For Jim Wentzell, a proud Alumni of CBU’s predecessor institute - Nova Scotia Eastern Institute of Technology (NSEIT), a recent discovery brought back memories of a lifetime spent in service to communities across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. While his daughter was sorting through a box of keepsakes, she found something Jim had thought was long gone—his graduation ring from NSEIT, where he studied Business Administration from 1970 to 1972.

“When I graduated high school in 1970, I had no real skills, and jobs were scarce. I didn’t want to earn minimum wage my whole life, so I decided to take Business Administration at NSEIT,” Jim recalls. His was interested in accounting and computers, which led him to make the choice to major in accounting, a decision that shaped his future, even as the world of computers was just beginning to take off. “I graduated in 1972. Personal computers didn’t exist until 1982, and the internet came along in 1983. But the combination of accounting and computer skills I learned at NSEIT gave me the foundation to improve the quality of administration in every job I’ve had since.”

For Jim, getting a post-secondary education was more than just another step—it was the key to a better life. He knew that by developing specialized skills, he could go beyond the limited opportunities available in his small-town job market. And with each role he took on, he saw the value of his education.

Jim dedicated his career to working for municipalities and school boards. From modernizing outdated manual systems to spearheading groundbreaking projects like the creation of wind farms, he’s proud of what he was able to accomplish. In Bridgewater and Lunenburg, he computerized the tax billing and accounting systems, improving their efficiency. In the South Shore Regional School Board, he played a role in overhauling a payroll system and developing a new financial system for all school boards in the province using SAP technology.

One of his proudest achievements came while working for the Town of Mahone Bay. Jim took a lead in the creation of a wind farm in partnership with the Towns of Antigonish and Berwick. “We did it without having to put any money up front, and it has generated cheaper power for our utilities and millions of dollars in profit for the three municipalities,” he says proudly.

After a long career, Jim retired — twice, in fact. His second “retirement” came after a four-year term as the CAO for the Town of Borden-Carleton, PEI. Initially agreeing to help out for just a few weeks, Jim found himself staying much longer than anticipated. His efforts helped bring the town back on track without raising taxes, a legacy he was proud to leave.

Reflecting on his career, Jim credits his education at NSEIT for laying the groundwork for his success. “The skills I learned at Eastern Tech have been invaluable. I owe my success to the foundation I received at NSEIT,” he says.

Now, as he officially steps into a hopefully permanent retirement, Jim looks back with pride—not only on a career of service but on a life well-lived, rooted in the education he received at NSEIT. And his newly rediscovered grad ring may not fit anymore, but serves as a reminder of where it all began.

For Jim Wentzell, finding that ring isn’t just a nod to the past—it’s a symbol of a lifetime of commitment to communities and creating a legacy of public service that will endure for years to come.