Engage - Summer 2023

Engage

Bryant University ushers in bold new era of excellence and innovation with campus expansion

Bryant University embarks on a bold new era of excellence and innovation with the announcement of a significant campus expansion thanks to a generous real estate donation from neighboring Fidelity Investments. The financial services company donated 100 Salem Street, a building on their Smithfield corporate campus just across the street from the existing Bryant campus entrance. The acquisition marks the most significant real estate gift to Bryant University since Earl Tupper gifted his farmland to create Bryant’s Smithfield campus in 1967, and the university moved to Smithfield from its original Providence location. This generous donation propels Bryant’s Vision 2030 plan forward by reimagining Bryant’s campus to include a state-of-the-art facility to house its top-ranking College of Business, the Graduate Programs office, the Executive Education and Career Accelerator, and the Women’s Leadership Institute.

In addition, this new facility will also support extracurricular activities and provide gathering space for all Bryant students. Bryant’s campus expansion, along with Vision 2030 strategic facilities investments, will support innovative learning hubs and enhanced emphasis on experiential

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PHILANTHROPY UPDATE

Bryant’s quantum leap

Thanksto transformational investments from key stakeholders and the steadfast support of the thousands of community members who make annual gifts, Vision 2030 is starting to come into focus. The next era of Bryant University is here, and every member of our community has a role to play in helping launch new initiatives for the future of our institution.

learning, data analytics, and the business of health across the entire University and enable greater identification and distinction for the College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences.

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Joe ’80 and Kathi ’81 (Jurewicz) Puishys make $5 million investment

When Joseph ’80 and Kathryn (Jurewicz) ’81 Puishys turn off Route 7 onto Bryant’s campus and travel under the canopy of leaves lining Jacobs Drive, it’s like coming home. The feeling they get driving that winding path to campus “is exactly the same as it was 45 years ago,” says Joe. “It was the best time of our lives.”

For the Puishys, Bryant University is more than nostalgia. They witnessed firsthand the life-changing power of a

Bryant education, and they are ready to pay it forward with a generous investment in Vision 2030, supporting the next stage of the university’s transformational growth. “A million things went into our success,” says Joe.

“Bryant was clearly one of them.” The couple, both active alumni, credit Bryant for both their professional accomplishments and their 42-year-strong marriage. “I had my eye on Kathi since she was a freshman,” says Joe, who spotted Kathi

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The gift of 100 Salem Street from Fidelity, a building on Fidelity’s Smithfield campus just across the street from the existing Bryant entrance, will enable Bryant to dramatically expand its campus. This gift sets the tone for the next decade: We will be bold, we will think big, and we will seize new opportunities. Just as Earl Tupper’s gift of land enabled Bryant University to move to Smithfield and transform from a local business school to a globally recognized institution, so too will the newly expanded campus enable Bryant to take the next step and secure its position as a global leader in higher education. We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for our students, and we look forward to witnessing all the creative, innovative ways they will make this educational space their own.

With their inspirational gift of $5 million, Joseph ’80 and Kathryn (Jurewicz) ’81 Puishys have sent a message to our community that Bryant is a worthy investment. Their gift will enable Bryant to act boldly

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The new building will be officially named the Business Entrepreneurship and Leadership Center (BELC).

Throughout much of my career in business, I have supported early career professionals in their decisions as they transition from college to success in their new roles. Each of us, through our experiences at Bryant and the careers we have built post-graduation, has much to offer. Mentoring, coaching, or simply providing career advice are all areas that alumni can be involved with students and have a positive impact on their career decisions using our new tool, BRYANT CONNECT Whether you can spare just a few minutes a week or one day a month — making a connection with a current student or another Bryant alum can have a huge impact. The new BRYANT CONNECT platform is structured to help make those interactions possible through a secure searchable interface.

The intrinsic value of our Bryant education is our network of 50,000 worldwide alumni. As we roll out the BRYANT CONNECT platform, you will have a chance to help both students and other alumni a little — or a lot! Visit alumni.bryant.edu for a link to the new platform and start your profile today. Take a look at the simple instructions on the right. Our goal is to enroll 500 alumni by Homecoming on October 14. Step up to be one of our leaders.

– Marissa Crean ’81 President, Bryant University Alumni Association

Please visit alumni.bryant.edu/ getinvolved or contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement at alumni@bryant.edu to join our efforts.

Introducing BRYANT CONNECT

BRYANT CONNECT is the University’s new platform to make professional connections among all members of the Bryant family — alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff. “After reviewing the best online mentoring options in higher education, we selected Graduway, the software program for BRYANT CONNECT , for their comprehensive platform,” notes Jessica Dang ’16, ’23MBA, Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement.

BRYANT CONNECT will be the go-to online community for alumni-to-alumni networking, as well as alumni and parent to student career advice, mentoring, internships, and job opportunities. For example, Finance Professor Mara Derderian is setting up a mentoring program to bring Bryant women Finance graduates together with current students.

On BRYANT CONNECT alumni and parents can offer different levels of assistance to students, from general career advice to information on internships and job openings. Logging on is easy and BRYANT CONNECT can interface with your LinkedIn profile.

BRYANT CONNECT will feature stories about lifelong learners and job seekers at every career stage, including new grads, seasoned professionals, and C-suite executives. This Bryant-exclusive online community will grow to represent all Bryant Bulldogs who want to connect with others and provide a strong network for success.

BRYANT CONNECT REGISTRATION PROCESS

REGISTER VIA LINKEDIN

Sync all of your work experience with your profile on LinkedIn.

•Click on the LinkedIn button

•Enter your LinkedIn email and password information. This allows you to use LinkedIn to login in the future.

•The following details will be pulled into your profile, and can be edited by you from your profile page:

– First and last name

– Email address

– Profile photo

– LinkedIn profile summary

– Work experience

– Link to your profile on LinkedIn

NOTE: Administrators of the platform will not have access to your LinkedIn contacts or be able to access your LinkedIn account in any way.

SAVE THE DATE

ON OCTOBER 25, 2023 YOUR GIFT WILL POWER THE MOMENTUM

On Bryant Giving Day, you can support the area that means the most to you and compete against your friends to unlock bonus funds.

Mark your calendar and get ready to join in the action!

#BryantGivingDay | givingday.bryant.edu

QUESTIONS?

Call 1-877-353-5667 or email givingday@bryant.edu

Record breaking day for the President’s Cup Golf Tournament

“I want to express my deepest appreciation to all of you who have made it possible for countless students to achieve their educational goals. Your generosity, support, and belief in our potential have changed our lives and pushed us towards success.”

RYAN DOBRZYNSKI

COMPLETE REGISTRATION

Your information from LinkedIn information will auto populate to your BRYANT CONNECT profile! Be sure to complete all your personal and professional information including but not limited to –

•Affiliation

•Class Year

•Phone Number

THE IMPACT

Select from the list of ways you can help students and alumni or want to get some help from your peers? You can list those too! Complete the, “How are you willing to help?” and “What help do you need?” sections. Once complete, you will either be automatically approved to the platform, or will see a pending approval message.

ADD OR UPDATE YOUR PHOTO

Photos on profiles lead to credibility, recognition, consistency, personal appeal, and personal branding. Be sure to add a photo!

SAY HELLO AND EXPLORE

Head to the feed and say hello! Start exploring and see what the Bryant Community has to offer!

ACCESS TO WEBSITE

To easily gain access to the website, visit www.bryantconnect.com

WWW.BRYANTCONNECT.COM

The President’s Cup Golf Tournament was held on June 26, 2023 at Newport Country Club, where 72 golfers enjoyed a round followed by a reception, raffles and giveaways, and silent and live auctions. Now in its 19th year, the President’s Cup raised a record $410,000, bringing the total of funds raised through this annual tournament to $2.5 million. In the 2022-23 academic year, scholarships from the tournament helped to defray 63% of the cost of tuition to deserving students.

