Mark Van Weelden of Covanta has joined the NECC Foundation

Local businessman Mark Van Weelden, was recently appointed to the Northern Essex Community College Foundation Board.

Van Weelden is business manager for the Greater Boston, New Hampshire, and Maine district for Covanta the Haverhill Resource Recovery facility located at 100 Recovery Way, Haverhill. The facility processes 1,650 tons per day of solid waste, generating up to 49 megawatts of renewable energy.

A resident of Eliot, Maine, Van Weelden is a U.S. Navy veteran and a board member of the Environmental Business Counsel, New England.

As the child of a retired school teacher who served as an executive dean at Sauk Valley Community College and McHenry County Community College in Illinois, Van Weelden says, “The importance of a strong community college is vital to both the local and state education system.  NECC has a proven track record in providing vital educational options to students before and after graduation.”

The NECC Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides support for the college and its students. Incorporated in 1972, the Foundation assists NECC by making connections with the business community, foundations, and other potential revenue sources. It additionally hosts fundraisers and special events.

Funds raised are used for student scholarships, equipment purchases, program revitalization efforts, faculty and staff development, and other needs as they arise and as approved by the Foundation Board of Directors. Board members are appointed to multi-year terms.