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Power and Potential

May 30, 2017 by Bonnie Mason Leave a Comment

In 2015, UMass Lowell inaugurated Jacquie Moloney, a national pioneer in higher education innovation, to become the first woman to serve as chancellor in its 123-year history. Moloney — a longtime advocate for women’s empowerment — initiated the Women’s Leadership Conference in 2016.

That conference was such a success that this year’s event planners anticipate an equally inspiring and impressive gathering of women. The second annual conference will be held on June 20 at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center in Lowell, Mass.

“UMass Lowell plays a unique role as a convener of people learning from each other,” says professor Elizabeth Altman of UMass Lowell’s Manning School of Business, one of the conference organizers.

“This [year’s] conference is a great way to bring together members of the greater Merrimack Valley region to talk about women’s leadership,” she says.

The 2017 theme, “The Power and Potential of Women,” will provide opportunities for women to enhance their strengths, share what they know, and network with others. According to event planners, the overarching vision for the conference is that all women take their rightful place as leaders in the world while also achieving balance in their lives.

Balance is no small feat, and to address that goal, there are four conference tracks to choose from:

Track A: Lead, Empower, Inspire

Track B: Succeed in Business and Entrepreneurship

Track C: Promote Holistic Health & Financial Well Being

Track D: Cultivate Career Development Skills

Among the most interesting facets of this event, says a UMass event organizer, will be the diversity of speakers. Representatives from the business world and the nonprofit sector as well as entrepreneurs and women in government will be in attendance. The one-day conference is open to the public and designed to appeal to women at every career level and in every field of endeavor.

Moloney will open the conference and will be followed by the morning keynote speaker, Bonnie Comley, a 1981 UMass Lowell graduate. Comley is a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer who has also worked in film and television.

In 2010, UMass Lowell honored Comley with a Distinguished Alumni Award. Comley and her husband, Stewart Lane, received a Champion of the Arts Award from UMass Lowell in 2015. The campus’ Comley-Lane Theatre is named in their honor, as is the Comley-Lane Artist-In-Residence program.

Comley is the CEO and co-founder of BroadwayHD.com, an online streaming service that extends the reach of Broadway and Broadway-caliber shows. On June 30, 2016, Comley & BroadwayHD made history with the first live-stream of a Broadway show, sending it to more than 60 countries.

The afternoon keynote speaker at the conference will be Therese Gearhart, president of the Coca-Cola Latin Center Business Unit. Gearhart coordinates activities in 31 countries across the Caribbean, Central America, Ecuador and Colombia. She also co-chairs Coca-Cola’s Global Women’s Leadership Council and has 28 years of international experience in general management, marketing and sales.

“UMass Lowell is a world-class research and teaching university undergoing substantial growth and expansion,” Altman says. “This event — a collaborative effort of the faculty and staff — is a wonderful opportunity for us to share our excitement about our university and showcase UMass Lowell’s top-notch faculty members.” It’s also an opportunity to be a resource to local community leaders — and aspiring leaders — and to promote women’s leadership.

( Top of page: UMass Lowell graduate and TV personality Taniya Nayak, center, takes a question from the audience while Chancellor Jacquie Moloney looks on during the opening session of UMass Lowell’s first-ever Women’s Leadership Conference in 2016 at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center. Nayak, who earned a business marketing degree at UMass Lowell, has built a successful career as an interior designer while also appearing on shows on HGTV, ABC and the Food Network, as well as serving as brand ambassador for Ellen DeGeneres’ home decor line. Speakers at the conference also included humorist and author Gina Barreca, EEOC Commissioner Chai Feldblum and former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Murphy, who now heads the WAGE Project. Photo by John Wren for UMass Lowell. )

 

Online registration is open at 
https://continuinged.uml.edu/wlc/registration.cfm. 
The regular registration fee is $199. 

UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center
Lowell, Mass.
(978) 934-6920
Acc-UMLInnAndConferenceCenter.com

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: Bonnie Comley, Jacquie Moloney, Taniya Nayak, Therese Gearhart, UMass, UMass Lowel, UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, Women’s Leadership Conference

1700 Watts of God’s Favorite Noise

April 4, 2017 by David Iverson Leave a Comment

A Brief History of UMass Lowell Radio. 

My WJUL-FM (now WUML) radio show “Rotten to the ’Core” grew steadily in popularity from its inception in 1988 until I graduated from UMass Lowell in 1992. In the early ’90s, the show had one of the station’s most dedicated followings. Devoted listeners tuned in to 91.5 on Monday nights to be guided through the latest offerings in underground hardcore, punk and heavy metal music.

Being a disc jockey on “Rotten to the ’Core” was a dream come true for me, the defining activity of my college years. It was my coming-of-age hobby, supported by a music scene whose ideals, social mores, and auditory aesthetics I strongly connected with. I was granted interviews, free admission to gigs, and lots of promotional materials. They were euphoric and euphonic times, and I felt like what I was doing mattered.

