The year 2022 was as busy one for NECC–and the NECC Newsroom. As more folks returned to campus, many of the year’s most popular stories featured program innovations, unique job training opportunities, and the ultimate act of togetherness: commencement.
In all, more than 64,000 people visited the NECC Newsroom in 2022. Here’s a recap of the year’s most popular stories, as determined by you, our readers.
Haverhill, MA (December 14, 2022) – Evan Silverio, President and CEO of Silverio Insurance Agency in Lawrence, has been appointed to the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees by Governor Charlie Baker, effective immediately. Silverio also owns the Woodcome Insurance Agency in Leominster and Diverse Real Estate, LLC in Lawrence.
Evan Silverio, President and CEO of Silverio Insurance Agency
After graduating from Wheaton College, Silverio got his start in the real estate business by working as a loan officer for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. He joined his family’s insurance agency a few years later. Silverio dramatically increased business for the agency while investing in dozens of local properties. In 2019, he officially purchased Silverio Insurance Agency from his parents and took over as President/CEO.
Silverio sees community college as an essential partner in improving communities, much as he has done with his businesses. “NECC’s commitment to constantly add to their curriculum subjects that are important in today’s job markets, both local and beyond, can lead to amazing opportunities for local employers to have a constant source of knowledgeable and trained staff right in their own backyard.”
Silverio has given back to his community in several volunteer roles. He served for three years as the chair of the Lawrence Redevelopment Authority and is currently on the Executive Committee for the Lawrence Partnership. He says he’s looking forward to continuing that work as the newest member of the Northern Essex Board of Trustees. “NECC has been an active participant in the constant fight for positive change within our communities,” he says. “Constantly taking on leadership roles, NECC has become a dependable and necessary organization, especially in both Lawrence and Haverhill. To our communities, NECC is more than just a college.”
The college’s Board of Trustees includes nine members appointed by the governor to a maximum of two five-year terms, an alumni-elected member, who also serves a maximum of 10 years, and a student trustee who serves for two semesters.
Northern Essex Community College, the first Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in New England, is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley. Through a supportive learning environment and cultural inclusion, NECC embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence through top-notch, affordable certificate and associate degree programs online and at campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence. In addition, NECC offers many bachelor’s degree transfer options, workforce development, and community education classes and is host to the NECC Police Academy, MassHire Merrimack Valley, and Gallaudet University’s Regional Center for the deaf and hard of hearing. Visit Northern Essex online at necc.edu.
Justin Aguirre ’09
For many people living in Massachusetts and beyond, Justin Aguirre is a voice that eases them into the workday each morning. The co-host of the popular “Billy and Lisa in the Morning Show” (previously the “Matty in the Morning Show”) on Kiss 108 Boston has long kept people laughing and entertained through their daily commutes.
What many don’t know is that, long before his success on air, he was a journalism/communications student at Northern Essex Community College.
The Salem, NH resident, originally from Malden, says he began attending NECC in 2006, at a time when he found himself in need of a critical change of pace.
“I was just getting my life together after several years of issues with addiction,” he explains. “A mentor of mine suggested I look into Northern Essex because I had an interest in media and he knew they had a strong media program.”
At his mentor’s urging, Aguirre successfully enrolled in NECC’s journalism/communication program, but admits that it took him some time – and some strong encouragement – to gain the confidence he needed to succeed.
“When I got to NECC, I had a few months in recovery and a criminal record that I was convinced would prevent me from reaching any goal of mine. It was the push of my professors that gave me the confidence to go after my goals.”
By 2009, equipped with a fresh set of professional skills from NECC, he successfully obtained an associate degree and transferred to Salem State University, where he landed a coveted internship on the Ramiro and Pebbles Morning Show on JAM’N 94.5 – another important turning point in his career.
“I grew up listening to KISS 108 and JAM’N 94.5 and always dreamed of working at one of those radio stations in the morning,” he says.
Aguirre was eventually hired by JAM’N 94.5 as a part-time producer and, from there, moved on to Kiss 108, working first as a producer for Ryan Seacrest and, later, for Matt Siegel of “Matty in the Morning.”
The day that Siegel first asked him to be part of the show, he adds, is one that particularly stands out to him. He had just gotten through with interviewing Bono and The Edge of U2 – two of the biggest stars he’d had the honor of meeting at that point in his career – when Siegel pulled him aside and extended him the offer to join as a producer. Aguirre’s feelings on the offer were initially mixed, with him confessing to Siegel that his rocky past might not go over well with their listeners. But Siegel waved off such concerns right away.
