Creativity Conference

Fashion Speaker Series: Kathy Healey & Healey Wear

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By Pinn Duong

(This is part 1 of a two-part blog, each section features a guest speaker at The Fashion Program Speaker Series at GCC on March 4, 2020.)

Kathy Healey is the creator and owner of 22-year-old custom window treatment design firm, Healey Wear, in Rochester, NY. In addition to window treatments, her firm also expands to other parts of home interiors, including cushions, pillows, quilts and occasionally clothing alteration.

Beside window treatments and home interiors, Healey also worked on clothing alteration. She often paralleled working on clothing alteration as being similar to an autoparts mechanic, “Clothing alteration can sometimes be tedious, but very interesting. It’s taking something apart, seeing how it’s made, fixing it and putting it back in a better way. The biggest and best compliment I get from people is when they say, ‘Wow, how did you do that!’ making me feel like a magician.

She has also been a content creator by publishing two articles for Sew News Magazine, and another one for Threads Magazine. 

“My first publication for Sew News was my 13th submission; I submitted around 12 different ideas before my submission was picked. If you want to do this kind of work, just as other types of creators or inventors, you gotta have a tough skin. And whenever you face rejection, you have to say to yourself, ‘Okay, I’m gonna keep going, I’m gonna keep going.’ After my third submission, I told my son ‘I’m a content creator now, isn’t that cool!’ “

Workspaces inside her home include a second-floor sewing studio, a second-floor fitting room and a basement workroom. Healey discussed in details different aspects and tips of working from home. “Sometimes, a customer comes in with their wedding gown, then her mother comes and then another member of their family, and that’s three cars without parking spaces,” she recalls. “Whether it’s home or company, communication is important not just to your customers but also your own family members.”

Another thing you have to be aware of is your home and property needs to look nice and be kept up. Keep your home/work setting professional, you can’t be mowing a lawn when somebody comes to try on their dresses… “

Working from home allows you a flexible schedule, but somewhat limits your networking opportunities. “We’re always hungry; we’re always looking for what’s our next job. American Sewing Guild has been a great networking source of friends, sewing enthusiasts, and knowledge. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with what’s the latest change in shades, updated safety rules; sometimes I run out of blinding, or interfacing… By coming together and working with other women in this group, we find ways to help each other.”

Networking also happened informally. My younger son was very active in high school musicals theatre groups. When the local costume-making community knew I could sew, they liked me a lot,” she laughed. “Doing costume work is another wacky way to learn how to sew. It’s also a nice way of helping and volunteering for the community.”

Does Learning Style actually exist?

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I am a skeptic at heart and I accept nothing at face value. I have always been the ultimate truth-seeker. I love slaughtering a sacred cow with facts, logic and peer-reviewed evidence. Just because the vast majority of people hold a particular belief it does not make it true. Remember at one point we all used to believe that the earth is the center of the Universe or the earth is only a few thousand years old. No amount of belief/faith makes anything true. Wise people change their deeply held belief with new information. I always wondered if learning style actually exist and if I am wasting hundreds of dollars every semester paying for software and companies to figure out my learning style. Then, my favorite history instructor showed us a TedxTalk video on “Learning styles and the importance of critical self-reflection” by Dr. Tesia Marshik. Dr. Tesia Marshik is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Please watch the full TedTalk video and check the peer-reviewed scientific study I cited here before rejecting the fact that learning style actually does not exist.

I will quote Dr. Tesia here. “The belief in learning styles is so widespread, it is considered to be common sense. Few people ever challenge this belief, which has been deeply ingrained in our educational system. Teachers are routinely told that in order to be effective educators, they must identify and cater to individual students’ learning styles; it is estimated that around 90% of students believe that they have a specific learning style but research suggests that learning styles don’t actually exist! This presentation focuses on debunking this myth via research findings, explaining how/why the belief in learning styles is problematic and examining the reasons why the belief persists despite the lack of evidence.” Furthermore, Dr. Tesia explains to us that learning is the same regardless of how the content is presented to you. Most of what you learn is stored in terms of meaning. The best way to learn or teach something depends on the content itself. Suppose if you need to memorize and identify how different insects look like then the best way to learn that is to photos of different insects. Now if I ask you to memorize the sound of different insects then the best way to learn would be to hear the sound. It is not because you are a visual or auditory learner. Many things can be taught using multiple senses.

