ALUMNI INSPIRATION DAY
May 24, 2021
Dear Friends, Building an Alumni Movement is one of five pillars that makes up Steward’s strategic plan. This pillar begins with the title, “Steward for Life.” This goal has become very familiar to our Alumni Engagement Office. In an effort to make Steward a “lifetime lifestyle,” the Alumni Engagement Team has worked diligently on various strategies and new initiatives that we hope will reconnect our alumni to the current Steward community and enable alumni to partner with Steward faculty/staff to advance the mission of preparing students for college and for life.
Today we are thrilled to host one of the most exciting programs to come from Steward’s Alumni Office yet: Steward’s first-ever Alumni Inspiration Day! We have invited 16 graduates with a diverse experiences, educational expertise, and careers to come back to campus to share their journeys post-Steward with our current senior class. Our graduating class will have the opportunity to see themselves in the stories of these special alumni, and they will surely benefit from the authentic perspectives of these accomplished individuals. Today is truly a day to celebrate Steward, as we reflect on the many accomplishments of our alumni and dream of what the future holds for the Class of 2021 after they graduate in a few short days.
Thank you to the many Steward faculty and staff members who have made this day possible. In particular, thank you to those who partnered with our alumni speakers to welcome them back and encourage them as they created dynamic, engaging presentations. Finally, a very special thank you to our alumni presenters for taking the time out of their busy schedules to serve Steward students in this way. What a display of how together, we are Spartan Strong!
Sincerely,
Dan Frank. Head of School
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Jenn and Robin, Alumni Engagement Team
May 24, 2021
SCHEDULE 11:15 a.m. - Keynote Address 11:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. - Lunch Break 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. - Breakout Session 1 1:05 - 1: 50 p.m. - Breakout Session 2 2:00 - 2:20 p.m. - Closing
Harry Baron '01 Account Sales Executive at cxLoyalty
Selecting the Job that's Right for You Faculty Partner: Melissa Freed Select the employment organization that matches the culture you desire! In this session we will discuss diversity and inclusion in the workplace, money management, and the crucial role that sales plays in our economy. Sales is not for everyone, but if you're looking for a challenge with great personal and financial reward, sales may be for you. After graduating in 2005 from the University of Alabama (witnessing zero championships in football), I began my career as a Management Trainee with the company, Cintas. After 12 years and many roles within the organization ranging from Sales Representative, Operations Manager and Sales Manager I decided to make a change and landed with the largest Human Resource Management company in the US, ADP. Today, I work for cxLoyalty (recently acquired by JP Morgan Chase) as a Sales Executive working with C-level executives from many companies listed in the fortune 50. I am a seasoned sales professional with multiple awards such as President's Club, Rookie of the year and Most Valuable Player in Mid-Atlantic sales region. I am married to Caitlin Baron '01 and have two daughters, Maddie and Layla.
Jimmy Benson '92 Associate Real Estate Broker at Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville
Real Estate and Sales: How to be a Problem Solver Faculty Partner: Chris Lundberg In this session you will learn the fundamental principles of discipline, consistency and hard work, and how they are instrumental to the Sales and Real Estate industries. I have almost 20 years of experience in the real estate business. I am a native to Richmond and I started my real estate career in 1993 (licensed my freshman year of college). I hold a degree in finance which has been a great help in counseling buyers and sellers on making good decisions regarding real estate. I have been successful in real estate sales year after year staying in the top 10% of all agents. I am married to an amazing wife, Jeni, we are high school sweethearts and have 5 children: (boy, girl, boy, girl, boy). We are very active in their schools, our church, and our community and cherish the opportunity to mold and raise our children.
Polly Cannella '08 Entrepreneur, Co-founder and CEO of lokii
Follow Your Passions Faculty Partner: John Alley The power of believing in yourself! Self-doubt can hinder creativity and prevent you from trying new and innovative career paths. By listening to your intuition and recognizing your own value, you can achieve amazing things. This session will focus on overcoming self-doubt and the journey to becoming an entrepreneur. I graduated from The Steward School in 2008. After Steward I attended DePaul University where I received a Bachelors Degree in Public Relations and Advertising. After my time at DePaul University, my work experience has included Account Executive - Shopper Marketing at Ogilvy, Photographer and Creative Director for Challenges Abroad, Advertising and Editorial Photographer for Polly Cannella Photo & Film, and presently I am the co-founder and CEO of lokii - the local shopping and same-day delivery app. I also have volunteer experience as I am the founder and past president of Autism Speaks U, DePaul University.
