September 28, 2026

New program introduces students to leadership, career readiness, and the regional economy.

KEENE, NH — The Greater Monadnock Collaborative (GMC) Regional Chamber of Commerce is launching Leadership Monadnock EMERGING, a professional development pilot program for high-school students that will train participants in both soft skills and technical concepts in preparation for local internships.

The program is being piloted with Making Community Connections Chartered Public School (MC2) during the 2026–27 school year, with the hope of expanding it to other high schools in the future. This pilot is sponsored by Corning Incorporated, the world’s leading innovator in glass science and optical physics. Corning’s Keene manufacturing facility specializes in advanced optical solutions.

The pilot is designed to provide professional development to 20 to 30 MC2 students in support of the school’s Learning Outcomes for Internships in preparation for successful internship experiences with local organizations. Its focus areas include soft skills development and application, as well as exposure to manufacturing concepts, including a visit to Corning.

“This is exciting, not just for the linkage and student learning opportunities between Corning and MC2, but for the ultimate expansion of the Monadnock Region’s workforce pipeline,” said Michelle DellaVita, Director of Leadership Monadnock at Greater Monadnock Collaborative.

Modeled after GMC’s Leadership Monadnock signature program and adapted for young people, Leadership Monadnock EMERGING connects students with leaders, employers, nonprofits and community partners representing a variety of industries, career pathways and perspectives. Experiential learning through hands-on activities, discussion, team-based problem solving, and site visits provides multiple ways for students to participate, learn, and contribute.

The MC2 pilot includes six sessions throughout the school year:

• Insights & Communication
• Design Thinking & Project Management
• Misdeal Card Simulation
• Misdeal Card Simulation Debrief
• Regional Manufacturing Overview
• Sustainability & Action Plan

The pilot’s session topics are designed to be interactive and keenly focused on learning activities that introduce students to manufacturing in the region.

“We’re proud to support Leadership Monadnock EMERGING and the important role it will play in helping local students build leadership skills, explore career pathways, and gain early exposure to opportunities in manufacturing,” said Donald Tilley, Plant Operations Manager, Keene, Corning Incorporated. “At Corning, we value opportunities to reinvest in the communities where we live and work, and we’re grateful to support an initiative that helps inspire and prepare the next generation in the Monadnock Region.”

Program impacts include making leadership development, career exploration, and community connection accessible to a broad range of young people. By partnering directly with MC2, the pilot brings these experiences to students through their school environment and, thanks to Corning’s sponsorship, does so at no cost, helping remove financial, transportation, and awareness barriers to participation.

DellaVita is collaborating with GMC member Jocelyn Acampora, founder of RealityWise Consulting and a specialist in operational excellence, to deliver the curriculum.

“I am thrilled to be working with the Greater Monadnock Collaborative, MC², and Corning on Leadership Monadnock Emerging,” said Jocelyn Acampora. “Most leaders aren’t simply born; they are developed through experience, guidance, and opportunities to lead. We can wait for those experiences to happen over a lifetime, or we can intentionally create opportunities for emerging leaders to learn, practice, and grow. LME gives us the chance to help develop the future leaders of our community today.”

The pilot runs from August 2026 through April 2027. Participants will receive Leadership Monadnock EMERGING Certificates of Completion and will be recognized at the MC2 Mentor Recognition Dinner at Keene State College in May 2027.

About Greater Monadnock Collaborative
The Greater Monadnock Collaborative Regional Chamber of Commerce is a regional business and community organization serving businesses, organizations, and municipalities across the Monadnock Region’s thirty-four towns. Through business support, leadership development, regional promotion, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships, GMC works to strengthen the regional economy and connect businesses, organizations, and people across the region.

About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is the world’s leading innovator in materials science, with a 175-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics, along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries. Corning’s capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping its customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, solar, semiconductors, and life sciences.