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Entrepreneur Gives Back to Manhattan Chris Kalian ’91 lives the dream of being a successful entrepreneur. He and his family transformed a storefront family printing business with profits of less than $300,000 dollars a year into Docuserve, an electronic data processing and document management company in White Plains, N.Y., that yields more than $10 million in annual revenues and boasts a staff of more than 60 full-time employees. He has decided to share his success with his alma mater by giving his time to attend the Westchester President’s Dialogue Dinner and by donating a cash gift, as well as a $100,000 life insurance policy with the College as beneficiary. “After researching some options, I found that donating a life insurance policy was a wonderful way for a younger alumnus to make a contribution now that will make an even more significant difference in the future,” Chris says. “On behalf of my family, I’m excited to know that the Kalian Family Scholarship Fund will be created one day and that it will benefit future Manhattan students.” In late 2002, Chris, with the help of his family, including his brother Dennis ’95, and fellow alumnus Rob Santelli ’90, reconfigured his family’s printing business to scan and process documents for law firms. The business grew to include court reporting, document management and staffing divisions. A strategic, private-equity-backed company acquired the business in August of 2005. Chris, Dennis and Rob stayed on with the new company as senior managers and helped their acquirer get bought out by an even larger, nationwide document management company, less than six months after Docuserve’s first sale. Before his involvement in the family business, Chris thought about going to law school after graduating from Manhattan. He did a stint in the legal services department of Ernst & Young but longed to be an entrepreneur. “I saw the overlap between my parents’ printing company and what I was doing,” Chris says. “The obvious next step was to join forces.” At Manhattan College, Chris got a taste of what running a business entails. Although more than a decade has passed since his time at Manhattan, Chris still has strong feelings for his alma mater. “Some of my fondest memories were of the times spent in and around Manhattan College,” he says. “It’s a place where hope is blended with opportunity. Besides the wonderful education, it was always a place that provided an opportunity to those who otherwise might not have had an opportunity.” Chris, his wife, Michelle, and their three boys (ages 5, 3 and 1) frequently attend basketball games at the College. “At any given game, you’ll hear one of my family members yelling from the rafters or cheering on our Jaspers,” he says. “In my opinion, going out to the games is a great way for alumni to stay connected to alma mater. We’ve made many friends over the years with alumni young and old.”
Chris Kalian ’91
The Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign has provided Chris with an opportunity to give back to the College and encourage others to do the same. “Unfortunately in life, we often try and wait until we are older or financially set to start thinking about giving back,” he says. “Rather than waiting until everything is perfect for us to start giving back, we should all make a conscious effort to do what we can today to make the world a better place.” And Manhattan College is thankful for Chris. “It’s wonderful when a young alumnus, such as Chris, can be so committed to Manhattan and so eloquent about his reasons,” says Michael McMorrow ’64, executive director of the Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign. “Chris is a remarkable young person, who exemplifies the Lasallian values we strive to impart to our students.” As for future plans, Chris and his team of Jasper friends and relatives have started a private investment group, Ridge Partners, in White Plains, N.Y., that buys, builds and sells successful, privately held businesses. Whatever the future brings for Chris, his strong education and business history will see him through.
Chicago Area Alumni Attend Campaign Reception
Chicago area alumni gathered for a special campaign reception in October. Pictured from left to right, front row, are Thomas Bechet ’74 (host), Ralph Young ’68, Cynthia McGowan ’86, Stephen Laruccia ’67 (Manhattan College), Michael Millin ’64 and Robert Coleman ’83; second row, Peter Targos ’93, Thomas O’Neill ’85 (host) and Paul Fedirka ’75.
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Advancing Manhattan