Bentley Magazine Spring 2021

Christian Rubio Associate Professor and Chair, Modern Languages

I let my Baby Falcs and mentees know that I struggle with change and experience disappointment. And that’s OK. But my advice is to move forward by always asking yourself: What are THE next steps?

Arafat Rasheed ’22 Orientation Leader

What resonated with me during the interview with Rakuten Americas was that in addition to formal questions, they asked how I was staying motivated, safe and engaged during the pandemic. They cared.

Molly Lyons ’20 Staff Accountant, Rakuten Americas

Students, faculty and alumni reflect on life as we’ve come to know it. Page 10.

Magazine

Editor

Susan Simpson

Senior Director

Strategic Communications

John McElhenny

Project Manager

Vanessa Salas

Writers

Michael Blanding

Deblina Chakraborty

Jennifer Skuce Spira

Kristen Walsh

Kevin Wong

Creative Director

Greg Gonyea

Senior Associate Director

Creative Services

Claire S. Anderson

Art Direction & Design

Juliana Freire

Multimedia Producer

Kevin Maguire

Associate Director

Print and Production

Judy Metz

Executive Director Advancement

Communications

Terry Cronin

Senior Associate Director Advancement

Communications

Caroline Cruise

Associate Director

Content Development

Kristin Livingston

Communications Specialist

Molly McKinnon

Chair of the Board and Interim President

Paul Condrin ’83, P ’19 ’22

President-Elect

E. LaBrent Chrite

Vice President

Marketing and Communications

Christopher Joyce

Vice President

University Advancement

Maureen Flores

BETWEEN THE LINES

The past year hasn’t brought a new puppy or kitten into my household. But welcome to the family, pandemic espresso machine. A decaf latte, served Monday to Friday at 3:30 p.m., is a bright spot in my still-working-from-home routine.

Come to find out, this coffee break is more than a guilty pleasure. It’s an opportunity to clear the mind and fortify the spirit against life’s inevitable setbacks.

As COVID-19 tests us at every turn, faculty member Clarissa Sawyer lays out five best practices to build resiliency; check out her guidance on page 6.

Leaning into the topic for this issue’s cover story, we asked students, faculty and alumni about the mindsets and strategies that are seeing them through some typical milestones of life in these highly atypical times.

Resiliency was a through line at Bentley’s annual celebration to honor Martin Luther King Jr. The January gathering was virtual but full of heart, as students and alumni recounted personal experiences of racism that led them to social activism. The event closed with the presentation of the Dr. Earl L. Avery MLK Leadership Award, which recognized the Black at Bentley movement. Inside, you can meet the three alumnae who accepted on its behalf.

One new avenue for making Bentley a more actively anti-racist institution is an eightweek Racial Healing Practice Challenge. Seven of us in the Strategic Communications department took part in the series of small-group discussions, which kicked off this fall.

We read about topics such as what underlies racial identity, then met to share our own experiences with the many complex issues raised. I approached each session with a pit in my stomach. Would I say something wrong? Will teammates think less of me? Ultimately, mutual respect prevailed, and we learned more about ourselves and each other. Going forward, we can support each other in being allies to those who face bias of all kinds. One final bonus: A group of trusted colleagues will boost resiliency every time.

As we went to press, news arrived that Bentley had named its ninth president. Faculty and staff met E. LaBrent (Brent) Chrite in March, and Zoom could not tamp down his natural warmth. It was inspiring to learn about his commitment to social justice and making business a force for good in the world. There’s a quick introduction on the facing page, with more to come in the next issue.

In the meantime, to all who are persevering through the pandemic, I raise a cup of decaf latte. Spring is here.

Bentley University is more than just one of the nation’s top business schools. It is a lifelong-learning community that creates successful leaders who make business a force for positive change. With a combination of business and the arts and sciences and a flexible, personalized approach to education, Bentley provides students with critical thinking and practical skills that prepare them to lead successful, rewarding careers. Founded in 1917, the university enrolls 4,200 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate and PhD students and is

The March 17 appointment of Bentley’s ninth president — E. LaBrent Chrite — has been welcome news for the campus and alumni communities. He assumes the role on June 1 with a deep-seated belief in social justice and economic empowerment, and more than 25 years of higher education leadership experience.

“Brent Chrite shares our vision and passion for educating ethical leaders who make business a force for positive change,” says Paul Condrin ’83, P ’19 ’22, chair of the board and interim president. “He has dedicated his career to improving business education and expanding economic opportunities across the country and around the world.”

“Brent stood out from a group of talented candidates as the right person to guide Bentley into our next era of excellence,” confirms trustee Nick Stavropoulos ’79, who led the committee of faculty, staff, alumni and students through its six-month national search.

WELCOMING A NEW LEADER

As president of Bethune-Cookman University, Chrite guided the school through an accreditation review that strengthened institutional governance and fiscal integrity. He also served as dean of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver and dean of the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University.

Throughout his career, Chrite has worked with governments, universities and foundations to develop programs and research initiatives aimed at bolstering emerging markets, entrepreneurism and capital development, and reducing poverty. The commitment has taken him to countries including Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Ukraine.

“The beauty of business lies in its ability to create solutions to human problems,” he says. “Bentley weaves together business skills with the arts and sciences and empowers students to transform business, society and their communities. I’m excited to build on this mission.”

MEET BRENT

Career Highlights

n President, Bethune-Cookman University

n Dean, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver

n Dean and Professor of Management, Feliciano School of Business, Montclair State University

Education

n PhD, University of Michigan

n MS, University of Missouri-Columbia

n BA, Michigan State University

Personal

n Born and raised in Detroit

n Family includes wife Phyllis, three children, five grandchildren

n Enjoys jazz, history, staying fit

“The beauty of business lies in its ability to create solutions to human problems.”

Moving Up

Programs build skills for young professionals

BY MARY K. PRATT

Two Bentley programs — one with a 16-year track record, one brand new — are at the starting gate to help professionals in the first decade of their working lives.

The annual Gearing Up conference is hosted by the Center for Women and Business (CWB) and takes place virtually on June 10. Designed for women and nonbinary individuals, it engages the twin engines of career development: networking and mentoring.

“We want people to have the tools and confidence they need to thrive in a long-term career,” says Becky McDougal, CWB’s assistant director of events.

Keynote speaker Tiffany Jan is the founder of TMI Consulting and an author of four books focused on diversity and inclusion. The day also includes learning sessions, self-reflection exercises and

opportunities for group exploration. Goal-setting sessions help attendees carry lessons forward. Members of the CWB team will follow up with participants at 30, 60 and 90 days post-conference to check on progress.

“It’s action-oriented,” says McDougal. “Our goal is to help people advance and support their aspirations.”

MANAGING UP AND ACROSS

The second program aimed at young professionals, Strategies for Emerging Leaders, focuses on managing up and across an organization. The skill-building takes aim at one of the toughest moves a business professional can make.

“The jump from individual contributor to leader or manager is a key transition. It derails many talented, aspiring leaders,” says Lisa Dinsmore, director of Executive

Education, which launches the virtual program in fall 2021.

Over five sessions, participants focus inward and outward. Topics include leveraging your own strengths and communication style to foster team work; strengthening the ability to ask for, receive and provide feedback; and learning to encourage dialogue and action around equity, diversity and inclusion. Participants leave with a five-year career plan based on their insights.

“It’s a real challenge to expand your mindset from a focus on individual work,” says Dinsmore. “We want to help people find and own their influence, power and voice in an organization.”

Program details, including discounts for alumni, are available at bentley.edu/gearing-up and bentley.edu/emerging-leaders.

Pushing Forward on Racial Justice

BY KEVIN WONG

In the months since the national response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and campus-based activism inspired by Black at Bentley on social media, the university has made steady progress toward becoming a more actively anti-racist institution. Work is underway across campus to foster diversity, equity and inclusion.

Strategic goals developed last summer by the President’s Cabinet jump-started Bentley’s next steps on racial justice. From devising practices that make classrooms and the workplace more inclusive to analyzing diversity within offices and among outside vendors, the initiatives reach every division of the university. Many changes are already in place and updates are posted regularly at bentley.edu/ cabinet-goals.

Also last summer, 114 faculty, staff, students and alumni stepped up to join the Racial Justice Task Force. Members met throughout the fall and winter, charged with uncovering systemic ways that racism, white privilege and unconscious bias have operated at Bentley. Many also led conversations within their own teams and areas of influence. The task force is developing a document and resources to share this spring with the Bentley community; it will include calls to action to guide the work ahead. The task force shares updates at bentley.edu/racialjustice.

Longtime staff member Katie Lampley ’96, who was appointed chief diversity and inclusion officer in August, is encouraged by the progress.

“I have seen so much positive change within our community and am looking forward to continuing the difficult work we need to do on the road ahead,” she says. “We cannot lose the momentum that has propelled us to this time in Bentley’s history.”

“ We’re grateful for the activism of our alumni and students. It demonstrates the passion we all have for creating a stronger, more united Bentley.”

