Careers in technology are the new job frontier, and Mike Anderson knows it. He has worked in the industry for over 20 years and has both designed and taught courses in technology for several colleges and universities.
His work for the Middle Country Central School District School Board as a Trustee and his membership in the Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce, all while running his own business, show his hard work ethic: something he developed growing up in Lindenhurst and in the military.
Mike Anderson grew up in Lindenhurst and graduated from Copiague High School in 1978. After graduating, he volunteered in the Army, serving with the 101st Airborne Division until 1981. Upon returning to Lindenhurst, he took courses at technical school and became a certified systems engineer with Microsoft.
Anderson became Chief Information Officer for Nextech Information Systems, which involved teaching over 40 trainers at a time at over 8 locations throughout Long Island. This led Anderson to design curricula for and teach courses for Nextech at colleges and universities all over the island, including SUNY Stony Brook, Hofstra University, St. John’s, Briarcliffe College and others.
Nextech closed down in 2001; Anderson proceeded to form his own business, American Professional Services. “It has given me time to give back to the community,” he said. Anderson was a founding member of the Centereach Chamber of Commerce, which, in turn, became the Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce to accommodate nearby Selden and Lake Grove. He was elected president of the Chamber last month.
Anderson has served as Trustee for the School Board since 2004. He was asked to run for the position by the School Board President after serving as a businessperson-advisor for a Budget Advisory Committee for the School District.
His committee assignments include Chairman of the Technology Committee, co-Chair of the Committee for Better Choices and co-Chair of the Budget Planning Committee.
As Chairman of the Technology Committee, Anderson is in charge of acquiring the best technology for the students of the District. “Enrico Crocetti, the Director of Technology, is doing a great job, he’s doing a lot of work with little resources,” he said. “There is very little to improve that is technology-related.”
New York State has cut financial aid to the school district, Anderson said. As such, funding for technology has lessened for the last few years. “We are working with the Legislative Committee to increase state aid to the district so all valued programs can continue in the district,” Anderson said.
Anderson was crucial in securing a $50,000 grant for the schools as co-chair for the Choices Committee. ‘The purpose behind the program is to give the students the knowledge and the opportunity to make better choices,” he said. “It’s not just to make ‘rec’ nights.”
“He got a lot done on the Choices Committee,” said Ron Grinnell, the School Board’s Vice President. Anderson has overseen the nights of recreation, counseling and social work, and the availability of literature to combat violence and drug abuse.
The Budget Planning Committee involves working with the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Roberta Gerold, and Vice Superintendent, Herb Chessler. “He is a very focused board member who always has the student’s best interest in mind,” Gerold said.
The committee is looking at the programs run by the district with the district officers and working with the community to determine the value of each program. The committee is changing the way we look at the budget, from a single-year plan to a multi-year plan,” he said. “[It is] going to take some time to make that transition.”
Anderson’s background in technology has brought success to Centereach’s businesses and education. Though he does not actually write the budget, his insight is monumental in how the town allocates money, be it to attract new members to the Chamber of Commerce or to make the schools better in order to bring more people to live in Centereach.
Since being elected to the School Board, Anderson has joined an institution that values his membership. “Everybody on the board does a good job and he fits right in,” Ron Grinnell said.
The Centereach Civics Association agrees. “He is very knowledgeable and a very good organizer,” said Carol Cavalieri, its 1st Vice President. “He [Anderson] definitely is a mover and shaker.”
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