“He said two things to me,” Aguirre says. “One: ‘you don’t have to worry about anything; I have your back.’ And two: ‘That’s the coolest story I’ve ever heard – now nobody will mess with me!’”
Few can argue the successful rise that Aguirre has had since. Following the announcement of Siegel’s retirement in May, Aguirre was promoted to his current role as co-host and executive producer of the “Billy and Lisa in the Morning Show,” a position that has him waking up at 3 a.m., hosting live shows from 5 to 10 a.m., and a podcast, “The After Show,” until noon. It’s a job, he says, that while often non-stop, continues to reap incredible rewards.
“Everyone has problems in their lives, but providing a show [people] can routinely listen to and making them smile and laugh is really special to me,” he says.
His advice to NECC students looking to pursue a similar path? “Figure out what it is you want to do with your life and go after it no matter what! Learn as much as you can, but, most importantly, never stop learning. Always keep an open mind and open ears!”
To learn more about NECC’s journalism/communications program, please visit the website.
Haverhill, MA (December 13, 2022) – Northern Essex Community College and Haverhill High School are one of five partnerships statewide to receive funding to create new STEM Tech Career Academies. The initiative will help more young people earn associate degrees and industry certificates in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.
The Baker-Polito Administration awarded each partnership the $1 million multi-year grant to cover the costs of planning, implementation, and launch.
The Hartleb Technology Center on NECC’s Haverhill Campus
For Northern Essex and Haverhill High School, the planning phase will begin this spring to eventually launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on manufacturing, healthcare, and environmental & life sciences. The partnership will leverage existing Early College and Innovation pathway programs will include participation by the industry partners of both Haverhill High School and Northern Essex.
“The ultimate goal is to establish a high-quality workforce-related degree program for about 400 students when this academy is fully operational,” says Dr. Paul Beaudin, NECC provost. “We’re excited to be chosen as one of the five partnerships for this initiative. This helps confirm our long-standing collaborative partnership with Haverhill High School.”
When the program is ready to launch in the fall of 2025, the cohort of Haverhill High School students participating in the academy will earn between 18-24 college credits before graduating high school. They will then transition to Northern Essex, where they will finish their associate degrees.
“We are thrilled about the possibilities this partnership with Haverhill High school will create for both students and our community,” says Aaron Altman, Northern Essex associate dean of K-12 partnerships. “Rather than thinking about college OR career, what makes this this opportunity so exciting, is that it provides a unique approach towards finding the connection between college AND career, leading to increased opportunities for our students.”
The program will include internships both at the high school and college levels. Classes will take place at Haverhill High School and on the NECC campuses.
The need for STEM graduates particularly impacts Massachusetts because growth in these jobs will outpace average job growth and is projected to account for 40 percent of total employment increases in Massachusetts. According to 2018-2028 Massachusetts job growth projections, STEM occupations will grow at 7.2 percent versus 3 percent across all occupations.
The following schools and organizations also received $1 million grants to launch STEM Career Tech Academies:
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology is partnering with Dearborn STEM Academy and Cambridge Ridge and Latin to launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on manufacturing, IT, and environmental & life science careers. The partnership will leverage existing dual-enrollment and Early College programs and includes National Grid, Rapid7, and Suffolk Construction as industry partners.
MassBay Community College is partnering with Natick High School to launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on manufacturing and environmental & life sciences. The partnership will leverage existing dual enrolment and Early College programs and includes Northeastern Center for STEM Ed, MIT, MathWorks, and MRSI Systems as industry partners.
Bristol Community College is partnering with BMC Durfee High School, Somerset Berkley High School, Westport High School, Taunton High School, and Attleboro High School to launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on environmental & life sciences careers. The partnership will leverage Early College programs and includes Associates of Cape Cod, Celldex Therapeutics, and Waters Corporation as industry partners.
Springfield Technical Community College is partnering with West Springfield High School and Veritas Prep Charter School to launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on healthcare, manufacturing, and business and financial services. The partnership will leverage existing Innovation Pathways and Early College programs and includes Baystate Eye Care Group, Each Moment We’re Alive, Walgreens, and Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Club as industry partners.
For more information on Early College at Northern Essex, contact Aaron Altman aaltman@necc.mass.edu.