Katie Lampley ’96, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

HONORING ACTIVISM

BY KRISTEN WALSH

In a year like no other, the Dr. Earl L. Avery MLK Leadership Award went for the first time to a cause, not an individual. Joining the annual MLK Jr. Day celebration in January, organizers of Black at Bentley — Lakeya Graves ’11, Edith Joachimpillai ’12 and Stephanie Hartford ’12 — accepted on behalf of the movement.

“Their contributions led to the creation of the Racial Justice Task Force, strategic goals developed by the President’s Cabinet, and the passion for change we are seeing from students, faculty, staff and alumni,” says Matt Banks, assistant director in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “They did this work to not only hold Bentley accountable for these changes, but also to make Bentley a more equitable, anti-racist institution.”

Their advocacy stems in part from personal experiences. Texas-native Hartford began her education in advocacy at the predominately white School for the Talented and Gifted.

“During school picture day in first grade, I came home with pencil shavings and gum in my hair,” says the alumna, who traveled a half-hour to attend because neighborhood schools lacked funding. “The next day, my mom showed up at the school and we addressed it right away.”

A TALE OF TWO WORLDS

Like Hartford, Graves grew up in a Black neighborhood and attended predominantly white schools for her whole academic career. “I struggled to find my place in both the white world and the Black world. These experiences helped shape my desire to advocate for change.”

More recently, Hartford, Graves and Joachimpillai were moved by accounts of systemic racism that surfaced in the

Black at Bentley movement earns leadership award

Bentley community and elsewhere following the murder of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, by police officers in Minneapolis.

The Black at Bentley movement launched via an Instagram account (@blackatbentley) to create a safe, public platform for sharing stories; but it didn’t — and couldn’t — end there.

“We knew that, if we were going to do this, it wouldn’t be just to complain about the racism at Bentley,” says Hartford, a senior manager of global web implementation at Brink’s Inc. “We wanted to work with our classmates to develop ways for the university to make changes.”

Graves, director of marketing for Connecticut-based King School, finds satisfaction in “making changes in the places where I have been, like my alma maters. I try to do whatever I can to make sure other people have a better and more inclusive experience than I had.”

Lakeya Graves recently became a board member for the Falcons of the Last Decade alumni group; see story on page 29.

Stephanie Hartford ’12

Lakeya Graves ’11

PHOTO BY TOM KATES BE NTLEY MAGAZ INE 5

WAYS TO BUILD RESILIENCE

Clarissa Sawyer joined Bentley in 2013 after a successful career in organizational development. Her focus was helping teams at Arthur D. Little, the Federal Aviation Administration, the MITRE Corporation and others learn to work more effectively. Here, the lecturer in Natural and Applied Sciences shares strategies for boosting your ability to recover from setbacks — whether minor or pandemic size.

GIVE YOURSELF A TIMEOUT

Lately we’re spending so many hours online and consuming social media, we aren’t spending enough time with our own minds and emotions. The world’s great wisdom traditions teach how important it is to become aware of one’s inner experience. So, stop and press the pause button. Stare out the window, take five slow breaths, stretch, sip green tea or simply be alone.

LOWER THE WALLS

Research professor Brené Brown has spent two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy. Her findings point to vulnerability as a strength, not a weakness. Acknowledging our own vulnerability makes us more accepting of ourselves — and others. Within teams, admitting to fears and insecurities allows people to trust in each other. This creates a support system to help us get through tough times.

LEARN FROM SUCCESS

People often assume the best route to a solution is to look at how something got broken. But that doesn’t necessarily tell you how to fix it. If you are struggling with an issue or problem, can you think of a time you were successful in a similar situation? The stories of our successes often contain seeds of ideas and solutions we can apply in other cases.

CULTIVATE CONNECTION

During the pandemic, experts urge us to “social distance” from each other. But even though we’re forced to be apart physically, people still need social connection. In my classes, structured breakout groups help create community and give students an opportunity to share their stresses and ways of coping. Even when students say they don’t feel like sharing, they often do.

REST — BUT NOT TOO MUCH

We underestimate how important sleep is for our health. Only in the past few years have researchers learned that, during sleep, cerebrospinal fluid is clearing our brain of toxins. At the same time, there’s an intimate connection between the wisdom of the body and how it connects to the brain — it’s literally “move it or lose it.” Both rest and motion are important for building resilience of the mind and body.

PHOTO BY REBECCA BISHOP; ILLUSTRATION BY EAMESBOT/SHUTTERSTOCK

AS TOLD TO MICHAEL BLANDING

Making Stars Align

Kristin Nava ’01, MSFP ’02 is the talent behind the talent. Covering both coasts from a.m. to p.m., seven days a week, she connects actors with Fortune Global and Fortune 500 companies and with brands such as AT&T, KFC, Samsung, Lego and Nike for commercials and endorsements. Last fall, the alumna directed 18 years of industry experience toward taking her own star turn: principal of Nava Artists.

CREATIVE CONTROL

Opening my own agency [navaartists.com] gives me the power to select my roster. It’s all about the actors I truly believe in. I have around 200 clients right now and feel blessed that most of them have been with me a while, some for my entire career. The long hours can be a drawback, but I love what I do and who I work with, so I really don’t see it that way.

FAVORITE THINGS

I represent familiar faces you’ve seen over the years on TV and in movies, including most of the kids from The Sound of Music. It’s atypical to have a group like that with one agency, but they’ve stayed together through the years because they consider themselves a family. They live all over the world now, but we came together in L.A. in 2015 for a Vanity Fair shoot (below), to mark the 50th anniversary of the movie. That was a once-in-a-lifetime day.

ON LOCATION

I’m always on set to make sure my clients are taken care of and things are flowing smoothly. I remember one July, being in hot-and-humid Miami to shoot a winter spot for a Ford campaign. My celebrity client was wearing layers — a sweater and jacket — while I was in a summer dress. In those situations, I’m their advocate to production, to say we need to take a break and get a drink of water.

COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

There used to be a stigma around celebrities endorsing products in commercials. They thought it would hurt their reputation. Today, everybody wants one. It elevates their status if they’re being sought after to endorse products.

I’ve worked on ad campaigns such as the “Dilly Dilly” Bud

Light campaign featuring the Bud Light Knight. Also, the State Farm campaign starring sports agent Gabe Gabriel with NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. Remember the cavemen from Geico? I worked on that campaign, too.

CASTING CALL

At this point in my career, I have direct relationships with ad agencies, public relations firms and brands. They say, “This is the project we have, and we’re looking for this kind of celebrity. Who do you have?” I also proactively stake out brands that are an organic, genuine fit for my clients. For this I’ll sometimes use straight-up cold calling. I’ve even reached out to a handful of Bentley alumni in the marketing space.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Commercials are unique because they never stop shooting; they are truly a 24-7 business for this industry. During the tightest part of COVID-19 lockdown, we had to adapt. Actors started filming auditions and commercials in their own homes. Some of the ads you saw in 2020 included people who weren’t actors at all, but a spouse, child or friend who got roped in because they were part of the actor’s pod.

As told to Jennifer Skuce Spira

PHOTO BY ART STREIBER/ AUGUST AND (TOP) COURTESY OF THE ALUMNA BE NTLEY MAGAZ INE 7

Home Sweet Office?

INTERVIEW BY KRISTEN WALSH

Working from home is now business as usual for some 62% of employed Americans, according to Gallup Inc. About two-thirds of those polled say they want to continue that arrangement when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Here, Bentley faculty member Susan Vroman and Alan Hubbard ’83, MBA ’92 of the nonprofit National Telecommuting Institute discuss the impact of these unplanned at-home work arrangements — now and in the future.

COVID-19 caused a quick pivot to remote work for many employees.

What was the impact of this shift?

Alan Hubbard: The internet made it so a good percentage of us could continue to do our jobs from home. For some people it meant schedule flexibility. Another plus is that it eliminated the commute, which for some meant saving hours of their time each day.

Susan Vroman: Building off that, the ultimate plus is that so many companies that didn’t think it was possible to have employees work remotely have now found there is a possibility for this to be successful. A minus is that the lack of pre-planning isn’t painting a true picture of what remote work would truly look like. But the upside will hopefully outweigh that.

How does this differ from a planned flexible work arrangement?

SV: Number one, of course, would be the planning: the ability to make sure a remote workplace is viable from an infrastructure and management perspective. Another major difference is that during “normal times,” you would have the option to pull back. If an employee wasn’t performing well remotely or with a flexible work arrangement, you could pull them back into the

office. The same would hold true for a manager who isn’t ready to lead a remote team. Now there is no choice; you have to do it.

AH: I agree. For 25 years, my organization has been advocating for remote work and until a couple of years ago, a bulk of my day was spent trying to convince call center companies to go remote. But they weren’t ready to set up the security, infrastructure and software to do that. When COVID-19 hit, no one had a choice in the matter.

Does being remote have a ripple effect on other aspects of work?

AH: It does, partially because of the level of decision-making. You would think that the written word is the strongest when it comes to decision-making. But words on a computer screen can be open to misinterpretation. When we’re talking right now, I’m nodding my head to tell Susan that I get it — and she knows I get it. That wouldn’t happen in an email and could leave questions. The ripple effect is the impact on how quickly or successfully decisions get made.

