just a typical college experience.

And I needed it,” she explains.

“What I enjoy the most are class discussions. I think that’s where most of the learning occurs. Plus, I’ve made great friends in the program and saved hundreds of dollars, because most of our texts are e-books or PDFs that we download on iPads.”

Her experience with Quanta built Gilarys’ confidence in the writing process, inspiring her to apply for work at the college’s Writing Center as a peer tutor.

Inspires Engineering Career

“I think ESOL students sometimes look for a person who understands them and knows the difficulty of their circumstances,” she said. “I feel honored to help them in any way I can.”

After earning her AA this coming May, her first choice is Stetson University to study social work on an Honors scholarship arranged through Quanta.

With a passion to help disadvantaged children, Gilarys plans to pursue a bachelor’s, then aim for a master’s in school counseling. Her long-term goal is to get a Ph.D.

“Working for the college’s Veterans Center gave me breathing space and support, allowing me to earn some pay and in my downtime still do homework.”

“When Gilarys first came to us, she talked about being an assistant this or that,” said Prof. Karda, who heads up QuantaHonors. “But we quickly saw that she’s cut out to lead, not assist. And I have every belief she will follow that path.”

Photo credit: Erica Rech

“There’s nothing more intellectual than being able to create something and solve problems.”

So says information technology student and retired Marine Cpl. Joseph Salamone, a Deltona High graduate.

The young veteran tries to constantly apply that opinion, including while in service and now as a new employee for a national aerospace technology company.

“I’ve always been good at math and figuring things out,” says Joseph, though he credits the Marines with giving him structure and self-discipline that led to his early career success.

“I chose Quanta because I wanted more than just a typical college experience.

And I needed it.”

Joseph, who lives in New Smyrna Beach with his wife and daughter, saw three deployments overseas in his four years of duty.

Photo credit: Erica Rech

During the last deployment, in Afghanistan, he injured his back, ending his military career. “It was time to get my education, starting with an AA at Daytona State, then transferring.” But he decided to stay at DSC, saying he enjoyed the small classes and excellent engineering/IT professors: “I prefer their hands-on style and methods.” He will finish his Bachelor of Science in Information Technology this semester.

Focus, determination and DSC’s Veterans Center helped Joseph get through a rough junior year with the untimely death of his mother. While he helped out his dad, who still had Joseph’s youngest sister (of four) at home, that same year he also got married and had his first child.

“Working for the college’s Veterans Center gave me breathing space and support, allowing me to earn some pay and in my downtime still do homework,” Joseph recounts. “I got most of my studying done at the VA.”

Lisa Randel, a counselor in the Veterans Center, saw his dedication first hand.

“Joseph is very intelligent, focused and truly devoted to his family, God and country. He has been an outstanding veteran work study, always going above and beyond to help other veterans,” she says.

All that study time and focus has paid off - his employer hired him before graduation (expected Fall 2016), impressed with his skills and aptitude. With his career underway, his wife starting in DSC’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program and his plans to earn a master’s degree in a few years, Joseph sees his path on track.

Giving back, he offers a few words of wisdom to students, especially veterans: “The best way to adjust to college and civilian life is to focus on work and school; apply yourself and thoroughly prepare for classes. Dig right in, go full throttle,” he says. “There’s no point in doing anything unless you’re committed to doing it well.”

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 5

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision & Management program continues its tradition of submitting the top 20 percent of high-achieving new graduates to Sigma Beta Delta, the international honor society for business, management and administration.

DSC’s Faculty Senate awards peers and staff with annual recognition for outstanding service to students and their professions.

Thirty members of the 2016 BAS graduating class were inducted into the honors society that recognizes high academic accomplishment and scholarship, and promotes aspirations toward personal and professional improvement.

The list of names is at sigmabetadelta.org.

Classroom Innovator EMS Teacher-of-the-Year MEET THE FACULTY

Faculty Senate Awards

Ken Moorhouse, a 23-year veteran of

Daytona State’s School of Emergency Services (EMS) faculty, recently earned the Florida Paramedic Instructor of the Year honor from the Florida Association of EMS Educators.

“This is a great honor to be recognized by my peers,” Moorhouse said. “It’s an even greater honor to have had the support of my family, as well as the entire college community, throughout my years at Daytona State.”

Louie Mercer, director of the EMS school, said Moorhouse is dedicated to continuously improving the college’s EMS programs. “He is constantly coming up with new ideas to make our programs stronger, particularly in areas such as skills tracking and student performance evaluations,” he said.

About nine years ago, Moorhouse began building a database that allows him to track skills demonstrated by each EMS student and how they compare to the overall class and other classes.

Today, he can track over 120 individual skill sets. It allows him to immediately identify which students are struggling and tailor the training to help them refine their skills.

Moorhouse joined DSC as a part-time instructor in 1993 and transitioned to full time in 2003. He continues to also work full time with the Orlando Fire Department.

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STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

Mercer said Moorhouse also helped design a large scenario room where police and EMS recruits practice collaborative skills training.

The Faculty Advocacy Award went to Krissy Leonard, senior professor in the School of Student Life Skills (SLS).

Leonard was recognized for going above and beyond to support, encourage, train and assist faculty in the SLS department, most notably as the college ramped up its offering of SLS 1122, Managing Your Success, a required class for new students.

Bettye Parham, a longtime DSC computer science professor, received the Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes teaching activities characterized by exceptional dedication and professionalism.

The Les Simons Award for Student Advocacy was given to Maggie Karda, Honors-Quanta program chair. The award goes to faculty who demonstrate exceptional commitment to student learning and success. Karda was noted for devoting her time, energy and focus to students, and for a unique ability to connect individually with students through advising and counseling.

The Dr. John Guthrie Jr. Award for Research and Professional Development was awarded to Music Production Technology professor and assistant program chair Jake Niceley, who was lauded for significant contributions as a professor, composer, musician, producer, designer, engineer and lecturer.

KRISSY LEONARD

BETTYE PARHAM

MAGGIE KARDA

JAKE NICELEY

FRANK GUNSHANAN

JOHN BRADY

LEN LEMPEL

RAM NAYAR

The Community Service Outreach Award was bestowed upon English Professor Frank Gunshanan. The award recognizes faculty who demonstrate exceptional service and outreach to the local community. Gunshanan is dedicated to eliminating barriers to success among the college’s homeless student population.

MEET THE FACULTY

STUDENTS IN MOTION

A Tradition of Honors

The Faculty Senate also presented its Instructional Support and Encouragement Award to John Brady, associate director of professional development and global education. The award recognizes a staff member whose efforts demonstrate an understanding and concern for the challenges faced by faculty as they work to meet student needs.

Two recently retired faculty also received Professor Emeritus Awards based on their years of meritorious and significant contributions to the areas of teaching and service to the college, community and profession during their careers. This year’s award winners were Dr. Len Lempel, professor of history, and Dr. Ram Nayar, professor of science.

Dr. Judith Isakson, an adjunct professor in the School of Humanities and Communication, received the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, recognized for creativity in her classroom pedagogy and as exemplary in every way. (photo unavailable)

“I love my profession,” Moorhouse said.

“And by helping prepare each student for their EMS career, I hope I’m passing along a dedication to public service.”

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 7

WHAT’S happening

DSC Lands $3.7M TechHire Grant Daytona State is leading a regional

consortium that was awarded a fouryear, $3.7 million TechHire Partnership grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to provide short-term skills training in manufacturing and information technology-related fields.

Student Center Buzz With the architect chosen for the

Student Center/Workforce Transition/ Classroom building, that long-anticipated project on the Daytona Beach Campus is on a roll. Bergengren Hall will be just a

memory very soon, as preparations begin for the 81,000 square-foot facility.

Groundbreaking is expected this spring.

“We’re all very excited about the Student Center – it will become the campus hub

that merges student activities, support services and academics to make this a one-of-a-kind, first-class facility for our students and community,” says President Tom LoBasso.

Turf-moving is expected this winter as

The Florida East Coast TechHire consortium is a partnership among DSC, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Eastern Florida State College, the Volusia

Manufacturers Association, CareerSource Flagler/Volusia, and workforce development boards and employers across the region’s nine counties.

The consortium aims to provide training to as many as 400 young adults, long-term unemployed and incumbent workers seeking to advance their skills.

Each consortium member will offer training for jobs listed on the Regional

Demand Occupations List published by the Florida Dept. of Economic Opportunity, with DSC providing shortterm “TechHire Boot Camps” in advanced manufacturing, industrial machinery maintenance and IT through the college’s Center for Business & Industry.

Florida East Coast TechHire is among 39 consortiums nationwide that will divvy up over $150 million in federal TechHire Partnership grants.

WHAT’S happening

DSC TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Engineering Tech Earns Prestigious Accreditation The national Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has accredited Daytona State’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology program and its Electronics Engineering Technology concentration, through September 2022.

The accreditation extends retroactively from October 2013.

A team of ABET evaluators particularly noted the college’s culture of continuous improvement and assessment that “starts with the college president and extends down the supervisory chain to the faculty.”

“This is a true milestone for our program, the college and our BSET students and graduates,” said Dr. Ron Eaglin, chair of DSC’s School of Engineering.

“Many employers will only consider hiring job applicants who have graduated from an ABET-accredited institution.”

DSC’s BSET and BSIT programs can be completed entirely online. U.S. News and World Report ranked them among the top 10 online bachelor’s programs in the nation for four years running.

DSC begins to reshape grounds for the soccer fields on the Daytona Beach Campus.

The college’s inaugural Women’s and Men’s Soccer teams will play on home ground next fall; this year they meet opposing teams on nearby Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University soccer fields.

The teams have launched with a strong showing, winning the majority of first-season games.

DSC Women’s Soccer team

Turf-Moving 8 | DAYTONA

for Soccer Fields

STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

Photo credit: Aldrin Capulong

DSC Men’s Soccer team

Goes to Nicaragua

Photo credit: Nicole Guthrie

Some of the state’s top marine scientists

and area students came together to share research on the Indian River Lagoon and learn about strategies to restore and protect the sensitive ecosystem during the second annual ShORE Symposium hosted

by Daytona State Institute of Marine and Environmental Studies (IMES) and the Marine Discovery Center.