Committee co-chairs David Olney ’82 and Jim Loring ’87, along with committee members Jeff Cammuso, Richard Carriere ’82, ’87MST, Bernie Jackvony ’67, Laura Vaudrain ’05, Scott Wragg ’84, ’90MST, Chris Waterson ’17MBA, and Rita Williams-Bogar ’76, created a memorable day for every participant.

“This committee worked exceptionally hard to ensure that the tournament was a success in both raising much-needed scholarship funds for our highest

BE A FRIEND OF THE PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Make a gift to support Bryant’s highly motivated and academically talented students. Proceeds from the tournament go directly to the President’s Cup Golf Tournament Scholarship Fund, which supports undergraduate students with outstanding academic achievement.

To make your gift using our secure website, visit bryant.edu/givenow

NOTABLE SPRING EVENTS

Healthcare Summit

The inaugural Bryant University Healthcare Summit, organized by Bryant’s School of Health and Behavioral Science leadership, brought together medical professionals and thought leaders for an inspiring day of collaboration, innovation, and networking on May 6, 2023. Through keynote lectures, group sessions, and social receptions, the Bryant Healthcare Summit enabled industry leaders to work together to address critical priorities in the delivery of quality healthcare.

David Fairchild, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer for MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President and Associate CMO of CVS Retail Health, addresses attendees at Bryant’s inaugural Healthcare Summit.

“Bryant University is on the frontline of the nationwide healthcare crisis. There are too many barriers to affordable, quality care; it’s going to take a village to overcome these challenges. Collaboration across all sectors of the industry is needed to rethink our current healthcare model and drive it toward a more equitable future.”

KIRSTEN HOKENESS, P h .D. DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

academically achieving students and for creating an exceptional day of golf for all of our players,” said David C. Wegrzyn ’86, P’23, vice president for advancement at Bryant. Ryan Dobrzynski ’23, a recipient of a President’s Scholarship for high academic achievement in all four years while he was at Bryant, was the student speaker during the afternoon reception.

“Every recipient of a President’s Scholarship has a unique story and comes from a different background, but we are

able to come together in pursuit of something bigger, ultimately graduating from a top university, poised for success in whatever comes next,” shared Dobrzynski. “I want to express my deepest appreciation to all of you who have made it possible for countless students to achieve their educational goals. Your generosity, support, and belief in our potential have changed our lives and pushed us towards success.”

In 2024, the President’s Cup Golf Tournament will celebrate its 20th year – mark your calendars for June 10, 2024! For more information on how you can support scholarships at Bryant, please reach out to Nora Marzocchi, Director of the Bryant Fund, at nmarzocchi@bryant.edu

World Trade Day

The 37th Annual World Trade Day, hosted by Bryant University’s John H. Chafee Center for International Business, was held on May 31, 2023. One of the largest trade-based events in the region, World Trade Day provided opportunities for participants to engage in in-depth discussions on current global issues through keynote lectures, panel discussions, and networking

sessions. This year’s theme, “The Current State of Trade,” focused attendees’ attention on critical issues facing the global economy, including supply chain challenges, US-China relations, and international trade infrastructure.

RI Secretary of Commerce Elizabeth Tanner delivers a keynote at Bryant University’s World Trade Day 2023.

Vice President of University Advancement David C. Wegrzyn ’86, P’23, Student Speaker Ryan Dobrzynski ’23 President Ross Gittell, Ph.D., Tournament Co-Chair David Olney ’82 and Bryant Trustee Rita Williams-Bogar ’76

Student speaker Ryan Dobrzynski ’23 is congratulated by Bryant President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. after delivering comments about the importance of student scholarships. Ryan is a Presidential Scholarship recipient.

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ABOVE LEFT Bryant Board of Trustees Chair David Beirne ’85 and Bryant University President Emeritus Ronald K. Machtley ’21H, P’06MBA. ABOVE Golfers awaiting the shotgun start of the 19th Annual President’s Cup Golf Tournament at the Newport Country Club in June.

On June 2, members of the Bryant community gathered to celebrate seven of the University’s most accomplished and dedicated alumni with awards for Distinguished Alumni from the undergraduate and graduate schools, the Nelson Gulski Service Award, and Emerging Leaders Award. The 2023 Alumni Award recipients and family members joined Marissa Crean ’81 (left), president of the Bryant University Alumni Association, and Bryant University President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. (far right) during the ceremony honoring this year’s recipients. Pictured starting second from left are: Paul Kelly ’88 Heidi (Verrill) Pickett ’91, Joan Waters ’83 Norell Bassett Zable ’11 ’12MBA, Hal Horvat ’91MBA and Nirbhay Kumar ’97. Also joining the awardees were honoree Quentin “Q” Williams’ ’05 mother, Queen Williams (third from right), and his wife, Carrissa Williams (second from right).

This award recognizes a Bryant alumnus or alumna with a record of outstanding professional achievement or community service.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD UNDERGRADUATE

Paul Kelly ’88

Paul Kelly ’88 regional president and managing director of Berkshire Bank, has combined his lifelong interest in business with his skills in relationship-building and leadership to forge a successful and fulfilling career in banking. He says the key to success is to set ambitious goals and work hard to achieve them. “It’s not just about money all the time,” says Kelly. “Money follows good, hard work.”

Kelly’s Bryant roots run deep, all the way back to his great-grandfather, an alumnus of what was then known as Bryant & Stratton College in the 1800s. When Kelly arrived on Bryant’s campus for his freshman year at age 17, he was eager to learn as much as he could about business. He quickly discovered, however, that the community of peers would provide an education just as valuable. “The support continues 35 years later,” says Kelly of his Bryant friends. “I have guided a lot of students to Bryant for that reason.”

Kelly participated in Bryant’s ROTC program and spent years in the Army National Guard, ultimately exiting as a Captain in the Military Police. “Between Bryant and the military — it helped me get going,” he says. “It helped me start my career and gave me structure.” Kelly also received his Master’s of Business Administration from Bentley University’s

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD UNDERGRADUATE Heidi (Verrill) Pickett ’91

McCallum Graduate School of Business.

Shortly after Kelly graduated, a chance encounter at Fenway Park helped to shape the rest of his professional career. Sitting behind the 3rd base dugout at a Red Sox game one summer day, Kelly got to know the man seated next to him on the third base line. “After the game,” recalls Kelly, “he says, ‘I like you. Do you want to work for me?’ I said, ‘What do you do?’ He says, ‘I’m a banker, and I work in Asset-Based Lending. Show up in two weeks.’ ” Kelly took him up on the offer, and the rest is history. “As long as your mind is open, opportunities will arise,” Kelly says.

A passion for giving back has guided Kelly’s life beyond the office, and he supports numerous philanthropic causes, including Bryant and the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), a bike-a-thon that raises money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He also serves on numerous nonprofit boards, is involved in related business associations, and has coached recreational sports. “Philanthropy has to be part of your life,” says Kelly. “It’s a religion. If you’re not doing it, then all you’re doing is working for yourself.”

Your career is a marathon, not a sprint,” says Heidi (Verrill) Pickett ’91. “You’re in it for the long run. All those little experiences and opportunities along the way will get you where you need to be.” Now the Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives for The Tie, the leading provider of information services for digital assets like cryptocurrency, Pickett says she has honed her skills in management and leadership in her decades of experience in financial services, higher education, and blockchain.

Coming from a small high school in Maine, Pickett says coming to Bryant and navigating the much larger educational environment helped her to gain a new perspective. “It has helped me tremendously when I’m going into new situations,” she says. “Developing the business acumen and leadership skills has really helped me, both professionally and personally.”

Pickett began her career with State Street, ultimately landing in the company’s global markets arm in sales and trading, which she describes as an “eye-opening” experience for what it taught her about different cultures, travel, and embracing uncertainty. After leaving State Street in 2008, Pickett spent a decade as

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD UNDERGRADUATE Joan Waters ’83

Iamvery proud of the fact that I am a female CEO in a very male-dominated world,” says Joan Waters ’83 CEO and majority owner of COFCO, an office furniture retailer based in Philadelphia. “There have been a lot of doors closed to me,” she says. “As women CEOs, we have an incredible responsibility to help other women succeed. It is our responsibility to make it easier for the next group of women.”

