One man can make a difference.

For Lucas J. Lussier, chief financial officer and business manager at The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, or The Met, the inspiration to do so comes from the annals of classic American cinema.

One of his favorite films is “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The film tells the story of George Bailey, a hard-working man who believes he is laboring in obscurity until he is able to see what life would have been like if he never existed.

“He sees the impact he has made on the town and its people,” Lussier said, promoting the concept that every person can make a difference. “Business leaders can make a difference and improve their institution or industry by working hard, devoting the time necessary to the task at hand, following through with their goals or objectives and standing up for what they believe in.” However, this does not come without some personal sacrifice, he said.

For Lussier, this sacrifice can be working at home until the wee hours or squeezing as much productivity as possible into an eight-hour day at the office. Apparently, he is the right man for the job, so much so that he is this year’s Rising Star in the CFO Awards program. At 31, he would appear to be young for such an important position – especially when he is mistaken for one of the students at the school.

Lussier takes it in stride.

“People’s perception of my age, which ranges between 16 and 26, sometimes makes things difficult. I often hear, ‘You look so young,’ or ‘I thought you were a student,’ ” he said.

“I always smile and take the comments as compliments. Every now and then I will respond, ‘I just received my driver’s license yesterday, and good thing because I was wondering how I was going to make this meeting!’ ”

Speaking of which, Lussier handles meetings and the other duties that come his way with a competence worthy of applause.