“Our goal with ShORE (Sharing Our Research with Everyone on the Indian River Lagoon) is to engage all stakeholders who have a vested interest in the IRL

Teaching Beyond Borders

because that’s what it’s going to take to save it,” said event organizer and IMES Chair Debra Woodall.

“It not only takes research, but also government agencies taking what they’ve learned and implementing restoration projects, as well as the community understanding what role they play in all this and what they can do to make it better,” she added.

The all-day event drew over 300 people to the Brannon Civic Center in New Smyrna Beach.

Speakers included George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and coordinator of museum operations at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and Duane DeFreese, executive director of the IRL Council and IRL National Estuary program.

For several years, School of Education

While these opportunities for students already exist in some programs, the college has convened a committee to catalog resources and expand service learning into the college-wide academic culture.

DeFreese said it will take a comprehensive effort to restore the lagoon system: “Large-scale ecosystem management is not just about science. It’s about managing the ecosystem in partnerships starting with people, local and state agencies and all the way up to the federal level.”

They are service-learning experiences where students work to bring positive change to their international hosts and in return gain valuable insights that can benefit them professionally and personally.

Through his Teaching Beyond Borders initiative that he launched in 2013 with the help of fellow professors Margie Hensler and Dr. Maryann Gromoll, May has taken student groups to rural towns in Haiti and, most recently, Nicaragua, where they roll up their sleeves to make a difference in the short period of time that they are immersed in the foreign culture.

professor Dr. Don May has led a crew of students overseas to participate in study abroad experiences. But these are not your typical jaunts to learn about the customs and culture of a foreign people.

students and U.S. citizens interested in mastering their English language skills can look to programs at Daytona State as part of a new English Language Institute (ELI).

While DSC’s School of Adult Education offers a robust English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program open to U.S. and naturalized citizens, as well as resident aliens, it is not designed for international students.

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STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

Under the umbrella of an ELI, approved this summer by DSC’s District Board of Trustees, the college’s existing ESOL program will join two new programs: a full-time Intensive English Program (IEP) to strengthen language skills for personal enrichment and academic preparation, and an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program for those who plan to study at an American college or university.

“This new initiative will offer an affordable pathway for international students to move into associate and bachelor’s degree programs,” said DSC President Tom LoBasso. “At the same time, since international students typically have high retention and completion rates, these programs will likely have a positive impact on our performance funding measures for the state.”

About half of the Florida College System’s 28 institutions offer some form of English preparation for non-native speakers.

DSC will join four other institutions offering comprehensive IEP, EAP and ESOL programs.

The DSC crew found that many of the students wanted to work in the area’s hotels and surf camps that cater largely to English-speaking tourists, so they helped the students develop language skills with poetry-writing classes. Others taught the students how to prepare for job interviews, including tips on how to dress for success.

During their research of the region, the DSC crew also learned that drowning was a concern among the coastal area’s residents, so they gave swim lessons to over 40 children.

“Being able to contribute and make a difference creates a lasting memory that will likely shape the students’ outlook and positively impact their personal and professional development,” May said.

English Language Institute Beginning fall 2017, international

Learning Scene

Learning Scene

2nd Annual ShORE Symposium

As a teaching strategy, service learning integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the educational experience and teach civic responsibility. DSC is working to implement the practice locally and expand it across academic disciplines.

This past summer, the trio of professors took a group of eight students to Salinas de Nahualapa, an indigenous community near the west coast of Nicaragua, where they collaborated with the nonprofit Fundación Aprender (Learning Foundation) during their weeklong stay.

“Service learning is based on meeting the needs that are identified by the community, not by us,” May said. “It’s about understanding the challenges that people face and developing projects that can help to mitigate those challenges.”

National Expert Lauds DSC’s Student Readiness One of the nation’s leading

authorities on high-impact practices in education says Daytona State exemplifies what it means to be a “student-ready college” and lauded its commitment to developing new strategies to remove barriers to student success.

Dr. Tia Brown McNair, vice president of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Student Success at the American Association of Colleges & Universities, gave the keynote talk during DSC’s fall planning week.

An expert on student engagement and best practices in higher education, she helps colleges design principles for

21st-century learning and long-term student success.

“I’ve been to many campuses across this country,” she told a capacity audience of faculty and staff. “You are a shining light, and I need you to continue to do that because our students need you.”

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 11

Cover Story: Alumni Entrepreneurs

ALUMNI ENTREPRENEURS, INNOVATORS

Making a Mark, Living a Dream Entrepreneurial spirit thrives in our region, supported by Daytona State and a bevy of burgeoning resources.

Volusia and Flagler counties boast some 15,000 businesses, many of them run by entrepreneurs in their own right, most with fewer than 50 employees.

While the 2007 recession took a bite out of start-ups, beginning in 2010 the number of

new businesses began to reclaim ground (Floridabiz.org). Roots for a support network – an ecosystem for entrepreneurs – found fertile ground in recent years, with advisors, data and connection events like 1 Million Cups, launched locally by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at DSC. Through the years, scores of DSC graduates have ventured out to create successful businesses. They are musicians, restaurant owners, manufacturers, marketing CEOs, salon and franchise owners, founders of IT start-ups and fitness gurus; all part of a diverse group with one trait in common – the willingness to take necessary risks to bring their dreams to fruition.

Among the 25 largest states by population, the five states with the highest startup activity were Texas, Florida, California, New York and Colorado.

(2016 Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurship Series)

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STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

The most recent Florida figures show small businesses employed 3.1 million people, or 43.2% of the private workforce. Firms with less than 100 employees have the largest share of small business employment.

The median income in Florida for self-employed at their own incorporated businesses was $41,058 in 2014.

(U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy)

“Innovation and new business makes life better for everyone in the region.”- Jim Cairns

The odds of launching a successful business and sustaining it, however, increase with connections to an entrepreneurial-rich environment, says SBDC/DSC Director George Tewari.

“To support the region’s small businesses, we are fortunate to be working with innovation-minded groups and development officers,” he believes. “The college and SBDC are part of an energizing ecosystem of resources.”

Well-known local inventor, businessman and philanthropist Jim Cairns sees the support structure growing, hoping the word spreads.

“We have pretty good resources such as Daytona State, SBDC, the UCF incubator, Start-up Quest and the West Volusia Project.

These are very helpful for start-ups. It’s like having your own HR office, a boon to entrepreneurs,” he suggests.

Focused on nurturing start-ups, Cairns, who has been granted more than 50 U.S. patents, wrote The Inventor’s Complete Handbook to offer his experience on how to begin.

“There are so many mistakes people make that are absolutely avoidable, like choosing a poor location or going into partnerships without good agreements in place,” he says.

“You need to tap into local resources such as the SBDC at Daytona State and SCORE to develop a solid business plan. Without that, it’s like starting out on a trip without a map.

If you know what you’re going to do, you can write it down. Those resources will help you do it for free.

“Innovation and new businesses make life better for everyone in the region.

They nourish the whole infrastructure and increase versatility in the local economy,” he adds.

Connie Garzon-Bernal, associate director for the UCF Business Incubator, Volusia County, stresses the critical role of partnership.

DSC 2007 alumnus and former intern Michael Zaharios III runs the Florida Virtual Entrepreneur Center, an online directory of resource agencies for businesses of all sizes.

“My entire career has focused on supporting entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship needs to be a route for folks who want to work for themselves,” he says, noting FLVEC’s website saw over 10,000 new and returning visitors in the past eight months.

He lauds new and continuing efforts such as 1 Million Cups, SBDC, SCORE, Team Volusia, CareerSource and the incubator for engaging small business owners seeking help.

“When the agencies and the entrepreneurs are in the same space – that’s the recipe that makes the magic work.”

“The best way to support local start-ups and a culture of innovation is by partnering with local universities, chambers, non-profits, businesses and community leaders who will foster education and training that will grow talent.”

On the following pages, you’ll discover a diverse group of DSC alumni entrepreneurs, beginning with country music star Brian Kelley.

Their inspired pursuits and tireless determination offer insights into forging personal paths.

Brian Kelley

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Megastar

Started with 2 Passions-Write Songs, Play Ball While Daytona State honored its “most

famous Falcon” – Brian Kelley of the rockin’ country-music duo Florida Georgia Line - at a gala with 400 guests, the former Falcon baseball pitcher started with two simple passions, to write songs and play baseball.

Expressing how persistence and hard work parlayed his talent with partner Tyler Hubbard into mega stardom in just over six years, Brian shared his life story with a group of DSC students before the Sept. 13 gala.

He advised the students from DSC’s music production program and the baseball team to dig in and learn as much as they can in college, and find their own passion to pursue.

For Brian, life offered two paths where his talents were equally clear at an early age.

While he enjoyed playing music at church, it was baseball that initially gained the strongest focus, as his family and coaches recognized his natural skills and potential.

Brian’s years at Seabreeze High school were especially influential, where an incisive team of mentors and coaches helped his talent for baseball and music to blossom. During his senior year, he was recruited by many college baseball scouts, even a major league ball team, but the family focus on education steered him in the direction of college.

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STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

Photo credit: Erica Rech

Brian Kelley and his wife Brittany on the red carpet at the 2016 DSC Gala held in Brian’s honor.

As No. 26, Brian pitched for the Falcons baseball team. During practices, he would often entertain his teammates in the dugout with songs he had written.

After graduating with his associate of arts degree in 2007, Brian transferred to Belmont University in Nashville. It was a defining period in his life, as it was here he met Tyler, who would become his close friend and professional colleague, and the love of his life, Brittney Marie Cole.

Brian played baseball at Belmont until 2009, when he and Tyler decided to pursue a music career. The duo released their first EP, Anything Like Me, in 2010 and quickly rocked the world of country music. In 2014 their single, Cruise, was the best-selling digital country song of all time in the country.