This award recognizes an alumnus or alumna of Bryant University’s Graduate School of Business who has a demonstrated record of outstanding professional achievement or community service.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD GRADUATE Hal Horvat ’91MBA

Assistant Dean of the Master of Finance program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“It was a natural step,” says Pickett, “even though higher education was extremely different. It was really about leveraging my finance knowledge.”

After 10 years at MIT, Pickett took an opportunity to jump into the world of blockchain in 2021, which led her to her current role at The Tie. “It’s certainly been a rollercoaster,” says Pickett, referencing the tumultuous past few years in blockchain and crypto, but she says she is optimistic about the industry’s future. “It’s proven itself, and it’s not going away,” she says.

“There are tons and tons of use cases.”

Pickett says she is deeply devoted to philanthropic causes, especially in mentorship, financial inclusion, and financial education, particularly with girls and women. “My philosophy is, it’s not just giving, not just writing checks,” she says. “It’s having a meaningful impact as well. I’ve been lucky and grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had, and I just wish that everyone could have the same mentorship and be able to attend great universities like Bryant.”

This award recognizes a Bryant alumnus or alumna with a record of exemplary and longstanding volunteer service to the University or the Alumni Association. Such service will have enhanced the name, prestige, or educational excellence of the University or significantly furthered the outreach and professionalism of the Association. This award is named for Nelson J. Gulski ’26, ’72H, ’92H, whose association with Bryant as a student, teacher, administrator, and trustee spanned more than 70 years.

NELSON J. GULSKI SERVICE AWARD

Nirbhay Kumar ’97

For Waters, the time she spent at Bryant was pivotal. “Bryant is such an important part of my success,” she says. “Bryant taught me how to learn.” After struggling with what she terms a reading disability throughout her early life, Waters says her Bryant professors found new ways to help her engage in the classroom, learn the material, and demonstrate her knowledge. “I got a 1.7 GPA my first semester,” she says, “but ultimately I graduated on the Dean’s List.” She says the impact Bryant had on her life makes her Distinguished Alumna Award all the more meaningful. “To have Bryant recognize me as a success and as a distinguished alum is an amazing honor,” she says.

In 1983, Waters graduated from Bryant, where she played on the women’s basketball team, and began

her career in sales. She landed in New York, which, as she says, did not agree with her. “I was in New York City for 18 months, and it was the longest five years of my life,” she jokes. One day, during an “exceptionally bad New York day” in 1988, Waters says she met with Alan Einstein and his father, David, owners of COFCO. Einstein had recently purchased a small furniture dealership and was in search of someone to run it, and after meeting with Waters for six hours on that Saturday, he was so impressed with her that he offered her the job on the spot. In her 35 years with COFCO, including nine as CEO, Waters has helped to drive tremendous growth in the company. When Waters became the company’s majority shareholder in 2016, COFCO earned designation as a Woman Business Enterprise. For her extraordinary career success and leadership, Waters won the 2023 Paradigm Award, presented annually by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia to businesswomen whose outstanding professional and personal achievements serve as a model for success.

Hal Horvat ’91MBA says coming to Bryant for his MBA was “a great decision.” Now the CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board at Centreville Bank, Horvat says his Bryant education helped to give him better insights into different aspects of business. “The fact that I’m the CEO allows me to impact every part of the organization,” he says. Horvat’s first professional experience came in commercial lending, an industry he entered after graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in accounting in 1982. Shortly after completing his Bryant MBA, during what he describes as a “tumultuous period” for the banking industry, he made a career change. “I went to Shawmut Bank and took on a business development role,” he says. “It gave me the opportunity to expand my horizons, and I understood how much I enjoyed that aspect of the business. And it helped me throughout my career beyond that.”

In 2014, when Horvat joined Centreville Bank, he saw an opportunity to utilize his skills in commercial lending to grow the 195-year-old company’s business. “I helped jump-start

the commercial lending business,” says Horvat, which enabled the bank to more than double its asset size. He says the company’s successful expansion is his greatest professional accomplishment. “We’ve gone from seven branches in Rhode Island to looking at our 20th location,” he says.

Horvat says the Bryant graduates he has hired throughout his career have made an especially positive impression. “Bryant students have a tendency to be grounded,” he says. “They’re focused. They have a practical approach to attacking business.” He says his advice to the next generation of professionals is that it matters who you work with. “Surround yourself with good people,” he says. “There’s a benefit to the people you surround yourself with.” Horvat remembers many mentors who have helped him to hone his skills and advance his career, and, when asked if he enjoys acting as a mentor himself, he says, “Yes, I do — to anyone who’ll listen to me.”

This award recognizes a Bryant alumnus or alumna for growth and early success in their profession and for their service to Bryant University.

EMERGING LEADER AWARD Quentin “Q” Williams ’05*

Quentin “Q” Williams ’05 was a beloved husband and son, devoted public servant, and passionate advocate for change. He died in January 2023, just hours after being sworn in for a third consecutive term in the Connecticut State House of Representatives, after being struck by a wrong-way driver.

Just 39 years old at the time of his passing, Williams was the first African American to represent Middletown, his lifelong home, in the Connecticut General Assembly. He had just been appointed as co-chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, where colleagues say he was excited to introduce new pro-labor legislation and advocate for working families.

EMERGING LEADER AWARD

Norell Bassett Zable ’11, ’12MBA

As an alumnus, he returned to campus in March 2018 and was a speaker on the Bryant Alumni of Color panel, where he offered career lessons and advice to current students. In addition, he shared his experience as a bank manager, community organizer, non-profit manager, and champion for social equity. His charisma and positivity allowed him to connect deeply with his audience.

Norell Bassett Zable ’11, ’12MBA, who co-founded the Bryant University Dance Team, says her willingness to try new things has made all the difference in her career. “A decision you make can set the trajectory of the next few years. As long as you are building foundational skills along the way, you can take a risk and explore a new role within a company. That’s ultimately how I learned to manage a team.”

“I remember visiting Bryant with my dad and getting a great feeling about following in his footsteps quite literally in the same rotunda and graduation archway.”

“Growing up in a family business, you’re learning business fundamentals very young, which becomes second nature. I’ve never felt that being a woman in business was out-of-the-norm because my mom is such a boat boss.”

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irbhay Kumar ’97 had never left his home in India before he came to Bryant, but he quickly built a supportive community of fellow international students. “There weren’t as many international students as there are now,” says Kumar. “I think in some ways we were closer.” With the help of the tight-knit Bryant community — he even met his wife, Parul, at Bryant — Kumar says he was able to graduate in just three years by taking advantage of summer and winter session courses, entering the

workforce early and beginning a successful, if, as he puts it, “idiosyncratic,” career in finance and fintech.

Since reconnecting with Bryant in 2019, Kumar has dedicated considerable time and effort to mentoring Bryant students. “My message to the students,” he says, “is that there are very few linear paths. You should be flexible enough to say, ‘I want to try something new.’ ” This advice comes from Kumar’s

personal experience: after working in financial asset management with companies like Blackrock for more than a decade, he decided to shift gears and work for a blockchain startup.

“I didn’t know anything about blockchain,” says Kumar. “I didn’t know anything about crypto. But I said, ‘Let’s try this.’ ” That decision provided him with one of the most valuable experiences of his career.

“I learned more in 14 months at that startup than I did in the previous 14 years of my career.” Kumar is now an independent advisor to startups and venture capital funds, sharing his expertise with the next generation of changemakers and disruptors.

In volunteer and advisory capacities at Bryant, Kumar has focused on helping students find internships, gain job skills, and prepare for their careers. He says he has pressed faculty leaders to inject more data analytics into Bryant coursework. “I made the pitch that there’s demand for this across the board,” says Kumar. He has also pushed for a program to help place students with startup companies for internships, which he says can provide invaluable hands-on experience. At a small startup company, says Kumar, “You learn more because you’re forced to do more. You learn to deal with chaos. So, for the rest of your life, you see connections that other people just don’t.”

