Thank you for joining us tonight! Your alumni mentors are thrilled to have the opportunity to share their stories and share their perspective with you. We are all so proud to support you on and off the court., and I know that the mentor group is so pleased to be with you to help each and every one of you along on your journey to success. It is our shared hope that in sharing these life lessons, we can all affect your lives in a positive, constructive and helpful manner.
Not too long ago, these mentors strolled throughout this beautiful campus, competed on the same court, survived and even thrived in the classrooms. Each of them was in your shoes and had the opportunity to sit where you are sitting today. However, they may not have had this terrific opportunity to hear from alumni mentors willing to share advice.
I can confidently say that they had most of the same hopes and dreams that you have today, and that they certainly had similar questions about next steps in life that you do. We all welcome this opportunity to share something with you about life, careers and the REAL world that we wish someone had shared with us while we were in college, in hopes that this advice and perspective makes a positive difference in your lives.
Each and every day, when you step out onto the court to prepare for the next fitness test, the next practice session, the next game or the next championship, all of this is a step towards success in life. The skills and character that you develop here at Mercyhurst will serve you well on your journey, and preparation is the key to life. Being prepared to face adversity head-on, being prepared to do what it takes succeed, and being prepared for change are just a few of the twists and turns life will throw your way. You have the chance to actively participate and contribute to your growth as players and as people, and we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and commit to making this a key moment in your preparation for life.
Here’s looking forward to an exciting, enjoyable and impactful event. Wishing you all (mentors, players and coaches alike) a brilliant future ahead!
Thank you for your attention and as always….GO LAKERS!!!
Ted Priestly
Bill Weaver '12
Kevin Bradley '78
Steve Albert ‘75
Moe Profit '98
Steve Albert
Year of Graduation: 1975
Major: Criminal Justice with a concentration in Psychology
Additional Education: No formal degrees but many professional training courses while I was at PepsiCo/Pepsi-Cola Company (i.e., Public Speaking; Contract Negotiations; Human Resource Training; etc.
Current Title: Founding and Managing Partner, Albert-Swope Connections, LLC
Current Industry: Sales Consulting in the automotive industry
Moe Profit
Year of Graduation: 1998
Major: BA Business Management
Additional Education: Mercyhurst
Master's in Organizational Leadership 2021
Current Title: Vice President
Customer Engagement Strategy and Solutions - CNS
Current Industry: Pharmaceutical Industry/Life Sciences
Kevin Bradley
Year of Graduation: 1978
Major: Criminal Justice
Minor: Business Management
Current Title: Director
Current Industry: CPG (Consumer Package Goods) & Real Estate
*Chose Mercyhurst based on the coach, style of play, and a good player from my HS who had was playing there and had an influence on my decision.
Bill Weaver
Year of Graduation: 2007
Major: Business Management, & Economics
Current Title: Chief Executive Officer, Managing Partner
Current Industry: Manufacturing and Construction with Fabrication and Field Installation teams services the commercial & residential market for services related to structural steel, metal stairs/rails, Exterior Facade products. Managing partner of Plainville Self Storage. Managing Partner of MI-Box portable Storage.
SA: My initial “feeling” upon coming to Mercyhurst was that I was attending college to play basketball and my education was second. It took me until I was well into my sophomore year that I realized that I had it reversed. My GPA for my first 2 years was (I think) a 2.4 and for my last two years was (I think) a 3.5 for a combined 2.9. The message here is that learning/grades are the reason that you’re here and basketball is a means to get you started on your life’s journey. The other thing that is worth mentioning is figure out what your life’s work it and make that work something that is your passion. Then it doesn’t feel like work!
KB: Orientation by the Coach or Advisors to give advice/direction on balancing basketball / academics & new found independence of college life as a freshman. Wish I would have known what profession I wanted to pursue. Coming from a blue collar family there was no true direction outside of getting an education. Set goals and put them in writing to review and update regularly
MP: I wish I would've known how much of my future was actually in my control. As a freshman, you rely so much on the opinions/perspectives of others - coaches, teammates, professors etc. In addition, I wish I would've know the value of balance and time management - the balance between hoops, class work and social time is a tightrope.
BW: I came to Mercyhurst as a transfer starting my Junior. I guess having an understanding of expectations as a student as well as an athlete. Classes were at a different pace than high school and living on a campus was different as well.
What strategies helped you to succeed as a student-athlete?
SA: There were a couple of things that I figured out that helped me.
