Peter Cumbo: Keynote Speaker at the 2015 Creativity Conference

Standard

Untitled.jpgWe are thrilled to announce that the keynote speaker for the 2015 Creativity Conference will be Peter Cumbo, the Owner and President of Cumbo, Inc.

Peter is an award-winning producer, director, and editor. He has produced and directed commercial videos on location throughout North America and around the world, creating work for broadcast, digital distribution, and live events. Peter has done work for the iconic brand New Era Cap and some of the work that he has done for them was recognized on March 7, 2015 when Cumbo, Inc. won four Silver Addy Awards.

In addition to his work in media, Peter offers his expertise as an organizational consultant offering strategic advice, training and practical leadership to business. As a consultant, Peter’s goal is to create and sustain transformative moments, those in which the participants experience encouragement, inspiration, and improvement resulting in lasting change. Take a look at one of the video productions Cumbo, inc. was awarded for and don’t miss the opportunity to hear about the true power of creative thinking!

This blog was contributed by Business Administration Student Chelsey Breuilly.

The Best Decision I’ve Ever Made

Standard

After high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was afraid of the future and the unknown. I felt like I didn’t want to commit to a full college education, yet I was too young to look for a full-time job. As I was trying to decide, I knew time was ticking by; I had to make a decision. One day, I applied to SUNY GCC Arcade because I thought that you couldn’t go wrong with getting a college education. I then chose to major in Tourism & Hospitality Management because I have always enjoyed working in the hospitality industry. It turns out that that was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Professor Kohl (Center)

Professor Kohl (Center)

In my first semester, I took five classes. My two favorite classes were Hotel Operations with Professor Plouffe (professor at Batavia Campus) and Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality with Professor Kohl. Professor Kohl is the Director of Accommodations at Darien Lake. He was the one to teach us the basics and the history of tourism through different projects and homework assignments. One night for homework, we were told to write down our favorite recipe. We all kind of wondered where exactly he was going with that assignment. The next class, we took a little field trip to Tops to find out how much it would cost to make our favorite recipe for a restaurant. It was such a fun way to learn something that is so important in our industry! He also took us to Darien Lake to see the campground, the hotel, and the park. As a student, it’s amazing to be able to see hotels inside and out.

The Del Monte Renaissance Hotel front desk.

The Del Monte Renaissance Hotel front desk.

The best part of Hotel Operations with Professor Plouffe was that we had the opportunity to visit The Del Monte Renaissance Hotel for one of our classes. While we were taking notes there, we ate exquisite food. Afterwards, he took us through the entire hotel: rooms, lobby, restaurant, kitchen, meeting room, laundry room, salon, spa, everything! Professor Plouffe made sure that, by the end of the class, we all had a better understanding of what it takes to operate a hotel. Every professor I’ve had goes above and beyond to help everyone learn what they need to know to be successful in their future.

Lastly, in those two classes, I met two of my best friends. The three of us have been taking classes together ever since. So, little did I know that I was enrolling in the best time of my life. I’ve made two amazing friends, been taught by impeccable adjunct professors that take time out of their busy schedules to share their passion, and I have learned so much all because I applied to SUNY GCC!

This blog was contributed by Tourism & Hospitality Management Student Monica Rubeck.

Battlefield

Standard

With exactly one month left until the 34th annual GCC Fashion Show, titled “Fata Morgana,” one could say the fashion majors have been stricken with anxiety, excitement, and disturbing amounts of caffeine. We no longer understand the meaning of sleep and those relaxing midday talks with our friends over lunch are but a distant memory.

I am no survivor of this epidemic. As a solo scene coordinator for the opening scene I have a lot riding on my shoulders. On top of planning memorable choreography and being a member of the Back of House committee, I am also designing and producing ten unique outfits to send down the runway. The stress level is intense and sleep deprivation has already ensued. Though it is easy to focus on the negatives, the positive vibes heavily outweigh my inhibitions. I’ve known since I was eight years old that I wanted to spend my life as a fashion designer and nothing has changed my mind thus far.

20150322_011838My scene’s title is “Battlefield,” and is motivated by life’s obstacles and the strong women who overcome them. Whether it was illness, the loss of a loved one, or a break up, everyone has conquered something, making them a warrior in life’s battlefield. Much of the artistic inspiration came from personal photographs taken in the Arms and Armory department of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was taken back by the intricacy and attention to detail in each and every piece. Aesthetically, my pieces are very simple and I don’t accessorize, as to not take away from my art. This contradicts the very things that attracted me to my inspiration, but I see it as taking the best parts of my muse and making them mine. Each outfit has a gold piece to symbolize the daily armor we all wear as protection from pain, loss, and vulnerability. I truly believe that I am more than a fashion designer, I am an artist and everything I do should have meaning behind it.