And this August, they released their third album, Dig Your Roots.

Brian keeps on fulfilling his passion with innovative songwriting and performing around the nation.

He and Tyler have won the hearts of country music fans, and brought home nearly two dozen prestigious awards, including: • six American Music awards • four Country Music Association awards • three Academy of Country Music awards • two Billboard Music awards and • four Country Music Television awards

While the baseball profession lost out, the world of country music clearly won the day.

President LoBasso in his gala speech, said, “Brian, we’re so very proud of all you’ve accomplished in so few years since we watched you play on our ball field.

“We can all share a bit in your success you’re one of our own, homegrown and cherished.”

This past May at the Speedway’s first Country Music Festival, Brian devoted his time onstage talking about his love for his hometown, his parents, family and friends, noting his alma mater and baseball Coach Tim Touma.

Reiterating at the gala how much his time at DSC and his coach’s mentoring prepared him for the hard road to stardom, Brian thanked the coach for “all your tools and life lessons,” adding, “I love Daytona Beach – I love Florida. It’s me. . . . I’m thankful for my Daytona State College family. I became a man here.”

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 15

Alumni Entrepreneurs

“I couldn’t let go of the flying because, while I’m not afraid of dying from snake bites, I’m terrified of bankruptcy, and the idea was that I couldn’t go out of business if I’m not relying on only one thing for my income.”

Carl Barden Venomous Snakes, a Labor of Love

16 | DAYTONA

STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

Photo credit: Nicole Guthrie

they are Carl Barden’s passion.

The unusual entrepreneur founded

Medtoxin Venom Laboratories in DeLand, which also houses his Reptile Discovery Center, a labor of love that has been in the making for decades.

On a typical day, the 1991 Daytona State (DBCC) associate of arts graduate and this year’s Margaret Crumley Award for Distinguished Achievement in Science recipient will handle up to 40 serpents ranging from coral snakes and cottonmouths to eastern diamondback rattlesnakes and cobras. As if part of a high-stakes ritual, Carl takes control of each serpent’s tail and head, and positions the reptile’s mouth on a glass container, causing a release of its venom.

Carl’s passion for snakes was first awakened in grade school in his native Smithtown, N.Y., when he watched pioneering herpetologist Bill Haast from the Miami Serpentarium extract a king cobra’s venom during an episode of 60 Minutes. “When I saw Haast catch and milk that cobra with his bare hands, I thought, wow! This is it!

This is what I want to do,” he said.

The venoms Carl collects are processed into anti-venom, the medication used to treat snake-bite victims, as well as in medical research and pharmaceutical applications.

Ironically, it was Haast who became Carl’s first customer. “He would buy my venom for pennies on the dollar,” he said.“We would argue over price, but still, it became an avenue to get the business started.”

18 | DAYTONA

STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

Meanwhile, Carl’s brother, an aviator, recommended that he pursue a pilot’s license as a means to have a steady income. Barden also enrolled at DBCC. After earning his AA degree, he transferred to the University of Central Florida as a junior, where he majored in liberal studies, carefully selecting classes at both institutions that would apply directly to his goal of growing his venom business.

“We’re having a great time, the work is lovely, everything we do is positive and people are being educated.”

“Daytona State was close to home, affordable and had lots of variety for me,” he said. “I did a mix of science classes, some business and a little bit of education courses, all things that I thought were going to be applicable to my goal of opening the business. It all worked out nicely.”

After college, and with his pilot’s ratings in hand, Carl began teaching people how to fly, all while collecting more snakes and selling more venom. “I did things this way for almost 20 years,” he said.

“I couldn’t let go of the flying because, while I’m not afraid of dying from snake bites, I’m terrified of bankruptcy, and the idea was that I couldn’t go out of business if I’m not relying on only one thing for my income.”

Medtoxin, however, continued to grow.

By 1999, Carl was managing over 1,000 snakes and was able to purchase the DeLand property to build his lab. In 2008, he decided to give up flying and make a go of the venom business on its own.

He built the Reptile Discovery Center off the existing lab, and today hosts daily shows where the public can learn about snakes and see him work from behind a window.

He has a staff of two full-time employees, two part-timers and an occasional college intern. Carl said the educational program – popular with school field trips, summer camps and tourists – is important because it helps dispel misconceptions about snakes and creates awareness about their importance within the ecosystem.

And while he’s had to overcome obstacles, he says he wouldn’t change a thing.

“Sometimes I pinch myself when I wake up,” he said. “I can’t believe we’ve built this business, it floats, we’re having a great time, the work is lovely, everything we do is positive and people are being educated. Consequently, we are promoting conservation, the venom research and anti-venom projects are wonderful.

It’s all good. We are so lucky.”

JOHN CALLOWAY FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT HALO TECHNOLOGIES OF WEST PALM BEACH EDUCATION:

2014 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SUPERVISION

AND MANAGEMENT

DAYTONA STATE COLLEGE

NEAR COMPLETION - BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY

CURRENTLY PURSUING - BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

Alumnus Q&A What inspired you to start your own business?

I was fascinated with 3-D printing and all the applications for it; I figured it was a great niche for me. I opened Halo Technologies about a year before I enrolled in DSC’s online BAS program, and ran the company at a minimal level while I was in college.

When I graduated, I took the business fulltime.

Tell us more about Halo Technologies.

We are a South Florida 3D printing and scanning provider, specializing

Alumni Entrepreneurs

While some may think snakes are creepy,

John Calloway

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Photo credit: Nicole Guthrie

in rapid prototyping and product optimization. Our 3D-scanning abilities range from simple novelty items to advanced avionics. From plastic, metal or glass and numerous other material options, we can bring your idea to life with minimal cost and some of the quickest turnaround times.

How did your DSC experience help you in business?

With the knowledge I had from the BAS degree, I was able to grow Halo rapidly, so much so that we have expanded our location three times since I graduated in 2014. We now have a full-time staff of 10 and are even working with NASA on a few projects.

The lessons learned in my BAS program account for much of the success Halo Technologies has seen, from business planning to team management. The program was very practical, and the capstone project we were required to do at the end of the program tied everything together.

I use knowledge gained in the BAS program daily to help me formulate the basis for operations and growth of Halo, as well as other successful endeavors we have pursued recently. This summer we opened our first storefront in West Palm Beach, where we offer both technical and retail services. This transition alone required that I rely on much of the academic knowledge I gained at DSC.

How would you rate your DSC experience?

Outstanding. DSC’s online BAS program is well-known for being among the best. Whenever the conversation of college studies comes up, DSC is often known and respected, even by individuals who attended “Ivy League” institutions.

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 19

A passionate interest can fuel

entrepreneurial success, though life choices often put it on simmer for years before it comes to a boil.

Shakara Flint Robinson loved to cook as a youngster, enrolling in Mainland High’s culinary program, earning Chef’s Club status.

Then life got in the way; she became a young mother barely making ends meet in a clerical job.

Struggling to fix her girls’ hair each morning, she became interested in cosmetology and found she liked it, still leaving her culinary dream on a shelf. With a DSC cosmetology certificate in hand, Shakara worked for an established hairdresser, then launched her own salon barely two years later.

Two-time DSC alumna Shakara Flint Robinson prepares a meal of Mediterranean chicken breast and couscous for client Julia Schluraff and her son, Justin, a DSC bachelor of applied science student who plans to be an entrepreneur himself one day. Shakara’s daughter, Azariah Flint, who intends to get a baking certificate at DSC, often assists her mother with catering projects. Here, she helps set the table and pour the wine.

“It was a good way to earn a living and build a clientele,” she says, but the time to finally pursue her first love became clear.

“I wanted a business my kids and family could share and, most importantly, one I really love to do,” she explains. All the years Shakara ran her salon, she cooked for holidays and parties, reveling in each event preparation. Realizing “life is too short” to keep her dream on hold any longer, she launched a new business in 2015 after earning her DSC culinary degree and selling her hair salon.

Angylls Catering & Co. LLC/Your Personal Chef was born. Her mom, husband and her four children, ages 20 to 9, help out with big catering events, along with friends in the community who need part-time work.

Dean Costa Magoulas, head of DSC’s culinary program, noted Shakara’s dedication and excellence in class, even while working, taking care of her family and going to school full time. “Students enjoyed working with her because she had a strong work ethic and always produced quality food in class,” says Chef Magoulas. “I am truly happy for her success, but not surprised.”

“This is what I’m meant to do now. I love my time with individual clients, planning their meals; at the same time, I really enjoy catering big events.

It’s a perfect life for me.”

Shakara Flint Robinson

Delighted with her new path, Shakara believes, “This is what I’m meant to do now. I love my time with individual clients, planning their meals; at the same time, I really enjoy catering big events. It’s a perfect life for me.”

20 | DAYTONA

STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

Photo credit: Erika Rech

Alumni Entrepreneurs

From Salon Owner to Personal Chef

of Daytona State’s Associate of Science in Interior Design Technology program, is all about moving beyond the limits of personal experience.

For her, success comes from being persistant and building relationships to expand business possibilities.

“I have a huge passion for being in business for myself and continuing to grow and learn and stay ahead of the curve; you just can’t give up,” she says. “I am a residential building designer. Each project that we work on presents new challenges. Every project is a new opportunity to learn and grow.”

Jennifer has done just that. As the founder and principal designer at Mangrove Bay Design in New Smyrna Beach, she has built a full-service residential design firm by expanding upon her skills and creativity through years of persistence and hard work, as well as relying on others for help when she needs it.

The longtime New Smyrna Beach resident was a potter and owned a gallery before starting her interior design career.

“Then I learned how to make tile, and from there I decided to go back to school to earn my interior design degree because I wanted to design whole kitchens,” she said.

“When I learned how to do that using CAD (computer-aided design), I saw that I could draw an entire house. I kept taking things to the next step.”

While attending DSC, Jennifer interned with HDP Design Group of Daytona Beach, which primarily specializes in designs for the hospitality industry. When she graduated, the firm hired her, and when the economy started coming back, she decided to strike out on her own and began Mangrove Bay Designs.

