October 19, 2009
On
Thursday, October 15, 2009 alumni gathered at The Williams Club in
New York City to network and socialize at the Tobin College of
Business Alumni Association (TCBAA) Fall Networking Reception, the
most recent in a series of networking events designed to enhance
the career opportunities of graduates of St. John’s The Peter J.
Tobin College of Business.
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Noted financial analyst Wallace F. Forbes, CFA, President of Forbes
Investors Advisory Institute delivered the keynote address, sharing
his thoughts on the causes of the recent economic downturn that has
impacted nearly every segment of the global community. Forbes
noted that, “…the economic cycle is just that, a cycle that swings
both up and down based upon all sorts of external factors and
business practices. There are excesses, like those that have
occurred in the housing and banking industries, and after a time
these bubbles burst and things take a downward slide. But
then other factors come into play, and things start to correct and
the economy moves forward again.”
A strong advocate of networking, Forbes was quick to point out that
personal interactions were a critical component of successful
business practices. “Networking is always important,” he
said. “We get things done through people working
together. Networking allows us to tap resources and to
influence decision-making by getting our viewpoints and ideas into
focus with people who might not otherwise be available to us.
It allows us to take advantage of other people’s knowledge and
perspective, which is a win-win situation for everyone.”
Prior to the keynote address Steven D. Papamarcos, Ph.D., Dean of
the Tobin College of Business shared a number of exciting
initiatives that have taken place at the College in recent months,
particularly concerning the success of the Executive-in-Residence
Program and the Student Managed Investment Fund. He also
announced that the Global Microloan Program would establish a live
presence on the Web in about two months. “We’re bringing
microfinance to the retail sponsor,” he said. “This is a
great way to put our St. John’s mission into action by helping the
developing world to break the chains of poverty on a very personal
level.”
TCBAA President Catherine Camera ’65CBA sees this, and
similar events, as a reflection of the philosophy that lies at the
core of the St. John’s University experience. “Tonight is a
wonderful opportunity for alumni and members of the business
community to come together and network for their mutual benefit,”
she said. “The mission of the TCBAA is to provide
opportunities to enhance career-related relationships among our
alumni, students and the business community in ways that reflect
our Vincentian values and ideals.”
Throughout the evening, alumni took advantage of the chance to make
contact and share information with each other in a social and
pleasantly informal setting, their mutual ties to alma mater making
the reception even more special. “I have a great affinity for
St. John’s,” remarked Elaine C. Freeman, ’83C, ’87MBA, a Sales
Executive/Insurance Broker with Allied North American, “and I want
to support our alumni. I’m looking to expand my networking
opportunities with my fellow graduates as well as helping out with
creating additional networking opportunities for them.”
Alumni were genuinely appreciative that the University continues to
sponsor events such as this, giving them a valuable resource that
would otherwise be unavailable to them as they seek to advance
their careers.
“I’m here to listen to Mr. Forbes speak, and also to meet some
other, earlier graduates,” said George W. Kaleh ’08TCB.
“Networking is important to my career, and I look forward to events
like this for both professional and social reasons.”
“I like St. John’s very much,” concurred Peter A. O’Leary ’84CBA,
“and always try to show my support. I’m here to meet people
and hopefully make some kind of connection with other professionals
in my current, or possibly related, field. In this economy,
networking is more important than ever.”