I’ve never been more proud of myself than with the work I’ve done so far in the fashion program. Tears of relief, happiness, and nostalgia will follow my last model off the runway as I step onto it myself to thank all of those who have supported me. What a fantastic way to end my last year at Genesee Community College.

This blog was contributed by Fashion Design Student Amber Coan.

A Stylish Arrival

Standard

A few days ago, a large box arrived on the premises of GCC. This box was sent from the Buffalo David Bitton Showrooms in
NYC. Inside were a variety of clothing items from the Buffalo David Bitton Spring line. Due to the GCC fashion program’s
close relationship to Buffalo David Bitton, and more specifically, PR Director Diane Alexander, we have had the privilege to use new items from the Buffalo David Bitton in three of our fashion shows. From “Fashion Forward”, “Ethereal”, and now “Fata Morgana.”

FullSizeRender (15) 2This year the Buffalo David Bitton line will be featured in a music festival themed scene entitled “Festival Haze” which is being produced by Kylie Dunn and I. “Festival Haze” will embrace the best styles of Coachella and modernized free-spirit trends, and feature items from Buffalo David Bitton and Lord & Taylor. We would like to give continued thanks to Diane Alexander, and everyone at Buffalo David Bitton for continuing the tradition of featuring their product line on our runway, and everyone else involved in assisting in the production of our scene. We can’t wait to show all of you what “Festival Haze” and “Fata Morgana” have to offer!

-Ami Cornell

minuit désert

Standard

The Genesee Community College 34th annual fashion show is something special to me. This is the third time that I’ve participated in the GCC fashion show as a fashion student. In January 2013, I came to GCC from Japan to study fashion business.

My first year I had the opportunity to be a model for Candace Cooper’s scene. In my second year, I worked as a dresser for Abby Wilcox and Quintessa Wallace’s scene. During those two years, I learned that a fashion show consists of more than the flawless runway that attracts so many people. You can never imagine what the backstage is like unless you are there. And now, this year, I have the opportunity to work as a coordinator for designer Tiffany Hill. Our scene is called “minuit désert” which means midnight desert in French. I am very excited about doing this as my final project for my fashion course because this is what I’ve always wanted to do ever since I was in Japan.

Happily, Tiffany trusted my judgements and decisions in finding models, a makeup artist, and a jewelry company. which was easier than I thought.

Na’kaylas Jewelry Box www.nakaylasjewelrybox.com

Na’kaylas Jewelry Box http://www.nakaylasjewelrybox.com

New to the GCC fashion show this year is Na’kaylas Jewelry Box. This jewelry company is run by an amazing woman, Mishay Linthecome, who recently started her own business. As an employee, Mishay has used ambition and dedication to help other businesses build success and popularity. She soon realized that she could implement those same skills to her own company to help build success and popularity of her own. Out with the old, in with the new came to the New Year and in January of 2015 Mishay launched her very own jewelry company. The name of the company was inspired by her daughter. I cannot wait to present this collaboration with Na’kaylas Jewelry Box and T. Lashaé!

This blog was contributed by Fashion Merchandising Student Chiho Nakayama.

5 Reasons A Summer Job Can Be Fun

Standard

With the Spring Semester coming to an end, many of us start to think about summer vacation and what we’re going to do. For me, it’s always been to find something to keep me busy and out of trouble. That’s why for the last few years I have worked at our very own local amusement park – Darien Lake. So let me share with you my top 5 reasons a summer job can be fun, whether it be Darien Lake or another place of employment.

Number Five – Earn Money

Now, I know that we all like to earn some spending money. It also helps us to show others that we can be independent and dependable.

Number Four – Build your Resume

With a job, you’re able to add new skills and positions to your resume that could help you earn future full-time employment. Many of us don’t think that our summer jobs are important but every little bit helps in connecting your formal education with real world experience.

Number Three – Experience something new

With a summer job, you are given the opportunity to try new things. For example, you may have never wanted to lifeguard, but you could try it out at the local community center and end up loving it. You also may end up finding a hidden talent through trying something new.

Number Two – Gain New Skills

Every year I return to the same summer job at Darien Lake and every year I learn something new.

Number One – Make New Friends

To me this is the most important thing about working. I wouldn’t be returning to my summer job each year if it wasn’t for the relationships that I have formed with my fellow co-workers. It’s also important to remember that you are there to do a job, but it’s nice to be able to have someone that can relate to what’s going on at work.

IMG_0587

This blog was contributed by Ryan B.