Haverhill, MA (November 29, 2022)– If you’ve been to a Northern Essex Community College home basketball game recently, chances are you’ve seen Jose Rodriguez. Or, at least, you’ve heard him. The 22-year-old journalism major from Lawrence is the announcer for the NECC Knights games. This role is just one of the many ways Rodriguez has used his love of sports to find success in life–and at Northern Essex.
Jose and former Red Sox star Pedro Martinez
Originally from New York City, Rodriguez defied the odds by not only surviving a birth injury but by going on to play baseball at a highly competitive level. He even trained at a camp owned by Pedro Martinez, where he met the former Red Sox star.
Rodriguez hoped to continue playing baseball after graduating from the Civic Leadership Academy High School in Queens, NY. However, plans changed when his family relocated to Lawrence, and the pandemic hit. So Rodriguez enrolled at Northern Essex to try to connect with his new community while furthering his education. “I said, ‘let me see if they have my major.’ And I saw NECC had journalism, and I started taking classes,” he says.
Jose Rodriquez with Red Sox Spanish Language announcer Nilson Pepen
Rodriguez found that through journalism, he could use his knowledge of sports and competitive drive in many new ways. He started writing for the award-winning student newspaper, The NECC Observer, and soon took on the role of Sports Editor. “I didn’t even know they had a paper because when I started, everything was online,” he remembers from his first semester at NECC during the pandemic. “I realized there were a lot of cool stories students needed to know about.” Now, Rodrguez is the Editor-in-Chief. For a class assignment last semester, he had to interview someone he admired and connected with Red Sox Spanish Language announcer Nilson Pepen. Later, when Rodriguez went to a game, Pepen invited him to the broadcast booth. It was a dream come true for Rodriguez, whose goal is to be a play-by-play announcer and sports radio show host.
Rodriguez has also come to see how his own story can inspire others. He met fellow journalist and local disability rights advocate Raquel Quezada in class, who encouraged him to get involved with advocating for people with disabilities. That work led to a citation from the Lawrence City Council and recognition from Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.
When he’s not announcing home basketball games, conducting pre- and post-game interviews with the team, editing the student newspaper, or meeting celebrities, Rodriquez covers local sports for the Eagle Tribune. He will graduate from NECC this December and transfer to Salem State, where he plans to pursue his bachelor’s degree in journalism and maybe, just maybe, pick up the bat and glove again. “Once I get my bachelor’s, the rest is history.”
Learn more about NECC’s Journalism and Communication program by clicking here or by contacting Coordinator Mary Jo Shafer at mshafer@necc.mass.edu.
Havehill, MA (November 2, 2022)– The November meeting of the Northern Essex Board of Trustees started with Chairwoman Jennifer Borislow welcoming newly sworn-in Trustee Lloyd Hamm Jr. Hamm, the President of Newburyport Bank, brings decades of banking and finance experience. “I love community college and the role it plays in our communities,” said Hamm. “When I consider the enormous cost of four-year schools, I think we need to reposition how we think about higher education.”
Fall on the Haverhill Campus
Hamm replaces former chair and longtime board member Jeff Linehan.
Educational Report
Dean of STEM Dr. Caroline Knoepfler recapped a very successful STEM Week. It was the first time the event was held in person since 2019. “Our goal was to make it enjoyable and engaging,” said Knoepfler.
She and her team hosted five events over three days, including a photo talk from Professor Ken Thomas, showcasing his recent African Safari; a visit from an oyster farmer; a Q&A with the Head of Operations of STEM Haverhill, a local dispensary; and a workshop on building guitars. The events culminated with The Math Olympics. More than 80 students competed to solve math problems under the watchful eye of NECC’s math faculty. “We learned a lot that week and it was very well attended. It was so exciting and great to be back face to face,” said Knoepfler. “I’m incredibly fortunate to have fantastic faculty in STEM.”
Engineering Week takes place in February, and Knoepfler says staff is already busy preparing projects.
Report of the Administration
Northern Essex Vice President of Institutional Advancement Allison Dolan-Wilson reported that the state has officially approved the college’s strategic plan, and work is now underway to deploy it to employees. “Our focus is not just having this as something we put on a shelf- it’s making sure this is something everyone on every level is involved with over the next five years.”
College CFO Michael McCarthy shared some good news on the enrollment front. For Fall Session II, enrollment is up to 700 students compared to 400 last year. NECC also has an additional 200 early college students compared to last year.