The entrepreneur credits DSC’s interior design program for increasing her understanding of the industry. “The program really broadened my perspective,” she noted.

“We learned that interior design is so much more than working in an office, so much more than picking different samples, say, of fabric or colors, so much more than decorating or what most may think an interior designer does.”

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Jennifer Kerr-Marsch, a 2012 graduate

Mangrove Bay Designs offers the gamut of interior design services, including preparing concepts and plans that feature finishes, fixtures, materials selection and millwork, to name just a few. The firm also works with licensed contractors and engineers to prepare home designs, including floor plans, lighting and electrical plans, and more, all in keeping with building codes and leveraging the latest industry trends in sustainability, accessibility, universal design and aging in place.

Her advice to anyone considering a career as an independent interior designer, or any career, for that matter: “Say yes to everything, then build a village. Build those relationships with people who can help you achieve your goals. Don’t limit yourself to any experience, or job or internship. You need to get out there and try different things, and never give up.”

Parlaying Creativity into Interior Design Business “Say yes to everything, then build a village.

Build those relationships with people who can help you achieve your goals. ”

Jennifer Kerr-Marsch

Photo credit: Aldrin Capulong

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Music Production Alum's Career Rising with a Steady Beat

When Ryan LeRoy was just eight years

old, his parents got him started with drum lessons. He’s been on a roll ever since.

Today, the Palatka native is living his dream as a musician and multimedia jack of all trades, transforming the things he loves to do most into a career that merges his creative, technical and entrepreneurial talents.

You may have seen Ryan in and around the northeast and east central Florida area, playing drums for the Paper City Hustlers.

Since 2003, the band has been regulars on the local music scene, as well as at weddings and private events, playing unique covers of artists like James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Sublime and Johnny Cash, to name just a few.

But it’s jazz that truly captured Ryan’s passion and spurred him to enroll in Daytona State’s associate degree in Music Production Technology. Since completing the program in 2011, life has been a whirlwind.

With a new band, he cut his first CD, Straight Groovin, in 2012, followed a year later by Revitalized.

Available on iTunes, they feature an eclectic variety of smooth jazzy melodies accented by breezy saxophones and light percussion.

Ryan has been a featured artist on Pandora Radio, and plays gigs and festivals throughout the region.

Ryan also is the owner of RL Multimedia, a St. Augustine-based recording and video production company he launched soon after completing his DSC program. He started the studio to work on his CDs. “Then we started working with local artists, producing other people’s stuff, and things just took off.”

RL Multimedia offers everything from in-house studio audio and video recording to live on-location productions, as well as graphic design services, real estate photography and wedding events.

“We try to do a bunch of different things,” he said. “In this day and age, you have to keep working it. You have to have multiple revenue streams. You can’t just open a studio and hope people will come.”

“This will be a top-notch recording facility, complete with a control room, a live tracking room and five isolation booths,” he said. “It will be the place in the area for musicians to come and record. But we also plan to help out where we can, doing lessons with kids and helping area churches.”

Ryan reflects on his work and on the friendships he’s made through his love for music and calls it a fairytale come true. He credits his Daytona State music production instructors for much of his success thus far.

“The professors in that program, people like Jake Niceley and Aaron Swihart, are absolutely fantastic,” he said. “They’ve won Grammys. They’ve worked with the best of the best. It doesn’t get any better than learning from guys who helped to make hits for superstars like Garth Brooks. Yet, they were so kind to me. They would give me their time, one-on-one, whenever I asked for it. I can’t begin to tell you how amazing that was for me. I’m very grateful.”

RL Multimedia will soon break ground on a new facility just a few miles south of the nation’s oldest city. The project is currently in the permitting stage.

“Today, the Palatka native is living his dream as a musician and multimedia jack of all trades.”

Ryan LeRoy 24 | DAYTONA

STATE Magazine • Fall 2015

DAYTONA STATE Magazine Magazine •• Fall Fall 2015 2016 | 25 25

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Movement is essential for Quanita May.

On any given day, you may find her gracefully stepping ballroom style through her dance studio with a newly confident novice customer, or leading a lively Zumba group gathering, maybe teaching a personal training session with a longtime client, heading a weekend fitness cruise or cultivating a new product line for her business.

Constant movement, physical and strategic, is at the core of the dynamic Daytona State (DBCC) alumna’s personal philosophy and how, since 2005, she has sustained her enthusiasm as an entrepreneur operating Quanita’s in downtown Daytona Beach.

Over the years, she has refined the Quanita’s brand, starting out exclusively as a dance instructor and diversifying what she calls her product line in time with her customer’s needs and her own professional growth and development.

“I’m all about continuous improvement,” she said. “I don’t care what it is, if I start here, it has to progress to another level, then another and another. If I get to a point where I feel like I’ve reached the height, I’ll go back to the basics and try to look at them in a completely new way based on everything

I’ve learned. It’s called having the mind of a beginner, always being intrigued and curious about what I’m doing, and always putting the customer first.”

That, she says, is the true mark of an entrepreneur. “It’s not just about taking the risk doing one thing,” she notes. “It’s about keeping it going. So often, small business owners try to make the customer fit in to what they are offering, but they’re not willing to adapt to fit the customer. To me, that is our difference.”

Born in South Africa, Quanita came to the United States 17 years ago via Canada. Last year, she became a U.S. citizen. She earned her associate of arts degree from DBCC in 2000, then transferred to the University of Central Florida for her bachelor’s degree in business. In 2006, she earned a master’s degree in marketing from Webster University.

In between and since then she has decked out a section of her studio walls with dozens of professional certifications validating her expertise in such areas as dance, fitness and holistic lifestyle coaching.

Each is a part that makes up the big picture comprising the business of Quanita’s, born from a keen sense of understanding what her customers need and an entrepreneurial sensibility she says was first influenced by her DBCC professors back when she was pursuing her AA degree.

“I learned that every word my instructors said to me is important because they see the big picture and I’m only getting a little bit at a time, so I shouldn’t discard it,” she noted. “Everything builds upon what was said before.”

She added, “Since then, all of the really good coaching I’ve had in business, in dance, in fitness and nutrition, they never speak frivolously. There is a reason they’re telling me what they are when they are, and I should pay attention to it so that I can eventually come to realize the bigger picture.”

Quanita takes a similar approach working with her customers, both those who have been loyal clients for years and new recruits who seek her out based on her extraordinary reputation. It’s a business model that has generated a consistent income and a unique, stable customer base in a highly competitive local fitness lifestyle market.

“Everyone who comes here has a totally different experience,” she said. “It may sound cliché, but being a small business person truly is all about building relationships and going the extra mile. You always get more than what you expect when you come here.”

Small Business Evolves with Customer Needs

Quanita May

“It may sound cliché, but being a small business person truly is all about building relationships and going the extra mile. “

Photo credit: Nicole Guthrie

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 27

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Printing all the News Fit for Southeast Volusia When the New Smyrna Beach Observer

published its last edition after over 100 years of reporting southeast Volusia community news, Kelsey Arnold and two close colleagues who worked there weren’t ready to simply go their separate ways and look for jobs elsewhere.

“We loved what we were doing, and we didn’t want to stop,” Kelsey said. “So, we got together and basically made our own path.”

That path led to the creation of East Coast Current, a full-color monthly publication Kelsey produces from a room in the Edgewater home of editor and co-founder Tiffany Evers. Kelsey serves as publisher while the publication’s third co-founder, Carol Pompa, is director of sales.

Kelsey, a 2009 graduate of Daytona State’s Associate of Science in Photographic Technology program, later bridged to earn her bachelor’s degree in photography from the University of Central Florida under a 2+2 partnership the two institutions have.

She suggested that one of the most valuable lessons learned from her college experience was to look to the future with an open mind.

“My DSC professors pushed us hard, stretched our thinking. They made it impossible to get comfortable in what we were doing, and I think it taught us to be open to possibilities.”

28 | DAYTONA

STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

“My DSC professors pushed us hard, stretched our thinking,” she said. “They made it impossible to get comfortable in what we were doing, and I think it taught us to be open to possibilities, to take advantage of what comes before you, to not go into situations thinking you’re going to do only one thing or that there’s only one way of doing it.”

While in college, Kelsey interned at Art House in DeLand and the Halifax Historical Museum in downtown Daytona Beach.

The experiences showed her a broader range to apply skills she learned in her photography programs.

At East Coast Current, on any given day she may be writing a feature story about a local entrepreneur, shooting the magazine’s cover photo, working a news budget, dealing with printers or assigning articles to a stable of freelance writers and regular contributors.

Today, East Coast Current has a print circulation of 10,000 and can be picked up free at 350 locations throughout Volusia County. The “paperzine,” as Kelsey likes to call it, is also online at eccurrent.com.

The magazine focuses on positive news, with stories about local businesses and events, fashion and health, dining, sports and Kelsey’s regular column, Florida or Bust, which profiles an eclectic assortment of some of the Sunshine State’s more interesting off-the-beaten-path destinations.

East Coast Current will celebrate its third year in publication come January 2017.

“We’re always out in the community, always looking for those stories that aren’t necessarily being told, finding really cool people that others may not be aware are here,” she said.

Long term, Kelsey and her colleagues envision expanding the magazine’s reach beyond east Volusia, and they are not likely to let fear of failure stand in their way.

“We were just dipping our toes in the water when this all began, and then it was like we got pushed in,” she said. “If you let that fear of failure control you, you’re never going to get anything done.”

Kelsey Arnold

Photo credit: Nicole Guthrie

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Start -Up Niche, Ice-Art King Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision

and Management (BAS) alumnus Mark Reed is one of those rare guys in Florida who wears a heavy winter coat and carries a chainsaw to work. That’s because his office is in a freezer, where he creates some of the most intricate ice carvings this side of, well, the North Pole.

The talented alumnus owns Daytona Ice Art, a business he started while pursuing his Associate of Science in Culinary Management degree prior to earning his BAS in 2011.

