Portland native Kerianne Heil Burchardt is ready to mark six years in business as the owner of her consignment shop, Savvy Swap. Her journey to store ownership began after she graduated from Portland High School in 2007.

Kerianne decided to attend Middlesex Community College, where her sister Michaela Heil had also gone to college. Kerianne’s goal was to start a career in the fashion merchandising industry and enrolled in the business and marketing program at MxCC.

“I’m a huge advocate for completing basic courses and saving money while getting a good education. MxCC is a good value. That’s being smart about it,” she said.

Like many Middlesex students, Kerianne worked full-time while attending college full-time for over two years. She worked at a pizza restaurant, a hair salon, and also in retail at the Meriden mall to put herself through school.

“[Former professor] Donna Leonowich was my advisor at Middlesex and I loved her straightforwardness. She didn’t beat around the bush and I really appreciated that,” Kerianne said.

Kerianne remembers she was often the leader of class group projects and presentations and found herself making sure things got done. Though it was sometimes difficult to schedule classes around her work schedule, she persisted and completed her coursework by 2010.

“I developed many relationships with students and remain in contact via social media with them today,” she added.

She transferred all her MxCC credits to Lasell University in Newton, Massachusetts, and earned a bachelor of science degree in fashion and retail merchandising in 2012.

During an internship with Nordstrom’s in Boston, Kerianne learned about visual merchandise displays and attended corporate meetings. Eventually, she was hired to work in retail with the manager of that department. After a year, she came back to Connecticut and worked in Nordstrom’s men’s department before being promoted to department manager in accessories.

While she was there, Nordstrom’s underwent a renovation and they were getting rid of mannequins and other store supplies. Kerianne, knowing she wanted to eventually own her own shop, was allowed to take these items and filled several trailers’ worth of store display items and put them into storage.

As she focused on opening her own shop, she reduced her Nordstrom’s schedule by working in men’s sales for six months. On April 1, 2014, her store Savvy Swap Consignment opened at 275 Main Street in Portland.

“I always loved shopping consignment and thought it would be a fun retail store to manage,” Kerianne explained. “The best part about it is I didn’t have to save thousands of dollars for inventory. Consigners just brought it all to me.”

Her boutique features gently used or new pieces from top brands such as Ann Taylor, Anthropology, and more, all at affordable prices. Customers can also consign items and receive 40% of the actual sale price.

“The store has been great. It’s really growing in town. I even get new people from all over the state on a daily basis, as well as from Massachusetts and New York,” she added.

Kerianne and her store were featured in the Middletown Press last fall, and she recently joined the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce. She is planning to hold an anniversary celebration complete with raffles, refreshments, and a 20% off sale in April 2020. Stay tuned to the store’s Facebook page for all the details!

March 2020

Human resources professional Denise Jankowski began her college career in her early thirties, an age considered to be nontraditional as a student. A 1986 graduate of Wolcott High School, she moved to Middletown in 1999.

After discovering the affordability of Middlesex Community College, Denise enrolled in one class and gradually returned for more courses. As a single mother, this was important to her. She chose to major in accounting and business, earning dual associate degrees with a 3.80 grade-point average in 2005. She also was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

Looking back, Denise highlights math professor Pamela Frost. “Pam was the most amazing math teacher. She really tried to make algebra fun. She would give out candy to the team of two students who were the first to finish a factoring exercise. I remember winning the whole bag!” said Denise.

To get better acclimated into going back to school, Denise took advantage of MxCC’s tutoring services, especially in math and writing.

“I freaked out at taking math but ended up doing very well,” she recalled with an appreciative smile.

As an accounting student, Denise has good memories of Nancy Kelly, who was announced as professor emerita at the 2018 graduation ceremony. “Nancy took the time to make sure all her students understood the material. She had a gift in making accounting seem less difficult than it was,” Denise added.

Denise also worked in the financial aid office as a work-study student, learning even more about the college. Most importantly, she also received scholarships, which allowed her to complete her degree.

Overall, Denise credits MxCC as a good college experience and enjoyed the student mix of ages during her evening classes.

She transferred easily to Eastern Connecticut State College, earning a bachelor’s in business administration in 2008. Denise then went on to complete an MBA from Albertus Magnus College in 2010.

Denise began her career working in dual roles for human resources and accounting, primarily in the manufacturing field.

At Gilman Brothers Company, her duties involved a full spectrum of HR operations, from policies and procedures to benefits and training programs. In subsequent years, she worked her way through other HR roles with responsibilities in export compliance, employee coaching and mentoring, talent management, business partnerships, and more recently, strategic initiatives as the regional HR manager with MW Industries. Located in Berlin, Seymour, and Southington, Conn., MW Industries is the largest and most diversified specialty spring and fastener manufacturer in the U.S.

In May 2018, Denise returned to the MxCC campus as an exhibitor with MW Industries at the Manufacturing Awareness Day event.

“Since I was last here, the Middlesex campus has a new and well-kept Pavilion area. Overall, you can tell MxCC is still a nice and safe place to be,” she said.

June 2018

Quatina “Tina” Frazer had a great role model while growing up—her mother, Sharon Locklear. As a middle school-aged child, Tina remembers being in the classroom with her. That classroom was at Middlesex Community College.

Flash-forward to 2005, Tina is once again at Middlesex, this time as a business student. While she thought it was cool to be in a college classroom as a child, it also inspired her to return years later, following in her mother’s footsteps.

