Networking with Alums in NYC
2 February 2010 Networking with Alums in NYC
Over winter break, HWS students were taken on a crash course in job networking and informational interviewing in New York City where they explored careers in finance as well as in advertising, media and public relations. The events were organized by Joe Ambrosetti, associate director of employer relations at the Salisbury Center for Career Services, and attended by HWS faculty as well.
On Jan. 5, an Advertising, Media and Public Relations excursion allowed 28 HWS students from all class years to meet with representatives from companies in all sectors, including ABC/Disney/ ESPN, Interpublic Group, Marina Maher Communications, Inc., and Merkley+Partners. The students who attended reported a powerful experience.
The trip allowed us to see, firsthand, positions that can be attained with a liberal arts degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, says Harald Zurakowski 12. It was helpful to speak with alums about the paths they took toward their current positions in advertising.
Andrew Fosbrook 10 adds, We were exposed to each companys culture, which varied greatly from one firm to the next. Any chance to network with HWS alums is extremely valuable and this trip proved to me how strong our network truly is.
From parents such as Brian McMahon P10, president and CEO of Orion Trading/Interpublic Group, and Don Morrison P07, executive vice president, managing director and group media director at Universal McCann, to young alums like Leila Higgins 09, client services coordinator at Orion Trading, the HWS network is vast, deep and ready to help, says Ambrosetti.
On Dec. 21 and 22, nearly two dozen students got a unique look at the inside of the financial industry, visiting Standard and Poors, the New York Stock Exchange, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, Citadel Securities, Bloomberg, and Brown Brother Harriman & Co. Led by Ambrosetti and followed up with a debriefing from Professors of Economics Patrick McGuire and Jo Beth Mertens, who provided an academic perspective for students after the sessions with various firms, the Wall Street Experience included the advice of seasoned alums and parents, such as Thomas Schmidt 88, JP Morgan Chases managing director, and Gerald Porter P12, vice president of Fidelity Investments.
I thought the Wall Street Experience was a wonderful opportunity for me to get a better hold on the operations of the financial system, says Jerimiah Booream-Phelps 12. Overall it greatly increased my interest and understanding, as well as put a face and voice to the banking system that Ive been learning so much about both in and out of school.
Ambrosetti, who networked and coordinated with alums and parents to organize the events, was extremely pleased with the turnout: Weve been doing this for several years because students are exposed to all different departments. It is exciting for me to see internships and jobs emerge from this type of opportunity. It is all to the credit of our alum network.
Other Advertising, Media and Public Relation Day hosts included: John Baxley 84, production manager/executive at ABC/Disney All My Children; Alex Gellert 86, partner/managing director at Merkley + Partners; Keith Hughes 83, senior vice president of MMC (Marina Maher Communications); Gary Montanus 73, senior vice president of sales at American Broadcasting Companies; Katherine Parker-Magyar 09, Universal McCann ; Adam Polcek 92, director of ABC Full Circle at ABC National Television; Joseph Maggio 88, vice president and national sales manager of ABC regional sports and entertainment sales.
Other Wall Street Experience hosts included: Chapin Bates 81, P09, managing directorof J.P. Morgan Chase Bank; William Brame 06, trading analyst at J.P. Morgan Chase; Stephen Bridgman P10, senior vice president of finance at Brown Brothers Harriman; Colby Feane 06, J.P. Morgan Chase; Brittany Gannon 07, AVP: Product Manager at Bank of America Corp.; Aileen Gleason 85, senior vice president of Global Product Solutions at Bank of America Corp.; Carl Eric Hedman 94, senior director of structured finance ratings at Standard & Poors; Georgia Jones 04, copy editor at Standard & Poors; Jesse Leiter 09, J.P. Morgan Chase; Patti Norton 90, vice president of investment advisor services at J.P. Morgan Chase; Trevor Pieri 09, analyst at Citadel Securites; James Ramage 81, Capital Advisory; Eric Stein 89, managing director at J.P. Morgan and Chase; Craig Stine 81, managing director and head of financial institutions at Citadel.
At the end of the day, this programming validates a students interest to see if he or she wants to continue to pursue this career path and seek an internship in a particular industry with a specific interest, Ambrosetti says.