Public outreach will start soon on the feasibility of upgrading the Health and Wellness facilities at Northern Essex. McCarthy says the school is exploring the possibility of a public-private partnership to enhance facilities and develop more connectivity with surrounding communities.
The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 7 on the Haverhill Campus. Find a complete list of meeting dates, agendas, and minutes here.
For Jonathan Aguilar ’18, it was a single Northern Essex Community College dual enrollment course that paved the way for his dream career.
Aguilar, a resident of Lawrence, was still in high school when he enrolled in his first computer-aided drafting (CAD) course at NECC. Right away, he says, he became hooked on the subject and the positive impacts that 3D design could have on the modern world.
Jonathan Aguilar ’18
“I was studying [a field] I really enjoyed and knew it was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” he says.
It was this formative experience, and the appeal of watching his 3D designs come to life, that influenced every step he’s taken since.
Less than a decade later, he holds multiple degrees from NECC, a bachelor’s degree from UMass Lowell, and serves as the founder and project manager of CADSPARC, a 3D CAD design startup incubated and headquartered in UMass Lowell’s Haverhill Innovation Hub. Founded in 2020, the company aims to help organizations address their rapid prototyping needs by offering full service digital manufacturing. The main office is equipped with professional prototyping and design labs and, in just two short years, has successfully helped a range of businesses resolve their 3D printing needs.
Now he’s taking that success one step further with the launch of an internship program – an opportunity that will not only benefit his company, but also the community college that got him his start.
“It was important for CADSPARC to formalize an internship program to support those students that want to do similar work and gain more experience,” he says.
Plans for an internship program were formalized earlier this year, when Aguilar and his colleagues created job postings and began reaching out to students at local colleges, including NECC, who were interested in exploring CAD careers.
By July, after consulting with former professors and peers from both NECC and UMass Lowell, Aguilar was pleased to receive a high volume of applications from NECC in particular. He says he was struck by the realization that so many students from his alma mater were, like him, interested in bettering the world through 3D printing techniques.
“As an NECC alumnus, I am inspired by students that share the same passion for making new things and want to help make the world a better place.” 
Now in full swing, CADSPARC’s program has employed over a dozen student interns, offering them a unique opportunity to engage in a hands-on ten-week experience working in the company’s prototyping and design laboratories. Using their college coursework as a foundation, students apply their knowledge and skills to solve real industry problems and gain experience along the way. CADSPARC currently offers internship options ranging from engineering science to finance and marketing.
NECC computer-aided drafting student Jason Herook, who was among the first students to participate in CADSPARC’s internship program this summer, says the experience was valuable for the results-oriented and interactive approach it took to educating students about operating and maintaining 3D printing equipment. Over the course of ten weeks, he gained familiarity with the materials used in additive manufacturing, in addition to exploring augmented reality technologies and other advancements in 3D design techniques. He says his time as part of the CADSPARC team was invaluable for these reasons.
“A major takeaway from this experience is that I was able to collaborate on projects with a unique group of interns that all shared a similar interest in 3D designing,” Herook says. “As an NECC student, this internship was beneficial to me because I was exposed to brand new technology and programs I had not worked with before.” 
For Aguilar, who was once a CAD intern himself, the ability to oversee a successful and growing internship program is a full-circle experience. It is his hope that going forward, CADSPARC will continue to build upon and support such program offerings to better meet the demands of industry and the skills that today’s CAD students need and seek. In the meantime, he encourages any student who is interested in the field to follow their highest ambitions in order to make the most positive impact on the world around them.
“Follow your dreams, do right, and try the best at what you do!” he says. Interested in learning more about CADSPARC? Visit their website at www.cadsparc.com.
This article appeared in the fall edition of alumnecc magazine
Written by Sarah Comiskey
Haverhill, MA (November 28, 2022)– After a three-year hiatus, a beloved holiday tradition returns to Haverhill. Northern Essex Community College will present “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens, starting Friday, December 9, with four performances ending Sunday, December 11. The show is staged in the Chester Hawrylciw Theater, on the third floor of the Spurk Building on the Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St. 
The show will feature some familiar actors and singers– as well as a few surprise guests. NECC Music Professor Alisa Bucchiere promises these guest performers will delight and entertain. “I don’t even want to say too much, but it’s going to be really exciting. People are going to enjoy what we have lined up.”
Bucchiere can share that the highlight of this production is the four madrigal singers who appear throughout the play singing traditional carols.
