NECC Business Management graduate Tricia Colameta Lyon

There is no doubt in Tricia Colameta Lyon’s mind that the skills she learned in her computer applications class at Northern Essex helped her secure the position of executive assistant to the director of the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.

The Methuen resident was asked to submit samples of Power Point and Excel projects to demonstrate proficiency in those applications, as part of the interview process. Tricia had recently completed both projects in the NECC class she took while working on a Medical Coding Certificate.

The then 52-year-old was offered the job. That was three years ago. Since then, she has continued to advance her career as well as her academics. She subsequently enrolled in the NECC Business Management Program from which she graduated with an associate degree in December 2013.
Tricia now reports to UMass Lowell’s Deputy Director of Athletics who continues to oversee the Tsongas Center. “I have the confidence to do this job because of what I learned at Northern Essex,” says Tricia.

The mother of two adult children, She had plenty of real-life administrative experience, but no formal education when she decided she wanted a career and not just a job.

Following high school graduation, she opted for the workforce over college. When her children were school-aged, she worked as an administrative assistant in various school systems. Ten years later, Tricia decided she needed to go to college if she expected job growth.

“I enrolled at NECC and fell in love with the school and with learning again,” she says. “I developed a whole new outlook on life. I decided I didn’t want a certificate. I wanted a degree.”
“Without question, NECC advanced my career,” she says.