Williams was widely known at Bryant for his contagious smile, booming laugh, and infallible optimism. He served as president of the student senate, and he was a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award.

To honor Williams’s memory, President Ross Gittell has announced that Bryant will designate a full-tuition scholarship in his name for an incoming student who best exemplifies his qualities and character, particularly leadership.

*awarded posthumously

As Global Executive Director of Creative Strategy for Fashion & Luxury at Condé Nast, Zable manages a team of global marketers, who create custom content programs for brands like Chanel, Tiffany & Co., and Gucci. “When you’re on Vogue.com and see Cartier sponsor Met Gala content or scrolling on social media and see Penn Badgley dancing in a Valentino video for GQ — that’s our team,” she says. “We work globally across markets such as Paris, Milan, London, China, Japan, India — the list goes on.”

Norell credits her parents, who run Bassett Boat, a second-generation family-owned business, with teaching her to be confident and self-reliant, both in life and in business. Norell is a legacy Bulldog; her father is Paul Zable ’75

As Norell receives an Emerging Leader Award from Bryant, she thanks her entrepreneurial family for inspiring her leadership skills at an early age. “I sold my first boat when I was 13 years old.” Zable believes her Bryant education, in undergraduate and graduate programs, gave her the tools to be successful in the fashion marketing industry. “I have to present in front of a lot of clients, and large groups of people, internal and external,” she says. “At Bryant, I would always volunteer to make the presentations in group projects. You’d never think that making those presentations would turn into a career in marketing for iconic brands. I’m lucky to exercise my creativity every day.”

This award recognizes a Bryant alumnus or alumna with a record of outstanding professional achievement or community service.

Q Williams’ ’05 mother, Queen (front row, right), with family and friends

Six alumni named as new Bryant trustees

Bryant University Board of Trustees Chair David M. Beirne ’85 recently announced the appointment of six distinguished, highly qualified alumni as new Board of Trustee members.

JAIME LYNN EICHEN, CPA ’98 is an audit partner in EY’s Financial Services Organization in New York, New York. She has over 24 years of experience in the asset management industry and provides audit services to private equity funds, venture capital funds, hedge funds, mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs, and investment advisers.

Previously, Jaime spent seven years at the SEC, including as Chief Accountant for the SEC’s Division of Investment Management for more than three years, where her responsibilities included directing the financial reporting, accounting, and auditing practices of registered investment companies and BDCs in compliance with federal securities laws. At Bryant, Jaime majored in Accounting and was a member of the Softball team.

SHARON M. GARAVEL ’85 is the Managing Director, Operations Executive at JPMorgan Chase in Norwalk, Connecticut. In this position, she is head of Wholesale Lending Services Operations for all lines of business for JP Morgan Chase, reporting to the Commercial Bank. Prior to this role, Sharon had been employed with GE since 1989, most recently as a company officer and VP Enterprise Initiatives at GE Capital from 2013-2017. At Bryant, Sharon was an Accounting major and a Resident Assistant.

FRANK M. HAUCK ’81, P’08 is the President & GM of Banking at NCR Corporation in Bedford, New Hampshire. He is responsible for developing and driving the successful execution of the vision and strategy for NCR’s banking organization. Prior to NCR, Frank served as President, Customers & Markets at Dell EMC’s Infrastructure Solutions Group in Hopkinton, MA from 2016-2020. Frank studied Finance at Bryant.

DONALD R. QUATTRUCCI ’83, P’16 retired in January 2023 from his position as Market President for the Florida East Market with BNY Mellon Wealth Management in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He had been with the firm since 2013. From 2011-2013, Donald served as managing director and market investment executive at US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. From 1997-2011 Mr. Quattrucci was employed by BNY Mellon’s Private Wealth Management group in Providence, RI, where he served as Rhode Island regional president, managing all portfolio management and new business development activities within the region. At Bryant, Donald majored in Management and was a member of Club Lacrosse.

RAUL VILLAR, JR. ’89 is the chief executive officer of Paycor, a human capital management company that provides HR and payroll technology to small and medium-sized organizations in Cincinnati, Ohio.

From September 2015 to July 2019, Raul served as the Chief Executive Officer of AdvancedMD, a medical software and services company. He was ranked #33 on The Healthcare Technology Report’s “Top 50 Healthcare Technology CEOs of 2019.” At Bryant, Raul studied Management and was a member of the Tau Epsilon fraternity.

JAKE WILLIAMS ’23, the newest Young Alumni Trustee, joined John Hancock/Manulife in an Investment Banking Rotational program after his May 2023 graduation. At Bryant, Jake was a double major in Finance and Information Systems, a member of the Bryant Senior Advisory Council, and captain of the Men’s Swimming and Diving Team.

Bryant Hillel celebrates its 75th anniversary

On April 19, during Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Month, Bryant Hillel hosted Dan Grunfeld, author of By the Grace of the Game in conversation with President Ross Gittell at a dynamic event in the Ronald K. and Kati C. Machtley Interfaith Center. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Professor Michael Bryant, an expert on the Holocaust, delivered

Dan Grunfield, author of By the Grace of the Game speaks to Bryant community members on April 19, 2023.

introductory remarks. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Bryant Hillel, which is also the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, Corey Levine ’80 offered a matching gift challenge that inspired the community to raise more than $75,000 in support of Bryant Hillel. Levine is a member of Bryant’s Council on Jewish Life and Culture.

Honorary degree recipients 2023

GRADUATE CEREMONY

Alan Litwin ’87MST began his career in public accounting in 1980 and is the co-founder of KLR, the 80th largest CPA firm in the US, where he works with many emerging businesses in financial and professional services, life sciences, healthcare, and technology companies. He is the former managing director of KLR, and under his leadership, the firm was among the fastest growing CPA firms in the US. With more than 40 years of experience in the public accounting field, Litwin continues to provide advisory services to several of KLR’s largest clients.

CLASS NOTES

Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly inducted HARRIS K. WEINER ’87MBA into its Excellence in the Law Hall of Fame for his distinguished career in private practice and public service.

LAURENCE “LARRY” GUMINA ’89, CEO of Ohio Living, the state’s largest not-for-profit operator of continuing care retirement and life plan communities, recently was recognized with McKnight’s Pinnacle Award as a “Thought Leader” for his innovative solutions to challenges in his industry. In addition to senior care and living communities, Gumina has extended the business lines for Ohio Living to include Medicare advantage insurance as well as pharmacy and primary care services.

MICHAEL “MICK” LAMOND’ ’92 was promoted from CFO to Executive Vice President of the Newport Restaurant Group (NRG). Lamond will oversee the operations of NRG, including more than a dozen restaurant, hotel, and special event venues.

GREGG HEDSTROM ’93 recently joined Lydonia Technologies as Chief Revenue Officer. In this role, Hedstrom will be responsible for leading the company’s sales, marketing, customer success, and go-to-market functions.

PAUL NUNES ’94 was named president and CEO of Ashworth International in June. Nunes joined Ashworth, a conveyor belt manufacturer, after graduating and has served in several roles including controller and vice president of finance. Nunes was lauded for his leadership and exceptional rapport with employees.

VINCE COPPOLA ’95 was recently named President and CEO of the self-directed home health company PPL, a leading provider of tech-enabled support services for long-term home care.

PSG Global, the world’s largest provider of outsourced recruiting support to global enterprises, co-founded by BRIAN COTTER ’95 received the 2023 Best of RPO award from ClearlyRated Business Solutions for the fourth consecutive year. The recognition showcases PSG Global’s commitment to providing exceptional experiences to clients and internal employees.

ERIC NEGLIA ’98 has been promoted to Global Head responsible for all facets of KBRA (Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC) ABS Analytical effort, including credit rating methodologies and rating assignment processes.

STACY FARBER ’98 was recently promoted to Partner at UHY Advisors. Farber leads UHY’s Employee Benefit Plan Center of Excellence. Farber is also one of the Hartford Business Journal’s 2023 Women in Business award winners.

