Author: gccblogs

Student Support Services Visit Local Business

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By: Christi Lotempio

Celina and Erin from Student Support Services arranged a tour of T-Shirts Ect in Batavia. This is a T-Shirt company located at 37 Center Street in Batavia, or mytshirtsect.com. The company offers screen printing, canvas prints, wall graphics, embroidery, Decals, Banner and so much more. The owner, Brian Kemp, was a graduate of SUNY GCC.

Our group was able to walk through the entire business to view the printing and the embroidery being completed at the time of our tour. We learned about everything from taking a customer’s order, how the T-Shirt is printed or embroidered, and their checks and balance system. Mr.Kemp was very informative and gave us many tips on running an effective business. Some of the most important things he noted were networking, providing great customer service and being honest (The Golden Rule). He was able to share with us some of his marketing ideas, such as the wooden coin (if you find one and you return it to T-Shirt Ect – you get a free T-shirt!) and the logo printed on the sleeve of the left arm of a shirt. He was able to give us a complete outline of being an entrepreneur, and encouraged to think outside of the box to make your company stand out.

Not only was the tour fun but we all got our own shirts. Thanks for the T-Shirts Mr.Kemp!!

Thoughts on Genesee Community College

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By: Fashion Intern Mariah Paddock

Every Wednesday in Advertising class, students participate in workshop Wednesday. Students are put into groups and are given a topic and are asked to brainstorm different advertisements and ideas. In today’s class, November 9th, students watched the new video, recorded by Forest Production and Photography, about Genesee Community College alumni, their stories and what they thought of GCC. The video had the end message about GCC; “We’ll take you where you want to go!” The video went back and forth from students in the college now and then would showcase alumni in between. The alumni explained why GCC was the perfect decision and where they are now. The video also said, “GCC can enrich your life.”

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After watching the video, current GCC students in Advertising class were asked to come up with ideas of what they think about Genesee Community College. Students came up with multiple ideas, stating the different benefits and opportunities GCC has to offer. They listed concepts such as hands on experience, diverse students, small class sizes and supportive professors. One student said, “GCC gets you started in a friendly environment where everyone is accepting of each other.” Another team came up with an advertisement showing a person daydreaming, saying “Just as I imagined; great people, personal, affordable” (shown below). Students overall agreed that Genesee was the perfect step up in “getting your foot in the door” and digging deeper in your interests and desired careers.

Students at GCC aren’t afraid to get involve and use the opportunities that Genesee gives them. GCC gets you ready for your future and makes you feel welcome and comfortable with whatever you are doing. The success level of graduates at Genesee Community College continues to grow. Don’t forget that, “We’ll take you where you want to go!”

If you wish to watch the alumni video the link is below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdE5Qm2KwmE&feature=youtu.be

Tourism & Hospitality Management Students Enjoy Industry Conference at RIT

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By: Denzel Flowers – Tourism & Hospitality Management Student

On October 28th, the Tourism & Hospitality Managements students joined other tourism students from Finger Lakes Community College, Monroe Community College and RIT at the 11th Annual Hospitality Symposium held at RIT. This year’s topic was “Legally Speaking”.

Karen Morris, a SUNY distinguished Professor and Brighton Town Judge was one of the day’s speakers. She writes a column in Hotel Management Magazine called “Legally Speaking” and she shared real cases of hospitality lawsuits with the students. She shared outcomes and best practices by industry leaders such as P.F. Chang’s and major hotel chains. She reviewed dozens of cases and their results in the last two months.

Tony Terradas, a Senior Account Manager for NEXT! Ad Agency presented a segment entitled “Reputation Management after an Issue” in which he showed how social media can be a tool to manage a company’s reputation both before and after legal issues.

A delicious lunch was provided by the RIT Hospitality Students at Henry’s Restaurant in the George Eastman Building. RIT students develop menus, prepare the food and operate Henry’s Restaurant as part of their classroom learning.

* The Genesee Community College Tourism & Hospitality students also benefit from membership in the Travel Club. They will be traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada to further enhance their studies of the tourism and hospitality industry. They will experience and learn first-hand the ways of the industry from some of the most world renowned hotel conglomerates such as MGM Mirage, Bellagio, and Treasure Island. Denzel Flowers, and Breonna Thomas are two students that are members of the GCC Travel Club selling raffel tickets to fund raise to help pay for their trip to Las Vegas. For more information on how to support the travel club’s fund raising please contact Denzel or Breonna at dflower1@my.genesee.edu ; Bthomas4@genesee.edu

Fashion Speaker Series: David Zyla

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By: Fashion Intern Mariah Paddock

davidzyla

Genesee Community College had the honor of hosting Emmy Award Winner, David Zyla on campus for the second time. In three years, he won his Emmy for styling a soap opera, All My Children. David is also the author of three books, How to Win at Shopping, Color Your Style, and The Color of Style. Some students were chosen as project managers to have lunch with him and also gave him a tour of the college. David Zyla started out styling his parents, who quickly realized he had a special talent. His parents enrolled him in painting and drawing classes, and his creative talent continued to flourish throughout his childhood. After high school, he attended NYU for costume design. While designing costumes for Broadway productions, people would ask him, “why do you put him/her in that specific color?” He would tell them that it was just supposed to be that way. David has a gift of teaching people what colors are right for them. He says, “notice it in you” and “your color is a map of you and your personality.”