SV: Feeling isolated can cause a resistance to ask for help — not just help socially, but telling someone you’re stuck on a project. If you’re used to having an impromptu conversation in the office to figure something out, the process of emailing or scheduling a Zoom call to get answers may not be comfortable. This can lead to mistakes.

I do want to highlight a positive ripple effect. Remote work requires more trust and empowerment. Having a manager give someone the power of authority to make decisions can really impact employee engagement and morale.

Are there necessary competencies to collaborate digitally?

SV: Absolutely — and not at all. You have to confidently do your work as you have been, but you also have to be more of a self-starter. It’s like an open-book test: Everything is

there and nobody is actually watching you. So, to be successful you’re expected to take the time to look for the answer one more degree before asking your manager.

Particularly if you’re an extrovert, you also have to be resilient and find ways to recharge your own battery without human interaction. For me that is meditation or going for a run.

AH: Not everyone has a home office with doors; some people are working at their kitchen table. So the ability to block out distractions — pets, children, noise — is important. I also had to learn to focus and not be a workaholic. I was filling the commute time with work.

SV: It’s a skill set to know when to stop; no one is going to tell you to stop working. You have to give yourself that permission slip.

Do you agree with reports suggesting that remote work will stay a fact of organizational life?

AH: Yes. A lot of companies have learned that employees can effectively and efficiently work from home. There is also another element of sustainability and reducing your carbon footprint by eliminating commuting and renting office space. Plus, there’s a quality-of-life factor.

SV: Companies are definitely considering a flexible work arrangement, but many haven’t yet developed a post-pandemic plan. It may require going back into the office, when it is safe to do so, to determine logistics like training and technology. I believe that the recruitment process will also change with more Zoom interviews and virtual onboarding.

What is your best piece of advice to manage teams remotely?

AH: Communicate, communicate, communicate — and preferably not only by text and email. People can feel detached when they are remote. In addition to making sure key indicators are met, encourage some kind of personal interaction.

SV: Yes! You have to ask questions, then you have to listen — with your eyes and your ears. Asking and listening are the two most important things you can do.

Lecturer in Management Susan Vroman brings more than 20 years’ experience in the private sector to Bentley, teaching courses on leadership and organizational behavior. Her work to explore leaders’ impact on employee engagement and workplace culture includes studying flexible work arrangements and remote work.

Alan W. Hubbard ’83, MBA ’92, has more than 25 years of experience in operations and technology, with particular expertise in the work-from-home model. He is chief operating officer at the nonprofit National Telecommuting Institute, which provides remote job opportunities for people with disabilities.

The Path of Most Resilience

These days, even routine tasks like grocery shopping can feel like a test of strength. What of life’s more pivotal experiences? Here, we catch up with Falcons whose 2020 included starting college, landing a first job, pivoting a career, leading a company and more.

Their different journeys drive home common lessons: Focus on what you can control. Stay flexible. Be true — and kind — to yourself. And always maintain connections, even at a distance.

By Kristen Walsh

Nayeli Franco ’24

Hometown: Hamilton, New Jersey

Interest: Public Accounting, Forensic Accounting

The most challenging part of starting college during a pandemic was the uncertainty. Knowing that at any moment students could be sent home, or that those around me could fall ill, was extremely difficult. The rules at Bentley were strict, but they were for the best reasons. I managed to meet some amazing people and find my niche. Many were friends I met in the Student Center during my first few days on campus and through the FirstGen Presidential Fellows program. We’re all different, but our goals and outlook bring us together. Academically, it was more challenging. Concentrating on school the way I usually would was almost impossible, especially with the growing worry for my loved ones. Adjusting to online school also took a large toll on my mental health; I would constantly beat myself up over not understanding concepts in some of my classes or feel like I could be doing more. My professors and advisers let me know that we’re all new to such changes — but so ready to work together. These experiences shifted my perspective. I’ve realized this is a positive change that will prepare me for the future; and that is particularly important for me as a first-generation college student. Reminding myself that I’m in school to make both myself and my family proud has helped me navigate these challenges. Nothing in life is easy, but having their support makes it worthwhile. Transition and change of any kind have a notable impact on our minds and bodies. But I’ve come to realize that worrying about the future causes a constant state of worry. Knowing that you are here now, and with those you love, allows you to find comfort.

Banmai Huynh ’24

Hometown: Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Major: Corporate Finance and Accounting

I’ve always been a hopeful person; I think that comes from my mom. During the pandemic, she is always reminding me that we are fortunate to have a home, and to be safe and healthy. Grateful for my home and for the money I could save, I decided to attend Bentley remotely during my first year. But that didn’t make me any less committed to getting the most out of the experience.

For Zoom classes, I sign in a few minutes early — or stay late — to connect with professors or clarify what I learned. It’s not just about academics: I learn about what they are up to and they ask what’s going on in my life.

As a member of Bentley’s Women’s Leadership Program, I’ve attended as many virtual events as possible. My favorite was a workshop on the unconscious bias that women and people of color face. I’ll carry that knowledge into my career; tolerance is something that the world is lacking, and the opportunity to explore that and self-reflect was powerful.

But moments like these don’t just happen — especially being remote. It’s hard, for example, to stay engaged sitting in my room all day on Zoom; by the third class I have to remind myself to actively participate. I also make sure academics is not my whole life. I spend Sunday nights virtually meeting with my peers in the Asian Students Association. We joke and share highs and lows from the week.

Though I’m not where I thought I would be as a first-year college student, participating in Bentley’s Gratitude Campaign gave me a chance to reflect on something that I was thankful for; and that is my parents. They’ve really adapted to supporting me as a remote student. They understand when I don’t come out of my room for five hours because I’m doing class or grabbing a quick nap to unwind in between classes.

Pandemic or not, my advice is to always make the most out of what you’re given. Put yourself out there and make sure you get what you want out of life.

Arafat Rasheed ’22

Hometown: Islamabad, Pakistan

Major: Professional Sales

When the pandemic hit, I had to take a deep look into what I believe makes a relationship work, particularly when I first meet someone. As an orientation leader, my role is to help first-year students — Baby Falcs — transition to college. This year I worked with a combination of remote and on-campus students.

In-person activities had to evolve to loop in students by Zoom, but COVID could not take away relationships simply by existing. We discuss what they hope to gain at Bentley, and from there we create an action plan. In addition to reinforcing messages like “Be true to yourself” and “Accept differences,” I encourage them to keep going. Things around us will always change, but we can’t dwell on that or we’ll miss opportunities.

I didn’t always think this way. My first year at Bentley was a rollercoaster ride. There were classes and student organizations that I thought I would love, but didn’t. I struggled to find the right friend circle. Things changed when I joined Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. One of my brothers challenged me to follow a simple philosophy: When something is about to change, look at how you can benefit from the situation or help others benefit from it.

Most people are hard-pressed to find positives from COVID-19 — and that is something we have to turn around. It could be something as simple as spending the extra time at home or in your dorm room to learn a skill you’ve been wanting to try.

I let my Baby Falcs and mentees know that I struggle with change and experience disappointment. And that’s OK. But my advice is to move forward by always asking yourself: What are the next steps? How can I develop something out of this problem that will help me in the future? My job is to help students develop the skills to deal with adversity, not only at Bentley but beyond.

Amanda Parker ’22

Hometown: St. Charles, Illinois

Major: Professional Sales

I consider myself fortunate to have arrived at Bentley as a member of the volleyball team. I had an instant family in my teammates — the older ones watched out for me and answered my questions. It was a fall sport, so I was active six days a week with practice or games. As a junior captain, I never imagined I would be welcoming first-year students during a pandemic, with so many uncertainties about living on campus and having a fall season — which we did not.

One goal we always have as a team is to make sure everyone feels included , particularly first-year students who are adjusting to college life. We’ve had to get creative during COVID, planning socially distanced team-bonding activities, like a small group dinner at a restaurant or an outdoor activity when the weather was still warm. When it was approved, we held outdoor workouts that transitioned to indoor practices. Playing with masks on took some getting used to.

What helped keep me focused is my belief that everyone should be a good teammate on and off the court. I had a lot of time off the court during sophomore year, when I switched from a starting hitter to a backup setter behind one of our seniors. I actually learned a lot from being on the bench, including overcoming the mental challenge of not starting. I have drawn on that experience throughout the pandemic: Work hard and give it your all no matter what.

Christian Rubio

Associate Professor and Chair, Modern Languages Director, Honors Program

When the pandemic caused a campus shutdown last March, the first thing that came to mind was how to make the situation less stressful for students. In the Spanish course I teach, I reframed projects and assignments to accommodate remote learning. The goal was to help students stay on track and avoid a decline in their grade simply because we changed modalities from in-person to virtual.

During the summer we had more time to plan. The Honors Council brainstormed ways to engage students, including a special summer issue of the Honors Program newsletter and virtual events like bingo night. We designed a welcome kit that included a face mask. When students got to campus, I was impressed by how they followed COVID protocol; they were grateful to be here.

In the fall, I felt comfortable coming to campus because of safety features like COVID testing, plexiglass and socially distanced seating. I chose to do hybrid teaching to give students an opportunity to be in the classroom and also to support my teaching style: I’m loud, I laugh at myself, I jump around. This helps put students at ease, which is particularly important during such uncertain times.

