Veteran guitarist Marty Walsh III will speak at NECC.

Los Angeles studio music scene veteran and Haverhill resident Marty Walsh will be the guest speaker of the Northern Essex Community College music department on Wednesday, November 19, at 1 p.m. in Room 220 of the Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill campus. This event is free and open to the public.

He will discuss various topics including recording session work, touring, the state of the music industry, and life as a contemporary professional musician.

A guitarist, Walsh has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry.  In the early 1980s he worked on hits  “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton, “She Works Hard For The Money” by Donna Summer, the Oscar-winning “Arthur’s Theme” by Christopher Cross, and “Heartlight” by Neil Diamond.

He has also recorded with John Denver, Eddie Money, Kenny Rogers, Sheena Easton, and Julio Iglesias. In 1985 Walsh played guitar on the Supertramp album “Brother Where You Bound”, touring with Supertramp in 1985 and 1986. In 1988 he played on their 1988 release “Free as a Bird”.

 In the late 1990’s Walsh recorded with Leann Rimes, playing on three of her albums including “I Need You.” More recently he can be heard on the Freddie Jackson single “Until The End Of Time, which topped the Billboard R&B charts at #1. This past June Walsh released his new instrumental album “The Total Plan” on Los Angeles-based Weberworks Records.

He is currently an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

NECC offers an associate degree in general studies: music and a certificate in music technology.

For additional information contact Michael Lecuyer at mlecuyer@necc.mass.edu

Flutist Mike Finegold

The Essex Jazz Ensemble will present an afternoon of Third Stream Music on Sunday, November 16, at 2 p.m. in the David Hartleb Technology Center at Northern Essex Community College, 100 Elliott Street, on the Haverhill campus.

This event is open to the public. Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 for seniors, $5 for students and free for NECC students with college ID. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Third Stream Music is defined as musical genre that is a synthesis of classical music and jazz. Improvisation—a key element of jazz, but far less common in classical music—is generally seen as a vital component of Third Stream jazz.

The afternoon of classical and jazz interpretations will include renowned classical composer and jazz pianist William Thomas McKinley, bassist Bruce Gertz, drummer Austin McMahon, flutist/composer Michael Finegold, and composer/jazz pianist Marc Rossi noted for his Indian influence Western-style music compositions.

 For additional information contact Michael Finegold at ECMP314@comcast.net or visit the Essex Chamber Music Players’ website.

NECC President Lane Glenn with employee recognition award winners Julie Carey, Ingrid Polanco, and Maria Hom.

Three Northern Essex Community College employees Ingrid Polanco of Haverhill, Julie Carey of Amesbury, and Maria Hom of Groveland recently received the NECC Employee Recognition Award for the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Employee Recognition Award recognizes the many and varied contributions of the college’s nearly 700 employees. Employees are selected each quarter based on recommendations from supervisors and co-workers. Recipients receive a $150 certificate to the restaurant or mall of his or her choice.

Polanco, an administrative assistant in the NECC Tutoring Center, has worked at Northern Essex for five years. She was nominated by Donna Bertolino, assistant dean of academic support services, who praised her for “…her consistent positive attitude, creative thinking, and her willingness to go above and beyond with a smile.” Colleague Jennifer Levesque echoed her sentiment saying, “… (Polanco) is the backbone of the Tutoring Center. She is willing to help anyone who steps into her office, looks lost in the hallways or calls her and she does so in a very friendly and effective manner.” Director of the Tutoring Center Lynne Nadeau, added “…she brings commitment, good humor, and complex critical thinking.”

She graduated from Northern Essex with an Associate of Science degree in Business Management: Computer Application Option.

An administrative assistant to the dean of student life, Hom has worked at Northern Essex for 16 years. She was nominated by Rob Parker, director of the Wellness & Fitness Center. He praised her saying, “Many students come to the Sport & Fitness Center in their first few days of college. They are often anxious and have questions and concerns about a variety of things… she always seems to find time for each and every student who comes her way…She listens to their concerns, helps them find solutions… Maria provides a calming and comforting presence when so many things are moving so fast for our students at this time of year.” Marcia Winters, NECC’s Mental Health counselor, wrote “Maria is kind, supportive, and helps students out whenever they need help.”

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico.

Carey who is an administrative assistant for the Foundational Studies & Liberal Arts & Sciences department, was nominated by the Judy Zubrow, the dean of that area, who nominated her on behalf of numerous faculty members writing , “Her outstanding contributions and exceptional performance meet many of the award’s criteria: High work standards; consistently high on-the-job performance; good problem-solving techniques; empathy for students; a service oriented approach to the job; friendly, cooperative, courteous manner, and sensitivity towards our diverse students, faculty, and staff.”

She has worked at the college for 36 years. She holds an associate degree from NECC.

Business Management: Healthcare Practice Management Program graduate Elizabeth Pena

Lawrence resident Elizabeth Pena knew she wanted a career in the health care field, so she turned to Northern Essex.

“Because I live in Lawrence, I always heard great things about Northern Essex. I knew it was affordable, and I knew it would provide me the opportunities I needed,” she says.

After being away from college for several years, she enrolled in the Business Management: Healthcare Practice Management Program. A wife and mother of four, Elizabeth also became involved in campus life and took advantage of leadership and career development opportunities.

Elizabeth worked in the Student Success Center and was an orientation leader. She also took advantage of career workshops to gain skills in conducting a job search,
writing a resume, and improving interview skills.

All of her hard work and involvement paid off, and after graduating in May 2013 Elizabeth got a job as a patient service representative for Greater Lawrence Family Health Center. “The workshops were great. They made me a better person and a better professional. They have helped me with my current job,” she says.

About her present position, she says, “I love working with people. There is always a way to help them feel good, and to try to help them solve their problems.”

Elizabeth credits NECC for helping her break into the health care field. “Northern Essex was great. They are very dedicated to helping you succeed. They have wonderful faculty, and I made great friends and great connections. NECC opened the doors to a career in health care for me,” she adds.

NECC veterans will be honored during the first home Knights’ basketball game on November 11.

Northern Essex Community College will hold a special Veterans Day recognition program for alumni veterans and servicemen and their families during the Knights’ first home basketball game which coincides with the holiday on Tuesday, November 11, in the Sport & Fitness Center on the Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St.

This event is free and open to the public.

The NECC vs Gateway Community College basketball game will begin at 3 p.m. with the national anthem sung by NECC student Carli Hamilton of Plaistow, NH.

At half time, the alumni veterans and servicemen will be honored.

During the game, the NECC softball team will hold a bake sale with all proceeds to be donated to a veterans’ group.