If you are attracted to one specific color, David advises you to buy multiple pieces of clothing in that same color. One of his color tips is to look at the color of your veins on your wrist, the blue, purple or green is your dramatic color, which will make you stand out. The color of your finger tip when you push it, is an orange/red color, which will be that shade that looks best on you. David Zyla has dressed several different celebrities, including Hillary Clinton when she was the first lady. After this endeavor, he went into the television industry. He is currently styling for television shows, commercials and is working with private clients. His end goal for each private client is making them feel like themselves in their clothes. David says, “Clothes are clothes, they were meant to showcase you.”

When finding a new wardrobe for clients he starts in their closets. If you have something in your closet that you hate, don’t look for that in the store. If you absolutely love something, and it brings you happiness, then it is okay to splurge. Another tip is knowing why you love or hate a piece of clothing. The color, fabric, fit, length, or neck line that you love or hate is essential when deciding what to shop for. After all, you are building a wardrobe to showcase you! David tells us that we should always have a game plan when going shopping, don’t have a vague idea, know exactly what to look for. Use strategic shopping; leave more than one hour to shop, go alone, and turn the cell phone off. Know that department stores are designed to keep you in the store and shop longer. The most expensive items are displayed on the right as soon as you enter the store, lower priced items are to the left. The register add-ons are put there to make you buy on first instinct. When it comes to the fitting rooms, it is all about finding your perfect match and size. Take more than one size into the dressing room if you aren’t sure about your size.

Throughout David’s styling career he has learned that jeans are one of the hardest things to find the perfect pair for clients. He says, “A tip when finding the right pair of jeans, is in the fitting room, sit down in them. If they are uncomfortable then they aren’t the ones.” It is also important to know when and how to splurge on things like formal wear, handbags and coats because they will be used over and over, and on a good pair of pants. Mr. David Zyla is a friend of the GCC Fashion Business program. He generously invites us annually to attend his Fashion Speaker Series at the National Arts Club when we visit New York City in October.

zylaandstudents.pngJulia Bailey, David Zyla, Mariah Paddock

GCC Plaid Rockin’ The Campus!

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By: Mariah Paddock – Fashion Business Program

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Genesee Community College has created their own plaid that has even been officially registered by the Scottish Register of Tartans. For the textile aspect, the GCC plaid is a twill weave, which can be easily identified by the diagonal lines. Our GCC school colors are also official Pantone colors. The blue color is the Pantone 2945 C and the yellow color is the Pantone 117 C. The plaid has been steadily moving through the college, starting with the fabric, shown above. Official GCC Plaid neck ties, bow ties, and scarves were produced in the 2015-2016 school year. The introduction of the plaid was a success, and is continuing to flourish into the 2016-2017 school year. We have introduced GCC Plaid socks and we are in the process of getting t-shirts, as well.

plaidgcc

Students, in the fashion program are eager to get involved in different activities within the school. We are even willing to help advertise to increase awareness of the official GCC Plaid. Students have combined their efforts by posting on social media, blogging, and even making ad campaigns, seen below. We have graciously given the plaid away at different events to guests of honor and others who have taken time to help the students learn about the fashion industry. During our New York City trip in October 2015, we gave the plaid neck ties, bow ties and scarves to the people in the industry, including former alumni, as gifts. They were telling their stories to students and giving them tips about making it in the fashion industry. Students have also given the plaid to guest speakers that are part of the Fashion Speaks Series at the GCC Batavia campus, one being the Emmy Award winning fashion stylist, David Zyla.

Giving the plaid to these special people showcases the fashion students’ appreciation for their participation in helping them succeed.

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Students are always using social media to spread the word about the work they are doing or events that are happening at Genesee Community College. The hashtags are a perfect way to stay connected with each other and get the word out on an international level. While in New York City the fashion students used the hashtag #GCCinNYC. Now, with the plaid, we ask everyone to post pictures of themselves in the GCC Plaid and hashtag it, #GCCPlaid.

plaiddisplay

The GCC Plaid is also on display in the Alfred C. O’Connell Library, featuring a vest, kilt, socks and scarf, seen above. The vest and kilt in the display was created by Professor Donna Ehrhart. Design students are in the process of making their own plaid vests and other items in the official plaid. Currently the GCC Plaid socks are for sale in the Math and Science Suite for $10. Stay tuned for the GCC Plaid Logo t-shirts that are coming soon!