The NECC production was initially presented as a one-time fundraiser for the performing arts department in 1999. The production was so successful that it became a NECC community event each holiday season, with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and their family members auditioning for roles.
Tickets will be available at the door, but with limited seating, advance purchase is strongly suggested. Visit the ticket link to secure your seat! Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and free for children under five.
For additional information, contact Bucchiere at abucchiere@necc.mass.edu.
The cast includes:
Mark Morrison, Ebenezer Scrooge, Haverhill, MA
Sadie & Harry Ruggiero, Tiny Tim, Amesbury, MA
Cory Alan, Bob Cratchit, Haverhill, MA
Chip Bliss, Madrigal C, Tewksbury, MA
Kairi Bohanan, Martha Cratchit, Haverhill, MA
Lincoln Bohanan, Peter Cratchit, Haverhill, MA
Melina Bohanan, Belinda Cratchit, Haverhill, MA
Maddy Buckley, Mrs. Cratchit, Plaistow, NH
Olivia Buckley, The Ghost of Christmas Past, Plaistow, NH
Todd Buckley, Mr. Fezziwig, Plaistow, NH
Alisa Bucchiere, Madrigal A, Merrimac, MA
Kayla Clegg, Belle, Plaistow, NH
Maureen Dadekien, Mrs. Fezziwig, Laundress, Salem, NH
Patrick Doherty, Dick Wilkins, Belle’s husband, Amesbury, MA
Angely Gabriel, Fred’s wife, Maid, Lawrence, MA
Elian Gonzalez, Fred, Haverhill, MA
Charlie Himmel, Young Ebenezer, Ignorance, Amesbury, MA
Maggie Himmel, Fan, Amesbury, MA
Hannah Heckman-McKenna, The Ghost of Christmas Present, Concord, NH
Kallie Mayo, Fred’s housekeeper, Exeter, NH
Reilly Mayo, Boy in Street, Exeter, NH
Geehae Moon, Madrigal D, Guest 2, Haverhill, MA
Elliot Robert Owens, Young Scrooge, Concord, NH
Rob Waddell, Charity Man, Haverhill, MA
Production Team:
Alisa Bucchiere, Producing Artistic & Music Director, Merrimac MA
Phi Himmel, Junior assistant stage manager, Amesbury MA
Allan Mayo, Director, Exeter, NH
Geehae Moon, Lighting Designer, Haverhill MA
Tyler Sheltry, Assistant Stage Manager, sound board operator
Emi Sisco, Assistant Stage Manager
Bonnie Surowiec, Head of House
Finn Twichell, Stage Manager, lighting board operator
Haverhill, MA (November 14, 2022)– Northern Essex Community College is one of ten community colleges from across the nation selected to participate in a new initiative aimed at addressing the nursing shortage. The Accelerating and Diversifying Nursing Pathways at Community Colleges Initiative is designed to increase access to nursing careers for people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds and address systemic barriers they might face.
Northern Essex nursing students
“The goals of the program include strengthening our healthcare partnerships to collectively increase enrollment, completion, licensure, and job attainment for our healthcare students,” says NECC Director of Grants Development Karen Rooney. “Strategic partners will share our focus on equity to enhance economic and social mobility for all students, particularly those that have historically been underserved and underrepresented, and provide opportunities wherever students are.”
The initiative is awarded through the Achieving the Dream (ATD) organization and is made possible by support from the Brave of Heart Fund. Participating colleges will each be awarded $300,000 between now and May 31, 2025. The funding will support the schools to create stronger pathways to employment in the nursing field, particularly for those students who represent the diversity of the communities they serve. According to ATD, changing these outcomes requires a combination of evidence-based, culturally responsive, high-impact, and scalable strategies to meet the needs of local and regional labor markets and reduce equity gaps.
At Northern Essex, Rooney says that will mean taking an innovative approach to coordinating existing programs and support services. “NECC’s Division of Health Professions will create curriculum ‘ladders’ that will connect Credit for Prior Learning, non-credit offerings, and credit pathways to provide all students with an appropriate starting place, opportunities for stacking educational and career experiences, and an academic path that leads each student to an employer with identified workforce needs in the community.”
Most NECC health programs are located at the El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center on Common St in Lawrence.
