7/3/07

Youssef Retires After 25 Years as Arts and Sciences Professor

Photo:  NHCTC Laconia Arts and Sciences Professor, Fouad Youssef, is shown following his last Commencement Ceremony at the Laconia College recently.  Youssef, 3-time Professor of the Year, has announced his retirement following 25 years of service to NHCTC Laconia.  The Ceremony will be held at Hart’s Turkey Farm July 10.

New Hampshire Community Technical College Laconia Science and Mathematics Professor, Fouad Youssef (Laconia), is retiring.  Youssef began at the College in 1982 and his retirement party is July 10, 2007, at Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant, Meredith, where he will celebrate 25 years with NHCTC Laconia. 

“I have never had a boring day teaching in the College, honest to God,” says Youssef, personally torn by his decision to leave after so many years.  “Teaching has always been an enormous challenge, and I have shown great respect to my students, and I have gotten great respect back from them.  It is hard to go.”

Born and raised in Egypt, Youssef had to make the decision early in life to come to North America or to become a professional soccer player in his own country.  “I came to North America for a better life,” says Youssef.  “It has been a good decision as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed teaching, building my own business, marrying, and raising four wonderful children in the Lakes Region.”

Youssef now plans to allocate much more time to the highly successful family business, Lakes Region Dock Company, which he, his wife, Susan Youssef, and two sons have built into a formidable enterprise since the Youssef’s purchased it in 1976. 

“Even though I’ve loved teaching, it has been holding me back from expanding the business as much as I could have,” Youssef continues.  “Now we can do much, much more.”

Manufacturing specialty aluminum docks is the Youssefs’ next step.  Lakes Region Dock Company will be making the new docks for installations of their own initially.  Then Youssef plans to sell the new specialty docks to dealers across the country.

Youssef concludes with some words of advice.  “Hard work will never fail you and always pays off.  Be dedicated to your job, do your best, give 100%, and things will go well”… pretty smart words of advice.