{"id":4414,"date":"2016-09-20T09:49:12","date_gmt":"2016-09-20T13:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/?p=4414"},"modified":"2025-08-16T17:52:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T21:52:45","slug":"an-unsung-hero-of-umpi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/2016\/09\/20\/an-unsung-hero-of-umpi\/","title":{"rendered":"An Unsung Hero of UMPI"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tomfuhrmark-by-melissa-lizotte\"<\/a>
\nIt takes a team including hardworking faculty and staff to make UMPI a great place. \u00a0But sometimes necessary knowledge and talent come from people we may not be aware of. \u00a0Tom Fuhrmark is one of those people. \u00a0He was not an UMPI employee. \u00a0But for the last four years, he used his graphic design skills to help UMPI be even better.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nFuhrmark\u2019s wife, Linda Schott, was UMPI\u2019s president from fall 2012 to spring 2016. \u00a0In June, she accepted a new position. \u00a0She is now the president of Southern Oregon University. \u00a0When the couple came to UMPI, Fuhrmark already had graphic design experience. \u00a0He has a fine art degree in design from Northern Arizona University. \u00a0In the past, he did graphic design work for a professional development firm. \u00a0The firm worked with Fortune 500 companies. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Before UMPI, Schott was the dean of the school of arts, humanities and social sciences at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. \u00a0Fuhrmark worked in the college\u2019s foundation department as a communications specialist. \u00a0\u00a0He was also the graphic artist for Sorrel Sky Gallery. \u00a0Fuhrmark brought many new ideas from Colorado to UMPI. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Soon after arriving, Fuhrmark worked with Keith Madore. \u00a0Madore directed UMPI\u2019s alumni relations office at the time. \u00a0Fuhrmark told Madore about email newsletters that are customized to each individual. These customized newsletters became a great tool for UMPI\u2019s foundation office.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThere was a graphic designer working here on campus. \u00a0But there was more work than there were people to handle the work,\u201d Fuhrmark said. \u00a0\u201cThere seemed like there may be an opportunity to help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This was not the only work Fuhrmark did for UMPI. \u00a0He designed a decal that says, \u201cWe are a smoke-free campus.\u201d \u00a0His most recent project was to design new outside, interior-lit entrance signs. \u00a0That project needed more than just good design. \u00a0Fuhrmark did research on what materials the signs could have. \u00a0He also looked up the limitations of every type of sign. \u00a0In the end, he helped find a company that could make the signs at the best price. \u00a0UMPI recently installed the signs. \u00a0They are located in front of Preble Hall and at the north and south entrances of campus.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Deborah Roark, executive director of university advancement at UMPI, has worked with Fuhrmark many times. \u00a0She said the customized email newsletters and entrance signs are not the only work he has done. \u00a0He also designed the images in the front hallways of Preble Hall. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMany around campus do not know just how much Tom supports the activities at UMPI from behind the scenes,\u201d Roark said. \u00a0\u201cHe has helped me immensely with many projects. \u00a0I am very grateful for his support and expertise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But Fuhrmark feels that his best work has come from helping his wife. \u00a0Schott\u2019s inauguration took place in fall 2013. \u00a0It was the beginning of her second year as president. \u00a0Fuhrmark designed brochures and the inauguration programs. \u00a0He also created a PowerPoint presentation and designed banners. \u00a0He sent an E-Blast to invite people outside of northern Maine. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fuhrmark created many other PowerPoint presentations for Schott. \u00a0In recent years, Schott has become a much-sought-after speaker. \u00a0She often speaks about UMPI\u2019s move to proficiency-based education. \u00a0Her talks have brought national attention to UMPI. \u00a0Fuhrmark and Schott have worked together to create \u201cmedia-rich\u201d PowerPoints. \u00a0Those are presentations that have images and video. \u00a0Fuhrmark has used his knowledge in those areas to help Schott talk about UMPI\u2019s important changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s been a lot that Linda has been able to do to get the message across about what\u2019s going on here on campus,\u201d Fuhrmark said. \u00a0\u201cAnd I feel that I\u2019ve been able to play a part in conveying that message. \u00a0It\u2019s very satisfying.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Schott is very thankful for the work that Fuhrmark has put into her presentations. \u00a0She said that he always works with her to find the best images for her message. \u00a0Their hard work has led to great rewards. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI can\u2019t begin to count all of the hours he has contributed to this work,\u201d Schott said. \u00a0\u201cIt has all added up to increased recognition for UMPI and the amazing work it is doing in the area of personalized learning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Even after all that work, Fuhrmark\u2019s most satisfying project had nothing to do with graphic design. \u00a0When UMPI presidents near the end of their terms, an artist paints their portrait. \u00a0The painting gets a spot next to other presidents\u2019 portraits on the first floor of Preble Hall. \u00a0Fuhrmark, who is also a fine artist, got to paint his wife\u2019s portrait.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a gift for the university that I\u2019m most personally connected to,\u201d Fuhrmark said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In Oregon, Fuhrmark likely will not work on graphic design projects. \u00a0The college already has enough staff members for the work. \u00a0But Fuhrmark still plans to help Schott with future PowerPoints. \u00a0He is also glad that he\u2019ll have more chances to pursue fine art. \u00a0His biggest goal is to have his own art gallery show.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fuhrmark has good memories of UMPI and the people he worked with. \u00a0Besides UMPI, he did graphic design work for the Presque Isle Community Players and Bigrock Ski Area in Mars Hill. \u00a0His work helped him connect with people on campus and in the community. \u00a0Though he has left UMPI, he hopes that his contributions will help the school\u2019s future.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI think I\u2019ll always remember this experience as being a key point in my life,\u201d Fuhrmark said. \u00a0\u201cIt has been satisfying in the hope that what I\u2019ve done helps the university grow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Over the years, people have come and gone at UMPI. \u00a0But all of them leave good things behind. \u00a0Fuhrmark never got a paycheck for his work. \u00a0But like those who are staff members, he brought new ideas for UMPI\u2019s vision. \u00a0Turning those ideas into achievements is what Fuhrmark did for the campus. \u00a0He showed that some of the best results can come from the people hidden behind the work. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It takes a team including hardworking faculty and staff to make UMPI a great place. \u00a0But sometimes necessary knowledge and talent come from people we may not be aware of. \u00a0Tom Fuhrmark is one of those people. \u00a0He was not an UMPI employee. \u00a0But for the last four years, he used his graphic design skills […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":202,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7381],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archives","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/202"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4414"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8964,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4414\/revisions\/8964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}