The cohort of colleges will begin meeting this week with ATD to create detailed action plans. Susan Mayer, chief learning officer at ATD, says, ‘’We are proud to partner with these ten colleges with the support of the Brave of Heart Fund to increase the number of nurses in the workforce, diversify the nursing pathways, and accelerate the completion of valuable credentials. We will be working closely with the colleges to understand the impact the implementation of instructional, support, and system strategies have on improving leading indicators of longer-term outcomes.”
Northern Essex is the only community college in New England chosen to participate in the initiative. View a complete list of participants here. For more information about health care programs at NECC, visit the website or contact interim Dean of Health Services Kathy Hudson.
Haverhill, MA (November 16, 2022) – Northern Essex is the first community college in northeastern Massachusetts to offer job training in the cannabis industry. Registration is now open for three certificate courses: Advanced Manufacturing Agent, Advanced Dispensary Associate Program, and Advanced Cultivation Technician Program. The courses are administered through the leading training provider for the cannabis industry, Green Flower. Northern Essex is Green Flower’s first community college partner in the state.
Certification is available in Advanced Manufacturing Agent, Advanced Dispensary Associate Program, and Advanced Cultivation Technician Program.
“At NECC, we are committed to offering training for upwardly mobile jobs and responding to the need of the local industry. We’re excited for this latest collaboration which was two years in the making and includes many partnerships,” says Northern Essex Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Allison Dolan-Wilson.
“As the cannabis industry continues to grow significantly, leaders from the college looked to find ways for people in the area and beyond to become highly qualified to work in cannabis retail, manufacturing, and agriculture environments,” adds Daniel Kalef, Vice President of Higher Education at Green Flower. “We can think of no better college or group of people in the Commonwealth with whom to partner to offer these courses and are excited to begin offering them to the public.”
According to statistics from Green Flower, the cannabis industry creates an average of 280 jobs per day and now employs more than 450,000 people nationwide. But with such rapid growth has come a shortage of well-trained people with the knowledge, skills, and credibility required to operate in such a highly regulated, deeply complex industry.
Courses take just 8 weeks to complete and meet entirely online.
“Cannabis worker training programs at community colleges can play a vital role in this new industry by providing technical skills for those wishing to explore careers in the cannabis field,” remarks Caroline Pineau, owner of Stem Haverhill. “Additionally, it helps the industry by providing skilled workers, which is the basis of growth for any industry. Northern Essex Community College deserves enormous credit for offering these programs.”
The three certificate courses at NECC are offered online, each taking eight weeks to complete. Coursework is self-paced within that timeframe, and students can begin at any time throughout the year.
All three courses start with the basics of compliance. Advanced Manufacturing Agent students will then learn about cannabis processing and manufacturing cannabis-infused products. The Advanced Cultivation Technician Program will explore botany and best practices for growing and cultivating cannabis plants. And Advanced Dispensary Associate Program students will learn the ins and outs of working in cannabis sales.
Upon course completion, students accessing the cannabis industry’s largest employment database will have a badge on their profile, so potential employers can easily see their qualifications.
Northern Essex is partnering with local cannabis businesses, including Stem Haverhill, Happy Valley, Mello, CNA Stores, Lazy River Products, and Salisbury Cultivation and Product Manufacturing; multi-state operators AYR Wellness and Coast Cannabis Co.; and others. These partnerships will enhance opportunities for those who take the courses through events such as job fairs and experiential learning opportunities like guided site visits.
Registration is open now for all three courses. Northern Essex provides hundreds of noncredit and certificate classes year-round. Options range from professional development training to personal interest classes. For more details, visit the webpage or contact the Center for Corporate and Community Education by phone at 978-556-3060 or email communityeducation@necc.mass.edu.
About Northern Essex
Northern Essex Community College, the first Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in New England, is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley. Through a supportive learning environment and cultural inclusion, NECC embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence through top-notch, affordable certificate and associate degree programs online and at campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence. NECC offers many bachelor’s degree transfer options, workforce development, and community education classes and is host to the NECC Police Academy, MassHire Merrimack Valley, and Gallaudet University’s Regional Center for the deaf and hard of hearing. Visit Northern Essex online at necc.edu.
About Green Flower
Founded in 2014, Green Flower is the industry leader in cannabis education, empowering thousands of consumers, regulators, and professionals with the knowledge they need to succeed in the emerging cannabis industry today. Green Flower’s content and technology platform powers the cannabis programs of top universities and colleges across the country, provides customized learning and compliance solutions for cannabis businesses of all sizes, and equips individuals with the skills and credentials necessary to make an impact in the modern cannabis industry.