The denouement of my tenure was never intended as such. Shock rocker GG Allin, whose onstage exploits made him infamous, happened to be in town recording with Mark Sheehan of the local band Out Cold. Sheehan called and asked me to interview Allin. Although hesitant due to the performer’s reputation, I acquiesced when Sheehan promised to chaperone.

During the interview, the dialogue was flowing, the phone ringing off the hook like never before. Allin’s demeanor was restrained and amenable. Unbeknownst to me, however, he was imbibing copious amounts of whiskey in the station’s lobby during breaks in the discussion. His persona decayed as drunkenness developed. Sheehan could not collar him, forcing me to assume the role of bouncer. Allin caused mayhem and vandalism on his way out, resulting in my show being given a short suspension.

 

Some of the station crew back in 2015 (l-r): Miller; Denaro; Violet Sullivan (asst. intern director); Warren; Derek Campaniello Jr. (webmaster). Photos by Kevin Harkins.

Allin died a year after I graduated. I was working for Lowell commercial channel WLLH-AM (1400) by that time, the creative freedom of college programming behind me. My reputation preceded me, however, the question ubiquitous: “Hey, aren’t you that guy who interviewed GG?”

There are many other memories — critical cultural junctures where the things we were doing at WJUL seemed to foreshadow vogue: fraternizing with Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein from the Misfits and Siouxsie Sioux; partying with Scott Ian from Anthrax, and watching colleagues Sara Willman, Ian Kane and Trish Chapman bring a concert by nascent superstar rock band Pearl Jam to the school’s Cumnock Hall are all highlights from my time with a college radio station that was born in 1952.

Ed Bonacci, a sophomore at Lowell Textile Institute, started what was known as a “carrier current” station out of his dormitory room. The signal was generated by a small audio oscillator and distributed through the building by the electrical circuits within. The result drew so much interest from fellow students that a decision was made to begin the LTI Broadcasting Society, which evolved into WLTI-AM (550) less than a year later.

By the early ’70s, WLTI had upgraded to a much larger transmitter and moved to 91.5 on the FM dial. In the mid-’70s, Lowell Technological Institute merged with Lowell State College to become the University of Lowell, which demanded another evolution. There suddenly was a much larger pool of students from which to draw members, and the call letters were changed to WJUL.

Left: Sound Recording Technology Manager Ben Miller getting the levels just right. Right: Co-General Managers Jim Warren and Matt Denaro relaxing in the ‘UML studio.

Chris Porter, the co-founder of “Live from the Fallout Shelter” (running without interruption since 1985) and the former music director, says, “WJUL was by far my favorite thing at ULowell. I had great experiences, learning about the music business and greatly expanding my network of industry contacts.”

Bill O’Neill, who served as both program director and head of the university’s Audio Visual Society from 1981 to 1984, says his goal was “to sound as professional as any other station without giving up the essence of what only we could do: be unencumbered by the quest for ratings while being of service to both the school and community.”

Kris Thompson, the music director from 1985 to 1986, agrees with O’Neill, adding, “We had a community of creative people and status quo questioners. We took pride in giving listeners a for-real alternative.”

In 2003, the call letters were changed to WUML to reflect a name change to University of Massachusetts Lowell after the 1991 acquisition by the larger UMass system.

One constant throughout the station’s history has been the retention of control by students.

Patrick Murphy, music director at the station from 2001 to 2004, helped to spearhead two defenses during his tenure in the face of administrative attempts to co-opt the station in order to sell broadcasting time to corporate interests. “It was a dark time, and I try not to let it tarnish my memories of all of our hard work and how much we accomplished,” Murphy says.

Current station General Manager Matt Denaro and disc jockey Jim Warren are working hard to cement WUML’s legacy. ( Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in the May/June 2015 issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine. )

“Matt and I did a lot to rebuild a fractured and antagonistic relationship with the school and administration,” Warren says. “But our achievements could be undone if somebody tunes in and hears terrible programming … so quality needs to keep up.”

Denaro adds: “Our mobile broadcast equipment put us on par with many a commercial station, and it has been instrumental in making our broadcasts … the success that they are.”

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, Community Tagged With: radio, students, UMass Lowel, WUML

UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center

February 13, 2017 by Jenna Careri Leave a Comment

( Sponsored )

High ceilings, big windows and water views adorn the rooms of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Inn & Conference Center, a full-service hotel on the banks of the Concord River.

The ICC boasts over 200 rooms, a restaurant and 15,000 square feet of event space. The 6,000 square-foot ballroom is one of the largest in the area, says Carol Scalesse, the director of sales and marketing.

“We are here for your events,” she said. “We’re here for your conferences, we’re here for your wedding, for your shower, for your reception of any type.”

