MEDIA INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2011
Career Center to Honor Nineteen Distinguished Alumni
JACKSON, Mich. – The Jackson Area Career Center will honor 19 former students who have
been exceptionally successful in their chosen field during the annual Distinguished Alumni
dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
“While interviewing this pool of distinguished alumni candidates, I could tell they are all excited
about their positions,” said Bob Engel, Career Center job placement coordinator.
The 2011-2012 Jackson Area Career Center Distinguished Alumni include former agriscience
student Derek Woodruff (East Jackson, 2002), owner of The Floral Underground in Traverse
City. United States Army Sgt. 1st Lieutenant Daniel Hawthorne (Jackson Christian, 2005) was
nominated by the Army JROTC instructors.
The Automotive Technology program instructors chose Gene Hoover (Springport, 2006),
currently employed by Parsons Service as a mechanic, and Matt Malson (Columbia Central,
2004), working at Amaesing Auto as a manager/automotive technician. The Auto Body class
added Mark Roche (Springport, 2006) of Larry’s Auto Body Shop.
From the computer program, two former students will be inducted: Ryan McEvers (Michigan
Center, 2008), currently working as a plumbing assistant manager at Menards; and Amanda
Tomasik (Northwest 2005), now working for JP Morgan Chase as a manager.
Former Computer Aided Drafting student Daniel Owen (Jackson Christian, 1992), working as
design lead engineer at Tenneco Automotive, was included along with Cosmetology’s Katie
Dysert (Springport, 2008), who works as a stylist at Elements.
The Construction program is represented by Ryan Hutchings (Northwest, 2004), the owner of
Skills Carpentry, LLC. Culinary Arts added Jackie Dyer (Springport, 2009) who is employed by
Applebee’s as a waitress.
Early Childhood Education inductee Resha Lee Willis (Hanover-Horton, 2000) is employed by
Community Action Agency as a play group facilitator, and Dental Occupations’ Alesha
Holcomb (Springport, 1999) is working for Dr. Hill, D.D.S., as a dental assistant.
The Firefighting/EMS program added to its list of distinguished alumni Cody Thorne (Jackson
Christian, 2005), who is currently working at Urbandale Fire Department, Iowa, as a firefighter
and paramedic.
Representing the Precision Machining/CAM class will be Nathan Rowley (Northwest, 1999)
works as a machine repair technician at Advance Turning & Manufacturing.
Sales & Marketing will have two representatives, Michelle Hammond (Michigan Center 2004)
who works as a Marketing Consultant at Jackson Radio Works and Stanley Johnson, Jr.
(Jackson High, 1996) who works as a department manager for Nordstrom’s.
Visual Communications will be represented by Melissa Divietri (Michigan Center, 2007), now a
New Media and Print Management student at Ferris State University, and Welding will be
represented by Bill Burk (Concord, 1984) owner of B & B Welding.
“Our alumni are the real ambassadors for the Career Center,” said Engel. “This year’s group
appears enlightened and fun to work with.”
Since 1995-96, the Career Center staff has chosen 15-25 deserving individuals each year. To
date, over 352 graduates have earned the title of Jackson Area Career Center Distinguished
Alumni.
Name
Position
Company
Year
Program
School
Alesha Holcomb
Dental Assistant
Dr. Hill DDS
1999
Dental
Springport
Mark Roche
Katie Dysert
Bill Burk
Auto Body Technician
Stylist
Owner
Larry's Auto Body Shop
Elements Hair Design
B & B Welding
2006
2008
1984
Auto Body
Cosmetology
Welding Tech
Jackson
Springport
Concord
Matt Malson
Gene Hoover
Daniel Owen
Manager/Technician
Mechanic
Design Lead Engineer
Amaesing Auto
Parsons Service
Tenneco
2004
2006
1992
Automotive Tech
Automotive Tech
Computer Aided Drafting
Columbia Central
Springport
Jackson Christian
Cody Thorne
Urbandale Fire Dept, Iowa
2005
Firefighting/EMS
Jackson Christian
Melissa Divietri
Amanda Tomasik
Michelle Hammond
Firefighting/Paramedic
New Media /Printing
Mgt. Student
Manager
Marketing Consultant
Ferris State University
JP Morgan Chase
Jackson Radio Works
2007
2005
2004
Visual Communications
Computer Programming
Sales & Marketing
Michigan Center
Northwest
Michigan Center
Nathan Rowley
Machine Repair
Advance Turning & Mfg.
1999
Precision Machining
Northwest
Ryan Hutchings
Owner
Skills Carpentry, LLC
2004
Construction Site
Northwest
Resha Lee Willis
Play Group Facilitator
Community Action Agency
2000
Early Childhood Education
Hanover Horton
Derek Woodruff
Jackie Dyer
Owner
Waitress
The Floral Underground
Applebee's
2002
2009
Agriscience
Culinary Arts
East Jackson
Springport
Daniel Hawthorne
Sgt. 1st Lieutenant
US Army
2005
JROTC
Jackson Christian
Stanley Johnson, Jr.
Department Manager
Nordstrom's
1996
Sales & Marketing
Jackson High
Ryan McEvers
Plumbing Asst. Mgr.
Menards
2008
Computer Systems Tech
Michigan Center
The Jackson Area Career Center was established in 1976 and is a service of the Jackson County
Intermediate School District. More information about the Career Center is available at
http://www.jacc-mi.net.
###
CONTACTS:
Bob Engel
Placement Coordinator
(517) 768-5171
bob.engel@jcisd.org
Cindy Lyons
Communications and Career Prep Coordinator
(517) 768-5211
cindy.lyons@jcisd.org