Max W. Cohen, '88 MD, FAAOS Founding Physician/President Greensboro Spine and Scoliosis Center
Innovator, Leader & Spinal Surgeon Faculty Partner: Laura Akesson A remarkable opportunity to hear from an innovator and leader in spinal care, known for his skill in the operating room and his compassion for patients. Dr. Cohen specializes in complex spinal disorders, including minimally invasive spine surgery and scoliosis in children and adults. I graduated from The Steward School in 1988. I am an honors graduate of the Medical College of Virginia. I served my residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where I was chief resident. Then, I completed a spine and scoliosis fellowship at Cornell University's prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery. I have practiced in Greensboro, NC since 2002. I founded Spine & Scoliosis Specialists in 2007 and serve as President.
Sarah Dickson '14 Account Executive at POLITICO Magazine | Washington DC
College, Connection, and Career Faculty Partner: Elizabeth Simpson Resist the urge to take the first job that comes your way! In this session you will discuss the importance of making connections throughout college and how it can help open up career opportunities. In this session you will also learn about opportunities such as studying abroad, taking unpaid internships, and the importance of fostering relationships with professors. My name is Sarah Dickson, and I'm proud to say I spent the majority of my life at Steward. I started out in Mrs. Strickland's Kindergarten class and ended up in Mrs. Simpson's AP Government class my senior year. I graduated from UVA in 2018, with a bachelors degree in Public Policy & Leadership and a minor in Foreign Affairs. I now work at the DC based media company, POLITICO, in Washington DC. In typical times, I love to travel whenever possible and visit my dad who still lives approximately 1 minute from Steward.
Madison Ellis Ellington '09 Entrepreneur, Owner of West End Academy of Dance
Becoming a Business Owner Faculty Partner: Beth Farmer-Smith This session will focus on a post-Steward journey from college to the corporate world, to small business owner, including important selfdiscoveries along the way. I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Steward in 2009. I attended UVA and graduated in 2013 with a BA in Spanish. After graduation, I worked at Markel Corporation for 5 years then switched careers completely in June of 2018 and am now the proud owner of West End Academy of Dance. I am married to Trey Ellington, and we have a sweet rescue dog named Leonard.
Mary Warden Good '07 Volunteer & Guest Services | Reinhart House, Bon Secours, St. Mary’s Hospital | Elisabeth Rigsby, M.Ed.| Guest Services Coordinator Make a Difference: Volunteer Faculty Partner: Leslie Kovach Co-presenter: Elisabeth Rigsby M.Ed., Reinhart Guest House As a volunteer at St. Mary's Hospital, I saw the Reinhart Guest House being built and knew the importance of its mission and how much it was needed. Prior to the 16 room guest house being built, the hospital had 4 small houses that could only accommodate a few families. I was so happy to join the team at the guest house and help families in their time of need. I graduated from Steward in 2007. My sophomore year I began volunteering at St. Mary’s Bon Secours Hospital for community service hours which turned into a love of helping people. In June 2016 I began working at The Evelyn D. Reinhart Guest House, whose mission is one with the Bon Secours Health System as far as bringing compassion to health care and to be good help to those in need. We provide supportive and comfortable accommodations to families. I am so glad I can continue helping people in that role and through volunteering as time allows.
Karole "Kara" Johnson '06 Digital Multi-Channel Marketing Manager at ViiV Healthcare
#Micromoments: Redefining Growth through Change Faculty Partner: Mary Greenlee Change is inevitable. In life, as in marketing, you have to dig through the constant change and capitalize on the moments that matter. In this session you will learn to become aware of the micromoments that can propel you forward, both personally and professionally. I am a 2006 graduate of The Steward School. After graduating from TSS, I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from High Point University and a Master of Science in Marketing and Communication from Franklin University. Professionally, I have 10 years of experience in Digital Marketing and currently serve as a Multi-Channel Marketing Manager at ViiV Healthcare in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. I also serve as Historian of the Theta Lambda Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Outside of work, I can be found traveling the world searching for my next favorite foods or catching an automotive race at tracks across the country.