Colliers, a global leader in commercial real estate services, reported that BRAD ABEL ’01, Vice President of Real Estate Management Services in New Hampshire, completed the requirements and has been accepted as an official Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Instructor. IREM is the organization that awards the Commercial Property Manager (CPM) Designation, which Abel received in 2010.

BRIAN SARDELLI ’05, founded the Sardelli Group in 2018 and last year merged practices to form Sardelli and Hutchinson Wealth Management. Sardelli serves as partner in the firm, which is based in Rhode Island.

LINDSEY GAMBLE ’10 was included in Boston Insider’s list of top creator economy and influencer marketing experts. Gamble’s newsletter features in-depth creator news analyses through the lens of his role at Mavrck.

VIMBAI MASIYIWA ’17, Executive Director of Batoka Hospitality Limited, was a featured speaker this spring at Forbes Africa Leading Women Summit 2023. In 2022, Vimbai was awarded the Outstanding Young CEO award from the Zimbabwe CEO Network.

tED Magazine recognized KACPER CHRABASZCZ ’19, ‘22MBA as one of its 30 Under 35 Rising Stars of the Electrical Industry. Chrabaszcz is Assembly Services Project Manager for NorthEast Electrical.

Be sure to visit alumni.bryant.edu/classnotes for more updates, and to add your own Class Note.

Litwin earned his Bachelor of Administration degree in economics from Lafayette College, a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University, and a Master of Science in Taxation from Bryant University in 1987. He is currently chair of the Board of Directors of the Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company, vice chair of the Board of Lifespan, and he serves on the Boards of LEA Global, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, and is a Federal Affairs Committee Member for the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. In the area of civic activity, Litwin was honored in 2015 with the Miriam Hospital Person of the Year Award. In 2014, he was honored with the Joseph Ress Community Service Award by the Jewish Alliance of RI as well as the Hassenfeld Community Service Award and Alperin Leadership Award in previous years. In 2011, Litwin was awarded the Wheeler School Board of Trustees Award.

UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONY

The Honorable Daniel J. McKee is a lifelong Rhode Islander who proudly serves as the Ocean State’s 76th governor. Born and raised in Cumberland, McKee is the son of Helen Willa and James McKee, who founded the Boys Club in Cumberland in 1956, which McKee later expanded to be known as the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island.

economic development centered on small businesses.

William Piccerelli ’64, P’88 is an Advisory Services partner in Marcum’s Providence, RI office. His extensive background covers technical financial accounting and tax matters, as well as general business dealings, succession issues for closely held businesses, business valuations and litigation support (often providing expert testimony), tax issues, and real estate development issues. Piccerelli works with individuals, partners, and owners of closely held businesses in the real estate and construction industries, and the nonprofit sector.

integrity and commitment to clients, an ethic that he brings to Marcum. Carmen F. Sylvester ’89 is president and chief executive officer of Alltrust Credit Union in Fairhaven, MA. Sylvester’s professional career spans more than 30 years in the financial services industry. As president and chief executive officer, Sylvester has created an environment of collaboration and ensures that all team members’ voices are heard so that the vision, mission, and values of Alltrust are fulfilled.

After graduating from Cumberland High School and Assumption College in Worcester, MA, McKee began his career in public service on the Town Council in his hometown of Cumberland. After serving for eight years, he was elected mayor. Following 12 years as mayor of Cumberland, he left office in 2014 when he was selected lieutenant governor. He ascended to the Governor’s Office in 2021 and was re-elected to his first full term in office in 2022, winning via the largest margin of victory in a Rhode Island governor’s race in more than 30 years.

When McKee became governor in March 2021, it was amidst the most challenging global pandemic in more than a century. Despite that, he delivered one of the nation’s best vaccine rollouts, getting shots in arms at rates that were among the very best in the country. His leadership also helped to rebuild Rhode Island’s struggling economy, bringing the state’s unemployment to its lowest ever on record. As governor, he continues to focus on the same issues he has cared about his whole career — accessible government, effective fiscal management, a high-quality public education for all students, equity and justice, and

Piccerelli graduated summa cum laude from Bryant in 1964, earning the Gold Key Award for the highest honors in accounting. He earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation in 1966, and he also holds Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) professional designations. He earned the Distinguished Service to the Professional Award from the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants in 2006, and he has held numerous other professional and civic affiliations in Rhode Island and the region throughout his career. He earned the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Bryant in 2016. Piccerelli’s son, David, graduated from Bryant in 1988.

Prior to joining Marcum, Piccerelli co-founded Piccerelli, Gilstein & Company LLC, which merged into Marcum in 2022. His goal for PG&Co was to create a sustainable, quality, independent CPA firm known for

Sylvester is also the vice chair on the Board of Directors of the Southcoast Health System in New Bedford, MA, where she serves on the Governance, Southcoast Physician Group, and Strategic Planning committees. She is also chair of the CEO Search Committee.

Previously, Sylvester served as the vice president of finance at Centreville Bank in West Warwick, RI. She was also the controller for Advanced Engineering Group, P.C., and, before that, the vice president of finance at People’s Credit Union in Middletown, RI, where she served for 16 years until 2009. Her depth of experience as a finance executive and leader has earned her the respect of the finance community in Southern New England and beyond.

Sylvester earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Bryant University in 1989 and holds a Human Resources Certification, including the Professional Human Resources (PHR) designation. She also studied at the Financial Management School at the University of Colorado and at Rockhurst University National Seminars.

Author Dan Grunfeld and RI Governor Dan McKee speak after the event. Author Dan Grunfeld greets members of the Bryant Men’s Basketball team before the event.

ALAN LITWIN ’87MST

DANIEL J. MCKEE WILLIAM PICCERELLI ’64, P’88

CARMEN F. SYLVESTER ’89

IN MAY 2023, BRYANT UNIVERSITY CELEBRATED THE CLASS OF 2023 AT ITS COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES AND CONFERRED HONORARY DEGREES TO FOUR INDIVIDUALS WHO EXCEL IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELDS.

Successful alum invests in the future

What lasting impression do you leave on your community, on society?” asks Adrien “Skip” Hebert, Jr. ’72, ’75MBA. “You can’t save everybody, but you can try and save one person at a time and influence their lives.” In addition to their support for environmental causes, Hebert and his wife, Katherine, longtime donors to Bryant, recently made a significant commitment to the university through their estate. This commitment places the Heberts among Bryant’s most generous philanthropic supporters, and with it they join the 1863 Society, Bryant’s recognition society for those who make gifts through their estate or retirement plan.

Hebert says he makes decisions in equal partnership with Katherine, who served as a high school English teacher, department head, and new teacher induction coordinator during her own career. “After lengthy discussions, my wife and I have decided that investing in the future is one of our top priorities,” says Hebert. “Because Katherine was a career high school and college educator, I saw first-hand the impact of education on students and how critical financial support is to higher education. And I know the impact our education had on us both. We also feel strongly that

investment in environmental issues will provide a healthy world for everyone in the future.”

Hebert began his undergraduate studies in 1968, when he commuted to what was then known as Bryant College on the East Side of Providence.

“Like most 18-year-olds,” he says, “I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.” He majored in business management and economics, finishing his undergraduate degree in three and a half years. When he was 19, his father and grandfather died just a few months apart. “Fortunately,” he says, “I had a resource in Bryant.”

He went on to a lucrative first job in retail management, making three to four times as much money as peers his age. But there was a problem.

“I absolutely hated it,” he says with a laugh. In need of guidance, Hebert turned to Dr. Sol Lebovitz, then the dean of Bryant’s graduate school, for advice. Hebert was considering law school — his father, grandfather, and uncle were all lawyers — but Lebovitz steered him towards accounting. At the time, says Hebert, “There were 4,000 lawyers in Rhode Island and fewer than 700 accountants.” Lebovitz accepted Hebert into Bryant’s MBA program to study accounting, but since he did

Even in retirement, Professor Robert Muksian gives back

not have a degree in Accounting, he needed to go back and complete all the undergraduate Accounting courses before he could tackle the graduate coursework. He ultimately finished his MBA in 1975.

