A new dawn; Staples' founder: Loyalty ... important'.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: John Dignam

DUDLEY - Thomas G. Stemberg told Nichols College graduates yesterday that even as he hammered nails and stocked shelves to open the first Staples store in 1986, he dreamed about the success of the store.

"Live reality, but don't ever forget to dream the dream," the Staples office supply store founder said in his commencement address yesterday morning.

The end of their undergraduate experience at the college is the end of one chapter in the book of their lives and the start of another, he told the graduating seniors. But he cautioned them that "this should not be a short story."

Mr. Stemberg said that while there are business people who become billionaires by age 30, they are rare exceptions.

For most people, he said, success comes over time and is built on experience and learning and practicing the fundamentals of business.

"Realize you're going to face adversity in your careers and lives. Turn it into opportunity," he said.

Mr. Stemberg said Staples built its first distribution center for its New England and New York stores in 1988 in a new industrial park in Putnam. When a larger facility was needed, he resisted urgings to relocate to another area and built a larger center in nearby Killingly out of loyalty to the workers and communities of Northeastern Connecticut.

"Loyalty is really, really important," he said.

Mr. Stemberg was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science in Business Administration degree yesterday. Retired athletic director and football coach Michael J. Vendetti was awarded an honorary Doctor of Sports Administration degree.

In presenting the honorary degree to Mr. Vendetti, Nichols College Trustee Martin J. Power called Mr. Vendetti "a pillar in this community."

He noted that Mr. Vendetti's football teams won five New England Football Conference championships in six years and that Mr. Vendetti introduced intramural sports and advanced women's athletics at Nichols College.

A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Business School, Mr. Stemberg worked at Jewel's Star Market and First National Supermarkets before founding Staples. He served as Staples' CEO for 16 years and chairman for three years. He is managing general partner with Highland Capital Partners.

The area graduates are:

ASSOCIATE

IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Charlton: Jamie L. Steen.

Putnam: Jessica M. Wolanski.

Southbridge: Melissa E. Bishop.

Webster: Angelique C. Adamuska and Christine A. Millett.

Woodstock: Cynthia L. Brown.

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