Address to the MCC Board of Trustees

March 24, 2008

My name is Chris Belle-Isle. I am Director of the MCC Career Center. MCC has been
part of my life since 1964, when I walked on the campus and through the doors of 410
Alexander Street, and became a member of the third class of this great institution.

I have known and worked for all four MCC presidents from Dr. LeRoy V.Good to Tom
Flynn. I have had the privilege of working with Tom Flynn for over 30 years both in his
capacity as Vice President of Student Services and as President of MCC. I can tell you
unequivocally that leadership does make the difference. Through the dedicated efforts of
all who have worked here, MCC has risen to the stature as one of the country’s premier
community colleges and is considered the flagship community college in the SUNY
system.

This was once again recently exemplified when Cornell University chose only one
community college (MCC) to partner with them in implementing their Jack Kent Cooke
Foundation sponsored Pathway to Success program, which has as its objective, opening
up transfer opportunities to prestigious educational institutions for students from low to
moderate low income backgrounds. This is why Amherst College chose only one SUNY
community college (MCC) to do the same with them. This is why over 600 local
employers hire MCC graduates every year. They all know the superior level of education
students receive at MCC. This capability has been considerably enhanced through strong
leadership.

I wish everyone attending here tonight, had the opportunity to know Dr. Samuel Stabins,
founding Chair of the MCC Board of Trustees and Mr. E. Kent Damon, also a founding
trustee. I am glad that many here have had the opportunity to get to know Dr. Alice
Young, past Chair of the MCC Board of Trustees and founding trustee as well as Mr.
Wayne Gilman, a past Board of Trustees member. As trustees, all of them focused and
made decisions based solely on what was good for the college. Their integrity did not
allow things extraneous to the college to negatively impact the mission of MCC.

As MCC trustees, I am asking all of you to show the same level of integrity. Do not
allow yourself to be swayed by forces external to the college or by personal
considerations. Keep MCC strong and in the leadership position it has earned, by giving
us the leadership we need.