PRESQUE ISLE – Pattison Sign Group, one of the world’s largest sign companies with six manufacturing facilities, including one at the Loring Commerce Center in Limestone, has contributed $15,000 to the Campaign for the County’s College, the major gifts campaign currently under way by Northern Maine Community College and the NMCC Foundation.
Contributed photo
PATTISON SIGN GROUP representatives recently visited the Northern Maine Community College campus to meet with College officials and to present the first contribution of a three-year pledge totaling $15,000 to the Campaign for the County’s College. Presenting the check on behalf of the Pattison Sign Group were, from left: Bill Ossenfort, assistant production manager; Richard Lebel, production manager; Mona Levesque, human resource coordinator; and Hermel Landry, director of human resources. Accepting the contribution were, from left: Timothy Crowley, NMCC president; Raynold Gauvin, chair of the NMCC Foundation Board; Brian Hamel, tri-chair of the major gifts campaign and Foundation Board member; and Carl Flora, major gifts campaign leadership team member and Foundation Board member.
Pattison company representatives from the Edmundston, New Brunswick and Limestone facility recently visited NMCC to meet with College, Foundation and Campaign officials and to present their first installment of a three-year pledge commitment. The initial $5,000 gift was designated to assist NMCC in funding areas of greatest need.
“Northern Maine Community College plays an integral role in the success of businesses in the region by providing education and training to the workforce of Aroostook County,” said Hermel J. Landry, Pattison Sign Group director of human resources. “Pattison Sign Group is pleased to support the Campaign for the County’s College. Our contribution will help many students and our employees for years to come.”
Pattison has roots dating back to 1904 and currently employs 800 people at facilities in the United States and Canada. In addition to six manufacturing facilities, the company has 19 sales and service locations throughout North America.
The contribution to the NMCC major gifts campaign underscores the commitment to the people and economic development of the region by the relatively new business to Aroostook County.
“Pattison Sign Group has been a valued addition to our business community and we are honored with its early and substantial commitment to higher education. We have been able to tailor programs to meet Pattison’s employee training needs, which in turn have created skilled, quality jobs for our graduates. We are looking forward to partnering with the Pattison Sign Group as it expands its operations at Loring and we are very appreciative of its support for the Campaign for the County’s College,” said Brian Hamel, tri-chair for NMCC’s major gifts campaign and member of the College Foundation Board.
The Campaign for the County’s College, named to reflect both the impact of the NMCC campus in the region, as well as how the College community mirrors the aspirations of Aroostook was launched in February 2007 to raise $2 million in one year to both support student scholarships and instructional technology, as well as to assist the College in new and ongoing efforts to respond promptly to community needs.
The three funds supported with gifts raised through the campaign include the Accessing Opportunity Fund, which allows the College Foundation to provide financial assistance through endowed scholarships and awards to deserving students; the Investing in Innovation Fund, a technology endowment fund that will ensure the college can keep pace with changing instructional technology; and the College and Community Advancement Fund, provides an immediate source of funding, allowing NMCC to launch new curricula and respond promptly to evolving community needs.
