Alumni in Focus

Zenon Issel

Mechanical Engineering Technology, Class of 1998

Our next #AlumniInFocus is Zenon Issel, a 1998 Mechanical Engineering Technology grad and founder of global watersports brand @surffur. After graduation Zenon dedicated 24 years to his role as a mechanical engineer at Solar Turbines in San Diego. Alongside his engineering career he started several businesses and, in 2007, founded Surf-fur, inspired by a deep passion for the ocean and watersports including surfing and spearfishing. “My education at @durhamcollege provided the practical knowledge I needed to hit the ground running in my career from day one,” said Zenon of his time at DC. “We had a great mix of theory and hands-on training which really tied everything together.” With a true entrepreneurial spirit, Zenon continues to invest in businesses, mentor other entrepreneurs, and pursue personal growth. His latest venture involves active ownership in a mortgage business in Hawaii, where he and his family relocated to in 2020.

Jessica Coleman

Electronics Engineering Technician, Class of 2017

A proud DC alumna, our next #AlumniInFocus has followed her career path back to @durhamcollege as an Automation Systems Support Specialist for DC’s Electromechanical Engineering Technology program.

“It is amazing to now support the labs I learned in, alongside the faculty I learned from,” explained Jessica.

After graduating from the Electronics Engineering Technician program in 2017, she started her career in the nuclear industry as a Junior Process Engineering Analyst and, throughout her tenure, held the positions of Process Engineering Analyst and Maintenance Planner.

In addition to the technical skills needed for a career in automation and robotics, she values the soft skills she learned during her education at DC: teamwork, adaptability, and critical thinking. She fondly remembers the late nights spent studying with her classmates in the Integrated Manufacturing Centre. “There was such an immense sense of camaraderie amongst the group, it always felt like we were working towards a collective finish line. It was a lovely community to learn and grow in.”

An avid volunteer, Jessica currently lends her time to Stand in Pride International, serving as a virtual or in-person support for those in the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, as well as Be My Eyes answering on-demand calls for sighted support

Geoff Clark

Mechanical Engineering Technician – Non-Destructive Evaluation, Class of 2006

Our next #AlumniInFocus is Geoff Clark, a graduate of Durham College’s Mechanical Engineering Technician – Non-Destructive Evaluation program who is now a Senior NDT Technician at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Individuals working in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) are an integral part of assuring the safety and integrity of community infrastructure, components and structures. After graduating from DC in 2006, Geoff was hired by Domson Engineering, where he found himself inspecting virtually everything from cranes, scissor lifts, bridges and tower cranes. In 2013, he moved to the TTC and discovered a whole new field where he could utilize the skills he had learned from his previous career experience as well as his education at DC.

Bob Chambers

Administration – Accounting, Class of 1972

Bob Chambers is a 1972 grad of the Business Administration – Accounting program, and our latest #AlumniInFocus.

Bob came to @durhamcollege in 1969, just two years after the college opened its doors in 1967. As a result, the campus was still in early development but Bob built a community with his classmates. “We still manage to get about 10 people out for an occasional lunch including two of our faculty, 55 years after meeting each other!”

During his time at DC, Bob had diverse and knowledgeable instructors from industry who equipped him with the skills and mentorship he needed to land a job at BMO after graduation. After eight years in various positions at the bank, he pursued Commercial Banking as his specialty and spent the last 25 years of his career in the Hamilton Region retiring as an Area Manager in Commercial Banking in 2011.

Bob’s advice to future graduates is to work hard and build social relationships with your classmates. “The door will open when you graduate but what you do with it is your responsibility.”

Chris Creamer

Web Developer, Class of 2004

Founder and Editor of SportsLogos.Net, our next #AlumniInFocus, is 2004 Web Development grad Chris Creamer.

Although Chris’ interest and experience in web development began in high school, he says the skills he gained while at @durhamcollege helped him take his site and business to the next level.

“I learned about the importance and benefits of collaboration with my peers in the industry, and most importantly, it gave me the confidence to continue growing and growing.”

A frequent guest expert in the field of team uniforms or logos, Chris is also the author of Fabric of the Game: The Story Behind the NHL’s Names, Logos, and Uniforms, which topped many Amazon best-seller lists upon its release in 2020. In 2017, he worked extensively with the National Hockey League and Hockey Hall of Fame leading up to the NHL’s Centennial celebration.