Husband-and-Wife Alums Credit St. John’s for their Successful Business Journey
John (’88CBA, ’91MBA) and Stephanie Giamatteo ’88CBA, ’91MBA have traveled the world in four decades of business careers—but their hearts are never far from St. John’s University.
They met at the University and were engaged soon after earning their graduate degrees. Decades later, the couple maintain a close relationship with their alma mater, which inspired them to learn and serve, they said.
I have distinctive memories of challenging courses with great professors who were always helpful
John (’88CBA, ’91MBA) and Stephanie Giamatteo ’88CBA, ’91MBA have traveled the world in four decades of business careers—but their hearts are never far from St. John’s University.
They met at the University and were engaged soon after earning their graduate degrees. Decades later, the couple maintain a close relationship with their alma mater, which inspired them to learn and serve, they said.
“When you come to St. John’s, with all the service opportunities, you might not realize how much it impacts you,” Mrs. Giamatteo reflected. “But it is about being a part of something, and it brings value to what St. John’s is.”
Mr. Giamatteo, from Bellmore, NY, and Mrs. Giamatteo, from Queens, NY, have lived in several United States cities, and Hong Kong, China, and Tokyo, Japan. These days, they are in Dallas, TX, where John serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BlackBerry Limited, the Canadian technology company that popularized the smartphone two decades ago and has since pivoted to software and tech services.
Mr. Giamatteo has been its CEO since December 2023, the capstone of a lengthy career that has included positions as President and Chief Revenue Officer at the cybersecurity firm McAfee Corporation, and 17 years in senior management positions at the telecommunications firm Nortel Networks Asia Pacific.
Upon earning her Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree, Mrs. Giamatteo worked for a commodities firm on Wall Street and then at the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. The couple have three daughters, one of whom is pursuing an M.B.A. at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business. Mrs. Giamatteo’s brother, James Sfiroudis ’92CBA, ’96MBA, is also an alumnus and Managing Director of the financial services firm The Olayan Group.
“When I think about St. John’s, the word that comes to mind is growth,” Mr. Giamatteo said. “It helped me grow as a person. I participated in a study-abroad program and spent an entire semester traveling all over Europe.”
That study-abroad experience helped Mr. and Mrs. Giamatteo become more comfortable as risk takers, which came in handy when they were offered the chance to relocate to Asia with Nortel Networks. The couple spent two years in Hong Kong and another four-plus years in Tokyo.
Mr. Giamatteo established a reputation as a leading business operations executive during that time. The second of their three daughters was born in Hong Kong; the third was born in Tokyo.
“It was an international adventure that taught us several things, both from a personal perspective and a business standpoint,” Mr. Giamatteo said.
The family returned to the US when Mr. Giamatteo was offered the Chief Operating Officer position at the tech firm RealNetworks, based in Seattle, WA. Other executive positions followed before BlackBerry offered him the position of President, and later CEO.
Throughout their journeys, the family has never forgotten its St. John’s roots.
“I have distinctive memories of challenging courses with great professors who were always helpful,” Mrs. Giamatteo said.
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Michael A. DeVico ’82CBA, ’85MBA has enjoyed a successful career in business strategy and management, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Credit.com, and before that, at Experian. As a first-generation college graduate, he gives St. John’s University much credit for his success.
“St. John’s was very welcoming, and I knew people there cared about me,” he said. “It was a balanced, well-rounded education, and it included ethics, religion, and behavior. It was a great experience.”
As he pursued his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) at St. John’s University over five years while juggling a full-time job, Mory M. Katz ’94MBA delighted in taking literature courses; his favorites included Shakespeare and works from the 17th century.
“I really enjoyed English literature. Every semester, there was a chance to take an elective course or two, and I always took one that was literature-oriented,” recalled Mr. Katz. “It provided a satisfying contrast to my major.” By graduation, he had collected enough credits to earn a minor in literature.
Jennifer Brullo ’01C, ’03MBA has always sets high standards—and consistently exceeds them. Her inspiring rise from analyst to President and Chief Executive Officer of the Westchester Visiting Nurse Services Group, Inc. is testament to her abilities in business development and strategic operations.
Dedication to academic study is foundational to her success; she has earned a bachelor of science and a master of business administration degree from St. John’s University, as well as a doctorate in nursing practice from Duke University. “I really enjoy diving in and understanding the opportunities for positive change,” she said.