To help students gain perspective, I developed an assignment about the effects of the pandemic on Latin America. A lack of reliable internet destroyed their economy, whereas the U.S. had many more resources to operate remotely.

I have also tried to teach students that everything — good or bad — has to end. When I was 15 years old, my family emigrated to New York from Peru to leave the deteriorating economy and the violence caused by the Shining Path terrorist group. We had lost everything, yet now we had an opportunity to build a new life. That changed my outlook. I believe that with hard work and flexibility, things can always get better.

Molly Lyons ’20 Staff Accountant, Rakuten Americas

I was ecstatic when I got a full-time job offer in February of senior year. I thought I had everything figured out: I’d start the job on the Monday following graduation.

Two weeks before my official start date, I got an email from the employer; they wanted to discuss the job offer. I knew this conversation had to happen. The company had shut down during the pandemic and I hadn’t heard much since then. I got the bad news of the rescinded job offer on the day of my last final.

I had a little pity party, but not for long. I recognized that the fallout from the pandemic was a reality not only for me, but for so many other people — some who were let go from longtime jobs. I emailed my Bentley career coach to help reorient myself to the job market. She helped me tweak my résumé and encouraged me to keep applying to jobs that interested me.

LinkedIn was a great resource, and by late May I had interviewed for several jobs. What resonated with me during the interview with Rakuten Americas was that in addition to formal questions, they asked how I was staying motivated, safe and engaged during the pandemic. They cared. I accepted a staff accountant job, and the culture hasn’t let me down. We have a team huddle every morning before we start the workday. We share recipes and funny stories. I feel included.

In Japanese, Rakuten stands for optimism. I’m grateful that I chose early in life to live by a philosophy to make the most out of the opportunities that are presented to you. At the end of the day, you have to be the person who acts on them. Things don’t happen on their own.

Kathryn Burgner Fitzgerald ’13

Agile Program Manager, Waters Corporation

In fall 2019, I was dissatisfied in my position at the time and started working with a career coach to help define the career and life I was seeking. I planned to save up and take a brief leave of absence from the workforce to recharge and figure out next steps.

Months later, the pandemic hit and I realized my “sabbatical” would need to look different. I had wanted to travel, volunteer and conduct plenty of in-person networking and interviewing. Instead, I ended up learning to garden and virtually reconnecting with people.

I turned to my many mentors, family and friends for advice. I also connected with Bentley’s Fast Track alumni group, which I consider part education, part accountability — think “gym buddy” — and part support group. Their Get Started guide helped me break steps into small pieces and provided points to track progress. This was helpful because I was struggling to stay motivated and accountable.

On several occasions I was extremely close to a job offer, only to be told on the last step that they’d decided to go with an internal candidate. But I tried to find the positives and lessons in each experience. I also kept an open mind to various types of roles and industries. I landed my role at Waters Corporation in October 2020 through an external recruiting agency.

My biggest aha moment during the pandemic is that, while it is important to learn from the past and plan for the future, the most important thing is to focus on the present. Doing that has helped me find joy in what is a very uncertain, trying time. Health and time are not guaranteed; all we have is right now, so we have to make it count.

Salvatore “Sal” Stile ’92 and Damien Stile ’96

Co-founders and respective president and COO, Alba Wheels Up; Creators, Salvatore J. Stile ’92

Professional Sales Competition at Bentley

When the full effect of COVID hit last March, imports into the United States drastically declined. But because we are visionary specialists in what we do — international shipping and customs clearance — Alba Wheels Up was able to do a pivot.

Business decreased in many of our core areas and in verticals like apparel and retail. But there was a strong need for expertise in U.S. Customs and FDA rules and regulations, in order to move PPE [personal protective equipment] such as masks, gloves and hand sanitizer. Alba became one of the largest facilitators of PPE to hospitals and government agencies.

Our ability to navigate the pandemic goes back to having prepared for it back in December 2019 and early 2020, when we noticed businesses in China shutting down. We prepared for our staff to go remote and ensured the proper IT infrastructure as if we would be shut down — even though we are considered essential services.

It’s in our DNA to run the company by planning for worst-case scenarios. That goes back to our somewhat humble upbringing and not taking much for granted: Health and wealth are on loan to you. This rang true when our father died from COVID in April 2020. You never know what life is going to bring, but you have to be as resilient as possible and try to get through it. Our father loved business, loved seeing his sons excel in business.

It was a bittersweet moment: We had just suffered a tragic loss, but our business was flourishing and we were able to save lives by bringing PPE to the United States.

Being passionate about our work and creating value, we recently decided to sell an interest in the business. COVID has taught us that timing is a lot in life. Alba is on a strong uptick to grow. With the backing of private equity and a tremendous amount of resources to make the transition, we’ll be able to double or triple the company in a short time span. Alba is very healthy and profitable, but we want to see it have even greater impact on a business and social level.

Added Value

Added Value

You may remember that professor. The one who coached you through a tough assignment. Pointed you toward a new interest. Inspired you out of your comfort zone. For many alumni, the impact continues well after graduation. And in a special few cases, that professor becomes a friend and colleague.

By Jennifer Skuce Spira

Return on Investment

At the edge of the vast Huron National Forest on Michigan’s Lower Peninsula lies the town of Mio, home to fewer than 2,000 people and a solitary traffic light on its lone main street, the M-33. Laura Jackson Young ’10 grew up there, in a house of educators: Dad Jay taught at Mio AuSable Middle School, mom Sheri in the local preschool.

But it took some inspiration further from home for the alumna to imagine an academic career for herself.

“I learned that I enjoyed working with students, and that I was good at it,” she says of tutoring fellow undergraduates in the Economics-Finance lab at Bentley. She also served as a research assistant to Professor of Global Studies Jeff Gulati. “It helped me figure out that I didn’t want an investment banking path.”

Fast forward to 2021. The now-assistant professor teaches courses in monetary theory and macroeconomics, among others. And, with Professor of Economics Dave Gulley, she coaches the student team that Bentley fields for the annual Fed Challenge. The national competition invites students to analyze economic and financial conditions, and then present a monetary policy recommendation to a panel of Federal Reserve employees.

“It’s been cool to partner with Dave,” reports Jackson Young, herself a competitor in 2009. “As a student you feel the pressure to get ready and learn, but as faculty we get to quiz them and push them to learn new things. It’s fun to be on this side.”

Gulley founded the team back in 2007 with faculty colleague Aaron Jackson (no relation to the alumna), who is now associate dean of business. They stay in touch, via biweekly emails, with a long roster of past competitors.

“We joke with students that once they’re in the Fed Challenge, they are in it for life,” says Gulley. That steady outreach (typically, finance-focused Wall Street Journal articles and colorful team updates) helped bring Jackson Young back to campus after completing her PhD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The 2020 Fed Challenge season was virtual, from prep through competition. Bentley’s team reached the national semifinals before losing to eventual champion Dartmouth College.

“I get excited, but Dave can’t watch them compete,” Jackson Young says with a smile. “The nerves get to him.”

The alumna, like her former professors, forges bonds with students outside the classroom. Women in Economics at Bentley (WEB) is a two-year-old network she created to mentor female students. They gain a role model in a male-dominated field, along with advice on course selection and help with job applications. “I’ve gotten a lot of nice relationships out of it,” says Jackson Young. “Students are emailing me after graduation, or coming back to campus to visit.”

That return on investment was even greater this year: She just earned tenure, which called for celebrating with her husband, Eric Young ’09 and their 18-month-old son, Julian. They are surely applauding back home in Mio, too.

Laura Jackson Young ’10 and faculty mentors Aaron Jackson (l.) and David Gulley

A Case for Partnership

It was December 2013 and emotions were running high at the Eastern Regional Moot Court Tournament. Will Manning ’14 and Gianni Crameri ’13 had advanced to day two of the competition, in which undergraduate student teams argue constitutional cases before a panel of lawyers and judges. The duo’s arguments about 14th Amendment affirmative action programs and First Amendment speech rights had earned them the top seed.

“Right before the final round, Gianni told me that he might throw up,” recalls Manning. “I told him we had exceeded my best expectations, so if he had to vomit in the middle of his argument, it would only make it more memorable.”

Manning’s idiosyncratic humor and oratory skills are treasured to this day by Franklyn Salimbene, senior lecturer in Law and long-time adviser to the Moot Court team. In fact, he tapped the alumnus five years ago to help coach Bentley’s nationally ranked squad.

“I really enjoy the material, the element of competition, and the close nature of the group each year,” says Manning, a self-avowed extrovert who loves a good argument. “It’s rewarding to see students grow and compete toward their goals. I feel like a proud parent.”

He and Salimbene conduct Moot Court business largely by email, text and phone. But in-person get-togethers — say, dinner in the North End — have made the partnership a friendship. With beverages close at hand (craft beer for Manning, a Manhattan for Salimbene) they cover current events: Manning’s work as principal solutions engineer for Eze Software in the Boston Seaport and his 2020 engagement, Salimbene’s trips to London and mountain climbs with his grandnephew. Fellowship with former students is a welcome windfall for the professor, who started his career as a personal injury lawyer, but left practice after seven years.

