Presenters
Convention attendees will be presented with eight outstanding workshops they can attend to strengthen their leadership and personal skills. Here is a little information about our distinguished presenters:
Workshop Session I
Liz Alcock is chair of the Communication and Liberal Arts Department at Bristol Community College in Massachusetts, where she specializes in teaching communications courses. She is a member of the Southeastern New England chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and holds degrees in Marketing and Communication Management. Liz is known for her enthusiasm in the classroom and her dedication to working with students to help them become better with promotion and professional communication.
Michelle Nickerson is Southern Vice President for the New England Region and president of the Alpha Upsilon Alpha chapter at Manchester Community College in Connecticut. An Accounting and Business Administration major, she accepted membership into Phi Theta Kappa in 2005 and previously served as Media Coordinator and Vice President for her chapter. Michelle has presented at multiple New England Region events and works with chapters regularly to help them develop and improve their membership acceptance campaigns.
Katie Paska is Northern Vice President for the New England Region and Vice President of Fellowship for the Alpha Kappa Upsilon chapter at Massasoit Community College in Massachusetts. A Human Services major, Katie accepted membership into Phi Theta Kappa in 2006 and previously served as an Officer-at-Large for the New England Region. She is an enthusiastic presenter who is exceptionally knowledgable about the Five Star Chapter Development Program and will provide attendees with valuable advice for setting and meeting their Five Star goals.
Raymond Puchot is co-advisor to the Beta Eta Phi chapter at Bristol Community College in Massachusetts and a member of the New England Regional Advisory Board. He is active with the governance of the National Communication Association, a featured speaker for the National Conference on Student Leadership, and a nationally-certified parliamentarian. He is exceptionally active with student life at BCC and speaks regularly to student groups across the nation about leadership, organization, and diversity issues.
Workshop Session II
Brooke Bohannon is Central Vice President for the New England Region and president of the Alpha Iota Nu chapter at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut. She accepted membership into Phi Theta Kappa in 2006 and is majoring in General Studies. As a member of the Alpha Iota Nu chapter, Brooke has been active in several civic engagement initiatives, including working with the United States Coast Guard on environmental issues and helping to increase AIDS awareness in her community. She is looking forward to sharing her enthusiasm for the subject with fellow Phi Theta Kappans.
Marie Cifelli, an active member of NERA since March 2007, was the 2006-2007 president of both the New England Region and the Alpha Upsilon Mu chapter at Cape Cod Community College. Marie was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa in March 2004 and received her Associate’s degree in nursing from CCCC in spring 2007. At the 2007 International Convention in Nashville, Marie was honored as the flagbearer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Diane Hutchins is the second-term president of the New England Regional Alumni Association (NERA) and a member of the New England Regional Advisory Board. She was a two-term regional officer in New England, receiving the Phi Theta Kappa International Distinguished Regional Officer Award in 2004 for her work as regional president. She is a proud alumna of the Alpha Chi Epsilon chapter at NHCTC-Laconia and spreads her love and enthusiasm for Phi Theta Kappa in all that she does.
Laurie Sherman is co-advisor to the Pi Omicron chapter at the Community College of Rhode Island and a member of the New England Regional Advisory Board. An English professor at the college’s Liston campus, Laurie is an advisor to CCRI’s Honors Program and has worked closely with the college’s administration in order to achieve greater support for the Pi Omicron chapter.