Four long-time CMCC employees to retire

AUBURN — Central Maine Community College announced the retirement of four men with more than 75 cumulative years at the college. Ray Masse, Roger Philippon, Lester Ordway and Don Varney, are all retiring.

Masse started as a groundskeeper 38 years ago, helping to create the lakeside campus CMCC is today. When Masse became head of facilities, he wanted his staff to succeed, so he first focused on better equipment to do the job safely and more efficiently.
“Because of things like that, we can get by with a smaller crew and still maintain a beautiful campus,” said Dan Graham, Masse’s successor.
Masse was part of every small job, renovation and new building project for nearly 40 years as the campus was modernized. Whether fixing a desk or spending hours “writing bids, contacting vendors, and ordering supplies, no job was ever too big or too small for Ray to help with,” Graham said. “He has forgotten more than most people will ever know about our campus.”
He always maintained a friendly, open, and humble attitude, Graham said. Masse knew everyone by name. “His crew respected him greatly and would do anything he asked,” says Dan. “There have been countless vendors that have already mentioned how much they will miss him.”

Philippon came to CMCC in 2006 after working at St. Joseph’s College in Standish and University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College. As dean of planning and public affairs, Philippon directed institutional assessment and research efforts; led the development and implementation of the college’s strategic plans; managed federal grants and served as accreditation liaison officer; directed community, legislative, and media relations and college marketing efforts; and was executive director of the CM Education Foundation.
Philippon is a former member of the Lewiston City Council and is on the Lewiston Finance Committee. He is also a member of the L-A Metro Chamber of Commerce, the L-A Rotary Club and the Maine Public Relations Council. He and his wife Celeste live in Lewiston and devote much time and energy to the L-A Community Little Theater. They have a son, Joseph, a detective with the Lewiston Police Department, and two grandsons.
“For over eight years we worked hand-in-hand,” said Heather Seymour, director of marketing and communications “He was a mentor and a sounding board. His institutional knowledge; compassion; and humor will be missed.”

Ordway started in the Automotive Program at CMCC in 1997 as part of the Ford ASSET program. As a primary recruiter for the program, he met with high school students, many of whom came to CMCC. Matt Walsh, chair of the program, said Ordway was responsible for making the program what it is, doubling it in 2003. “We used to start a cohort of Asset students every other year,” said Walsh. “After that we began starting each fall.”
“Lester’s biggest contribution was often his interactions with students,” Walsh said. “He had sort of a fatherly relationship with a lot of the students. They would listen to him even when they didn’t want to, and he was a good ear when they needed it. Whether they were overwhelmed with classes, having too much fun outside of class, or homesick he was really good at helping them through it.”
Not only did Ordway have a significant role in running the Ford/AAA auto skills competition, awarding high school automotive students with scholarships to attend college,he also ran the ME/NH/VT contests and contributed to the finals for the past 10 years.
In 2015, he became a representative for House District 23, and was re0elected in 2020. Heis a member of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, and the Leaves of Absence Committee. Ordway lives in Standish and has four children and four grandchildren.

Varney spent a decade at CMCC creating a thriving Building Construction Technology department. A creative and energetic leader, and inspiring teacher, Varney turned the lab into a modern learning center with redesigned curriculum to focus on student-first learning. In 2013, he was presented with the Faculty Member of the Year award.
A graduate of CMCC, Varney earned a baccalaureate degree in applied technical education at USM and is certified as a building analyst professional. With more than 30 years of experience in the construction field, and working closely with his program advisory board, he created class content to enhance work-ready knowledge and skills, including adding building science and international residential code to the curriculum. He also created a vibrant concurrent course, collaborating with instructors at secondary regional technical centers and strengthening ties through shared values.
He also spearheaded the creation of the Building Construction Jobsite Program. A joint effort of CMCC and residential and commercial companies, the two-year program provides students with classroom and laboratory training and paid on-the-job experience. Varney’s expertise and changes in the Building Construction Technology department will be fostered and continued through the college; his successor as program chair, Curry Caputo; and other program instructors.