1). Utilize any tutoring resources as soon as you realize that you may need help in a particular course.
2). Take a couple of classes in the summer and lighten your class load during the basketball season.
3). Try and balance your class load & times especially during the season. (Stay away from 8am Classes!!!!!!)
KB: Unfortunately I had no true strategy outside of making sure I went to class to be eligible to play. My sole strategy was to graduate even though I had no idea what I truly wanted to do. My will to not fail & win on the court & graduate is what helped me succeed as student athlete
MP: The first strategy was prioritization which also starts with being honest with yourself. I wanted to be great so that meant focusing on lifting and individual workouts vs. social activities. I also viewed education as the great equalizer so grades were important. For example, there were many bus rides spent doing homework as opposed to listening to music or watching a movie. Listening is the second strategy, I learned pretty early that there is much to be learned if you are willing to listen and ask the right questions.
BW: The decisions and work you put in now can have a strong impact on your life's trajectory. Utilize study hall and get help when needed Some classes may not seem important at the time but grades do matter. Make academics a priority. You are a student first, then an athlete.
If you could go back and change anything, what would you change?
SA: Two areas to focus on:
Physical Training: For me, I really didn’t train much in the off season. I would have focused on getting my body ready for the season with a very specific training regime in the off season For me it would have been increasing my lower body flexibility and strengthening my knees and ankles.
Learning Focus:
Regularly meet with your counselor paying specific focus on any tutoring needs and really look at your course requirements/scheduling over your 4 (or 5) years and put a plan together that maximizes your time and minimizes your stress.
KB: I would seek as much advice as possible prior to my first year of college from my HS Coach / Educators/ business professionals etc. I knew. I had a compass entering college but wish I had a map to follow.
MP: I truly enjoyed my time so there isn't much that i'd change other than maintaining some relationships that were developed during my time on the hill.
BW: I would take advantage of the extra time that I had during my last semester. I only had 1 adult chemistry class during my senior year. The basketball season was over and at the time the team was not working out, practicing, etc I wish I had utilized that time more effectively to work on myself instead of sitting around watching movies and video games.
SA: While the next 40 years is a marathon and not a sprint, the time flies by faster that you can imagine. At the risk of sounding like a broken record… make your career something that you are passionate about! That will make your day-to-day feel less like work.
1). Live within your financial means. If you get a job making $75,000/year (I just using numbers to show some examples) make sure you have funds leftover after your living expenses are paid. Getting your first paycheck is not like hitting the lottery. Remember, you’re in this for the long haul.
2). You all have something that I don’t… TIME! Get a financial advisor and RELIGIOUSLY put at least 10% of each paycheck into a long-term investment and never ever touch it until you are ready to retire!!!!! If you save $400/month for 40 years at 7% interest you would have $1,049,925!
3) Take advantage of any saving plan that your employer may have (401K; Stock Match, etc.)
What advice would you give to our graduating seniors as they embark on the next steps of their lives?
4). ALWAYS take time to stay fit!
a). Workout regularly…At least 3x per week
b). See a doctor regularly. Get an annual physical!
c). Find a hobby/alternative sport (Golf; Scuba Diving; traveling; etc.).
KB: My advice to graduating seniors is to follow your true passion & network with as many successful people as you can in the field to learn everything possible. Find a mentor in the profession you choose that is willing to give their time & guidance. ( Make sure you pick a mentor that is successful with character). There is no shortcut to whatever profession they choose; it will take the same hard work, competitiveness & effort that they put into basketball to succeed. The only shortcut is listening to the mistakes their mentors made in order to avoid the same mistakes.
MP: First, I would say be grounded in your foundational life pillars. Doing so allows you to make the right decisions both personally and professionally. Again, referencing earlier points, be thoughtful about how is in your network for a number of reasons. Lastly, to use a sports reference, treat the journey as a series of short sprints vs. a marathon. If you are always looking too far ahead, you miss a lot along the way...
BW: Have a vision of what you want your life to look like over the next 5, 10, and 15 years, and create goals for that vision. Life is really just getting started. In the coming years, you will begin to experience real independence and responsibility.
We cannot thank you enough for your willingness to share your time, perspective and advice with us here tonight. We are humbled by your selflessness and inspired by your example, and we look forward to hopefully staying connected with you, and perhaps following your lead by participating in this event someday as mentors. For now, we thank you and look forward to honoring the legacy that you have all built.