“It was just too combative,” explains Salimbene, who holds a JD from Suffolk University and an LLM from the London School of Economics. “It wasn’t good for my soul.”

Teaching came next, and naturally. In 2001, he won the Innovation in Teaching Award for developing the Moot Court course that would introduce him to Manning — a Managerial Economics major with strong interest in law.

Astute as he was, Manning did need some guidance. For example, when he wore mismatched brown slacks and a tan sport coat to the regional competition.

“I said, ‘You’ve got to dress the part,’” says Salimbene, an impeccable dresser himself. “So, for the national finals, Will bought a navy pinstripe suit with a vest. We still laugh about it.”

Manning appreciates the sartorial candor — “it wasn’t stylish” — and collegiality.

“Franklyn is the reason I volunteer,” he says. “I’m sticking around as long as he’ll have me.”

Senior Lecturer in Law Franklyn

Salimbene and Will Manning ’14 coach Bentley’s Moot Court team

It’s rewarding to see students grow and compete toward their goals.

Balancing Act

On a chilly Monday afternoon in December, Isaura Beltre ’01, MSIAM ’02 is vigorously multitasking. There’s a cellphone interview to finish, a consulting client to visit and a charitable donation to drop at Girls Inc. — all before heading home to Lynn and her fiancé and their four boys. Bentley’s fall trimester has ended, so for the moment, the lecturer in Marketing can set that job aside.

“It’s called trying to manage your calendar, which I’m about 80% good at,” Beltre says with a laugh.

Fall 2020 was her first term as a full-time faculty member. The many courses she teaches include one inherited from her much-admired graduate program adviser: Professor of Marketing Abdi Eshghi.

“We became close during a four-week graduate school tour of Eastern Europe,” she remembers. “I worked full time while doing the program, and he helped guide me through.”

A return to Bentley wasn’t part of her initial plan. After graduation, Beltre rose through the buying program at Filene’s to eventually become vice president of merchandising, Northeast, for Macy’s. She loved the job, and was good at it.

Her success inspired an invitation from Adjunct Lecturer in Marketing Mike Tesler. Would she be a guest speaker in his Retailing course?

“I want students to get many points of view, even if they contradict my own,” explains Tesler, an entrepreneur who built and ran the clothing chain Gatepost for two decades before joining the faculty in 1994. “I want a discussion in class, and for students to be critical thinkers.”

Beltre’s topics that day included her career since graduation, the state of retail and the many options beyond sales and advertising that are available to marketing grads.

“The reaction from students was amazing. Mike said I should think about teaching, but I wasn’t sure. I thought I might teach later on, in my 50s, but not quite yet.”

“Yet” came sooner than expected, when Macy’s restructured in 2016. Beltre’s reworked responsibilities required a move to New York City, but she rejected the relocation for her family. It was time to pivot.

She looked to a curated Bentley crew for career guidance. Tesler lent his syllabi and assignments for inspiration. Professor of Marketing Susan Dobscha dispensed work-life counsel over coffee. Administrator and diversity champion Earl Avery offered access to a PhD-level class focused on how to teach.

“One of the things I admire most about Isa is that she’s not all about the money,” says Tesler. “She’s chasing what she’s good at, and where she can help others.”

Toward that end, Beltre counsels small Boston retailers through her side hustle, Plush Consultants, and lends her myriad talents to charity. She is a board member for KodeConnect, a STEM-focused program for inner-city youth, founded by Eval Silvera ’99; serves as merchandise director for ADCOLOR, founded by Bentley trustee Tiffany R. Warren ’97 to champion diversity and inclusion in creative industries; and volunteers with Girls Inc., an afterschool program that gifted her a scholarship to Bentley more than 20 years ago.

And if commitments like these keep Beltre multitasking for years to come? So be it, she says. “I love the students and what I do.”

Guest-lecturer-turned-faculty-member Isaura Beltre ’01, MSIAM ’02 and mentor Mike Tesler

The reaction from students was amazing. Mike said I should think about teaching, but I wasn’t sure.

PHOTOS BY KEVIN MAGUIRE AND BRIAN SMITH

The PROfile

LISA RAICHE, MST ’05 has made it her business to help women succeed. She co-founded wiseHer to connect women looking to grow their companies or careers with experts across a number of disciplines. The alumna’s own path offers plenty of guidance and inspiration

By Deblina Chakraborty

PHOTO BY JOEAHEAD/SHUTTTERSTOCK

Photo by Allana Taranto

Experience

GUT-LISTENER-IN-CHIEF

Raiche worked in corporate finance for more than a decade, with a single goal. “I wanted to be the CFO. From a training perspective, that’s what I was moving my career toward.” Things changed about five years ago. She turned 40 and revisited her priorities. People all around her seemed to be leaving full-time gigs to start ventures of their own. Then Raiche was passed over for an opportunity she thought she was a shoe-in for. But the real push to make a career on her own terms came

from within. Her advice to others: “Listen to your gut. My mom said that for years. Now I get it.”

DIRECTOR OF CONFIDENCE

A month after that epiphany, Raiche left corporate America and started her own CPA firm. Bodhi Business Advisors helps small businesses become more profitable by offering high-level, CFO-style advising on top of more routine bookkeeping and tax services. She admits that the leap to business owner is not one she could have taken earlier. “Confidence is a big issue

2015-present

2017- present

for women,” she says. “Twenty years ago, I was afraid of my own shadow.” For Raiche, confidence came with age, experience and overcoming personal hurdles over time. But she urges

women to recognize that, whatever their own challenges — particularly the self-doubt of “imposter syndrome”

— they are in good company.

they belong there. Use adversity as a stepping-stone to the next place you need to get.”

Raiche puts a lot into supporting clients. “These entrepreneurs are usually working by themselves; they don’t have the management team right there,” she explains. “I provide that sounding board.”

“If you walk into that networking event, I can guarantee you that 75 to 80% of those women don’t feel like

SELF-PRIORITIZATION MANAGER

But that level of commitment came at a cost. “I was busy all the time, but certain things I wanted to get done weren’t getting done.”

Education

Now, she dedicates every Friday to her own company — no client-related work allowed. As Raiche puts it:

“You will not get ahead with your business unless you absolutely put time into working on your business.”

FOREVER UNIVERSITY

Too often, Raiche says, women don’t go for great opportunities because they haven’t mastered a certain skill or had a particular experience.

2019-present

Graduation date: Never

“If a job description isn’t an exact match for your résumé, that doesn’t mean you’re not qualified for it.

You just might need a couple more skills.”

Affiliations

In addition to credentials such as the master’s degree that Raiche earned at Bentley, she urges women to consider

less formal routes to learning. Books, videos and mentoring platforms like wiseHer are other options. “It can be

something as simple as reading a couple pages a day.”

CIRCLE OF TRUST

“Women typically don’t ask for help,” Raiche says. “But if you’re running a business, you absolutely need help.”

In particular, she suggests creating a group of fellow business owners or other professionals to act as accountability partners — people to help track progress toward your long- and short-term goals. They don’t have to be in the

going to work on X, Y, Z this month. Did you?’”

NETWORK FOR LIFE

same field. And if you can’t find a group, even one other person will do. Raiche checks in with her accountability partner twice a month. “It’s helpful to have someone to say, ‘You were

Raiche favors a style of networking that can start as early as high school or college. Identify a handful of

people to build relationships with, she advises. “Keep light touches with them here and there. Now, with

social media, you have that opportunity.”

If you’ve nurtured these connections all along, they become a core network you can consult when pursuing an opportunity. “It’s like a team you can always go to.”

“ I do” in the Year of Social Distancing … The promise “for better, for worse” took on new meaning for couples who married during the pandemic. Jasmin Sultana ’09 of Paris and Jonathan Rousselle said their vows on October 3, 2020, in the French region of Picardie.

CLASS NO T ES

1955

Stanley Hodges, Wellesley, Mass., celebrated his 100th birthday on January 12, 2021.

1980

Joel G. Cohen, Esq., Bedminster, N.J., served as the president of the Somerset County (N.J.) Bar Association for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

1983

In June 2020, Alan Sobel, Rockaway, N.J., was appointed president of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants.

1985

Holly (Raymond) Gagnon Aydar, P ’20, Buffalo, N.Y., is senior strategic adviser for Spectrum Gaming Group, leading its strategic planning initiative. The gaming industry veteran also serves as a distinguished fellow at the University of Nevada Las Vegas International Gaming Institute. She has held senior leadership positions in finance, IT and operations, working for major gaming operators that include Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International, as well as four Native American-owned operations. The alumna reports: “I’m actively promoting women and leadership, through my involvement with Global Gaming Women and with the Committee for Economic Development’s Women and Leadership Committee.”

1986

35th Reunion

Jim Pate, Saco, Maine, was featured in “‘How do you deal with that pain?’: Funeral directors in uncharted territory during pandemic,” which appeared in the Lewiston Sun Times and the Portland Press Herald. In the article, Pate talks about the struggle to help families find a way to mourn their losses in the time of COVID-19 and how that is taking an emotional toll on funeral directors and the communities they serve. The alumnus is the longtime funeral director at Dennett, Craig and Pate Funeral Home in Saco.