Meg Robertson Jones '04 Licensed Dietician at Bon Secours
Dietician: Never give up! Faculty Partner: Kristen Householder The path to becoming a Registered Dietician in Virginia. I graduated from JMU in 2009 with a BS in Dietetics. From there, I worked as a dietetic technician at Mary Washington Hospital (MWH) in Fredericksburg, VA, to gain experience before completing my dietetic internship from the University of Delaware in 2014. Afterwards, I went on to work as a clinical dietician at MWH and its Regional Cancer Center until 2019, at which time I moved back to Richmond with my family. Since then, I have been working inpatient at St. Mary’s Hospital primarily covering the oncology and step-down critical care units. On a more personal note - I met my husband while attending JMU. Together we have 2 children: Piper (5) and RJ (2); and my mother, "Dr. Rob" was a former Middle School English teacher at Steward.
Michael Maszaros '99 Owner and Designer at Cabin Creek Interiors
Entrepreneur/Interior Design Faculty Partner and Co-presenter: Corbin Orgain '96 In this session, you will learn how Michael Maszaros, class of ‘99, became an interior designer. It’s a fascinating story because he originally wanted to be an eye doctor. Corbin Orgain, class of 96, and 6th grade math teacher to some of you, will also be there to share her experiences of interning with Mr. Maszaros! A Richmond native living in historic Petersburg and a graduate from the University of Virginia, I have been designing custom interiors since 2003. Enthusiastic and creative, I am always looking for the best solution to solve any decorating and design dilemma and especially love tackling challenging projects. My love for the arts and interiors has been with me throughout my life. “Good design is good design, and I enjoy almost any style or genre as long as it’s done well.”
Kelsey Mohring, '08, MBA Vice President at United Way of South Hampton Roads
Are you a People Person? Career in Marketing & Communications Faculty Partner: Gardner Mundy "I'm a people person." It's the classic answer to why someone chooses marketing or communications as a career, but this field is about so much more. It's learning how to connect, educate, persuade and inspire, no matter your passion or personality. In this session we'll discuss how a degree in communications can open a world of possibilities from political press secretary to ad agency executive and TV anchor to nonprofit VP. I have 10 years of experience in strategic marketing and communications, particularly for nonprofit, healthcare and higher education institutions. I am currently the Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility & Marketing at United Way of South Hampton Roads where I oversee all internal and external communications as well as special projects. There I help to lead the organization’s community response to the Virginia Beach mass shooting in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic. I began my career working for two full-service marketing and public relations agencies where I provided strategic counsel, content development, creative oversight, media relations, social media strategy and project management to clients like Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, the Mayo Clinic, Air New Zealand, Pure Canada Maple and Children’s Hospital of Richmond. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in Spanish, and I received my Master’s in Business Administration from Liberty University. I live in Norfolk with my dog Charlie Brown and enjoy playing volleyball, cooking and writing in my free time.
Liz Muldowney '90 Attorney at Sands Anderson PC
Same Beginnings, but Very Different Endings. Medicine vs. Law Faculty Partner: Shahwar Qureshi '90 Same beginnings, but very different endings. A discussion with twin sisters who started on the same path starting at Steward but ended up in very different roles: beginning as English majors and ending with professions in law and medicine, and the lessons learned along the way. I am a 1990 graduate of The Steward School. I went on to receive my BA in English Literature at Virginia Commonwealth University (1994), and my Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law (2000). My 20 year career as a lawyer began as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Winchester in 2001, thereafter being appointed to City Attorney in 2003. In 2006, I returned to Richmond to practice in the private sector in the area of medical malpractice defense and have continued in that career defending medical professionals in state and federal court, as well as vaccine injured petitioners in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
Leslie Muldowney Gallagher '90 Nurse Practitioner
Same Beginnings, but Very Different Endings. Medicine vs. Law Faculty Partner: Shahwar Qureshi '90 Same beginnings, but very different endings. A discussion with twin sisters who started on the same path starting at Steward but ended up in very different roles: beginning as English majors and ending with professions in law and medicine, and the lessons learned along the way. I am a 1990 graduate of The Steward School. I went on to receive my BA in English Literature at Virginia Tech (1994), and BS and MS in Nursing from VCU (1998 and 1999, respectively) through their accelerated second degree program. My 22 year career as a nurse practitioner started out in rural primary care, spanned 17 years of abdominal transplant surgery, and now focuses on medical management of patients with liver disease, as well as clinical research.