“I started out just carving on the side, but every year seems to get busier and busier,” he said.

Mark’s ice-carving skills last year took him to Fairbanks, Alaska, where he and three other carvers took fifth place as a team in the 2015 World Ice Carving Championships for their frozen sculpture, “Sea Party,” featuring larger-than-life renderings of a shark, octopus, seahorse and other marine life.

Mark Reed

Reed considers himself an artist first; his carvings are all done by hand, without the help of computer-aided machinery that many ice carvers use.

Photo credit: Erica Rech

The annual event hosts over 100 ice artists, representing nine countries.

drawing on his experience working in the marine industry prior to enrolling at DSC.

Daytona Ice Art, housed in an airplane hangar on Aviation Center Parkway, has officially been in operation since 2010.

The business specializes in custom ice art ranging from frosty, large-scale corporate logos for special events and intricately carved sculptures for weddings and birthdays, to chilly ice bars and booze luges that are crowd favorites on the local club scene and at New Year’s Eve parties.

“Let It Shine involves a lot of paint, gel-coat and fiberglass work,” he said, noting an inherent parallel between his two businesses. “They’re both crafts that require patience and an artistic ability.”

Reed said he considers himself an artist first; his carvings are all done by hand, without the help of computer-aided machinery that many ice carvers use.

Depending on the time of year, he will carve over a dozen sculptures a month ranging in price from $100 to more than $600.

The versatile entrepreneur also owns and operates Let It Shine Management, a mobile aircraft, yacht and RV maintenance and detailing company he started in 2009,

He said his BAS program helped him to hone his entrepreneurial focus and better manage the day-to-day operations of both businesses.

As for the future, the free-spirited nonconformist is open to trying new things.

He’s restoring a houseboat and will soon move to a marina in Flagler County with Skipper, his loyal 11-year-old yellow lab.

“Right now, I’m taking things as they come.

I would love to one day wind up in the Keys, but I’m not sure if I want to take the businesses with me and grow them down there or sell them and start fresh,” he said.

“No matter, anyway. There will always be something new to try.”

Leadership training, CEO collaboration help innovative firms get ahead

Small businesses are a rising tide for

economic development in Volusia County.

At Daytona State, it’s part of the mission to support start-ups and small companies with targeted programs and expertise.

With today’s complex marketplace and endless leadership strategies, small firms benefit from focused programming through the college’s Center for Business & Industry (CBI) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at DSC, as well as guidance from SCORE. A new leadership program, “Volusia’s Best,” offered by SBDC, has drawn dozens of local companies including Command Medical Products, Germfree Laboratories, Giles Electric and Synergy Billing, to learn from successful business leaders. Some of them also took part as top executives sharing insights at SBDC’s CEO Exchange, which launched with comments from renowned entrepreneur L. Gale Lemerand.

Synergy Billing Chief Operating Officer Sheila Brown said, “We have provided Daytona State students with externships, but this was our first experience with a program for our own team. Even with years of experience in business, I found the Leadership program useful. It’s really helpful to have such great training resources nearby.”

“Gaining strategic insights through workshops like Volusia’s Best and collaborating with other CEOs are extremely worthwhile,” said David Slick, CEO, Command Medical. “We’re all busy running our firms, but if we don’t stop to consider best practices, we risk long-term success.

“The CEO Exchange is a group of about a dozen very diverse companies, from banking to manufacturing; but the issues and problems we face are all very similar,” he added. “We benefitted immensely from what we discussed on a broad range of topics.”

DSC students in the past five years have participated in some 600 cooperative work experiences with over 100 employers – many of them small firms; nearly half led to permanent jobs.

In other specialized training, DSC’s Center for Cyberforensics and Cybersecurity noted 20 percent of its recent workshop attendance came from small firms seeking best practices for network protection.

“Small companies have as much to lose as big corporations, and less resilience with a prolonged cyber attack,” says Dr. Philip Craiger, who heads the center.

Small businesses give back to the college, as well, contributing to DSC students’ success through two important paths.

community partnerships

community partnerships

Supporting Success:

Cairns Foundation

Fuels Sunshade Invention

They serve among 100-plus volunteers on advisory committees to help infuse DSC programs with relevant, up-to-date content. Equally important, they offer internships and cooperative education, extending learning beyond the classroom.

It goes both ways. Student co-ops and internships at growing firms like EdgeWell Personal Care, Homac Manufacturing and Raydon Corp., to name a few, enrich the workplace with new ideas while providing work experience that often turns into employment.

“This is such a win-win opportunity for both EdgeWell and DSC students,” said David Long, quality director for Edgewell.

“We’ve been working with DSC lab interns for over three years, which helps fill a constant need for trained staff. At the same time, we often hear students say how this has helped them focus on what they want to do with their education.”

One of the college’s most prominent partnership groups – the Workforce Trends Advisory Board, comprised of business, civic and school leaders – focuses on emerging industry and jobs in the region. Their observations contribute to new offerings such as a Construction certificate and an additive manufacturing track. Such in-demand options allow small firms to affordably gain skills, stay competitive and meet industry needs.

“I would say that most of us in small businesses don’t have all the in-house resources that we require to grow and be successful,” said Keith Landy, president of Germfree Laboratories.

“In order to advance our companies we need to collaborate with others in similar corporate structures and use the great training resources at our fingertips.”

Caelan Hickman (left) and business partner Matthew Morris demonstrate their award-winning sun shade.

When Caelan Hickman enrolled in

DSC’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology program, he never dreamed he would become the CEO of a company before he even graduated.

But winning last April’s Cairns Innovation Challenge along with teammates Matt Cresenzi and Matthew Morris has transformed this DSC trio into business partners hoping to capitalize on what began as a group project in their capstone course.

For the competition, the team, with the help of Cathy Campbell, their community advisor and “main idea person,” as Caelan describes her, basically built a better beach umbrella - a lightweight, portable and flexible sun shade that allows partial UV penetration, permitting a tan while reducing UV waves.

It was enough to win the Cairns challenge, a competition among students from area colleges and universities who vie for the $10,000 top prize and a one-year enrollment in the UCF Volusia County Business Incubator to further develop their product.

Photo credit: Erika Rech

The win transformed the 24-year-old Caelan from a DSC student to president and CEO of Sea & Sol Shades LLC. Cathy serves as the company’s vice president and chief marketing officer, while Matt and Matthew are chief financial officer and chief innovation officer, respectively.

Caelan said he never dreamed he would be running a company at this point in his life. “We originally got into this because we would be excused from doing another presentation at the end of the semester,” he said. “So we did it. And we won. And then they told us if we want the money, we have to start a company. So we did.

And here we are.”

The months since their win have been a whirlwind for the group – improving the product design, obtaining a patent (pending), exploring product placement and researching supplier and manufacturing costs.

Caelan is also stacking up on business electives as he finishes up his BSET degree in the coming year. Cresenzi, too, is expected to graduate in December, while Morris graduated last spring.

The coming months will see the group soliciting letters of intent from retailers, talking to investors and then, hopefully, manufacturing the umbrellas and bringing the product to market.

Meanwhile, DSC will host the next annual Cairns Innovation Challenge on April 4 at the Advanced Technology College, where the trio will speak about their product development.

The event is the brainchild of inventor and philanthropist James L. Cairns, who established the Cairns Foundation in 2003 to identify and promote opportunities for young inventors to realize the technical and commercial success of their creations.

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 33

DAYTONA STATE lifestyle

Center News

New Director Onboard

Marks 40 Years

The Center for Women and Men

In October the Center for Women and Men

marks 40 years of helping thousands of Volusia and Flagler County residents reclaim their lives and get new starts.

The center’s advisory board will commemorate the milestone with a celebration later this academic year.

It was Oct. 26, 1976, when now retired faculty members Ellen O’Shaunessy and Dot Moore helped establish DSC’s Women’s Center. Their idea was to create a central location where displaced homemakers with little-to-no work experience, who because of divorce, widowhood or other circumstances, could come to learn new life skills, gain self-confidence and train for employment.

In 2012, the Women’s Center expanded its scope to serve men as well and changed its name to the Center for Women and Men (CfWM). It is located in the J. Griffen Greene Canter on the college’s Daytona Beach Campus, with satellite offices on the Deltona and Flagler/Palm Coast campuses.

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STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

“The college is eternally grateful to Ellen and Dot,” said Keith Kennedy, DSC’s vice president of student development. “Through their dedication and continued support of our mission as members of our advisory board, we have been able to provide hope and a springboard to better lives for countless Volusia and Flagler County residents.”

Kennedy said the CfWM is seeking to expand on its founders’ vision, exploring new programs and inviting partnerships with local government and community action agencies to better serve students. The idea is to create a hub, where students can seek out the services and help they need, such as housing and transportation assistance, in one central location.

This semester, the college opened a food pantry in the center as part of an effort to mitigate food insecurity among students, an issue that, along with homelessness, has become a growing concern with colleges and universities across the nation.

“Falcon Fuel” offers light snacks and small, non-perishable food items that students can grab before or between classes.

The pantry currently is stocked through donations from DSC staff and other college constituents, while college officials seek grants to help sustain the effort. Roughly 70 students a day are using the food pantry, Kennedy said. “It has been proven that hunger depletes the ability to focus, so we don’t want students to go to class hungry.”

The pantry is open to enrolled DSC students from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays.

Erin LeDuc joined the center as its new director. She comes to the college from the Richard Milburn Academy, a Daytona Beach area charter school, where she served as campus director. Prior to that, LeDuc was a counselor and family therapist for several organizations.

She holds a bachelor of science in human development and family studies from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s in psychology from Walden University.

Fresh Start Program

Lending Library

Fresh Start is a free six-week class that assists women and men 18 years and older who are in transition and desire to return to school. Individuals are introduced to the many career and technical programs offered at DSC.

The Center offers a library of textbooks available to currently enrolled DSC students. Services are provided on a first come, first serve basis.