1992

Jennifer Greene, MBA, Winchester, Mass., has joined SV Design as a project manager for the Beverlybased company’s interiors team.

Sean Quigley and Mandy Weatherby tied the knot on May 16, 2020, in Canton, Ga. The couple is living in Ball Ground, Ga.

1993

After feeling hopeless at the hands of the pandemic, Chris Maxwell, MBA ’98, West Palm Beach, Fla., took a five-month road trip west, across the country. The journey was a proving ground for his brainchild, OfficeToGo. The product, which Maxwell developed, is a mobile “tiny office” that supports remote work and learning. It can be parked in a driveway or used on the go. He reports that the trip was “nothing short of amazing” and invites fellow Falcons to learn more: http://ojala.com/ initiatives/officetogo.

1997

Amy McCorkell married Wesley Thomas on October 10, 2020. “Our planned wedding was canceled due to COVID-19,” writes the alumna, “so we decided to stick with our original date and got married in our backyard.” The couple lives in Valley Lee, Md.

Tiffany R. Warren, Bronx, N.Y., is now executive vice president and chief diversity & inclusion officer for Sony Music Group.

1999

Marshall-Ben Tisdale, Groton, Mass., has served as an Edward Jones financial adviser in Westford for the past 16 years. In January 2021, he was named a principal with the firm’s holding company, The Jones Financial Companies LLLP. Tisdale was one of 161 individuals tapped for the role, from among 50,000plus associates across the United States and Canada.

2000

Guilda Hilaire, Dedham, Mass., was selected to serve on the ANA Email Experience Council (EEC) Board, which is composed of leaders in the email marketing community who share best practices and set the strategic direction for their peers. Hilaire writes, “I was selected based on my leadership, peer recommendations, contributions to the industry and extensive experience in the email marketing industry.”

Bill McGoldrick, MBA, Norfolk, Mass., orchestrated a virtual performance by 14 of Boston’s best musicians. The guitarists, keyboardists, drummers and other artists covered “People Got to be Free” by the Rascals. Says the alumnus: “People need to be singing now, more

(2000, continued)

than ever — and music is needed now, more than ever.” Listen at bentley.edu/ got-to-be-free.

Angela Nuss, Braintree, Mass., has earned the Distinguished Toastmaster award, the highest honor that Toastmasters International bestows. It recognizes a superior level of achievement in communication and leadership. Nuss is director of special projects at Jay Nuss Realty Group.

2001

20th Reunion

Brad Champion, Westwood, Mass., of The Bulfinch Group has been designated a Five Star Wealth Manager. The annual honor goes to financial managers identified through data from industry peers and firms. The research includes a survey of more than 3,000 registered financial services professionals and all local financial service companies registered with FINRA or the SEC.

Joelle (Cannon) Denham, Wakefield, Mass., has been named CFO at commercial real estate firm Bulfinch. She will oversee financial operations for the Bostonbased company, managing over $2.5 billion in real estate assets.

2002

In 2020, Shant Banosian, Belmont, Mass., became one of the first mortgage originators ever to fund $1 billion in a single year. He was the No. 1 mortgage originator in the United States for both 2018 and 2019.

Elizabeth A. (Alberti) DeBassio, MSFP, MSPFP, West Hartford, Conn., was named a Five Star Wealth Manager for 2020. The organization Five Star Professional and Connecticut Magazine collaborate on the awards program, which recognizes wealth managers in more than 45 markets throughout the United States and Canada. DeBassio is a managing adviser at Connecticut Wealth Management LLC.

In October 2019, MJ DiBerardino, Newington, Conn., was promoted to CEO at Cloudnexa Inc.

Michelle (Holzman) Fraioli, Norwood, Mass., was named vice president and COO of Acadia Management Company in Boston.

2004

May Lim, MSIAM, Hong Kong, China, has published her first book, set in that city and titled No Reserves.

“Within a few days, it rose to 61 on Amazon’s Top 100 Asian American Literature list,” reports the alumna, who describes the work as “deliciously colorful ‘chick lit’ about the jewelry auction industry.” Its heroine works for the world’s most prestigious auction house and must answer a perennial question: Can you achieve career success without losing too much of yourself in the process?” Lim is a jewelry specialist whose résumé includes posts at Christie’s and Bonhams.

Joseph Mondillo, Scarsdale, N.Y., joined AAON in November 2020 as director of investor relations. The company is a leading manufacturer of heating and cooling products.

2005

Melissa Nazar and Scott Chandler ’09, MSF ’10 tied the knot on July 11, 2020, at Christopher Columbus Park in Boston, Mass. The two had planned a wedding in Killington, Vt., with 150-plus guests, but pivoted to host a 15-person event in the city. Fellow Falcons who joined their special day included Jenny Ehalt and Shaun DeLong ’08. The happy couple is living in Dorchester, Mass.

Amanda R. Phillips, Wayland, Mass., is a partner in the Business Litigation Group at Robinson + Cole, working out of the firm’s Boston office. The alumna is a CPA and experienced commercial litigator with a background in accounting, technology and business.

2006

15th Reunion

Nahomi (St. Fort) Carlisle, Billerica, Mass., was appointed chief equity and compliance officer for Bunker Hill Community College.

Ross Kukish , Peterborough, N.H., has been a business partner with Greeley Farms Landscaping LLC for nine years. “Our company is celebrating its 15th anniversary and we would like to share this milestone with everyone we know!” writes the alumnus, noting that the firm serves more than 350 customers in the state’s Monadnock region and beyond. Visit greeleyfarms.com to see their work.

2007

Meghan (Bouchard) Agnew, Sturbridge, Mass., was named among 25 Emerging Leaders for 2020, in an annual list compiled by Modern Healthcare. Honorees are age 40 or under

who have made significant contributions in the areas of innovation and financial, operational and clinical excellence. Agnew is the interim chief financial officer (CFO) and associate CFO for Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Blake Reynolds, Attleboro, Mass., was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Young Leaders group of the nonprofit CoreNet Global. The organization, which represents more than 11,000 executives in 50 countries, works to advance the practice of corporate real estate, through professional development opportunities, research, conferences, networking and more. Reynolds is office operations manager for tech company Zerto, with responsibility for its offices in the Americas; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and the Asia-Pacific-Japan region.

2008

Liza Connolly and Tyler Heishman, Weston, Conn., are proud parents of twins. Daughter Dylan and son Leo were born September 17, 2020, joining 2-year-old Lucy.

Chris Ronzio, Scottsdale, Ariz., was named a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 Mountain Desert Region Award by Ernst & Young LLP. Criteria for the honor included overcoming adversity; financial performance; societal impact and commitment to building a values-based company; innovation; and talent management. Ronzio is founder and CEO of Trainual, an all-in-one training and knowledge platform.

2009

Scott Chandler, MSF ’10 and Melissa Nazar ’05 tied the knot on July 11, 2020, at Christopher Columbus Park in Boston, Mass. The two

had planned a wedding in Killington, Vt., with 150-plus guests, but pivoted to host a 15-person event in the city. Fellow Falcons who joined their special day included Jenny Ehalt ’05 and Shaun DeLong ’08. The happy couple is living in Dorchester, Mass.

Courtney (Somerville)

Rahamin, MSA ’10, Sagamore Beach, Mass., and husband Andy ’10 are proud parents of Ashton Jason, born April 30, 2020.

Samantha (Feinberg) Raynor, MBA ’10 and husband Jason, Guilderland, N.Y., welcomed baby boy Brooks on May 2, 2020.

Jasmin Sultana, Paris, France, married Jonathan Rousselle on October 3, 2020, in the French region of Picardie.

2010

Andy Rahamin and wife Courtney (Somerville) ’09, MSA, Sagamore Beach, Mass., are proud parents of Ashton Jason, born April 30, 2020.

2011

FOLD

10th Reunion

Nicholas and Lauren (Paglierani) Aquino, MST ’13, Watertown, Mass., welcomed their second son, Joseph Vincent, on May 9, 2020. He joins brother William.

2013

FOLD

Kathryn Burgner married Sean Fitzgerald at their home in Westford, Mass., on October 24, 2020. The couple celebrated with family only, due to COVID-19 guidelines. A reception with fellow Falcons is in the works for next year.

SPOTL IGHT: TAILORING BY ALGORITHM

BY MARY K. PRATT

The objective: to perfectly fit clothing to each client, regardless of its brand, style or size — and to provide that service in a convenient, contactless and fun fashion.

May’d Fit customers upload two photos of themselves and fill out a one-time, multiple-choice fit questionnaire. The company uses proprietary algorithms to generate more than 50 unique body measurements; these help tailors to nip and tuck the clothing that customers mail in. Returned items are 100% customized to the client’s size, shape and fit preference.

Mohan and Qiu say they are updating an antiquated industry. That objective is right on trend with the business world’s focus on digital transformation. They also aim to transform how women think about clothing — and themselves.

“Tailoring is not a luxury but a necessity,” explains Mohan. “It offers women the opportunity to take advantage of our unique shapes and to feel comfortable and confident in our bodies.”

Both women bring professional and personal experiences to the venture.

