Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
DCCC President is a Hall of Famer
Chester County Development Council honors Jerry Parker of Delaware County Community College
Delaware County Community College President Jerry Parker and Chester County Economic Development Council CEO Gary Smith use a catch phrase to describe their relationship: “Partners ’R Us.”
On Thursday, Parker found out how much that partnership has meant to the Chester County business community when he was inducted into the council’s Hall of Fame.
“Jerry is a transformative executive leader who created a community college for Chester County,” Smith said to the more than 400 people attending the organization’s business awards dinner at the Phoenixville Foundry . “His persistence and unfailing vision was paramount in establishing a contemporary educational system that created a highly skilled workforce.”
As a result, the county has been able to attract corporate investment and maintain a vibrant economy, Smith said.
“The legacy Dr. Parker has left is a testament of his personal conviction to work in a strategic cooperative spirit of Partners R’ Us philosophy,” Smith said. “Chester County’s most valuable asset to ensure our economic health is the human capital component of our society. Delaware County Community College is one of our strongest partners in maintaining our economic vibrance.”
In a statement Friday, the college recognized the contributions of Parker, who has worked there for 40 years, including the last 14 as president. Parker is retiring in June.
Over the years under Park-
er’s leadership the college has solidified its role in Chester County, spending millions of dollars on state-of-the-art education and training facilities and fostering strong relationships with manufacturers.
Working with the development council, which he formerly chaired, Parker was instrumental in starting the Manufacturing Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties, an organization that supports the region’s manufacturers.
“They were so nimble. If there was a company that needed training I’d call Delco and they’d go out to that work site like that,” Smith said, snapping his fingers. “They’re like the first responders for workforce development.”
Parker was also a driving force in the college’s joint partnerships with the Chester County Intermediate Unit’s three technical high schools and with the Chester County Workforce Development Board.
Today, of the college’s nine campuses, six are in Chester County, including the Downingtown Campus, an anchor facility the college owns and operates that is currently undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation.
“Tonight’s award is a real affirmation, by the county, of Delaware County Community College’s acceptance as Chester County’s community college,” Parker said Thursday. “And, our role, as you’ve heard, is only growing as the 21st century workforce requires higher and higher levels of education and skills, even for entry-level jobs. The associate’s degree has, indeed, become the new high school diploma.”
Enrollment growth shows how important community colleges are to the modern education process, Parker noted
“We opened in Delaware County in 1967 with 300 students and 50 years later, our anniversary year this year, we enrolled 27,000 students” including 6,000 in Chester County, Parker said. “Our faculty and staff take great pride in being Chester County’s opportunity college, particularly for all of those who are under-served in the county.”
Some of the previous inductees into the Chester County Business Hall of Fame are: W. Thomas Musser, chairman of The Tri-M Group, inducted last year; Oscar Lasko of Lasko Products Inc.; Jack Loew of J. Loew & Associates Inc.; Tom Fillippo of Devault Foods; Greg Bentley of Bentley Systems; John Bogle of The Vanguard Group; Robert Hankin of Hankin Group; and Jerry Parsons of CTDI.
Parker received citations from the state House and Senate and the Chester County Commissioners.
Commissioners’ Vice Chairwoman Kathi Cozzone co-chaired the Workforce Development Board with Parker.
“We have you to thank for our innovative programs,” she said to Parker.