“I owe a great deal to the professors,” Hebert says. They advised him not to join a Big Eight accounting firm, and instead to join a small local firm called Sparrow and Johnson, where he became just the fifth professional staff member. He became a partner at the firm at just 29 years of age, and he subsequently helped the firm grow into a three-office operation with more than 50 staff members.

By 1989, says Hebert, “I saw the writing on the wall that the economy in Rhode Island wasn’t that great.” He sold his interest in his firm, eventually landing with a client who wanted to take his private business public. Again, the operation was small when he started — he was just the third employee of the company. Soon, however, he helped the client grow the company from “basically zero” to about $20 million in volume.

After a brief flirtation with early retirement, Hebert joined another company, which he helped to grow from $34 million in sales volume to

$320 million. “That’s something that you always dream about when you’re in business school, thinking that you could build a company like that,” says Hebert, “but when you find yourself there, it’s hectic.” At one point, Hebert says he spent nearly a full year in France, helping his company’s parent convert its French accounting to international and American accounting standards. Katherine visited him once a month during that time, all while raising their four children and working full time.

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” Hebert says when asked what advice he has for current Bryant students. “It’s not necessarily when you arrive where you want to be, it’s that you arrive. I ended up going through seven years of college and had three majors before I could figure out what I wanted to be.”

CALLING ALL ALUMNI – COME BACK FOR HOMECOMING 2023!

LIVEMUSIC AND DANCING!

DJ BISHOP ’98 WORLD PREMIER BAND AUBREY MABLE ’14

TO LEARN MORE, PLEASE VISIT ALUMNI.BRYANT.EDU/HOMECOMING

ALUMNI

March 30, 2023

Naples, FL

PRESIDENTIAL RECEPTION

Trustee Cynthia Schmitt-Sprinkle ’81 hosted a group of alumni and parents in Naples for a visit with President Ross Gittell, Ph.D.

ABOVE : Janet and Leonard “Chip” ‘78 Reichhard, Susan Detri-Souve P’22, ’23MBA, and Cynthia Schmitt-Sprinkle ’81

LEFT : Bonnie and Edward ’77 Capasso with Lynn and James ’77 Verraster

After retiring from a teaching career that spanned more than 50 years, Professor Robert Muksian, Ph.D. is giving back to Bryant students in a new way by establishing the Dr. Robert and Barbara Muksian P’84, P’92MST Endowed Scholarship and Awards Fund for Actuarial Mathematics. With this gift, Muksian has made a deeply meaningful investment in the success of Bryant students, all the more poignant because of the decades he spent as an educator. The Muksian Scholarship and Awards Fund will provide financial assistance to undergraduate students studying Actuarial Mathematics, an academic program that Muksian himself established at Bryant in the 1980s, and it will also provide a financial award to graduating students in Bryant’s Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program.

I love working with the kids. It kept me young, kept my mind young.

Muksian’s first year teaching at Bryant was 1971, the same year Bryant relocated from its campus on the East Side of Providence to its current home in Smithfield. By the time he retired in 2017, he had taught generations of

Tailgating, Football, Phi Ep and Delta Sig Reunions, Tours of Bryant’s Campus Expansion, and a special welcome back for B.O.L.D. (Bulldogs of the Last Decade).

Visit BryantBulldogs.com/ tickets for game tickets and information on parking passes and tailgating.

students in Actuarial Mathematics, which became one of Bryant’s top programs under his leadership. His passion for his students kept him in the classroom, and he says it animated his work. “I worked until I was 84,” says Muksian. “I retired late, and I probably would have kept going, except for students coming up to me and telling me that their father or mother said to say hi. I didn’t want them coming up to me saying their grandfather said that.”

as Muksian puts it, “it was a one-man hustle.” Muksian designed the curriculum himself; secured a substantial matching grant from the Starr Foundation for the program; recruited a professor from Brown University to teach the capstone course, “Life Contingencies,” for Bryant in the early years; and helped students find paid internships and job opportunities. The student interns were so impressive to John Hancock Insurance Company that it made annual gifts to Bryant to establish the John Hancock Insurance Award, which was presented at Commencement to two students who demonstrated superior achievement in the study of Applied Actuarial Mathematics.

In 2012, Muksian was presented a certificate of appreciation by Bryant’s Department of Mathematics for his outstanding service to the University.

sacrifice they’re about to make,” he says. “They are delaying any professional advancement in their discipline by their military commitment.”

When he reflects on his teaching career, he says changes in technology, like the advent of the handheld calculator and, later, the internet, caused him to adapt his strategies in the classroom, but what never changed was his passion for his work and his students. “I love working with the kids,” he says. “It kept me young, kept my mind young.”

Now retired, Muksian has published a textbook based on his decades of experience and lecture notes, and he makes annual updates to ensure that the information stays relevant.

In 1982, while serving as Chair of the Mathematics Department, Muksian spearheaded the creation and establishment of the Actuarial Mathematics program at Bryant. The program has since grown into one of Bryant’s preeminent academic major programs, but at the beginning,

Before joining Bryant’s faculty, Muksian spent several years as a member of the civilian faculty at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. That experience, along with his own military service during the Korean War and the service of many members of his family, cultivated in him a deep respect for the US Military and those who serve. He says that respect is what prompted him to include ROTC graduates as recipients of his philanthropy. “I’m thanking them not only for their service, but for the

Having donated all royalties from the textbook to Bryant’s DiSario Actuarial Certification Fund in the past, he will now donate any royalties to the Muksian Scholarship and Awards Fund, in addition to the balance of his commitment to the fund.

Muksian’s philanthropy through the Muksian Scholarship and Awards Fund is the latest of his many investments in Bryant through the years, but as an endowed fund, it will provide financial assistance to students in perpetuity. In this way, he will continue to impact Bryant students long after their children and grandchildren have come and gone.

Bryant welcomes new Senior Planned Giving Officer

In recent months, Bryant welcomed Bob Ferrell as its Senior Planned Giving Officer. Bob joins Bryant after serving the URI Foundation in a number of roles over the past seven years, most recently as Associate Director of Gift Planning. He also serves as President of the Partners for Philanthropic Planning of RI.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals,” says Bob.

“I hope that Bryant’s Planned Giving program can be a resource for our alums and that we can assist members

View more pictures at facebook.com/bryantalumni/photos

There are numerous ways to include Bryant in your estate plan, and gifts come in all sizes. I would enjoy the opportunity to discuss the many ways you can achieve your philanthropic goals.

of our community as they consider what their legacy at Bryant will be.”

As Senior Planned Gift Officer, Bob is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Planned Giving program by providing resources to those who are considering including Bryant in their will or estate plan. Bob will also lead engagement with Bryant’s 1863 Society, which recognizes those who have included Bryant in their will or estate plan ensuring access and opportunity to generations of future students.

April 28, 2023 | Bermuda

PRESIDENTIAL RECEPTION

Parent Leadership Council members

Carla and Neil ’84 Stempel P’23 hosted Bryant alumni, parents, and Bermudian college counselors for a reception and update on Vision 2030 from President Ross Gittell, Ph.D.

ABOVE LEFT : David Tavares ’04 and Jennifer (Canning) Patterson ’90

LEFT Neil Stempel ’84, P’23, Donna Smith of the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies, and Lars Bergquist P’13

“There are numerous ways to include Bryant in your estate plan,” says Bob, “and gifts come in all sizes. I would enjoy the opportunity to discuss the many ways you can achieve your philanthropic goals.”

