Alumni Insider's View...TCB Speed Networking

On Wednesday, November 4, 2009 more than 40 undergraduate students gathered in the Kiernan Suite on the Staten Island campus for Alumni Insider’s View…TCB Speed Networking, a unique program in which St. John’s University alumni share their personal insights regarding techniques for embarking upon successful careers in business. The format of a speed networking reception offers students the opportunity to engage in roundtable conversations with a number of St. John’s most successful alumni.

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“The evening was a ‘win-win’ for all,” said Dr. Donna Narducci, Ed.D. ’75NDC, ’78GEd, Associate Dean, St. John’s The Peter J. Tobin College of Business.  “It was wonderful to see our alumni so enthusiastic about sharing their expertise with our students.  Our students were most grateful to them [the alumni] for this unique learning experience.”

“The Alumni Insider’s View continues to be such a success because of our dedicated alumni,” agreed Andriana Lewinsky ’04CPS, Assistant Director, Institutional Advancement, Staten Island campus.  “Seeing the faces of St. John’s students light up is truly one of the most rewarding aspects of my job and I have to thank our alumni who simply radiate so much positive energy.  I’m humbled because they [the alumni] leave with a big smile and thank me for giving them the opportunity to give back.”

Students and alumni enjoyed the mutual exchanges that are an inherent part of any speed networking reception. “It was a great experience answering the questions of the students,” noted Boardman. “I’m really looking forward to future Alumni Insider’s View events.”

Freshman Marketing major Matthew Tufano ’13CBA was especially grateful to the alumni for giving so generously of their time and expertise, noting that, “…it was nice to see alumni in the workforce come back to share their experiences with us.”

Jennifer Arpaia, a freshman with as yet an undeclared major, was thrilled with the connections she made so early in her college career.  Arpaia heeded the advice of alumni panelist Dan Carbonella who advised students to, “Always ask as many questions as possible and don’t necessarily feel that when you graduate that your very first job will be your job forever.”

The enthusiasm of the students was further reflected in the fact that most alumni participants had handed out all of their business cards by the end of the program.

Alumni who participated as panelists in this valuable event included:

Len Annucci ’78MBA
Vice President, Control Administrator
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Patricia Bean ’80CBA,’88MBA
Director of Marketing and Chief Estimator (Retired)
Sweet Construction Corp.

Russell Boardman ’05TCB
Associate, Electronic Sales Support Group
Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Dan Carbonella ’04TCB,’05MBA
Accountant
Daszkowski, Tompkins & Weg, P.C.

Robert Kelly ’88MBA
Real Estate Brokerage Owner and Developer
ERA Master Realtors

Ralph J. Porzio’80CBA,’84L
Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
St. John’s University
Former N.Y.S. Family Court Judge

Maria Tychi-Kefalas ’83CBA
Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

Lisa Ann Nielsen-Vento ’98CBA,’99MBA
Consultant and Adjunct Professor of Finance
St. John’s University

Daniel Wheeler ’77CBA
President
Office Equipment Company of S.I., Inc.