JOHN P. SHEVLIN, a professional engineer and senior vice president of Pare Corp., was awarded the 2020 Humanitarian Award by the Providence Engineering Society. Shevlin has been involved in community service since moving to Cumberland in 1994. He served on the Cumberland Planning Board from 1995 to 2004 and for more than a decade worked on a committee for CumberlandFest, a yearly summer festival that is held to raise money for youth athletics in the town.
What does it mean to you to receive the Humanitarian Award from the Providence Engineering Society? Receiving this award is significant for several reasons. First, since the honor was given to me by the Providence Engineering Society, which has been in existence for 125 years and has a long tradition in the engineering field, the award has professional significance to me. Second, over the years I have admired and learned from previous recipients of the award, so to be included in the same company with people for whom I have a great amount of respect is truly humbling. Lastly, receiving recognition from peers within the engineering community is very appreciated.
What motivates you to pursue your philanthropic efforts in the community? I just enjoy being involved. I became active in organizations and activities that I truly cared about and enjoyed. This has given me the opportunity to meet some really great people and to develop long-lasting relationships and friendships. I never felt that I was forced or expected to pursue philanthropic efforts. I was merely finding enjoyment and satisfaction in working with others while giving back to my community and profession. I would like to think that all engineers are humanitarians because so much of our work ultimately benefits the public. Often, with volunteering in community organizations, you don’t see immediate results. But there is a cumulative effect that provides greater and more-satisfying outcomes over time.
What do you see as your primary humanitarian goal, and how do you hope to accomplish it? Actually, the Providence Business News is helping me to reach that goal. I would like to encourage others to get involved in organizations with missions that they feel are worthy. I have met people and have had experiences that I would not have had otherwise. I have a broader and stronger network personally and professionally because of my involvement in things that I care about. It is easy to become so entrenched in our own lives that we don’t want to be bothered or take the time to get involved, so I hope to encourage others to do just that.
Are there any interesting community service endeavors that you are involved with, and why did you choose that undertaking? I am proud of the organizations and the groups that I have been associated with, all of whom have raised funds for educational scholarships. But I think that telling students that we believe in them and want to help them accomplish their goals has a greater impact than the given dollars.
