Alumni Profile - Denise Romanelli '94
October 2013
The 2013 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award will be presented to Denise Romanelli ‘94 on Tuesday, October 22, as part of the college’s Educational Foundation Dinner at Drexelbrook. The Wong Moss Award was created to not only recognize professional and educational achievements, but also to recognize alumni who work hard to improve their community and who are committed to education.
As the recipient of this year’s award, Denise is a prime example of a non-traditional student who has achieved abundant success thanks in part to the education she received. As the Director of Employee Development and Community Relations for Sun East Federal Credit Union, she excels at discovering new ways for her organization to serve the community at large. She also donates much of her free time by volunteering for organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware, Operation Warm and the Friends of Delaware County Women’s Commission. Her talents are beginning to benefit the College through her participation with the Office of Campus Life and its Student Leadership workshop series. If you are interested in joining us on October 22 to hear Denise’s story, please contact the Alumni Office to purchase your ticket. The deadline is October 15.
What year did you graduate from Delaware County Community College and with what degree?
“I graduated from Delaware County Community College in 1994 with an associate degree in Business Management.”
Did you pursue further academic goals?
“After graduation, I pursued a Bachelor of Science degree at West Chester University in Communication Studies. Then I continued my studies towards a Master of Science in Organization Leadership at Cabrini College. Throughout my college education, I attended as an adult student while raising a family and working both part- and full-time. At every school I attended, I was inducted into the honor society for each degree I received.”
What are you doing now?
“Currently, I work for Sun East Federal Credit Union as their Director, Employee Development and Community Relations. My job has two parts. For one, I am responsible for employee development; I created a training department that provides learning opportunities for 150 employees through a blended learning format including classroom, WebEx, and online courses. I also developed three areas of learning: management training, professional enrichment, and a leadership development program for our up –and-coming leaders in the credit union. I also established a credit union university following an academic format of earning credits from education, cross training, and other learning opportunities."
“My role with regard to community relations enables me to become involved outside of the credit union by partnering with organizations and charities that can benefit from employee involvement through volunteering. I serve as liaison to those organizations and coordinate activities that our employees can engage in that bring the community together through the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People.’ I also lead an internal community service group called SERVICE (Sun East Representatives Volunteering in Community Events), and our scholarship and teacher award program.
“In 2011 I was part of a team that created a foundation which I serve as Executive Director Of The Sun East Charitable Foundation, for the charitable arm of our credit union. My favorite part of my job is to provide presentations and keynote addresses to local organizations looking for speakers at their events. Over the years I have been a member and board officer to many community organizations, which enriched my life by bringing me closer to the people in our neighborhoods that benefit from the many services of charities in our county.”
What are your future plans?
“I have gained so much experience in training and development I hope to teach at a college part time and transition more into the field of organization development and consulting, working with businesses to help improve their processes and productivity for maximum efficiency. I will continue to work in the community and offer my services to other nonprofit organizations. My love of service to others has been part of my life and I hope to continue indefinitely in volunteering.”
What advice would you give to current students and Alumni to make the most of the education they received from the College?
“College is not just about books and homework. Students have, at their fingertips, many opportunities to engage in activities and community groups that will enrich them in important life/work skills such as leadership, problem solving, conflict resolution, time management, communication, and critical thinking. Yes, these are the skills we learn between classes at college by taking on leadership roles where they can practice these skills in a safe environment before entering the workforce. Companies look for students who take on more than just 15 credits per semester. It shows initiative and commitment to expanding their lives into areas that build and shape an independent, confident employee in the workforce. Students can begin to build a network of professionals in the community who can vouch for their abilities. Attend meet-and-greet events with other young professional organizations. It is never too late to begin building up your contacts in these areas for future use!”
If you would like to learn more about Denise or submit your story for a future alumni profile, please contact the Alumni Office for further details.