UMass Lowell bought the building in 2009 and designed it to be both a hotel and dorm space, so during the school year it is separated into two parts. Visitors stay in 31 inn-style rooms on the first two floors while UMass Lowell students occupy floors three through nine, which are separated off from the rest of the hotel. After graduation in May, the student floors are converted into traditional hotel rooms for the public.

The ICC commands views of the city on one side and the lower locks of the Pawtucket Canal on the other. Many rooms have patios or windows overlooking the falls. A walking bridge over the river connects visitors to downtown, including the Boarding House Park, museums, the Lowell Memorial Auditorium and Merrimack Repertory Theatre. “The national park is right outside our door. We’re are uniquely accessible to all that Lowell has to offer,” Scalesse said.

The ICC also has its own restaurant and lounge, 50 Warren, with outdoor seating facing the river. 50 Warren Lounge is open to the general public, serving dinner every night.

“We have a very pretty view, so it’s really a nice night out,” said Scalesse. “On Friday nights throughout the summer, come listen to our live entertainment. Have a drink. Sample a special and sit out there and see how pretty it is.”

Photos courtesy UMass Lowell ICC.

“What we’re really known for would be our lobster roll,” Scalesse said. “It’s gigantic and very, very tasty.”

The only hotel in downtown Lowell, the ICC helps bring revenue to the city and university, Scalesse says. Many school events, non-profit galas, and summer conferences are held here. Conferences often have a career link to the university.

The ICC also hosts community events like the acts in the Lowell Summer Music Series and Lowell Folk Festival. Scalesse says the ICC staff work with community organizers to show people Lowell is worth visiting.

“Lowell kind of embraces everyone,” she said. “We all work very, very well together because we really want people to know that Lowell is alive, unique and inspiring.”

UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center 
50 Warren St.
Lowell, Mass.
(978) 934-6920
UML.edu/ICC

Filed Under: Food & Drink Tagged With: UMass Lowel, UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center

You Gotta Love Melissa Manchester

March 10, 2015 by Suzanne DeWitt Leave a Comment

The snow let up long enough at the tail end of February to allow Grammy Award- winning singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester to spend some time at UMass Lowell. As Artist in Residence, Manchester taught three days of master classes, sharing her knowledge of the craft and “The Life.” Her time at the school culminated in a concert on Friday, February 28 in the school’s Durgin Hall, which raised $13,000 for UMass Lowell String Project scholarships. The Project provides instruction in stringed instruments to local public-school students.

Grammy winner Melissa Manchester, left, spent three days at UMass Lowell in February as an artist-in-residence, thanks to the efforts of UMass Lowell Prof. Gena Greher, right, coordinator of music education and the 2014 Nancy Donahue Endowed Professor of the Arts. The professorship was established in 2009 by Merrimack Valley philanthropists Nancy and Richard Donahue to promote music, art and theater education at the university. Manchester and Greher are lifelong friends. (Photo credit: Tory Germann for UMass Lowell).
Grammy winner Melissa Manchester, left, spent three days at UMass Lowell in February as an artist-in-residence, thanks to the efforts of UMass Lowell Prof. Gena Greher, right, coordinator of music education and the 2014 Nancy Donahue Endowed Professor of the Arts. The professorship was established in 2009 by Merrimack Valley philanthropists Nancy and Richard Donahue to promote music, art and theater education at the university. Manchester and Greher are lifelong friends. (Photo credit: Tory Germann for UMass Lowell).

The concert kicked off Manchester’s tour for her 20th album, called “You Gotta Love the Life.” The artist produced the album herself, rather than signing with a record label, crowdfunding it through Indiegogo at the urging of students she teaches at the University of Southern California. The album includes new pieces along with re-imagined classics by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Rodgers & Hammerstein. Guest artists include Al Jarreau, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, and the late, great Joe Sample.

The first half of the program featured student interpretations of Manchester’s works, in styles ranging from rock, a capella, gospel and folk. Crew scrambled to reset the stage during intermission in preparation for Manchester’s own performance. The star entertained the audience with award-winning songs including “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” “Midnight Blue” and “You Should Hear How She Talks about You.” Each song was accompanied by a story of its creation and the people who played a part. She also sang songs from her new album including the sultry “Feelin’ for You” which was inspired by an inebriated admirer in a Southern juke joint. The final performance of the evening brought together UMass Lowell students, String Project students, and several public school choruses who joined Manchester on the stage for a powerful and emotional finish.

The benefit concert is just one example of the music icon’s commitment to making a difference. Manchester has sung in support of the Mission of Yahweh, a Houston, Texas, shelter for homeless women and children, and for the Prison of Peace program at Valley State Prison for Women in California. Her song titled “Beloved” was written for that occasion.

Manchester will be on tour around the country over the next few months, but if you’d like to see her in the region, she’ll be performing with the Portland Maine Symphony on July 4.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, Community Tagged With: Melissa Manchester, UMass Lowel

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