Fall 2011 - Central Virginia Community College

The Educational Foundation Report
by Don Sutton, Executive Director
Alumni Update, continued from page 15
husband Drew is stationed at MCRD
Parris Island. In addition to running
her own freelance business, Photos by
Misty Smith, the Smiths have been busy
building their family. Daughter Keeley
was born in March 2009 and son Jaxon
arrived in May 2011. With 2 dogs and 2
cats, the Smiths have a happy houseful!
Jennifer Michelle (Krantz)
Tramontano ’08 earned her AAS
degree in Communication Design.
On August 21, 2009, she married
her husband Henry, a native of New
York, and was blessed with a beloved
stepson, Joseph. Last May, daughter
Ella Mae arrived at UVa. hospital.
After a scary start, she finally came
home from the hospital at three
months, and has grown and thrived
ever since. Jennifer is a happy stayat-home
mom, living in Hurt, VA.
Jennifer Tramontano
with daughter Ella, son
Joseph and husband
Henry (above). At right,
Ella at one year.
Brittani Lynn Gowen ’09 received
her AAS degree in Communication
Design. Right after graduation, she
won the Lynchburg Get Downtown!
competition and created the logo used
for the event. Brittani went on to work
at The Realty Group as the Marketing
Director, where she designed, created,
sold ads for and produced The Realty
Group Magazine bi-montly, as well
as handling photography and virtual
tours for the company. This past spring,
Brittani moved
to Charlottesville
after being hired
as a graphic
designer at The
Daily Progress.
Veronica
L. Torres ’09
earned her
AAS degree in
Communication
Design. A native
of Argentina,
Veronica
relocated to
Charlottesville,
where she works
in Ad Design
for FORWARD/ADELANTE, Virginia’s
first bilingual business journal. Her
photography has also been featured
on several covers of the publication.
She wants her fellow alumni and
current students to know that you
can get work in your field, even
in a difficulty economy, if you
work hard, and don’t give up!
A cover of Forward/Adelante
magazine, featuring photography
by Veronica L. Torres.
2010’s
Kathleen A. Fort ’10 received
an AAS degree in Communication
Design. She also received a BA in
Studio Art from Randolph College in
2010. Through her freelance company,
Sassy Horse Design, Kathleen has
created logos, print and web designs
for several businesses in Central and
Southwest Virginia. She was hired
this summer as a graphic designer at
Payne Publishers, Inc. Kathleen
lives in Manassas Park, VA.
James Evan Puckett ’10
earned his AAS degree in
Communication Design. In
addition to his own freelance
business, Puckett Photography
& Design, Evan served as the
Marketing Director for A & N
Hops, LLC, creating marketing
collateral for Ned’s Beer & Wine,
Rivermont Pizza, and Fainting
Goat Catering Company. In
April, Evan joined Fabrico,
where he designs bags, shirts
and other textiles for the
corporate environment. He
also is involved in advertising
campaigns, product photography
and the company catalog.
In Memoriam
Donald Wayne Tosi ’72 earned
an AAS in Business from CVCC. He
was president of the CVCC Alumni
Association and served as the chief
alumnus for many years before passing
away on May 29, 2011. He was selected
as the CVCC Outstanding Alumnus
of the year in 2003. Mr. Tosi was a
past president of the Cancer Society
and an active committee member of
Lynchburg’s Relay for Life. He was a
member of Peakland United Methodist
Church and a salesman for Southern
Maintenance and Supply Company.
I
first met Don Tosi ’72 during my
interview to join the CVCC staff. Over
the next 14 years I learned a great
deal about the man, who put his school
close to the top of his priorities. During
the ensuing years we raised money
together for the Alumni Association’s
scholarship program for deserving
children of the College’s alumni.
One of these events was an annual
auction held in
the student center
where we would
auction many
items donated
to the Alumni
Association. The
high point of the
auction was items
donated by Lane
Furniture Company of Altavista.
These were the years when Jimmy
Martin ’67 was the plant manager.
Many a Lane cedar chest was taken
home by a successful bidder.
When Lane closed its doors, the
Alumni Association was challenged
to find a new source of funds. What
sprung forth was the CVCC Alumni
Open at Ivy Hill Golf Club. Don was
the chief auctioneer, presenter and
got a free round of golf to boot.
During the College’s annual
commencement week, the Alumni
Association hosted a picnic for that
year’s graduating class. Alumni
volunteers sought donations of
bread, coleslaw, ice cream and soft
drinks from local venders to feed
the masses of that year’s class. The
newly elected Outstanding Alumnus
would speak to the class and Don
would add his thoughts urging the
graduates to go forth and flourish.
His message was that at one point
he had stood in their shoes.
At commencement May 15, 2003,
Don was recognized as CVCC’s
Outstanding Alumnus, an award he
certainly deserved. In this capacity
he was the commencement speaker.
Now Don was not a natural born public
speaker, but through the grace of
Johnny Merritt and the tutoring of his
wife Deborah, he held forth like a pro.
This past commencement was Don’s
last and we at CVCC miss him. His
devotion to his College was remarkable
and an example to all CVCC alumni.
Board of Directors
Michael Moorshead, President
Michael V. Bradford, Vice President,
Wells Fargo
John S. Capps, Secretary (ex officio),
President, CVCC
John K. Poole, Treasurer (ex officio),
Vice President of Finance, CVCC
Doyle B. Allen, Hurt & Proffitt, Inc.
J. Fredrick Armstrong, Wiley|Wilson
Robert L. Bashore
Jane A. Blickenstaff,
Blickenstaff & Co. Realtors
Clyde T. Clark, Sr.
Lorenza E. Davis, Sr.,
Lynchburg Public Warehouse
John D. Doyle, Jr., The Pettyjohn Company
Gregory A. Graham, Southern Air, Inc.
Larry E. Jackson, Appalachian Power
Wayne C. Johnson, C.B. Fleet
William E. Leach, Teva Phamaceuticals
John A. Mastroianni
Steve McElroy, Harris Corporation
Ryan A. McEntire, CPA,
Brown, Edwards & Company, L.L.P.
Zoe S. Miles, GP Big Island LLC
Winfred D. Nash,
Mitchell W. Reaves, N.B. Handy
J. Todd Scruggs, The Bank of the James
David T. Scott, Greif Riverville, L.L.C.
Michael Syrek, SunTrust
E. W. Tibbs, Centra Health, Inc.
Denise Woernle, AREVA NP, Inc.
Richard B. Worthington, II
Donald M. Sutton, Jr., Executive Director,
(ex officio)
Directors Emeriti:
Clifton L. Barbieri †
James V. Shircliff †
Ronald V. Dolan †
† Deceased
Contact Information
Donald M. Sutton, Jr.
CVCCEF, Inc.
3506 Wards Road
Lynchburg VA 24502
PH. 434.832.7620
FAX 434.832.7761
suttond@cvcc.vccs.edu
16 Central Virginia Community College Fall 2011 Fall 2011 Central Virginia Community College 17