Don’t forget to follow us on social media @trendygcc

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Our Neighbor Christopher Thorpe

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By: Denzel Flowers – Tourism & Hospitality Management student

On October 17, 2016 Christopher Thorpe, General Manager of Darien Lake Theme Park, visited Mr. Dudkowski’s Professional Sales class at Genesee Community College. Chris spoke about his passion for the amusement park industry and how it has shaped who he is today.

chris-denzel

While presenting to the class, Chris touched upon many of the topics and tactics that we learn about in sales class and told us how they have been and always will be used in the real world.

Chris talked about some of the missed opportunities that many of us are faced with in our day-to-day lives. He says that when we are faced with a troublesome situation, try to put the best of you into the situation and create the best outcome possible.

He also went on to say that the type of attitude that an individual has in the world is a make-or-break factor. He says that he looks for Highly Energetic, Attentive, Responsible (HEAR) people. The golden rule should be used when it comes to dealing with a situation, treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Chris also talked about giving back to the community. By giving back to Genesee County and appreciating the community that you are in is how everyone lives a bit better and you know you are making a difference.

*Mr. Denzel Flowers is a current student majoring in Tourism & Hospitality Management at Genesee Community College and is an aquatic supervisor at Darien Lake. Denzel also is active with GCC’s athletic department and a member of the travel club. Along with swimming and diving for the college, Denzel is also selling raffle tickets for a trip to Las Vegas with the Genesee Community College Travel Club. For more information on how to support the travel club’s fund raising please contact Denzel at dflower1@my.genesee.edu

Mind Altering Drugs

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By: Lauren Mye

As a follow-up to the survey conducted last month, here is an overview of mind-altering drugs.

Did you know?

In the ‘50s and ‘60s, the US government tested acid on people—yep, American and Canadian citizens—without their knowledge.

Have you ever heard of MK-UlTRA?

It is referred to as the CIA’s mind control program, where they experimented on humans from 1953-1964. The experiments were intended to identify and develop drugs and procedures to be used in interrogations and torture, in order to weaken the individual to force confessions through mind control. In one incident, an army scientist was dosed with a huge amount of the drug and later ended up leaping out a 10th story window to his death. The supposed reason for the clandestine experiments was to gain a better understanding of the drug that agents believed the Soviets and other Communist countries were using to brainwash captured Americans.

So, what are hallucinogens?

They are drugs that distort your perception of reality. They can cause you to see, feel and hear things that don’t exist, making it hard to communicate or think clearly. They can also cause rapid, intense emotional mood swings. Some occur naturally and others are made in laboratories. Some examples of hallucinogens include LSD, mushrooms, mescaline and PCP

LSD:
LSD is one of the most potent mood- and perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. It is a clear or white, odorless, water-soluble material synthesized from lysergic acid, a compound derived from a rye fungus. LSD users call an LSD experience a “trip” typically lasting approximately twelve hours.

Effects: unpredictable, depending on the amount taken, it could be a distorted high or a paranoid low.

  • Changes in body temperature
  • Blood pressure and heart rate fluctuations
  • Loss of appetite
  • Sleepiness
  • Dry mouth
  • Tremors
  • Extreme changes in mood

Mushrooms:
Mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a hallucinogenic substance are called “Magic Mushrooms.” A person can eat these mushrooms, brew a tea with them, mix them with other foods or, as some people do to mask their bitter taste, coat them with chocolate and then eat them. Approximately 30 minutes after being taken, their hallucinogenic effects can start.

Effects: A person’s perceptions of color, sound and light may change. Surfaces may seem to move or ripple. Moving object may seem to have visible trails that linger behind them. Psilocybin does create tolerance, meaning that more of the mushrooms must be used to get the same effect after a while. Other than tolerance, the mushrooms do not appear to be physically addictive. A person can become psychologically addicted to this drug, however.

  • Nausea
  • Muscle weakness

Mescaline:
Mescaline is a hallucinogen obtained from the cactus Peyote. The top of the cactus consists of disc-shaped buttons that are cut from the roots and dried. These buttons are generally chewed or soaked in water to produce an intoxicating liquid. It lasts about 12 hours.

Effects:

  • Visual hallucinations
  • Altered states of consciousness
  • Occasional feelings of anxiety
  • Open and closed eye visualizations
  • Euphoria
  • Dream like state
  • Laughter and a psychedelic experience
  • Racing heartbeat
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache

PCP:
It is available in a variety of tablets, capsules, and colored powders, which are either taken orally or snorted. The liquid form of PCP is actually PCP base dissolved most often in ether, a highly flammable solvent. For smoking, PCP is typically sprayed onto leafy material such as mint, parsley, oregano, or marijuana. PCP may also be injected.