Corbin Orgain '96 6th Grade Math Teacher, Cabin Creek Interiors Intern and Life Long Learner
Entrepreneur/Interior Design Co-presenter: Michael Maszaros '99, Owner / Designer at Cabin Creek Interiors In this session, you will learn how Michael Maszaros, class of ‘99, became an interior designer. It’s a fascinating story because he originally wanted to be an eye doctor. I will also be there to share my experiences of interning with Mr. Maszaros! I am a current 6th grade Mathematics teacher at Steward School. I bleed blue and gold and am so excited to spend some time with some of my former students! I have a passion for design and entertaining; I spent the summer of 2019 interning with Michael Maszaros ‘99 at his design firm Cabin Creek Interiors. I can not wait to share with you my experience at Cabin Creek and why it is so important to be a lifelong learner.
Morgan Penberthy '13 Education Directorate at the American Psychology Association
How To Better Focus & Make Meaningful Connections Faculty Partner: Amy Cooper Have you ever wondered how to better focus your attention, make more meaningful relationships, and connect more deeply with what's important to you? Mindfulness is an incredible tool for achieving all of this and more, and anybody can reap its benefits. In this session you will learn about mindfulness and meditation, how to care for your own mental health, and how you can implement contemplative practices to narrow down your passions and achieve your dreams. I attended Wake Forest University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2017. I work for the American Psychological Association in Washington, DC, where I serve in the Education Directorate. I also teach yoga and meditation for people of all ages and backgrounds, including leading meditation retreats for teens. I recently co-authored my first book with my mother, Kim Penberthy, PhD, entitled Living Mindfully Across the Lifespan: An Intergenerational Guide.
Glenn Rhodes '11 Sales Manager at REGUS- IWG plc.
Transitions: Home to College & College to Employment Faculty Partner: Lee Healey You don't have to have all the answers on graduation day! In this session you will learn about a journey from home to college and from college to employment. Graduating from high school and making the transition to adult life can be a rewarding but daunting experience. By learning to understand yourself first you can help to set yourself up for a successful transition. My name is Glenn Rhodes and I'm a alum of the Steward School class of 2011 and Roanoke College class of 2015. I have a degree in Criminal Justice and currently reside in Richmond with my wife Mackenzie and daughter Ella. I'm currently a Sales Manager for Regus dealing in the sale and leasing of office space and business suites. I previously owned a specialty vehicle dealership and worked for Harley-Davidson out of college. I'm an avid hiker, musician, and Seattle Seahawks football fan.
Special Thanks! We couldn't have done it without you! Thank you, most especially, to our 16 alumni presenters, who gave up time out of their busy schedules to participate in Steward's first Alumni Inspiration Day. You are Spartans for Life! James Murray - but you may know him better as "Murr" from the hit TV show Impractical Jokers! He is also a writer, executive producer, actor, and uncle of Steward senior, Jack Morgan '21. James gave us the gift of his time and talent when he surprised the senior class by delivering today's hilarious and heartfelt keynote address. The Upper School faculty for the time they spent helping us plan the logistics for the day (in particular, during a year that required the consideration of many additional policies due to Covid-19). A special thank you to the 14 faculty and staff members who partnered with our alumni presenters as they planned their dynamic sessions and welcomed them back to campus. The Marketing Department for creating our "signature" logo, communicating & promoting the event details to our community, and for their help in capturing the event through photographs and writing. Erin Springfield for her assistance & dedication to this event by surveying our seniors, gathering and compiling information, creating class rosters and helping with technological needs and supplies for the day. Ryan Gallagher for his coordination of and help in Robins Theatre. Nan Semmelman for her assistance and careful attention to detail. Our alumni staff members who helped us greet and support their fellow alumni guests throughout the day. Siobhan Zuccaro for bringing the idea for this event to the Development Office several years ago. This couldn't have happened without you!
Dear Robin, Today is a milestone day in the life of The Steward School and its alumni community. As I reflect on everything you have done to bring this event to life, I am filled with one sentiment that I believe many share towards you - gratitude.
Robin, YOU are the reason why Alumni Inspiration Day is able to take place. From your time as the Director of Admissions, to your time as Steward’s first Alumni Engagement Coordinator, you have invested in hundreds of families and helped many individuals find their place to shine at Steward. Thank you for helping our alumni discover this special way that they can give back to Steward and its current students.
The planning required to make today possible has been extensive. You have handled the process with excellence – and you’ve done it all in a challenging year to plan an event.
Thank you for your commitment to serving the Steward community. Your contributions will last for years to come!
With gratitude,