For Marissa (Mertzic) O'Connor ’00 and her husband Corey, the desire to utilize their science knowledge to create a product from start to finish has established the couple as owners of Agronomy Farm Vineyard in Oakham, MA. “I currently work part time as an engineer at UMass Memorial Health in the process engineering group, but my heart belongs to our business. At the farm which includes a small vineyard of hybrid varietal grapes and over 400 sugar bush trees, we make wine, hard cider, and maple syrup.”
“Running a business takes a lot of heart, hustle, and passion, and with our business it certainly helps to have a science background. There are aspects to running the farm that require us to execute consistently, and then there are times when we need to pivot and try something new. Whatever it is, my WPI engineering education gave me the ability to figure things out that needed to be figured out.” O’Connor adds, “Working on teams in WPI’s project-based curriculum taught me how to break down and solve problems, two skills that help me in my medical industry career and in my ability to run a business.”
“I got a top-notch education at WPI and everywhere I go, I feel like my education and experiences at WPI set me up for success and I'm grateful for that. I support the school with hopes that future generations obtain the same experiences I did and more.”
Marissa (Mertzic) O'Connor ’00
Reflecting on her WPI experience, O’Connor shares, “I wanted to be an engineer, and I wanted to be involved in activities outside of the classroom; WPI allowed me to do that and more. I had the valuable opportunity to travel while doing my IQP in London, and I met most of my friends early on participating in sports,” she says.
O’Connor began her philanthropic legacy at WPI with her Senior Class Gift in 2000. Over the years she has supported scholarship, athletics, and WPI’s Areas of Greatest Need. When asked about her philanthropic support of the university, she says, “I got a top-notch education at WPI and everywhere I go, I feel like my education and experiences at WPI set me up for success and I'm grateful for that. I support the school with hopes that future generations obtain the same experiences I did and more.”