Another peer-reviewed scientific research concluded that “there is no adequate evidence base to justify incorporating learning styles assessments into general educational practice.” Lastly, Dr. Tesia states reasons we must stop believing in learning styles. It is a waste of time and valuable educational resources. Teachers already have an enormous task of accommodating all students of different backgrounds, abilities, disabilities, motivations, and interest. The fact that learning style does not matter should be a relief for teachers. It is one less thing teachers need to worry about. The US colleges can no longer afford to waste time and resources trying to promote learning style when there is no evidence that it actually helps to learn. Especially, when there are other research-supported strategies that do impact learning. Moreover, labeling yourself as a particular learner can be dangerously misleading. It prevents you from thinking outside the box and trying out other strategies. The fact that learning style actually does not exist should be a good news. It means we are all capable of learning in a variety of ways. We are not as limited as we think we are.

I hope you all will examine and question your belief about learning styles after reading this blog post. Happy learning!

Image taken from https://bonniegillespie.com/is-your-learning-style-the-problem/

An Interview with Erica Swiatek of Innovate Faster

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By: Jewel Watters, Fashion Merchandising Major

I interviewed our keynote speaker for this year’s Creativity Conference that is coming up on Febraury 28th, 2018. If you are looking to learn more about becoming an entrepreneur, and tips and tricks to help you get there, come to the Creativity Conference!

1) What made you want to open up your own business?

Swiatek says that she actually fell into business, she was working for a consulting business in learning and development and creative studies, and she wanted more than that. Swiatek was approached about doing the Escape Room, and she wanted to do assessments, playing and teaching personality problem solving, and taking over just fell into place.

2) What are your responsibilities as a business owner?

Swiatek says that her responsibilities are pretty much all over the place. There is lots of stuff to do every day involving marketing, paying the rent, creating the Escape Room classes, and usual day to day stuff.

3) What is one piece of advice you would give to someone wanting to become an entrepreneur?

Swiatek says that you should always make sure that you are really passionate about it, because it involves a lot of day to day stuff that you are not going to love, and you will feel like this is not what you wanted, her piece of advice is to always be realistic.

4) How do you exhibit your creativity?

Swiatek says that she exhibits her creativity through playfulness. She tries to be an ambassador at play, she likes to play first learn second. She says it gives her such a different experience, and that she still plays with a slinky toy, always has fun colored nail polish, and likes to showcase her playfulness.

 

Experience the Creativity Conference This Semester!

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By: Jewel Watters, Fashion Merchandising Major

When you were growing up, did you ever look around at all the businesses around your local town when your mother was driving you around, and think ‘owning my own business might be a fun thing to do’? You probably were also thinking that owning your own business will make you lots of money, fame, and a big nice house to live in. Well, what if I could tell you that there is a chance to learn more about what being an entrepreneur really is, and what it can do for you if you choose to pursue entrepreneurship?

Next month on Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 in the Conable Technology Building at Genesee Community College’s Batavia campus, the Business program will be hosting a ‘Creativity in the Entrepreneurial Zone’ Conference to inspire people to become entrepreneurs. This conference will have a keynote speaker, multiple breakouts with lots of speakers from different industries, and will also have a continental breakfast, and lunch. Registration will be beginning at 8:15 am, and the conference will start at 9 am with a keynote speaker.

Our keynote speaker will be Erica Swiatek, who is an entrepreneur from a company called Innovate Faster, she is also the one who does the Escape Room activities you have probably heard about. We are also hoping that Erica will demonstrate some of these escape room activities to the students here. Swiatek blends the stuff she knows best into activities, courses, and programs for other people to enjoy. These activities, courses, and programs are all about innovation, professional development, change management and team building.

Come one, come all! Housing Survey!

