Chamber of Commerce

Miller-Motte started its educational training just over two years ago and is off to a blazing beginning. When classes started in the old Wal-Mart building on Ramsey Street in October of 2009, a whopping 500 students signed up. The onslaught of students made a once large 40,000 square foot space seem crowded. Four months ago a new 9,000 square foot section was added. "We've not peaked yet," Sessoms said. "There's much more to come." Sessoms knows about peaking and about how Miller-Motte can lead students into careers. The Wilmington native dropped out of three community colleges before graduating from Mill- er-Motte with a degree in medical assistance in 1998. He then earned a B.S. in medicine at Campbell University in 2001 and then a master's degree two years later. Sessoms continued his fast-track career by becoming a full- time instructor at Miller-Motte in 2003 and a year later was named director of education at the Cary campus. Then came a stint as education director and, later, interim director of the Charleston, S.C. campus. He came to Fayetteville in April of 2009 to open the college in the fall. He said a key to his success were the early lessons he received at Miller-Motte, which taught him time management. He also said that, from the get-go, the school's faculty kept him focused. Founded in 1916 in Wilmington, Miller-Motte operates campuses in 17 Southern cities and offers four-degree pro- grams in business administration, allied health management, nursing and criminal justice as well as courses in many other fields of study. Sessoms' work in Fayetteville was rewarded twice in the past year. Earlier this year the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce named Miller-Motte the Business of the Year and last year Sessoms accepted the Chamber's Am- bassador of the Year Award. "That Miller-Motte has tried to embed itself in the com- munity makes this noteworthy," Sessoms said. "We're heavily community based. We enjoy great relations with the Down- town Alliance, Chamber and base, all of which has contrib- uted to our success." Amber Quinn, manager for research and analysis for the Chamber of Commerce, said the addition of Miller-Motte as an educational option has opened new doors for many people. "My son will start there next fall and he sees it as having op- portunities that fit his needs and that it's more convenient than other schools," she said. "And they really give back to the community. It's not just about numbers. They are very in tune with our community and that makes the difference." www.FayettevilleNCChamber.org | 23

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