Effects:

  • Numbness of extremities
  • Feelings of detachment
  • Slurred speech
  • Loss of coordination
  • Psychological dependence
  • craving
  • Memory Loss
  • Difficulties with speech and learning
  • Depression
  • Weight Loss

Drug Survey Followup

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By: Lauren Mye

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey. This information will help me to organize my blog into certain topics. The topic with the most interest was hallucinogens, with opiates not being too far behind. I will be writing my next blog based on information about hallucinogens.

Some other topics that people wrote down that they were interested in included, Meth, Date Rape Drugs, LSD, Heroin, Ecstasy, effects drugs have on you, abuse, family member effects, steroids, birth effects of drugs, smoking, and addiction recovery. I am really glad to see that people are interested in learning more than just the basics. I will be sure to include some of these topics mixed in within the upcoming blogs.

Did you know??
In the ‘50s and ‘60s, the US government tested acid on people—yep, American citizens—without their knowledge.

Learn more in my next blog.

Welcome Lauren Mye

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LaurenMyeBloggerSpring2016

Hello Blog Sphere!

As my first blog, I thought I would share just some brief highlights about my background and then information about the special project I’m working on.

  • I’m from Alden, NY –  a small town near Buffalo.
  • At GCC, I’m a General Studies/ Liberal Arts major and I’ll graduate in Fall 2016.
  • After graduation, I plan on transferring to a four year school for Nursing. I am currently taking nursing courses here that will transfer over to a four year college.
  • I’m in the Honors Program here at GCC, and I am currently working on my enriched course project, which I have described below.
  • I chose to come to GCC because I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted my major to be
    right out of high school. I was also thinking about interior design.
  • My favorite part of GCC is all of the wonderful people that I have met, friends and
    professors. They have all contributed to a great experience so far.
  • I spent my senior year in high school interning at a doctor’s office. It was a great
    experience and it allowed me to learn more about the health field before diving into a
    Nursing major.

Did you know? …Alcohol kills more teenagers than all other drugs combined. It is a factor
in the three leading causes of death among 15 to 24 year olds: accidents, homicides
and suicides. Abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costly to our nation, exacting
more than $700 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and
health care.

This first blog is to inform you about a survey that was distributed in the Forum
last week. (Candy passed out to those who participated in the survey as an incentive).

The survey was based on the class that I am currently in, Alcohol / Drug Use and Abuse. This blog will be based on the topic of drug and alcohol abuse, focusing on what the survey says that everyone is interested in learning about. The reason I am writing this blog is to inform people about alcohol and drug facts. The survey was a few quick questions in order to find out some basic information and give me a basis on what people are most interested in learning. One of the questions asked participants to rate five basic topics based on their interests. Please stay tuned for the results!

The Innovation Zone

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A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go with the CEO Club to the Innovation Zone that is part of the GCEDC (Genesee County Economic Development Center), located across the street in the MedTech Building. In one of their state-of-the-art conference rooms, we meet with the Vice President of Business Development for the GCEDC, Christopher Suozzi. He gave us insight on what they do over at the Innovation Center, part of which is helping businesses get started. People who are looking to start up their company can come in with their business plans and learn how to take it from an idea to a reality. There is space in the Innovation Zone that new companies can use for meetings, video conferences, and workspace while they are looking for their own office space to start up. GCEDC also has land that they have already developed, complete with water lines, so that companies can come in and start to build their buildings and get to work quicker. Allowing multiple businesses to start in the same location creates an industrial park which, in turn, creates more job opportunities for people from Rochester to Buffalo. In summary, GCEDC entices companies to come and start their companies here by having land ready, being located in a convenient area ( between to major cities, Rochester and Buffalo) and by giving companies incentives and tax breaks for 10 years.

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Brian Bell was a guest speaker who also talked with us about being an entrepreneur and shared his own experiences as one. He is the Chief Executive Officer for First Wave Products Group, LLC. His company works on medical accounts; he said he listens to ideas that people or students have, discerns which are good, and helps get funding to make their idea possible. One of the things his company is responsible for is the “First Crush” which automatically turns pills into powder- He described it to us as a Keurig for pills. This idea came from an individual from the University at Buffalo.

When Brian talked to us about being an entrepreneur, he told us how everyone has ideas but it takes someone who is truly passionate about something to be able to execute that idea and turn it into something real. Then he and Chris turned it over to all of us in the club and asked if any of us had ideas or passions that we could turn into a business. Some of us shared our ideas of how we would take something that already exists and make it better for the environment. Some of us were working on creating something entirely new. Personally, I would like to open my own event planning company someday. Both Chris and Brian gave me advice on how to achieve my goal- they said that I should absorb as much experience as I could before opening my own business. That way, if I made a mistake, I would be able to learn from it for the future.

-Lilia Kesterke