Model Behavior

Standard

The 34th Annual Fashion Show at Genesee Community College is called “Fata Morgana”. For my part in the fashion show, I am working back of the house, as well as modeling in Ami Cornell and Kylie Dunn’s scene titled “Festival Haze”. As part of my back stage duties, I am responsible for helping dress the models and memorizing the order of the scenes, as well as cleaning up the back stage and dressing room area and keeping everyone back stage silent during the show. As for my role as a model, I will be featured in the scene “Festival Haze”, which was inspired by summer festivals, such as “Coachella”. I am extremely excited to not only have been asked to model but to also have the opportunity to participate both behind the scenes and on stage. I am excited to get to see all of the different viewpoints of the show, on the stage and off.

I feel that this is a very important experience that I can use, as I pursue a career in fashion. This experience will be something that I can use on my resume and gives me insight on different aspects of the fashion world. I have modeled previously for still photography, and now I have the opportunity to gain experience in backstage production and what is involved, as well as being a model on the runway. I hope that with this experience I will become more confident and use what I will learn in the future to come.

This blog was contributed by Fashion Merchandising Student Morgan Ripley.

GCC Creativity Conference

Standard

Leonardo Da Vinci and creativity go hand-in-hand. Often when someone hears the name Da Vinci the first thing that comes to mind is his art, however he was much more than a brilliant painter. Leonardo Da Vinci was a scientist, an inventor, and a person who created things far beyond his time. It seems only suitable that the Creativity Conference at GCC falls on April 15th, Da Vinci’s Birthday.  There will be a Leonardo Da Vinci display set up in the library and cake will be served in honor of Da Vinci and the celebration of creativity!

This blog was contributed by Chelsey Breuilly.

Bare

Standard

Its that time of year again! That’s right, the GCC 34th annual fashion show is right around the corner. I had the privilege of interning, and modeling for Alaina Shannon in her scene “Americana” in the 2014 GCC fashion show, Ethereal. I was able to get a taste of what it takes to participate in a fashion show. This year I am able to showcase my own fashion design skills. My scene is called “Bare by Jocelyn Eade”. Myself and my scene coordinator, Eunice GoEun Park, are excited to show what we’ve been working so hard on this year. I am grateful to have the opportunity to experience what it takes to produce a scene in a fashion show.

My main inspiration were colors we see in nature; the color palette is lavender, beige, black, and white. I grew up in the small town of Olean, New York which is just south of GCC. Growing up surrounded by nature has inspired me to put that into my clothing. For the Lavender pieces I was inspired by lavender fields, I love how peaceful they look. The beige pieces reminded me of fur, very soft and effortless. My black pieces were influenced by storms, a very sultry look. For my last color white, I was inspired by clouds. I want the audience to feel the inspiration when they see my clothes on the runway. Whether it’s the peaceful lavender, or light and airy clouds I want them to feel like they’re with nature. I’m looking forward to showcasing my designs in GCC’s fashion show “Fata Morgana” and to experience what it is like to be a designer in the fashion industry.

yoo.jpgThis blog was contributed by Fashion Design Student Jocelyn Eade.

T.LaShaé

Standard

untitled (27 of 50)Tiffany Hill: outgoing, talented, strong, and beautiful are all words that have been commonly used to describe me as I was growing up, until now. As a child I had two dreams, the first was to
become a first grade teacher and the second was to be a fashion designer in New York. Unfortunately as a child I had already defeated myself because I decided to strive to become a teacher, constantly telling myself that becoming a designer
would be competitive and too difficult. As I got older, there was just something about fashion that I could not stay away from. Every time someone would see me they would ask, “Are you a model?” or they would tell me, “You need to be in fashion school”. Hearing people say these things made me dig deeper into finding out what was my actual dream and purpose. Now, as a proud student at GCC I can definitely say that I am following my dream and purpose as an upcoming designer working towards producing my own clothing line.

With this dream I have many visions, my clothing line being one. My logo was recently designed by someone who is like a family member to me, Justin Smith. He designed a logo that best fits me. The T stands for Tiffany and LaShaé is my middle name. T.LaShaé to me is classy, sophisticated and represents high fashion.

In this year’s Spring 2015 fashion show, I have the honor of bringing my scene to life on the runway. The name of my scene is Minuit Désert, which is in French, translating to midnight desert. I have such an amazing team that I am working with. My Co-Producer is Chiho Nakayama, my intern is Shantina Brewer, hair will be styled by Cosmetologist Mary Valenti, make-up will be by Professional MUA Monti Mccoy, and my Dressers are Hailey Rizzo and Matthew Wagner. Lastly, I am very thankful to be working with a jewelry company, Na’kaylas Jewelry Box, which is helping bring our vision to life with the beautiful pieces that will be incorporated within our scene. Minuit Désert by T.LaShaé is bringing life and something different to the runway, we cannot wait to see you all at the fashion show!

This blog was contributed by Fashion Design Student Tiffany Hill.