Center for Business, Industry Schedules More than 2,000 Events Annually
The College of Southern Maryland recognized the accomplishments of President Emeritus Dr. John Sine with the naming of a room in the Center for Business and Industry (BI) in his honor. As president, Sine initiated the capital campaign to build BI as part of the colleges inner campus building project 24 years ago.
Sine served as the second president of CSM, then named Charles County Community College, from 1982 to 1998. He joined the college in 1961 shortly after it was founded and served 37 years, including 16 as president when he was instrumental in expanding the colleges presence into Calvert and St. Marys counties in order to serve the regions residents.
John had a vision, that vision was the College of Southern Maryland. To be able to serve all three counties as equally as we can, thats Johns vision, said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried.
Sine envisioned a state-of-the art building with classrooms, meeting rooms and a large conference room that would become a hub for academics and industry to gather and to learn new skills. In building the BI, Sine envisioned providing facilities for educational and corporate training that were non-existent in Southern Maryland at that time. Nothing he imagined, however, could have predicted the centers success.
Today, the Conference Center offers more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, and in addition to the Dr. John M. Sine Conference Room, includes the Chaney Enterprises Conference Room, the Besche Oil Conference Room, the Francis Leo Middleton Computer Lab, the Southern Maryland Oil Boardroom, the Charles County Chamber of Commerce Conference Room and the John D. Mitchell Classroom. With its customized general session rooms, break-out rooms and computer lab with 20 work stations, the Conference Center can serve groups from 3 to 300.
During the 2011-12 academic year the center scheduled more than 2,000 events to organizations including state and local government agencies, associations and businesses. In addition to conferences and training sessions, the center hosted community literary events with U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan and Ray Bradbury biographer Sam Weller, the Potomac Wildlife and Art Decoy Show, Money Smart seminars to promote financial literacy, the Charles County Diversity Forum and the annual Women + Math Workshop for middle and high school girls.
At the room dedication ceremony, Sine was recognized by many for his firm attitude in seeing his vision come to fruition. Without question John Sine, was an assertive and aggressive fighter for the Charles County Community College and what is now the College of Southern Maryland, said CSM Trustee Mary M. Krug, who served as a county commissioner in Calvert County during Sines presidency.
Dr. Sines leadership and foresight established a grand foundation, said Professor Ronald Brown.
Arriving at CSM as an instructor of English and philosophy in 1961, Sine became dean soon thereafter and oversaw the schools greatest expansion while serving as president from 1982 to 1999.
John Sine has blessed me in many, many ways. He was an instructor at the college when it was in its infancy. He was my Dean, said CSM Foundation Director Greg Cockerham, a 1974 alumnus.
Sine holds a doctorate from The Catholic University of America in higher education, a masters degree from New York University and a bachelors degree from the University of Maryland. He lives in Woodland Point with his wife Joan.
Sine told those gathered he was honored to return and be recognized with such a lasting tribute.
For information about the BI resources, contact the Conference Center Manager, 301-934-7661, 301-870-2309, Ext. 7661.
For information on CSM, visit www.csmd.edu.