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housing batavia

Hey y’all! It’s time to participate in something. Let your voice be heard in this online survey. Basically, it’s a survey given by Genesee County and they’re trying to decide what type of housing and additions to add to Batavia!

If you or someone you know would like to participate in helping the town of Batavia develop and grow, please fill out this short 11 answer questionnaire given in the link below. It has to be in by the 17th of November.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XZBVSXP

Thanks and have a great day!

Exciting news on the Creativity Conference!

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We are steadily preparing for the conference in April. Here are two of our speakers, to look forward to listening to at the event! Stay tuned for more updates!

Joe
Joe Ziolkowski (Jacksonville, FL, United States) received a Masters of Science in Education, Concentration: Art Education from Nazareth College of Rochester. A Master of Fine Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He is currently Assistant Professor of Photography and Art at SUNY Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY, where he is also SUNY COIL Nodal Network Coordinator. While at SUNY GCC he has also curated a variety of faculty and student photography and art exhibitions, including  “Crime Scene”, “My Pinhole Photography / Mi Fotografía Estenopeica”, “The Land Of Our Land”, “Of This Earth – Cliché Verre”, “Tableau”, “Art Matters”, “Community”, “Clue”, “Environmental Portraits of Western New York”, “Digital/Draw” & “The Sustainable Still Life Photography Exhibit.” He has taught at Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Monroe Community College, Center for Creative Studies (Detroit), Barat College (Lake Forest, Illinois), and in Chicago at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College, and the American Academy of Art. He has been awarded summer artist residencies at Paul ArtSpace, St. Louis, Missouri, 2016, Jentel Foundation, Banner, Wyoming, 2013, Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, Saratoga, Wyoming, 2012, English Harbour Arts Centre, English Harbour, Newfoundland, 2011 and Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, Ithaca, New York, 2010. His work has been widely exhibited, nationally and internationally and he is the author of two monographs, Walking the Line (1992) and Pressure (1997).

Maria

Maria Pesin is a senior apparel industry executive with an outstanding history of achievement and over 25 years of field experience. She has developed brands from the ground up and taken well-known names to new heights of excellence. Her proven leadership ability has led her to spearhead marketing operations and construct and implement business plans for New York apparel giants like Fleet Street and GIII Apparel Group building multi-million dollar brands. She has established herself as an expert in everything from merchandising and sales to product development and budgeting. Maria is passionate about the apparel industry and dedicated to working with up-and- coming enterprises that are as devoted to the trade as she is. She takes great pleasure developing close ties with the people she works with and loves sharing the knowledge she has gained over the years as an apparel executive. Establishing new businesses, growing existing businesses and bringing new fashion trends into the marketplace is what she enjoys most about her job.

By Mariah Paddock, Marketing Intern for Director of Business Programs

Creativity is…

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By Mariah Paddock, Marketing Intern for Director of Business Programs

Need inspiration to create something new or solve a problem? Are you stuck in your thinking? The solution is creativity! When was the last time you had a great idea?

Ever heard of the Mona Lisa? Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal. It was created by Leonardo da Vinci over 500 years ago, He IS the master of creativity! He still inspires us today.

Leonardo was a Renaissance man, meaning he did many things. While being a master painter, he was also a military engineer, mathematician, scientist, architect, and the list goes on. Without the creativity and intelligence that he brought into the world, our lives today would be very different.

Leonardo da Vinci was absolutely incredible and no one really knows why…

He is the reason we wonder!

To celebrate his greatness and creativity, GCC annually hosts a Creativity Conference to celebrate Leonardo di Vinci’s birthday! This year we are recognizing 565 years of excellence. Our theme is, “The Future of__________” you fill in the blank! Some of the topics that will be discussing this year include:

The Future of … 

  •   Fashion & Retailing
  • Education
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Journalism
  • Agriculture
  • Travel & Tourism

The 4th annual Creativity Conference will be Tuesday, April 18th, 2017, in the Conable Technology Building. The event includes coffee, continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and even swag bags. We will even have a cake to celebrate Leo’s birthday!

Stay tuned for more updates on the conference…

or contact Dr. Lina LaMattina at lmlamattina@genesee.edu for more information.