CCAMPIS Program

Falcon Fuel – Grab & Go Food Pantry

The grant-funded CCAMPIS program supports the enrollment of low-income parents in postsecondary education at DSC by providing supplemental child care payment assistance.

The Center offers free light snacks and small nonperishable food items to currently enrolled DSC students.

New Directions Program

Emergency Bus Passes

The program supports the educational needs of students enrolled in a vocational certificate or AS degree program providing supplemental financial assistance for tuition, uniforms, equipment or books.

Temporary emergency bus passes are available for currently enrolled DSC students. Must have an emergency need for transportation to campus. Must be referred by DSC faculty or staff.

Clothes Closet The Center for Women and Men has a clothing closet for students who want to achieve a professional image for job interviews and employment.

Center for Women and Men Programs

ARTS & CULTURE

ARTS & CULTURE

New SMP director eyes museum as learning lab for students

SMP features Roger Ballen retrospective, other notable exhibitions

Photo credit: Nicole Guthrie

James Pearson admits he’s an amateur when it comes to taking photographs. But he does know art and how to run a museum housed on a college campus, particularly how to integrate such a facility into the teaching and learning process.

As the new director of Daytona State’s Southeast Museum of Photography (SMP), Pearson said he will rely heavily on collaboration with the college’s photography faculty to vet potential exhibits and continue SEMP’s place as one of the premier venues for photographic scholarship in the nation.

“What attracted me to this position is that the museum is focused as an educational resource for the college and the community,” he said. “Daytona State has a very well informed photography department that I can rely on as a reference, and I hope they can rely on me, too, for programs that relate to their curriculum, as well as to their students and even to their professional goals.”

36 | DAYTONA

STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

At the same time, Pearson hopes to expand the use of SMP as a teaching tool beyond the discipline of photography. “I’m interested in finding where other academic departments at Daytona State can benefit from the museum, showing faculty how they can use it in new ways to enhance teaching and learning,” he noted.

Pearson comes to SMP from Beloit College in Wisconsin, where he was curator and most recently directed the institution’s Wright Museum of Art, managing its 5,000piece collection and coordinating up to 12 exhibitions per year. He also taught museum studies and gallery administration courses at the college and frequently lectured on art history topics.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the University of North Carolina, Asheville, and a master’s in art history and criticism from Stony Brook University in New York.

He’s also interested in expanding the role students play in the daily operations of the museum, such as teaching them to lead collection visits, writing blogs or training them to be on-demand docents, even if it’s just for a five-minute museum tour.

The works of Roger Ballen, a retrospective

exhibition of one of the 21st century’s most influential photographic artists, is on display at DSC’s Southeast Museum of Photography through Dec. 12.

The retrospective exhibition, curated

by DSC School of Photography Professor Steven Benson, spans over 40 years of Ballen’s work, from his early documentary images of South African mining towns to the highly stylized, often strange, extreme and psychologically charged projects that represent his most recent body of work, which he describes as “documentary fiction.”

“It’s about being an ambassador for the museum and for the college,” he said.

“I think those kinds of situations are teaching moments for the students. They engrain customer service skills and those ambassador qualities, things they can rely on when they enter the professional world.”

Ballen’s approach has been hailed by critics as among the most unusual and exciting developments in contemporary photography, a shift in depictions of the everyday to the creation of “living pictures” that defy the conventions of documentary photography.

Benson said he distinctly remembers the startling impression Ballen’s photography left on him the first time he saw it nearly 20 years ago.

“His work is very idiosyncratic and confronts the viewer with a completely unique experience of reality,” he said.” The narrative structure of his images is not linear – beginning, middle and end. Instead, they are driven by a circular narrative, trapping the viewer in a vortex of potential meaning.”

SMP also presents Getting the Water Right: The Culture and Politics of Water in the Everglades, an exhibition by photographer Adam Nadel and anthropologist Jessica Cattelino that documents the people and landscape of the greater Everglades watershed, through Feb. 4.

Nadel has crisscrossed the Everglades to document how politics, culture, economy

and ecology have interacted, and often collided, pushing the Everglades ecosystem to the edge of collapse.

North and South: Photographer Berenice Abbott’s U.S. Route 1 exhibition also runs through Feb. 4.

Organized and circulated by the Syracuse University (SU) Art Galleries, the exhibition features Abbott’s 1954 travels up and down U.S. 1 from Key West to Kent, Maine, in her attempt to capture the character of the time and the transient face of America.

David L. Prince, director and curator of collections at SU Art Galleries, will give a talk on Feb. 3, 6-8 p.m.; free, all welcome.

For more information about museum exhibitions and events, call (386) 506-4475 or visit SMPonline.org.

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 37

Join Us for Homecoming!

Daytona State College

Homecoming 2016

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS November 2-5 Show your Falcon Pride this week by wearing your DBJC, DBCC and DSC apparel!

Be sure to tag your photos and share on social media with #FalconsFlyingHigh

Wednesday, Nov. 2

Thursday, Nov. 3

Friday, Nov. 4

Alumni Studio Arts Exhibition & Reception • 5-7 p.m.

Adjunct Recognition Reception • 5-7 p.m.

Association of Florida Colleges-DSC Chapter Holiday Bazaar • 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

The News-Journal Center at Daytona State College 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach

A social activity to show appreciation for the adjunct professors who support the academic goals of the college.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mr. & Ms. Daytona State Pageant 2016-17 • 6 p.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, Hosseini Center (Bldg. 1200)

Daytona Beach Campus, Hosseini Center (Bldg. 1200) (by invitation)

This inaugural Alumni Studio Arts Exhibit will highlight past Daytona State College art students.

This group show is certain to represent the diversely artistic talents of our DSC graduates from throughout the years.

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The Alumni Studio Arts Exhibition will be on view through Jan. 13, 2017.

The royal couple crowned Mr. & Ms. Daytona State 2016-17 will serve as leaders, ambassadors for the college and agents of positive change in the community through their involvement and philanthropic efforts.

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Thursday is alma mater apparel day; wear something from the college you attended!

Daytona Beach Campus, Bergengren Hall (Bldg. 110) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fall Festival and Complimentary Barbecue RSVP Online - 5-7 p.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, ECHO Plaza/Student Landing Bring canned goods or packaged snacks as a donation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Photography Guest Speaker and Reception • 6-8 p.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, Hosseini Center (Bldg. 1200) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday is DSC apparel day; show your DSC pride!

Find out more at

DaytonaState.edu/Homecoming2016

Event Locator Quick Guide

Saturday, Nov. 5 5K Family Walk/Run • 8 a.m. Start Time Daytona Beach Campus, Meet at the Clock Tower $30 fee, $35 day of event, kids under 10 free!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Campus Tours • 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, tours begin on the south side of Bergengren Hall (Bldg. 110) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Baseball Field

All Welcome!

et re St

Daytona Beach Campus, Photography Hall (Bldg. 530) (by invitation, limited seating available) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Youth Soccer Clinic • 9 a.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, Multi-Purpose Field (near ISB) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Alumni Softball Game • 10 a.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, Softball Field --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Daddy Daughter Hair Factory • 10 a.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, Cosmetology Hall (Bldg. 510) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

t tree nn S ema Hein

Photography Alumni Workshops & Reception 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

te hi W

Association of Florida Colleges-DSC Chapter Holiday Bazaar • 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, Bergengren Hall (Bldg. 110) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Car Show • 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, Parking Lot C in front of Wetherell Center (Bldg. 100) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daytona Beach Campus 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Softball Field

130 ECHO Plaza

Clock Tower

110

530

Campus Tours

Culinary Workshop: Shopping with the Chef at the Grocery Store • 10 a.m.

Saturday is vintage DBJC/DBCC/DSC apparel day!

Refreshments will be available for purchase throughout Saturday’s activities.

All events are open to the public unless noted.

ve. an A Millig

Car Show

510

Parking Lot C

1200

ve.

Highland A

Daytona Beach Campus, Hosseini Center (Bldg. 1200) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Magic the “Homecoming” Tournament • Noon-5 p.m. $5 entrance fee (demonstrations 10 a.m.-Noon) Daytona Beach Campus, Lenholt Student Center (Bldg. 130) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Alumni Baseball Game • Noon Daytona Beach Campus, Baseball Field (rear of campus) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Women’s Basketball Home Game • 2 p.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, Lemerand Center (Bldg. 310) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Men’s Basketball Home Game • 4 p.m.

Daytona Beach Campus, Lemerand Center (Bldg. 310) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Multi-Purpose Field

MAIN ENTRANCE

Alumni Studio Arts Exhibition & Reception The News-Journal Center at Daytona State College 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach, Florida ---------------------------------------------------Adjunct Recognition Reception Hosseini Center (Bldg. 1200) (by invitation) ---------------------------------------------------Mr. & Ms. Daytona State Pageant Hosseini Center (Bldg. 1200) ---------------------------------------------------Association of Florida Colleges-DSC Chapter Holiday Bazaar Bergengren Hall (Bldg. 110) ---------------------------------------------------Fall Festival and Barbecue ECHO Plaza/Student Landing ---------------------------------------------------Photography Guest Speaker and Reception Hosseini Center (Bldg. 1200) ---------------------------------------------------5K Family Walk/Run Clock Tower ---------------------------------------------------Campus Tours tours begin on the south side of Bergengren Hall (Bldg. 110) ---------------------------------------------------Car Show Parking Lot C in front of Wetherell Center (Bldg. 100) ---------------------------------------------------Photography Alumni Workshops & Reception Photography Hall (Bldg. 530) (by invitation, limited seating available) ---------------------------------------------------Youth Soccer Clinic Multi-Purpose Field (near ISB) ---------------------------------------------------Alumni Softball Game Softball Field -----------------------------------------------------Daddy Daughter Hair Factory Cosmetology Hall (Bldg. 510) ---------------------------------------------------Culinary Workshop: Shopping with the Chef at the Grocery Store Hosseini Center (Bldg. 1200) ---------------------------------------------------Magic the “Homecoming” Tournament Lenholt Student Center (Bldg. 130) ---------------------------------------------------Alumni Baseball Game Baseball Field (rear of campus) ---------------------------------------------------Women’s Basketball Home Game Lemerand Center (Bldg. 310) ---------------------------------------------------Men’s Basketball Home Game Lemerand Center (Bldg. 310)

Fitness Center A 5,500 square-foot center with state-of-the-art equipment including:

DSC SPOTLIGHT

• 19-piece resistance training circuit • 3.2 tons of free weights • 31-piece aerobic arena featuring stair climbers, elliptical trainers, treadmills, spinning bikes, rowing machines, Airdynes and equipment for the physically challenged • Fitness evaluations DSC’s L. Gale Lemerand Health, Wellness and Community Education Center offers comprehensive recreation and community education programs. It houses the Fitness and Aquatic Centers and the Falcons’ 1,000-seat gymnasium.