To learn more about how you can support Bryant through a planned gift, please reach out to Bob at 401-232-6171 or by email him at rferrell@bryant.edu

June 13, 2023

Mumbai, India

Provost and Chief Academic Officer Rupendra Paliwal (center) was the featured speaker at a gathering of more than 40 Bryant alumni and students from Mumbai. Pictured with the Provost are Gautam Choksi ’98, and Sanjay Damani ’11

LEFT Alumnus Rishab Singal ’11 (right) chats with new parents, Sanjeev Kumar P’27 and Girish Shah P’27

AND PARENT NETWORKING EVENTS

Adrien “Skip” Hebert, Jr. ’72, ’75MBA and his wife, Katherine

March 31, 2023

Lakewood Ranch, FL

PRESIDENTIAL RECEPTION

Steve Townsend ’76 was joined by Sarasota area alumni in welcoming Bryant President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. to Lakewood Ranch for a special reception and update on Bryant’s Vision 2030.

ABOVE RIGHT Katherine and Bill ’81 St. Jean with Bryant staff member Brian Lachapelle.

ROBERT MUKSIAN, P h .D.

BOB FERRELL SENIOR PLANNED GIVING OFFICER

Professor Robert Muksian, Ph.D.

Campus expansion

continued from page 1

FIDELITY INVESTMENTS GIFTED

THE

Vision 2030: Puishys investment

continued from page 1

100 SALEM ST. PROPERTY TO BRYANT UNIVERSITY

“The donation of 100 Salem Street will allow our Smithfield campus to grow in a thoughtful, strategic, and purpose-driven manner,” says Bryant University President Ross Gittell, Ph.D.

“Our longstanding corporate partners like Fidelity understand the value of a Bryant education and the importance of preparing students to excel in the rapidly changing economy.”

The extended campus bolsters the bold initiatives put forward by Vision 2030, which includes continued investment in academic excellence, deep experiential learning, and top 1% student outcomes, including high earnings and economic mobility.

Bryant will build out the 250,000square-foot building to include classrooms, entrepreneurial innovation space, and state-of-the-art labs, and engage students in design thinking, professional sales, fintech, AI, and data analytics. The facility will also include faculty and administrative office space and meeting and gathering spaces.

The additional square footage that the campus expansion provides will allow the creation of the “Innovative and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem”

initiative that takes ambitious projects from ideation and incubation to venture capital funding. This new Center for Entrepreneurship will enhance collaboration between students, faculty, and industry throughout Rhode Island.

“Pursuing this gift strengthens our overall commitment to financial education and support for the Rhode Island community,” Michelle Vetovis, Senior Vice President, General Manager

Philanthropy update

continued from page 1

and decisively in creating opportunities for our students to enhance every aspect of their educational experience. The Puishys have long devoted themselves to their alma mater through their generous endowed scholarship, their leadership as co-chairs of the Bryant Fund, and Joe’s service on the Board of Trustees, and this latest gift is a testament to their love and belief in Bryant.

Amid all this exciting news in the 2022-2023 year, our community shattered records for philanthropy.

2022-2023 was the largest fundraising year in Bryant history.

Led by the recently graduated Bryant Class of 2023, who set a record of their own for Senior Class Gift participation, more than 7,000 members of our community made gifts in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, totalling more than $23 million in gifts and new pledges. This incredible outpouring of support demonstrates our collective commitment to our students’ success and the contagious enthusiasm around Vision 2030, and it proves that every single gift, large or small, makes a difference. We are grateful to each and every donor for sharing in this moment and helping us to build momentum for the future.

and RI Regional Leader at Fidelity Investments. “Fidelity and Bryant University have a more than 20-year relationship and, for roles located on our Smithfield campus, we hire more current and former Bryant students than from any other higher educational institution. Fidelity remains committed to this community and looks forward to the potential impact this will have for future growth and opportunities for both institutions.”

“This is a win-win for the town of Smithfield,” says Smithfield Town Manager Randy Rossi ’01. “With Fidelity on track to add more jobs in the state, having Bryant’s bright talent pool right next door is a way to keep high-skilled college graduates right here in northern Rhode Island.”

“What an extraordinary opportunity to leverage what Bryant already does so well — create real-world ready graduates,” says Bryant’s Board of Trustees Chair David Beirne ’85. “Our goal is to provide the number one undergraduate business education in the nation. The expansion of our campus gives the entire University, and the College of Business specifically, needed innovation space for our students to ideate bold, future-forward visions to transform the world. Fidelity understands and appreciates the impact of Bryant graduates. We are grateful for their continued investment in our students and our future.”

“Our Vision 2030 objectives are ambitious, and we have a monumental advantage in meeting — and even exceeding — them because of this generous gift,” continues President Gittell. “It’s an exciting time to be a Bryant Bulldog.”

across the rotunda during pledge season (Joe was Delta Sigma Chi; Kathi was pledging Sigma Lambda Theta). It took a few years for him to work up the nerve to ask her out — and she turned him down twice. The third time was the charm. The offer she couldn’t refuse?

“I asked her out to Capriccio.”

Like many recent grads, when the Puishys left Bryant, they focused on building their lives and their family through their early years together.

Joe’s roles in corporate leadership took them all over the U.S., from Ohio to Massachusetts and California, Detroit and then Minneapolis. Over time — and distance — they moved away from the larger Bryant community.

A call from Robin Warde, Bryant’s Executive Director of the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, in 2008 reengaged them with the university. When Joe received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013, “we saw how welcoming the community was,” says Kathi. “It excited us to be back on campus and see all the changes.”

As the Puishys found professional success, they began to look for places where their philanthropy would have the most impact. The hands-on couple focused their giving on organizations where the change was more tangible.

“Helping someone in need is a passion of ours,” says Joe. “Thanks to Bryant reaching out, we wished to create a military scholarship.”

EVENTS

Reunion 2023

two years and recently recommitted to co-chairing for an additional two more.

Their Bryant Giving Day Leaderboard Challenge last year of $100,000 propelled record donations, doubling the amount of money raised and making a significant impact on the Bryant community.

While on campus for various university events, the couple can reconnect with old college friends who live locally. “We are able to go back in time and catch up on life. The bonds we’ve forged at Bryant over 40 years ago still remain strong to this day,” says Kathi.

The couple redoubled their support when Joe took a position on the Board of Trustees in 2016, becoming Vice Chair in 2022. When Chair David Beirne ’85 challenged the board to something “really big” — to look at a future where Bryant is recognized as one of the top business schools in the country — Joe and Kathi were committed to being part of that success.

The Puishys have stepped forward with their $5 million Vision 2030 contribution to inspire others to invest in President Ross Gittell’s transformational vision of Bryant University, which includes academic excellence, a vibrant student experience, premier Division I and recreational athletics, and championing economic mobility. “We want people to feel inspired by what we’re doing and, if they have the bandwidth, they can do something, too,” says Joe.

This year’s Reunion, held June 2-4, 2023, brought hundreds of Bryant alumni and families to campus for an exciting weekend of reconnecting and celebrating fond memories. Many attendees stayed on campus in residence halls, and the energy and Bryant community spirit brought warmth and friendship to campus on a chilly spring weekend. Highlights from the weekend included live music; the induction of the 50th Reunion Class of 1973 into the Archway Society; an open house and cocktail hour at the former Country Comfort, now known as the Art Barn; workshops, group activities, and lectures by Bryant faculty and friends; and an update from President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. on Vision 2030 and the exciting plans for campus expansion.

In the months and years ahead, Bryant will roll out important new initiatives, including investments in experiential learning programs; community and belonging; and first-class facilities for learning, student life, and Division I athletics. Bryant’s commitment to access and economic mobility lies at the heart of each new program.

As our community prepares for the 2023-2024 academic year, we reflect with gratitude on the many supporters around the region, the country, and the world who have given back to support our students. In the years to come, Bryant will undergo rapid transformation as the momentum of Vision 2030 builds, but we will continue to stay true to our mission and the values that have sustained us since 1863: to educate and inspire students to discover their passion and become innovative leaders with character around the world. We look forward to partnering with many of you in the next decade to help turn our vision into reality.

