Biltmore Who's Who News and Events

Garland W. Higgins

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Garland W. Higgins as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2010.

Garland W. Higgins, Director of Alumni Relations for Kentucky State University , has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Garland W. Higgins’s commitment to excellence in the field of Education.

Higgins, who holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Accounting from Portsmouth Interstate Business College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Management Information Systems, both from Kentucky State University, began working in accounting and teaching while spending thirty-three years serving in the US Army and National Guard.

Beginning in 1977 as an administrative assistant with Ross County Commissioners, and later as an accountant with Kentucky State University in 1981, Higgins pursued a career in state government before returning to the University in the summer of 2001 as director of alumni relations.

A vital part of Higgins’ position involves creating and cultivating relationships and keeping the vice-president for external relations and development abreast of alumni programs.  He ensures that alumni has meaningful experiences through events, campus visits and volunteer work to establish lifelong bonds that lead to philanthropy, effective networking and catered programs for alumni.  He also has stewardship responsibility that extend to membership dues, alumni specific programs, alumni scholarships, annual giving and class reunions that support alumni and pre-alumni student needs.

“I give all praise and glory to God,” Higgins said in regard to his professional success.  “My wife, Dr. Patricia Higgins, and my daughter Monica Shack are my front line of support and encouragement always.”

Aspiring to further his education and obtain a doctoral degree in the future, Higgins plans to continue playing the role he is in for as long as the job will allow him, so that he can leave a legacy as both a distinguished employee and exceptional alumnus.

Higgins is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.  He’s received a Kentucky Colonel Award and numerous certificate of appreciation awards over the years.  He retired from the Kentucky Army National Guard as a Master Sergeant.  When Garland isn’t busy working, he volunteers with his local YMCA and the Sunshine Center, and also enjoys watching sports, especially the Indianapolis Colts. 

For more information, visit http://www.kysu.edu.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Garland W. Higgins
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Thursday, August 25, 2011

Monica M. Montoya

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Monica M. Montoya as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2010.

Monica M. Montoya, Teacher at Alvarado Elementary School, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Monica M. Montoya’s commitment to excellence in the field of Education.

Montoya, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of New Mexico, is a certified social studies and language arts instructor with eight years teaching experience.

Beginning in 2003, Montoya started working through Albuquerque Public Schools, beginning at La Luz Elementary.  From there she went on to work at Alvarado Elementary, and has been there for the past five years.  Currently teaching the fifth grade, she has also taught kindergarten, first, third and fourth grade.  She instructs students in reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies and health.  She also sits on various committees for the school and has had Baldridge training and continuous classroom improvement training courses to stay abreast of her classroom techniques.

After having been inspired by her eighth grade teacher to pursue a career in teaching, Montoya said, “I have modeled my teaching from him.  I learned a lot in his class.  I have especially learned how to teach my students about my high expectations and how to help them to actually reach them.

Montoya also noted how important it is to be fair to all of her students, how to add a little bit of humor to her their day and how to make each day a happy one, every single day.

Hoping to return to college and pursue her master’s degree, Montoya is considering teaching at the college level at some point in her career.  Currently, she is a member of the New Mexico Education Association and the National Education Association.  When Monica isn’t busy working, she enjoys softball and volleyball.

For more information, visit http://www.aps.edu.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Monica M. Montoya
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, August 19, 2011

Michael K. Miller

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Michael K. Miller as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2010.

Michael K. Miller, Director of Operations for CVS, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Michael K. Miller’s commitment to excellence in the field of Retail and Pharmaceuticals.

Miller, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Law from Bowling Green University, began his career working for Beker Industries Corporation in 1981 as a quality control manager, managing the quality/metallurgical laboratories.  Since then, he has held four other positions before jumping on board with CVS thirteen years ago.

As director of the Somerset Distribution Center for the past three years, Miller manages a 375,000 square foot facility, four hundred associates spanning over three shifts, eighteen managers and supervisors, in addition to fifty-three drivers.  He helps to servicing five hundred sixty stores across five states with an inventory of $36 million and 13,000 active SKU’s. 

“I have been fortunate to work in manufacturing, research and development, catalog, retail and logistics,” Miller said about his career thus far.   “I have had well rounded experiences that have contributed to my knowledge, exposing me to different methods and giving me the opportunities to utilize varying technologies and equipment.”

Satisfied in his current position working for a very reputable company, Miller aspires to continue doing good work so that he can continue to provide for his family.  He also hopes to assist all of the organization’s facilities by sharing best practices and driving their efficiencies to result in both financial and productivity gains.

Miller is certified in manufacturing studies, MRP, JIT and TQC.  He is currently a committee chairman for United Way. He’s earned several awards throughout his career, including a CVS High Performer Award two times.  He has also successfully brought a new WMS system to two different CVS’s and has transferred an $11 million per year lithium battery manufacturing facility from Waltham, Massachusetts to Pawcatuck, Connecticut.  When Michael isn’t busy working, he enjoys reading, swimming and football.

For more information, visit http://www.cvs.com.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Michael K. Miller
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, August 12, 2011

Emily Nunzio

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Emily Nunzio as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2010.

Emily Nunzio, Special Education Teacher at Orange Avenue School, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Emily Nunzio’s commitment to excellence in the field of Education.

Nunzio, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education with a minor in Elementary Education from William Patterson University, began working in her field in 1974 as a special educator as a high school resource room teacher.  She was also employed as a supplemental instructor of elementary aged special education students, traveling to different schools within a prestigious community prior to working for her current school.

Teaching academic subjects to students in both replacement and pullout support programs and providing in-class support services to students that receive academic subjects in the mainstream, Nunzio co-teaches students with their classroom teacher.  She plans for and discusses lessons, curriculum and student needs during their daily and weekly scheduled common preparation time and also works closely with all teachers of her students, their parents, child study team members and administrators.

“I constantly strive to improve my teaching skills and expertise through professional development activities, conferences and seminars, mostly at my own expense,” Nunzio said about her career in teaching.  “I am always willing to learn new things that will benefit my students in becoming the best they can be.”

Having always wanted to pursue teaching, Nunzio continually works hard to stay abreast of the ever-changing learning and teaching styles.  This summer she will be attending a conference in Texas on how to engage her students in the learning process.  She also will attend three additional conferences at the Bergen County Educational Training and Technical Center on how to use a SmartBoard effectively in the classroom.

Nunzio is a member of numerous national, state, county and local education associations, including the CEC Division of Learning Disabilities and the National Association of Professional Women where she was named Woman of the Year in 2010.  She was also the recipient of a grant from the Cranford Fund for Educational Excellence for audio books from 2003-05 to improve students’ reading skills.  When Emily isn’t busy working, she enjoys ballroom dancing.

For more information, visit http://www.cranfordschools.org.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Emily Nunzio
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, August 5, 2011