• Group exercise classes such as Sculpt & Tone, Cardio Cross Training and Yoga

Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Friday: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Photo credit: Erika Rech

_____________________________________

College Fitness Center - Community Focus The Daytona State experience includes a

“Likewise, we provide a plethora of healthscreening opportunities and healthy lifestyle informational sessions throughout the year to foster an active, healthy culture among our college and surrounding communities,” explains Laura.

place and programs to get and stay fit, for both the college and local community.

New DSC Fitness and Aquatic Centers Manager Laura Booker Anderson exudes excitement over the facility and future programming on the college’s Daytona Beach Campus.

While maintaining successful programs, she embraces new ideas for fitness activities: “I’m extremely eager to implement fun, new programming that encourages wellness among our college and local community.”

To that point, she is launching a campus-wide fitness/weight-loss challenge, expanding group exercise options to meet a wider range of fitness needs and interests, developing a nutrition series and increasing swim-lesson offerings.

40 |

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

The centers focus on serving members with a wide range of equipment options and fitness classes. Work-out equipment includes five top-of-the-line treadmills, eight stationary bikes (both upright and recumbent) and eight elliptical machines stationed in a cardio area. Members also have at hand free weights, cable machines and a variety of free-standing exercise equipment that cater to the needs of every fitness enthusiast, says Laura, who also serves as assistant volleyball coach.

At the same time, “nutrition and promoting a healthy lifestyle are absolutely at the forefront of our mission and programming,” she explains. Daytona State has certified nutritionists to help educate the campus community on how to maintain a healthy, practical lifestyle from a nutrition perspective.

She encourages the community and DSC members to take their fitness classes, as well. They vary each semester, ranging from yoga to Latin dance, kickboxing and Zumba, as well as sculpt and tone. Aquatic offerings feature options for all ages and abilities such as lane swimming, water aerobics, swim lessons, stroke school, scuba training and lifeguard certification courses.

Proud of her staff, she notes, “We have a great team who, like myself, is passionate about fitness and nutrition and eager to educate and promote a healthy lifestyle through creative programming.”

Aquatic Center A 25-yard by 25-meter competitive pool with: • Humidity and climate-controlled environment • Certified lifeguard on duty at all times • Completely handicap accessible • Lap swimming always available

Hours:

Monday & Thursday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Tuesday & Wednesday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Friday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Community members can buy a yearly, four-month or monthly pass.

Cost varies for a single or a family pass, or a daily drop-in fee of $5.

Visit DaytonaState.edu/fitness_ctr or call (386) 506-4386.

FOUNDATION NEWS

FOUNDATION NEWS

Brian Kelley receiving award from DSC President, Tom LoBasso and Foundation Board Chair Howard Holley.

DSC Board Chair Forough Hosseini and guests.

2016 FOUNDATION GALA

Howard, Dolores and Barbara Holley.

Dr. Tom LoBasso with wife Karen and children Alexa and Tommy.

Recognizing Mori Hosseini.

Recognizing Mary Margaret Kelley. Ed, Brian and his wife Brittany Kelley.

Brian’s parents, Ormond Beach Mayor Ed Kelley and his wife, Mary Margaret.

42 |

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

Brian Kelley with his baseball coaches, Anthony Campanella, Sal Lombardo and Tim Touma.

DSC Baseball Jersey #26 presented to Brian Kelley.

Photo essay credit: Erika Rech and Nicole Guthrie

Brian takes time out for a photo with a member of the DSC Baseball team after giving an informal talk to students prior to the gala.

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 43

L. Gale Lemerand (seated) Jill Simpkins, Kay Burniston and Mori Hosseini.

Chef Weir’s beautiful food sculpting.

2015 Gala Honoree and DSC Foundation Board member, Bobby Thigpen with wife Lee and children, Bobby and Kailey.

Brian Kelley inspiring the crowd at the gala.

Brad Giles and daughter Laken, current Miss Teen Daytona Beach.

DSC Falcon Baseball players, Matt Swiderski, Alex Hendricks, Kyle Weeks and Austin Barnes.

Ameris Bank attendees, Deana Blad and Carlene Despard (front) Colleen Cline and Stefanie Ryan (back)

Gala attendees enjoying a wonderful evening.

44 | DAYTONA

STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

Dr. Raymond and Mary Kenzik and Vicky and Steve Ridder.

FOUNDATION NEWS

FOUNDATION NEWS

Student speakers, Gage Hutchinson, Abby Alam and Cynde Puckett.

DSC culinary students serving guests.

Chef Costa Magoulas and DSC Trustee Bob Davis.

Kevin and Lisa Barrowman, winners of guitar autographed

by Florida Georgia Line.

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 45

FOUNDATION NEWS

L. Gale Lemerand Talks ‘Entrepreneurship’ with Tom LoBasso

Photo credit: Nicole Guthrie

[DSC PRESIDENT TOM LOBASSO - TL] hank you for sitting down with us to discuss what makes an entrepreneur tick.

It’s a fascinating subject, to find out what inspires people like yourself, in good and bad times alike. As a self-made businessman, author and philanthropist, your insights can help other innovators along their paths.

I thought I needed him to negotiate for material prices and so on and so forth. (That turned out to be untrue because I found out later that I was a pretty good negotiator myself and I had a great relationship with suppliers.) And so I took him in as a partner with 40 percent interest. He contributed no time, no more money, nothing.

Let’s start with, when did you realize working for someone else was not for you? And what were your first entrepreneurial steps?

No guarantees of any kind. And in two-anda-half years, I gave him a return of $3.5 million for that $16,000. This is 1974 to 1977. And he still had 40 percent of the company. So that’s how I started my first venture as an entrepreneur.

T

[L. GALE LEMERAND - GL] At the time, I was 40 years old; it was 1974. I’m dating myself here; I’m 82 now.

I was the general manager of a very small insulation company in the Chicago suburbs.

I started out there as a salesman and became manager. I’d been there about six years when a recession hit. The home office wanted to close the Chicago company and wanted me to move to Phoenix.

I was newly married and I said, you know, I can’t move to Phoenix. I’ve got all these connections in the Chicago market. And I said to myself, I should try to capitalize on that. The big problem was I didn’t have any money. I think I had $500 to my name, and this would be very costly.

So I went to one of my suppliers and made a deal with them where they would front me with insulation for the first 90 days, and then I could pay them back in the future. I made one of my first mistakes at this time.

I made a deal with the owner of the company I had worked for to sell him 40 percent of my company for $16,000. And the reason I wanted him as a partner, he was the largest insulator in the country and material was 55 percent of our total cost.

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DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

“I’ve always been a big believer in surrounding yourself with great people. Treat them properly, pay them well, work them hard, show leadership, and work shoulder to shoulder with them.”

[TL] – And that’s quite a return for him.

[GL] – Great return.

[TL] – What do you think are some key characteristics that helped you succeed?

[GL] – I think No. 1 has been people, and it’s still people today. I’ve always been a big believer in surrounding yourself with great people. Treat them properly, pay them well, work them hard, show leadership, and work shoulder to shoulder with them. And that’s exactly what I did. I surrounded myself with some great people and it really paid dividends.

[TL] – Many of us have watched Shark Tank and TV shows like that. They make it look like inventors and entrepreneurs are around every corner. Do you think entrepreneurship is a growing trend? Do you see more of them coming up today than back in the 70s?

[GL] – One thing I did later on, as an example, in the restaurant business, was not be afraid to use other people’s money. After I put in 100 percent in several restaurants, we decided to continue to grow Peach Valley and Stonewood. But, I wanted to grow it with other investors’ money. So we came up with a program where the investor puts up 100 percent to start a Stonewood branch. And the holding company, which I control 95 percent of, gets 25 percent of that company, free. In addition, we receive 6 percent of sales as a monthly management fee.

We have a contract, obviously, but they have no more say in the operations of the company than if you owned one share of General Motors. So it’s a really great way to finance a company. And the investors have made some very, very good returns. So that’s one way of doing it.

And there are angel groups out there. When I say angel groups, people with money that are looking for opportunity. With the banks, what are you getting – 1 or 2 percent? And there are many investments out there where you can make 15, 20, 25 percent with a little risk. In fact, almost every week, people come to me with business opportunities, some proven and some not. Some are great ideas and some are very poor ideas. But they come to people like me who do bank investments and startups.

[GL] – I really do, and that’s a good thing!

Of course, when I was growing up and began my business there was no such thing as an entrepreneurial program in the college, or anything like that. I had no mentors like there are today, and I think it will continue to grow. There’s much opportunity out there, especially for the young people, with their education and technology and the Internet, unbelievable.

[TL] – So you have your own little private Shark Tank here, almost.

[TL] – So with more people doing it, do you think it’s more challenging for the entrepreneurs? More competition for these new enterprises; or is that a good thing?

[GL] – Yes, sure. During my career, kind of a similar thing, there was a group called The Investment Technologies. There were half a dozen or so small business managers and non-competing businesses would get together once a month. They would exchange ideas on developing and running a business.

They would spend half a day doing that and then half a day with some rather prominent speakers that would come in and talk to us.

I thought that was very good.