David C. Wegrzyn ’86, P’23 Vice President for University Advancement

In 2014, the Puishys established a scholarship fund for former members of the military or military and first responder families. Both Kathi and Joe have a connection to the armed forces. Kathi’s dad was stationed on a Navy destroyer in the South Pacific during World War II. Joe’s dad was an infantryman in Europe over the same time. And their son carried on the tradition of his grandparents’ service and is now an active-duty officer in the United States Navy in the submarine service. Supporting former service members and their families has significance for the couple.

Under President Gittell’s leadership, they know that summiting that goal is possible. “There’s hardly anyone better than us,” says Joe of the return on investment of a Bryant education. “It’s an advantage Bryant grads have for the rest of their lives.”

But for the university to grow and continue delivering this ROI, Kathi believes investments in student life, facilities, and academics matter.

“We want to attract the best students, professors, and researchers. Let’s take it to the next level.”

“Chasing the ambition of being one of the best business schools in the country needs funding and vision,” agrees Joe. “The vision is there. The funding is underway.”

Personal connection is important to them, so every year they meet with the scholarship recipients. “They are quite impressive,” says Kathi.

By spending time with the students and their families, they see the impact of their donation. “It makes their lives easier,” says Kathi. “They can engage with Bryant in a way they wouldn’t have been able to without the scholarship support.” The relationships continue even after graduation with students sometimes turning to Joe and Kathi for career advice or to cast an eye on a resume.

For the Puishys, that sort of return on investment is immeasurable. “Once we were involved, we had to continue,” says Kathi.

As their reconnection with Bryant grew, so did their involvement. They co-chaired the annual Bryant Fund for

While the goals of Vision 2030 are game changers for Bryant, the Puishys know the university will remain the same tight-knit community that drew the couple to the school in the first place. “The magic of Bryant has not been lost one bit,” says Joe. According to the Puishys, the changes made over the decades only added to Bryant’s appeal.

The Bryant community is aweinspiring. “Returning to campus always makes us even more gung-ho,” Kathi continues. “We are fortunate enough to be in a philanthropic position at this stage of our lives. When we started as undergrads, never in a million years did we imagine we’d be here. It feels like coming full circle.”

Joe agrees. “You can’t take it with you, but you can leave a legacy of success. Pay it forward to whatever degree you are comfortable, and help the next generation be successful.”

Reunion attendees cheer on the World Premier band during their performance on Saturday, June 3. Left to right: Jamie Damiano ’08, Melissa Capone ’08, Alison Mathews ’08, and Jorge Castrejon

Led by a visiting artist, Reunion attendees paint the famous Bryant Archway in an Alumni College session.

Tyler “T. Y.” McNeil ’26 joins the World Premier band on stage for a song during their Saturday night performance under the tent by the Bryant pond.

President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. delivers remarks to Reunion attendees, including members of the 50th Reunion Archway Society, on Vision 2030 and the Campus expansion update.

Kim Littlefield ’87 and Dieter Kamm ’88 dance the night away at Reunion.

In honor of their 50th Reunion, members of the Class of 1973 are inducted into the Archway Society.

TO

KATHI ’81 (JUREWICZ) PUISHYS

EVENTS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND CONTACTS

PARTNERSHIPS

Notices received through August 2023

DECEMBER 16, 2022 | Plymouth, MA

Leah Norberg ’15, ‘16MPAC and Sean Barry ’15

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 | Verona, NJ

Julie Laven’13 and Anthony Marrese

MARCH 18, 2023 | Roslyn, NY

Tiffany

APRIL 29, 2023| Mexico

Luisa Fernanda Martinez Oteiza ’20 and Frank Wright ’20

Send wedding photos that feature a group of Bryant alumni to alumni@bryant.edu

Contact us in advance to receive a complimentary Bryant banner.

We receive more photos than we can print for each issue of Engage. To view all wedding photos received since the last issue, as well as the names of alumni in attendance, please visit facebook.com/bryantalumni

JUNE 3, 2023 | Mystic, CT Samantha

CHARLES “CHARLIE”

GERMAN ’69 passed away in February 2023.

Charlie attended Bryant after serving in the Army, and as a student, he was a member of Chi Gamma Iota fraternity. He maintained close ties with his college friends throughout the years, and was a frequent sponsor of alumni networking receptions in Florida. He could also be seen cheering on the Bryant Bulldogs at athletic contests on and off campus. Charlie was a founding member of Bryant’s Council for Jewish Life and Culture, and he and his wife, Anne, who survives him, donated a Torah ark for Bryant Hillel. Charlie is also survived by his daughter, Brooke, and many family and friends.

Former Board of Trustee and faculty member

WILLIAM “BILL” HAAS ’66H passed away in May 2023. A bronze statue, Beginnings, created by Bill and donated to Bryant by the Class of 1989, is adjacent to the Archway on

JUNE 9, 2023 |

IN MEMORY

Bryant’s Smithfield campus.

In addition to teaching philosophy at several universities, Bill served as president of Providence College and North Adams State University. He valued his interactions with his students and developed lifelong relationships with many. Bill was predeceased by his wife, Pauline.

ALPHONSE “AL”

LUCARELLI ’66 passed away in May 2023. Al attended Bryant after serving in the Air Force. At his Bryant graduation, Al received the Roger Babson Award for the senior in the School of Business Administration who was most distinguished for the qualities of sound judgment, vision, and systematic business habits. Al carried those skills throughout a successful career in accounting, eventually

All photos are featured as part of our Wedding Wednesday series on social media. Submit your “Partnerships” and “Additions” to the Office of Alumni Engagement by emailing alumni@bryant.edu or enter a class note through our online directory at alumni.bryant.edu

retiring as managing partner at Ernst & Young. Upon the occasion of his 50th college reunion in 2016, he established the Alphonse S. Lucarelli Endowed Scholarship for students in Accounting. Al was predeceased by his wife, Maria, and survived by his two sons, Alphonse II and Francesco, and their families.

GARRETT KELLY ’93 passed away on June 18, 2022. He was the beloved husband of Jennifer and father to Audrey, Laurel and Annabella. Garrett was a Vice President for Fidelity Investments where he worked for more than 26 years. Garrett’s colleagues at Fidelity established the Garrett Kelly Memorial Partners in Scholarship fund in his memory to provide scholarship support to students who major in information systems and analytics. More than $29,000 will be awarded to students this academic year.

For a comprehensive list of Bryant alumni who have passed away, please visit our website alumni.bryant.edu/ inmemoriam. We regret that we are not able to include more detailed information in print.

ALUMNI AND PARENT NETWORKING EVENTS

June 20, 2023 | Toronto

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL RECEPTION

Bryant president Ross Gittell, Ph.D. was joined by Bryant faculty members Drs. Edi Tebaldi and Asli Ascioglu for a dinner with alumni and parents in Toronto. Seated left to right, Professor Tebaldi, Emiliano Omeri ’10, Tony Downey ’20, Marian Adeboboye P’22, Naomi Adeboboye, Professor Ascioglu, President Gittell, Aziz Meruani ’94, and Arzina Velani Meruani.

EVENTS

Bryant has many opportunities for you to come back to campus or to join us off campus for a variety of events, from networking to webinars to sports and reunions.

stay in touch

For questions, updates, story ideas and to send photos of you and other Bryant alumni, contact us at alumni@bryant.edu or call 401.232.6040

Find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by searching “Bryant Alumni.”

Head to alumni.bryant.edu/ events or scan the QR code.

View more pictures at facebook.com/bryantalumni/photos

June 25, 2023 | San Diego, CA

Steven ’69 and Lily Cowen hosted San Diego area alumni to celebrate the success of the local Bryant Lacrosse players.

Pictured left to right: Jake Fiske ’19, Ian Goltz P’26, Steve ’69 and Lily Cowen, Bill Heffernan ’16, Liv Toothman ’25, Sue Totten P’26, Martha Fiske P’19, Aiden Goltz ’26, and Mike Cochrane ’05 Missing from the photo were Joe Emma ‘90 and his wife, Martha.

Carter ’16 and Jonathan Manheim ’16

Garfi ’14 and Steven Ware

Harwich Port, MA Gabriella Tashjian ’17 and Kyle Koziol ’17