Mohan, who holds an MBA and JD in addition to her Bentley degree, worked as a law firm associate before becoming an entrepreneur. Her first company, Nail’d It, is a Boston-based booking platform

for nail services. Mohan also draws on insights from her father’s family business: making suits and other professional apparel for men. She saw the confidence that made-to-fit clothing bestows on its wearers.

Qiu worked in commercial real estate as a director and retail advisory associate, before moving full time to May’d Fit. She remembers her mother hemming her clothes as a kid. “It was like magic. I felt so much better because my clothes went from doing my body a disservice to fitting perfectly.”

The Alpha Phi sorority sisters launched in beta mode in 2020, having built their business model and the technology before the pandemic hit. They have used the intervening time to refine their processes, while also pivoting to sell face masks to help communities in need; 20% of sales benefit the nonprofit Loveland Foundation, which supports communities of color. Looking ahead, they envision partnering with retailers so shoppers can send new purchases straight to May’d Fit for tailoring. Mohan and Qiu are gearing up for a 2021 launch as the economy reopens, believing their service is on point as the world sheds its sweatpants for a wardrobe upgrade.

Says Qiu: “The ethos of our brand is women’s empowerment, and feeling good and comfortable in our bodies and in our clothes.”

Monica Mohan ’11 and Wendy Qiu ’12 are giving the alterations industry a makeover, with the launch of their internet tailoring platform, May’d Fit.

May’d Fit partners Wendy Qiu ’12 (l.) and Monica Mohan ’11

SPOTLIGHT: CHOCOLATE WITH A CONSCIENCE

BY MARY K. PRATT

Fatima-Zohra Hakam ’16, MBA ’18 believes in the power of chocolate.

The Morocco native, who as a child collected sweets in a drawer alongside her homemade cards describing their qualities, has started her own confectionery to make and sell fine chocolate — with social responsibility a key ingredient.

Launched in 2019, ZORA aims to educate as much as delight.

“Similar to wine and coffee, chocolate has many flavor notes and aromas,” says Hakam, who’s eager to introduce people to the wonders of fine chocolate. Moreover, she wants to draw attention to the cultivation of cocoa and those who grow it.

“A sustainability course at Bentley opened my eyes to the poor labor practices and working conditions at many cocoa farms,” says the former Marketing major, who is sourcing her chocolate from West Africa, which grows 70% of the world’s cocoa.

Like her appreciation for sweets, an entrepreneurial mindset dates back to childhood. As she puts it: “I always wanted to create something from nothing, something from scratch.”

After finishing her MBA, Hakam volunteered with the nonprofit Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute while crafting her business plan. She chose Ghana to supply ZORA ingredients and committed to sourcing from women, supporting economic empowerment programs, and adhering to fair-trade policies.

Hakam entered production development in early 2021, working with a French chocolatier on recipes and a U.S. bean-to-bar facility for manufacturing and production. Plans are to start offering chocolate this fall through the ZORA website and select retailers. A portion of proceeds from each sale will contribute to educating young girls in rural Ghana, as part of the company’s Women’s Economic Empowerment Program.

All of which means she can call ZORA “guilt-free chocolate” and know that it’s true.

(2013, continued)

Dennis Lagace, MSF ’14 and Olivia Prentiss ’16 were married on September 26, 2020, on Crane Beach in Ipswich, Mass. The couple shares: “Due to the pandemic, our Bentley representation was limited, but we hope to celebrate our first anniversary with family and friends based on our original plan.” The newlyweds reside in Essex, Mass.

Ashley (Osborne) Yantz, MSA, Boxford, Mass., is now a tax manager in the private client services group at Baker Newman Noyes.

2015 FOLD

Anthony Carter and wife Nathalie, Framingham, Mass., welcomed daughter Chloe in August 2020.

Abigail Davis and Lubomir Svetiev were married on December 18, 2020, at Church Landing in Meredith, N.H. The pandemic kept attendance at 25 guests, but Falcon representation was strong nonetheless. The 13 alumni included the bride’s mother, Sam (Rollins) Davis ’87, P ’15, ’17/’18, and sister, Julia Davis ’17, MST ’18.

2016

FOLD 5th Reunion

Olivia Prentiss and Dennis Lagace ’13, MSF ’14 were married on September 26, 2020, on Crane Beach in Ipswich, Mass. The couple shares: “Due to the pandemic, our Bentley representation was limited, but we hope to celebrate our first anniversary with family and friends based on our original plan.” The newlyweds reside in Essex, Mass.

2017 FOLD

Nicholas Dipoto, Somerville, Mass., has joined Crestwood Advisors, a boutique investment and wealth management firm with offices in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The alumnus is an operations specialist.

Dawn St. Angelo, MSA ’18 and Christopher Pawlowski exchanged vows on October 10, 2020, in Rhode Island, surrounded by their closest family members. They hope to celebrate with a larger contingent of family, friends and fellow Falcons on their one-year anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Pawlowski reside in Barrington, R.I., and will be honeymooning in the Hawaiian Islands.

2020 FOLD

Grant Buchanan, Holliston, Mass., created Film Friendzy, a social media app for movie watchers. His inspiration was the many movies he and friends found themselves watching during the pandemic lockdown.

Familiar Trail, New Direction

BY MARY K. PRATT

The family patriarch — John ’83 — proposed a deal: Enroll at Bentley and he’d cover the cost.

“I knew the level of academic rigor it has, the career counseling and the job placement it has,” says John, who at graduation would join accounting firm KMG in Boston, which would become KPMG. “I told J.D., ‘This is why you go there.’”

The advice echoed some that John himself received when scouting for colleges in 1970s. A friend of his father’s was a bank CFO with a degree from Bentley.

“He told me to get into accounting because it’s the language of business,” John remembers. “It was a good recommendation.”

J.D. admits that the field did not appeal to him early on. He studied marketing at the University of Colorado and worked in advertising for a year after graduating in 2017.

“I should have paid more attention to what my father was saying,” says J.D., who has since come around to seeing accounting as “the backbone of business.”

His talent for math and appreciation for the rules-based

nature of accounting also factored into J.D.’s decision. And as much as he appreciated his father’s financial offer, the university’s strong academic program and career services were final selling points.

The similarities between father and son don’t end with Bentley.

In September 2019, J.D. became an audit associate in the Boston office of KPMG; the firm had recruited him on campus, shortly after he started classes. (J.D.’s sister also works there.)

John was the first in his cohort to earn his CPA credential, and J.D., who received his CPA license in early 2021, was among the first in his KPMG class to do so.

Last year, the 60-year-old McPhee retired as a partner in the San Francisco office, after 37 years at KPMG in Audit and Deal Advisory. And while J.D. is just starting out, he shares his father’s faith in a Bentley education.

“Bentley is going to continue to pay dividends down the road — no matter what path I take in the future.”

Hiking with his father a few years ago, J.D. McPhee, MSA ’19, confided that he wasn’t satisfied in his marketing career and wanted to study accounting.

In Memoriam

1941

Howard “Michael” Spencer

1948

James Gillis

Bertrand Hamel

James J. McCue Jr.

Ralph Sabia

1949

Peter Demetros

Charles Interrante

1950

Felix Battista

Raymond Darsney

Harry Hammerquist

Arthur Jaehnig

Julian Krane

Theodore Wicks

1951

Ernest Ciampa, P ’87 ’98

Robert Hussey

Joseph M. Merlino, P ’87 ’91

1952

Newman Dorsey

Robert Price

1953

John Gerah

John Nille

John Reilly

1955

Richard Cooper

1956

John Billings

Robert Brault

Jon “Jack” Hines

David Knightly

Raymond Medbury

1957

Rene Bedard

Chester Carlson

Samuel Karlin

1958

Richard Barry

Kenneth Horne

Richard Roy

1959

Melvin “Mel” Levensohn

1960

Ann (Coy) Musto

George E. Thompson Jr.

Barrie Young

1961

James Cosseboom

A. Ledyard “Led” Smith Jr.

1962

William I. Monroe III

1963

David McGarr, P ’93

1964

Katherine (O’Keefe) O’Leary

1966

John Powderly

Gordon Simons

1967

Maria Busa

Barry Shaw, P ’94

1969

John Mahoney

Albert Riedlinger

Peter Semenza

Robert Whitelaw

1970

Wilbur Jackson

1975

James Ahearn

Richard Panico

Peter Pantazelos

Roger Shalhoub

1977

Michael Kutzer

1978

James P. O’Connell

1979

Stephen Tahmosh

1980

Harold G. “Hal” Jacklin Jr., MST

1981

Sophie Antonakos

Nancy (Ray) Heffernan

1983

Scott Corey-Dunbar

1985

Walter Meyer, MST

1986

Janet Bunnell

1988

Javier Semerene

1990

Bernard Kaufman, MST

1991

Jeffrey McNeil

1992

James Murphy

Peter Wilson

1998

Melanie Glover

R. Scott Martin, MBA

1999

Eric Emmanuele

2007

Nicholas Ouellette

Faculty, Staff and Friends

Andre Bell, Former vice president, Marketing, Communications and Enrollment

Dukas Contos, Former staff member, Food Services

David W. Holland, Former staff member

Philip T. Miller, Former football coach

Maureen Moroney, Former faculty member

John Seeger, Professor emeritus, Management

Marion I. Willis, Former faculty member and Bentley’s first fully tenured female professor

CLASS NOTES: A FORCE WITHIN THE FOLD

BY MOLLY M C KINNON

Since its launch in 2019, FOLD (Falcons of the Last Decade) has offered ways for young alumni to connect and network. Bentley’s Office of Alumni and Family Engagement recently invited three alumni to serve as the group’s board chairs, beginning in September 2020: Lakeya Graves ’11, Brian Kelleher ’14 and Elizabeth Sisson ’12.