[GL] – No, I think it’s a very good thing because investors and investor groups have seen that many of these people with good ideas and entrepreneurial spirit have become very successful very fast, and they’re anxious to get involved with these startups. I’ve watched Shark Tank from time to time. I understand it’s very difficult, getting on there. But I’m shocked at some of the products, kind of laughable. But it’s a good program. I think it’s helped stimulate entrepreneurial thinking.

[GL] – Well, I don’t know about that. But it’s almost every week that something comes up.

[TL] – Interesting. Would you advise new entrepreneurs to get into incubators and take advantage of SCORE, SBDC or our own CEO Exchange for small businesses?

A young entrepreneur needs guidance in many things and it’s great that Daytona State is involved with the Entrepreneurial Seminar, and the CEO exchange, and the incubators.

People of this community are very fortunate to have you guys work for them with these various programs.

[TL] – There’s allegedly a famous quote from a patent office commissioner in 1899, who said, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” That seems laughable now, but do you see inventors and entrepreneurs having a higher chance for success in certain areas in coming years? What does your crystal ball say?

[GL] – Yes, I think they have great opportunity for success. I’ve been involved with some new things. I have a problem living with the old; from time to time I get into new products like Sani-Door, which is my hands-free exit through public restrooms.

[TL] – And we find those in some of your restaurants. So, to be successful, you need to embrace new ideas?

“I say to students today that the most important thing is to get your formal education. I think you need that more today than in 1974 when I started.”

[GL] – More than that. You know, a few years ago, I authored a book called, To Win in Business, Bet on the Jockey, and you think, boy, what a crazy name. But the whole thing is that the person running the business is more important than the idea or the business, in my opinion.

My first company grew from that barn to 27 states; I was travelling a lot, with 100 or so locations. We would send a mediocre manager into some great markets and be unsuccessful. Then we’d go into poor markets with a great manager and be very, very successful. So I say, you know, bet on that jockey.

[TL] – What sort of advice would you give our entrepreneurial students at DSC? [GL] – I say to students today that the most important thing is to get your formal education. I think you need that more today than in 1974 when I started. Many times, I was very lucky being in the right place at the right time. But, get the formal education.

Decide what you want to do with your career and then go to work for somebody else.

Instead of just stepping in and starting your own company, go to work for somebody in that field, learn the business, and then start your own later.

I love Daytona State College, for sure. As you know, I didn’t have a full college education.

I had a couple years at junior college at night under a GI bill because I’d spent four years in Korea in the Air Force. So I was really doing it for the money; I think it was $90 a month, which was more than I could make at the time anywhere. But I studied accounting, and that really helped me in my career. You need to pick classes and a program that fits where you want to be.

FOUNDATION NEWS

[TL] – Raising capital and finding supporters can be a challenge. What funding tactics do you suggest for start-ups these days?

[TL] – Well, thank you; great advice. Lastly, what’s your philosophy on giving back to the community and other interests that help the greater good?

[GL] – Well I’m very happy to be involved and give back to the community. The community’s been very good to me. The country’s been very good to me. It’s one of these “only in America” stories. Because I was very, very, very poor. Poorer than poor when I grew up.

[TL] – You’re the American Dream.

[GL] – Yep. Got lucky. I think it’s very important that if you were fortunate enough to become successful and make a lot of money, you should give back. What else do you have left to do? Frankly, I’m not working for the money anymore. I haven’t in the last 15 years or so; I’ve given back most of what I’ve earned in the last 20 years. Whether it’s a college or a Boys and Girls Club, or Council on Aging. Just to help the community that’s really helped me over the years. I think it’s very, very important.

[TL] – Your comments and expertise will be very insightful for entrepreneurs, Gale.

Thank you once again for sharing your experience and advice.

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 47

INVITES YOU TO OUR

‘70s

‘00s

‘10s

Stephen Crowley, 1975

Patty Koerner, 2001

Colleen Fonte, 2010

For this issue, he shared a timely photograph of Mother Teresa, now named a saint by Pope Francis. A two-time team Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer for The New York Times, Crowley just returned from covering President Obama’s trip to China.

With her DBCC ADN, she works as a critical care nurse and in-patient charge nurse at Port Orange Halifax Medical Center. Her supervisory roles allow her to coordinate staffing, teaching and scheduling. In her free time, she volunteers at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church with the Loaves and Fishes program.

Tiffany Rose, 2006

A photography graduate, she recently had her work in The New York Times.

She travels the world photographing famous people and exotic locations, and loves her career as a photographer.

Dorman Swayne Parsons, 2009

St. Teresa of Calcutta, courtesy New York Times staff photographer Stephen Crowley.

________________________________

‘90s Alissa Smith, 1991

In her fourth season as assistant softball coach at DSC, she came to the college after a 10-year stint of coaching at the Division I level, at Bethune Cookman University and at the University of Maryland. Her collegiate career began at DBCC, where she played her freshman and sophomore seasons, earning her team’s Gold Glove Award her second year.

• Open to all DSC students & alumni • Full-time & part-time positions • Be prepared, bring résumé & dress professionally Career Services offers a full set of services, including but not limited to résumé and cover letter assistance and career exploration.

Look for Upcoming Career Services Events in 2017:

At Southern Stone Events group for just over a year, he has helped almost double its revenue and created over 30 new events. He is affiliated with 103.3 The VIBE, 95.7 The HOG, 99.5 LOV FM, 93.1 Coast Country, WNDB 1150AM, Volusia Young Professionals Group Board and Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Michael Sawicki, 2009 Andrew Scott, 2015

Alumni of DSC’s Law Enforcement Academy, the deputies received Medals of Merit from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office for helping resuscitate a female crash victim.

________________________________

She spent the last 17 years in nursing, and is now a staff nurse in the BirthCare Center at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. She earned her AS degree in nursing at DBCC, and later attended Western Governor’s University for her BSN.

• April 11 - Health Careers Jobs Expo • Daytona Beach Campus, Lemerand Center • May 15 - Commencement Job Fair • Ocean Center, Daytona Beach

Coming from a family of many nurses, he earned his ADN and works at Florida Hospital Medical Center Intensive Care Unit. Prior to becoming a nurse, he and his wife took mission trips with their church to Ireland, Hong Kong and Nicaragua.

Andrew Brown, 2013 & 2015 Earned his AA and BS in education after being drafted and playing for the Atlanta Braves in 1999. Now he leads and motivates children as a teacher at Starle Elementary.

Amanda Brunkan, 2015

With her RN-BSN she works on the surgical progressive care unit at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. In 2010 she earned her AS degree in nursing.

Her duties include proctoring newly hired nurses; she is preparing for a future position of relief charge nurse.

Andrew Adie, 2016

While completing his AA from DSC, he won a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship of up to $40,000 a year to go toward his engineering bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington. He was one of only 75 students across the nation chosen for the award.

He was recently hired as a vice president

by Axiom Administrative Services of Ormond Beach after working as a student intern. A military veteran, Dulany earned his AS degree in Internet Services Technology with a perfect 4.00 GPA.

Graduates of DSC police supervisory/leadership courses, adjunct instructors Capt. Lisa Rosenthal, Sgt. Michelle Gaden and Cpl. Amberly Michaelis were promoted by the Ormond Beach Police Department on Aug. 30. Rosenthal and Gaden also are DSC Police Academy alumni.

For resources and more information, visit CareerServices.DaytonaState.edu or call (386) 506-3073.

SEND YOUR CLASS NOTES TO DaytonaState.edu

Joel Beighle, 2012

Kevin Dulany, 2016

Kimberly Ball, 1996

• March 3 - Job Fair • Flagler/Palm Coast Campus, Student Center

An EPI graduate, was recognized as the Imagine Charter Schools National Teacher of the Year. She is a fourth-grade teacher at Imagine Town Center in Palm Coast.

CLASS NOTES

DSC ALUMNI GOINGS ON

DAYTONA STATE COLLEGE

Rina Hatton, 2016

She has opened a new business, Nexus Wellness. Her career focuses on holistic well being; she also holds a Personal Training and Nutrition certification, earned in 2011, and is a member of the Junior League of Daytona Beach. She earned her Associate of Arts degree this May, concentrating on psychology.

ALUMNI@DAYTONASTATE.EDU

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DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016

DAYTONA STATE Magazine • Fall 2016 | 49

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Join us for a Wonderful Holiday/Winter Season!

Calendar of Events Theater/Music/Dance

November

December

Sunday, Nov. 6, 2:30 p.m.

News-Journal Center, Davidson Theater TICKETED, GENERAL ADMISSION

Monday, Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m.

News-Journal Center, Grand Lobby TICKETED, RESERVED SEATING

Symphony Orchestra

Free to DSC and Volusia and Flagler County students, all others $8 or $15 for two.

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Jazz Concert

Thursday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.

News-Journal Center, Gillespy Theater TICKETED, RESERVED SEATING Free to DSC and Volusia and Flagler County students, all others $8 or $15 for two.

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Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Thursday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19, 2:30 & 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 20, 2:30 p.m.

Gillespy Theater TICKETED, RESERVED SEATING Free to DSC and Volusia and Flagler County students all others $8 or $15 for two.

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Flute Choir

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m.

News-Journal Center, Gillespy Theater FREE, NO TICKETS REQUIRED

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Holiday Concert

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.

News-Journal Center, Davidson Theater FREE, TICKETS REQUIRED

Tickets released to public on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 11:30 a.m.

Yuletide Feast

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Dance Show

Friday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.

News-Journal Center, Gillespy Theater FREE, NO TICKETS REQUIRED

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Music Production Rocks!

Thursday, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.

News-Journal Center, Gillespy Theater FREE, NO TICKETS REQUIRED

Venue Location

Box Office Information

Daytona State College News-Journal Center: Davidson Theater Gillespy Theater 221 N. Beach St. (386) 226-1927

Daytona State College News-Journal Center: 221 N. Beach St. (386) 226-1927 Wednesday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tickets may also be purchased two hours prior to event time.

On-site free parking for college events.

Order Online DaytonaState.edu/TheArts