ALUMNI PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
PATRICIA E. GLASSFORD ’85 Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, GE Energy Connections
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atricia E. Glassford ’85 is not only one of Fairfield’s most accomplished alumnae, but also one of the most engaged and supportive — giving her time, talent and treasure to ensure that Fairfield achieves its dreams. Since graduating with a degree in finance and a minor in information systems, Patti married the love of her life, fellow Stag John Glassford ’85, has lived on both coasts and has traveled the globe building her distinguished thirty-year career at General Electric.
“Fairfield University gave me a strong well-rounded Jesuit education that taught me to look at things from many different perspectives and to balance ethics and morals with success and drive.” Patti credits Fairfield’s broad core curriculum, the teamwork in her finance classes and the influence of professors like Tom Conine, PhD, as the foundation of her career success. She also acknowledges that Dr. Conine and the Career Planning Center helped guide her to GE. “Fairfield University gave me a strong, well-rounded, Jesuit education that taught me to look at things from many different perspectives and to balance ethics and morals with success and drive. It has continued to provide a framework for me to help others, has allowed me to remain spiritual and to be thankful for all that I have.” Upon graduation, she entered GE’s management training program, serving as an analyst before joining the Corporate Audit staff, which is the premiere training ground in the company. She worked at GE Plastics for nearly six years before moving for a position as CFO of NBC West Coast, where she was responsible for network financials including Prime Time, Daytime, Late Night and NBC Studios. She then returned to NBC at 30 Rockefeller Center, N.Y. as the CFO of the 13 network owned and operated stations and the Telemundo stations. After a whirlwind tour through other operating companies, she landed at GE Energy Connections in Conn., where she has served as vice president and chief financial officer for the past two years. Patti is committed to ensuring that future generations of Fairfield students have access to financial support, especially since scholarships helped her earn her Fairfield education. She and John both serve as alumni leaders and mentors — John as a member of the Dolan Advisory Board and Patti as an active member of the University’s Board of Trustees. Patti holds Fairfield’s mission close to her heart and is truly a woman for others in both her personal and professional life.