A congratulations is in order for three members of Keene State College’s faculty and staff as they have been selected by the Union Leader for the “40 Under Forty” Program.
Laura Mielke, Rich Grogan and Emily Porschitz have been recognized for their hard work and dedication to the community and KSC. The 40 Under Forty Program acknowledges New Hampshire’s wisest, most diligent motivators who are accomplished in their fields.
Laura Mielke is the assistant director for the Upward Bound Program. The program is designed to help low-income students earn a high school degree and move forward to higher education. Funded by the Department of Education, the Upward Bound Program helps many students that are first in their family to attend college, according to Mielke. With the original plan of becoming a high school guidance counselor, Mielke said she found a passion for helping others through the Aspire Program during her years at KSC.
Mielke works with Upward Bound students by exposing them to college campuses, helping them find their places in different atmospheres. “We help them with some of the barriers their parents haven’t been through,” Mielke said. She said guiding students through homework and applications assists in the transition between high school and college.
“It’s rewarding to help students realize that graduating high school or going to college is a possibility for them,” Mielke said. She mentioned her favorite part of working with students is their energy and motivation towards higher education.
Her accomplishments only continue, as Mielke is the president and webmaster of the New Hampshire Educational Opportunity Association, a statewide professional development organization for educational programs to advocate for students on a national level. Mielke said the association helps keep members up-to-date on new techniques and ideas to help better the education of students in New Hampshire.
Mielke also teaches a few fitness classes at KSC. As for future plans, Mielke said she will always be working to help students achieve their goals.
Rich Grogan is the regional manager of Keene Small Business Development Center, a federal and state-funded program that helps with the growth of small businesses. Grogan describes his work as management consulting. SBDC helps advise by working one-on-one with small businesses of usually fifty employees or less, according to Grogan.
Grogan helps existing businesses with financing growth and marketing. He said he works closely with start-up businesses focusing on business plans, basic financial planning and record keeping and finding a target market.
By working for and studying many small businesses, Grogan said he recognized some of the problems they had and wanted to be a part of the solution. He explained that he misses the tactical, hands-on work of the business frontline but enjoys the feedback he receives. “I need to make sure things I’m teaching actually work,” Grogan said. According to Grogan, if some of his tactics do not work, he finds out quickly and will work on a new approach to fix the problem.
Grogan also provides services to the community of Keene through the Community Outreach Function and by working with students on business ideas. He encourages small business owners to be always thinking of the next step in this economy. “You have to fight for your business, you can’t take any of your customers for granted,” Grogan said.
“I’ve always worked hard and trusted my instincts when it was time to do something different,” Grogan said about his future plans. He explained that sometime down the road he would like to run an organization in a leadership position. “I want my chance to really shape policy for an entire organization,” he said. As for his work with SBDC, Grogan said he hopes to continue to build a local profile for the organization as a resource for the community.
Emily Porschitz has been working with students at KSC by developing strong relationships with trust, resulting in good conversation both in and out of the classroom. She teaches management and organizational studies on campus and said she believes organizations are our most powerful tools as human beings. “That ability to come together to form, create and grow organizations requires strong managers,” Porschitz said. She said getting students to think critically about management will help them understand what kind of organizations they want to create.
Porschitz said she realized her affection for teaching while she was studying to get her Master’s in Business Administration at Plymouth State University. “I realized I wanted to focus more on an academic career and teaching management skills,” she said. Porschitz also said she still has a passion for the practice of management and tries to stay involved with local organizations.
Launching U is a career-coaching organization Porschitz started with a colleague to help college-aged students and graduates throughout the country customize plans for their futures. The organization also helps students with career development, interviewing and networking skills, according to Porschitz. Adding to her list of accomplishments, Porschitz is the current treasurer for Keene Young Professionals: an organization that provides a venue for people ages 21-40 that want to connect with others in the area. Social, community service and education events are held as a way to connect with friends and peers on a social and professional level.
Porschitz said she also decided to get involved with the Monadnock Family Business Summit after seeing many of her students prepare for the handing-down of a family business. “It’s a really up-incoming area of management research,” she said. Porschitz said the organization is a way to help family-owned businesses work together and build their companies in a way that honors their families.
Porschitz has a lot on her plate, but said she believes her life has a good balance. “It helps that I live in Keene, it’s an easy commute and everything is right here,” she said. As for future plans, Porschitz said she wants to continue the work she loves doing.According to the Union Leader, a reception will be held in March to celebrate the work of all 40 Under Forty recipients.
MacKenzie Clarke can be contacted at mclarke@keene-equinox.com