But she had some challenges before that. Tina went to Middletown High School, and in 1999, before she was able to graduate, she became a parent of two boys. This did not deter her will, because in 2000, she earned her adult high school diploma from Middletown’s Adult Education program, graduating along with her maternal grandmother.

While she was working at Subway training managers, she thought, “Why can’t I be a manager?” So in 2005, she enrolled at MxCC, studying medical transcription just like her mother.

That program was later phased out, so Tina began working toward an associate degree in business administration. She excelled enough to receive scholarships, earn a spot in the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, and was part of Connecticut’s All-Academic Team that was recognized at the state capitol in Hartford.

Tina graduated from MxCC in 2008 and easily transferred to Central Connecticut State University. However, now the mother of four boys and on the verge of a divorce, Tina discovered traveling to New Britain became harder to manage, so she continued her studies at Charter Oak College. She earned a BS, with honors, concentrating in business administration in 2011. Her mother also completed her bachelor’s in general studies from Charter Oak a few years earlier.

What motivated Tina as she collected her educational achievements? “My kids,” she stated without hesitation. “They are the reason to get out of bed each day. They are ‘my reason’ why I do what I do. I want to be a good role model for them, just like my mother was for me.”

Tina praises MxCC for giving her the tools and knowledge to advance in the workforce. In addition to her degree, she earned valuable experience as a work-study student in MxCC’s enrollment office. In 2009, Tina returned there as a part-time educational assistant. She appreciates the good advice of her former MxCC supervisor, Mensimah Shabazz, who counseled her while at Middlesex, and fondly remembers business professors Patricia Raymond and Ben Boutaugh. Tina also recognizes her audio production instructor at MxCC, John Bergeron.

What else does Tina sing about? Well, she really does sing at her church, and has written music, hoping to record in the near future. Plus, like her grandfather, The Rev. Howard Locklear Sr. who is also a MxCC graduate, Tina is a reverend, ordained in 2013, and can officiate at weddings and funerals.

Tina and fellow MxCC student Alan Marshall are also involved with N.U. Generation (Noble and Unique), an organization that equips teens and young adults into leaders using God’s principles. They participate in community projects with the organization such as B.O.O.T. Camp, partnering with Shiloh Christian Church in Middletown and N.U. Generation’s Leadership Academy.

Currently, Tina is employed as a full-time administrative assistant in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program (GLSP) office at Wesleyan University. Soon she can sing even louder, as she is halfway through earning another achievement, a master of arts in liberal studies from Wesleyan.

Meanwhile, the Frazer path at MxCC continues today, as Tina’s oldest son Isac just began his first semester at Middlesex this month, studying computer information technology. He has helped his mom with her songs and hopes to someday become a music producer.

Tina’s three younger sons, Andre Jr., Mackenzie and Elijah, also stepped into an MxCC classroom last month, earning certificates from Professor Donna Hylton’s summer camp for area youth, where they learned how to code game apps.

When asked what she would tell others going through similar life challenges, she said, “Don’t focus on the time, focus on your ‘reasons’ and on the end result.”

September 2017

Meriden native Laurie Lynne Zlotowski always had a flair for the creative and entrepreneurial sides of life. Using the fruits of her 1996 MxCC associate degree, which included both design and business classes, Laurie Lynne has taken the customized parties she has been arranging since the age of 18 and turned them into a dynamic business. She recently opened Creative Girl Studios at a charming location on Main Street in Middletown. Children and adults will find excitement and networking opportunities by participating in the Creative Girl experience, either by joining a scheduled workshop or calling Laurie Lynne to design your own. Learn more about this MxCC alumna’s passion for helping you create the perfect experience at www.creativegirlstudios.com.

Faith Fraulino
MxCC ’83
Dental Office Manager

“My Associates Degree from Middlesex (1983), allowed me to move into a position as Assistant to the Marketing Director at Liberty Band, then to Aetna as an underwriter, and ultimately, for nearly thirty years, to the Middletown dental practice of Dr. Michele Salonia where I am Office Manager.

“MxCC also allowed me the flexibility of working while I earned my degree. The professors were sympathetic to the fact that students came from various circumstances and extended themselves to help us achieve a higher education.

“I know that Middlesex offers its students today the same individualized attention, flexibility, and commitment that I fondly remember because our son just graduated (2016).  He had the same wonderful community college experience that I had 33 years ago.”

Bill Passarelli of Meriden, CT, worked for a stainless steel manufacturer for almost 20 years. During that time, he saw much of the company’s work moving overseas. He realized it was time to change careers and came to Middlesex Community College to pursue a degree in business administration. He also enrolled in a pathway program at the University of Connecticut School of Business.

While at MxCC, Bill was the Phi Theta Kappa honor society president for two years. This gave him the opportunity to give back to the College and the community in a meaningful and lasting way.

“MxCC was the best choice I could have made. It was a great education, it was convenient, and it was affordable. It prepared me well for my future,” he explained.

After graduating with an associate degree in 2009, he attended the University of Connecticut and earned a bachelor’s in business administration as well as an MBA degree.

Since UConn, Bill has achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a financial advisor. He currently works for Edward Jones Financial Services in Meriden. Now he can help others achieve their long-term financial goals.

“I would have not made it to this point without my start at Middlesex and their amazing faculty and staff!” he added.