The 1997 Norwich Native Son was Rene Champagne. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ITT Educational Services, responsible for the management of 74 ITT Technical Institutes located in 28 states, which provide technology-related Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees to more than 31,000 students.
Prior to joining ESI, Mr. Champagne was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of C.P. Cryosan, Inc., a privately held healthcare company in Newton, Massachusetts. Before that post, he was employed by Colgate Palmolive, Inc., in various general management capacities, including serving as President of Respiratory Care, Inc., of Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Mr. Champagne graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science.