Gov. Baker appoints new members to STCC Board of Trustees

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Board of Trustees has some new faces thanks to recent appointments by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

The governor appointed Granby residents Maria V. “Vicky” Crouse and William E. “Bill” Johnson to serve on the board.

Baker re-appointed incumbent board member Eric Hagopian, of East Longmeadow, to a second term. Hagopian was first appointed in 2012 by former Gov. Deval Patrick.

The STCC student body recently elected Monica A. Przybyla, of Ware, as student member on the Board of Trustees.

The governor’s appointments were made pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 15A, Section 21. The three newest members to the Board of Trustees join Hagopian and members Christopher C. Johnson, chairman of the board; Debra A. Kaylor, vice chair; Maria P. Goncalves; Steven E. Grande; Rosa I. Maldonado-Brown; Franklin D. Quigley Jr.; and MacArthur Starks Jr.

Maria V. Crouse

Baker announced Crouse’s appointment on June 30. Her term will expire March 1, 2017. Crouse, who is vice president at TD Bank, N.A., in Springfield, has more than 30 years’ banking experience. Before joining TD Bank in 1992, Crouse was vice president of commercial lending at Shawmut Bank. Crouse manages a portfolio of accounts in excess of $100 million consisting of private and public companies operating in various industries in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.

Crouse graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with an undergraduate degree in general business and finance.

She serves as a member of the Finance Committee for Jewish Geriatric Services and has previously been involved with the American Cancer Society, Baystate Health Systems and Junior Achievement.

William E. Johnson

Baker announced Johnson’s appointment on Aug. 31. His term will expire March 1, 2021. Johnson has more than 35 years’ experience owning and operating multiple businesses. He founded Pleasant Street Auto, with locations in South Hadley and Belchertown; Hampshire Towing; Amber Scene Clean (an accident scene remediation business); Amber Energy, Inc. (a home heating oil business); and Simple Merchant Services (a credit card processing company).

Johnson started as a mechanic and transitioned to become an auto body technician. He eventually became a certified wrecker operator.

Johnson holds several licenses and certifications and has been active in his community. A School Committee member for Pathfinder Regional Technical High School, Johnson also serves as a member of the Police Advisory Board in Granby. He also is a former Granby Selectman.

“STCC is a great institution, and I’m looking forward to participating and continuing that great tradition,” Johnson said. “I’m excited that the governor has entrusted me to move the college forward.”

Eric Hagopian

Baker announced Hagopian’s re-appointment on Aug. 31. His term will expire March 1, 2021. Hagopian was appointed to a first term by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2012.

Hagopian is CEO of the duMONT Company, of Greenfield, a design and manufacturing firm. Hagopian announced on Sept. 1 that he acquired 100 percent of the company and its real estate. He formerly was a co-owner of Hoppe Technologies, Inc., a provider of precision mechanical components and assemblies to defense and aerospace companies nationwide. He was a third-generation family business owner at Hoppe.

Hagopian also serves the community in the following positions:

Co-president of the Board of Directors for the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association
Chair of the Precision Machining Regional Alliance Project, Massachusetts
Delegate to the Aerospace States Association
Member of the Massachusetts Economic Development Planning Council
Several volunteer advisory positions at Western Massachusetts Vocational Technical high schools
An active member of the Manufacturing Roundtable of the Pioneer Valley at STCC

Monica A. Przybyla

Przybyla was elected as student trustee on April 21. Her term expires June 30, 2017.

A student in the Engineering and Science Transfer Program at STCC, Przybyla is on track to graduate next June. She then hopes to transfer to a four-year college in pre-medicine.

Przybyla graduated from Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in 2014. She works as a certified nursing assistant at Life Care Center of Wilbraham.

In an online statement announcing the appointments of Johnson, Hagopian and trustees for other institutions, Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito congratulated them and thanked them for their service.

“Board oversight is critically important, especially at our public institutions, and we are confident these appointees will bring extensive leadership, professional, and academic experiences to the benefit of the schools and their students,” Baker said.

Massachusetts Education Secretary Jim Peyser said, “I look forward to collaborating with all trustees and the campuses to ensure we prepare our students for the jobs of the future and meet the challenges of continuing to offer top-notch public education in the Commonwealth.”

About Springfield Technical Community College

Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 8,700 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu.

Media contact: Jim Danko, coordinator of media relations, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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