We sat down with the trio to learn more about them and how they plan to enhance the alumni experience for their peers in the FOLD community.

What is your favorite part about volunteering for Bentley?

Liz: When you start volunteering you realize your interests have changed and you mature so you can connect with new people and reconnect with those you might have lost touch with.

Brian: As a volunteer, it’s nice to talk to people who are on campus. Where I am now is a huge testament to my experience and preparation at Bentley, and the ability for me to give back is in recognition of that.

What do you think makes a good leader?

Lakeya: Someone who knows how to connect and build relationships with others.

Liz: The best leaders are those who listen and try to empathize. By allowing other people to bring their lived experiences to the table, they can push and create progressive change.

As a FOLD board chair, what do you hope to bring to other members of this community?

Lakeya: I want to create a community of resources and people to talk to that will help you lift off once you leave Bentley with this great education.

Brian: I want to inspire young alumni to get involved in this community earlier in their alumni life by creating opportunities to do so.

What kinds of things would you encourage fellow alumni to reach out to you about?

Lakeya: I want to help fellow alumni find common ground with one another and hope to have them reach out to me to discuss a shared industry, location or background.

Liz: I took a nontraditional path after leaving Bentley and would love to talk with fellow alumni about career paths outside of business.

Brian: It would be great to hear from fellow alumni about new concepts or ideas and how FOLD programming could benefit them, especially when it comes to events.

Read the full interview and learn more about Lakeya, Brian and Liz at bentley.edu/news/force-within-fold

Elizabeth Sisson ’12

Lakeya Graves ’11

Brian Kelleher ’14

TOGETHER FALCONS

More ways than ever to connect

If this past year taught us anything, it’s that connections matter. The Office of Alumni and Family Engagement works year-round to create meaningful ways for all alumni to connect with each other and the university. As your Global Alumni Board chair, I urge you all to take advantage of the valuable and lifelong connections offered by our alma mater. In addition to the well-known Reunion and Falcon Weekends, we offer career services, informative webinars and lectures, and robust professional and social networks.

You name it. Bentley offers it.

This past year, as we all retreated to our home offices because of COVID-19, Bentley went straight to work creating a wide range of virtual programs, and more than 2,000 alumni, families and friends have joined the fun. Our enhanced virtual offerings have attracted many alumni who are not typically able to attend in-person events. We are thrilled to have engaged more alumni and will continue to expand our offerings.

We all look forward to face-to-face gatherings soon. But, based on your response to our virtual offerings, we will continue to create ways for you to engage online and in person, whichever way works best for you.

I encourage you to re-engage today!

Best,

Chuck Coppa ’85 Chair, Global Alumni Board

Your Global Alumni Board

The Global Alumni Board (GAB) is an advisory group that represents a wide range of Bentley graduates.

CHAIR: Chuck Coppa ’85, Massachusetts

VICE CHAIR: Lisa Hurley ’86, MSF ’93, Massachusetts

Cody Aguirre Clearwater ’08, Pennsylvania

Ken Foo ’99, MSF ’01, California

Joseph Hark ’14, MSA ’15, Massachusetts

Ayo Haynes ’90, MBA ’92, New York

Christos Kalogeropoulos, MBA ’91, Greece

Desiree Mieses Llavat ’91, MBA ’97, Puerto Rico

Danielle Parsons ’05, MST ’06, New York

Ney Omar Peralta Jr. ’10, New Jersey

Marcelo Sá ’01, Brazil

Keith Singletary ’96, New York

Bentley Mosaic Alumni Council Established

The social unrest of last year compelled all areas of the university to take stock. Many difficult conversations took place as the community came together to address racism and inclusiveness. Several alumni of color shared their opinion that the university has not done enough to engage them in meaningful ways after graduation. To address that, the Office of Alumni and Family Engagement has collaborated with many volunteers and created the Bentley Mosaic Alumni Council. The group will guide the development and execution of engagement opportunities for alumni of color. Special thanks to the alumni (pictured from left in each row, top to bottom) who have volunteered.

Ainsley Castro ’10

Isabelle Fang ’18

Lakeya Graves ’11

Charbel Hanna ’18

Katie Lampley ’96

Stephanie Hartford ’12

Shanell Mosley ’10

Christina Nash ’06

Ney Omar Peralta Jr. ’10

Brianna RakoskiCalvin ’15

Tiffany R. Warren ’97

Zhi Zhu ’05

Mark your calendar for May 17 to 21 and a virtual Reunion! Many events take place on different days and times, so you can join any or all of the festivities at your convenience. All alumni are invited to participate! Celebrating a milestone anniversary (graduation year ending in 0, 1, 5 or 6)? Get involved and help shape the events, or host a small virtual gathering of your own with our support!

DON’T MISS OUT DON’T MISS OUT

Make sure your email address is up to date with Bentley so that you receive weekly events listings, the monthly Bentley Brief newsletter, special invitations and other university news. bentley.edu/emailupdate

n Take part in virtual events such as discussions of timely issues and fitness classes

n Tune in to How I Made It, a podcast series featuring first-person stories of fellow alumni creating cool businesses and pushing boundaries

n Sign up for the Alumni and Family Book Club

n Attend workshops and networking events hosted by the Pulsifer Career Development Center

n Give back via a rewarding virtual volunteer opportunity

Weddings

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1. Kathryn Burgner ’13 and Sean Fitzgerald [Photo by Alisha Maria Photography]

2. Abigail Davis ’15 and Lubomir Svetiev ’15

3. Dawn St. Angelo ’17, MSA ’18 and Christopher Pawlowski ’17

4. Sean Quigley ’92 and Mandy Weatherby

5. Dennis Lagace ’13, MSF ’14 and Olivia Prentiss ’16

6. Melissa Nazar ’05 and Scott Chandler ’09, MSF ’10

7. Amy McCorkell ’97 and Wesley Thomas

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Your Bentley

Barry Arntz ’74, MBA ’84, Maynard, Mass., is the proud grandfather of 4-year-old Mara Leighton. He writes: “She’s wearing the practice jersey of C. White ’01, who gave the jersey to my daughter, Kyle. She kept it and we took this picture of Mara — a potential future Falcon and maybe point guard!”

Sarah Hasenauer ’14, Worthington, Ohio, said “yes” to Jonathan Whiston on October 24, 2020. She writes: “He surprised me at Churchill Downs!”

Pics!

Estee Dorfman ’95, Wilmington, Mass., got engaged to Benjamin Andrus on November 7, 2020. The alumna is a partner at Dorfman & Dorfman CPAs in Wilmington with her father Marvin H. Dorfman ’72, P ’95.

Her other venture — Dorfman FinOp Services — provides financial and operations principal services and consulting to U.S. broker-dealers.

Trevor Hiltz ’17 and Javier Monterrosa ’17, MSMA ’19, Allston, Mass., got engaged on July 26, 2020, at the Edgartown Lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard, during the Hiltz family’s annual trip to the island.

“I was the one who proposed and his family was there to witness everything!” writes Monterrosa, noting that they met as Bentley juniors, at an event for business fraternity DSP. “Trevor was a brother there and one of my close friends was, too, so I was invited to the event — and the rest is history!”

The two share a love for travel. Highlights include a 2017 trip to Los Angeles, where they met Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler during a taping of The Late Late Show with James Corden

1. Chloe, daughter of Anthony Carter ’15 and wife Nathalie

2. Ashton Jason, son of Courtney (Somerville) Rahamin ’09, MSA ’10 and husband Andy ’10

3. Brooks, son of Samantha (Feinberg) Raynor ’09, MBA ’10 and husband Jason ’09

4. Dylan and Leo, daughter and son twins of Liza Connolly ’08 and Tyler Heishman ’08, with sister Lucy

5. Joseph Vincent, son of Lauren (Paglierani) Aquino ’11, MST ’13 and husband Nicholas ’11

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BE A FORCE That Changes Their Lives

Your annual gift to the Bentley Fund ensures every student has the opportunity to follow in your footsteps.

Support Bentley students and their success today!

Make a gift at bentley.edu/give

EARLY-BIRD EXCITEMENT

Falcons-to-be took to Instagram in December and declared allegiance to their firstchoice college. Class of 2025 members admitted through the Early Decision program include (from upper left and sporting Bentley gear) Mozart Saint Cyr, Sophia Kaufman and Coop Caiozzo. At bottom right: Elizabeth Krmzian, whose family engineered a Flex-approved bedroom makeover. Finally, the bakery-owning family of Lyssa Calc was inspired to “say it with pepperoni.”