WINTER 2019
THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF MEDAILLE COLLEGE
FROM MEDAILLE TO THE SABRES Rich Jureller ’96 Leads the Team’s Community Involvement Efforts
IN THIS ISSUE 4 Athletic Hall of Fame Honors Medaille Greats 6 Meet the Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
ON THE COVER
7 First Look: Medaille Sports Complex
Rich Jureller ’96 reflects on his journey to success with the Buffalo Sabres. Read on Page 13.
8 Medaille Athletics: Fall #HorsePower 9 50 Years of Memories: Throwback Photos 10 Dr. Donald E. Nowak, Jr. on the Problem of College Student Gambling 12 Experts in Their Fields: Recent Faculty News 13 Rich Jureller ’96 Reflects on His Journey to Success With the Sabres Plus, Sport Management Turns 25 16 Bridging the Generation Gap: A Conversation With Medaille Alums 20 A Thirst for Innovation Drives Dr. Jeffrey M. Shepard ’04 22 Latest #MedailleCongrats: Alumni Class Notes
STAY CONNECTED! Visit medaille.edu for more information about the programs, people and events at Medaille College. Sign up to receive e-news at medaille.edu/enews. Medaille’s monthly e-newsletter, “Points of Pride,” provides you with up-to-date information regarding upcoming events, campus news, and alumni discounts and benefits.
EVENTS
linkedin.com/companies/medaille-college linkedin.com/groups/100304
Feb. 11 Adult & Graduate Open House Feb. 21 Write Thing Reading Series: Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton
youtube.com/medaillebuffalo
March 5 Giving Day March 6 Mixer at Labatt Brew House April 3 Sport Management 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Lexus Club
twitter.com/medaillecollege
April 4 Write Thing Reading Series: Rachelle Toarmino April 6 Undergraduate Open House
instagram.com/medaillecollege
May 1 MavFest Carnival May 2 Prelude Publication Party and Community Open Mic
facebook.com/medaillecollege facebook.com/medaillealumni
May 17 Commencement at Kleinhans Music Hall June 6 MAVstravaganza at the Curtiss Hotel Events listed here are held at Medaille’s Buffalo campus, unless otherwise indicated. For event updates, visit medaille.edu/calendar.
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MAG A Z I N E Vice President for College Relations Managing Editor Contributing Editor Graphic Designer Director, Web & Creative Contributing Writers
John P. Crawford Patricia Jetty ’13 Christopher Schobert Katharyn Ketter-Franklin Hannah Taylor Jeff Bucki, Jana Eisenberg, Tara Erwin
Printed in Buffalo, NY by KELLERBROS. & MILLER | kbmprinting.com
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-19 Officers Michael K. Walsh Chair
Kenneth D. Trbovich ’99 Treasurer
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
PHOTO BY NANCY J. PARISI
Michael J. Moley ’07 Vice Chair
Howard K. Hitzel, Ph.D. Secretary Richard Schneider ’10, ’12* President Of The Alumni Association Board Michelle M. Kreib* Administrative Assistant William S. Cleary Kevin R. Connolly ’03 Nathan Daun-Barnett, Ph.D. David L. Edmunds, Jr. Horace A. Gioia, Esq. L. Nathan Hare ’82 Kenneth M. Macur, Ph.D. Martin G. Maynard James K. Morrell Darius G. Pridgen ’07 Jeffrey M. Shepard, Ph.D. ’04 Julie R. Snyder Dale Stephens ’99, ’06 Donald R. Tomasulo ’79 Gregory J. Urban Toni L. Vazquez ’02 *non-voting member ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018-19 Richard Schneider ’10, ’12 President Bryan Krempa ’00, ’06 Executive Vice President Leonard Hubbard ’09, ’12 Vice President Shawn Loos ’10, ’12 Parliamentarian Paul Dueringer ’04 Immediate Past President Brian Cleary ’15 Ashley Hirtzel ’12 Shannon Johnson ’04, ’11
As always, it is a great day to be a Maverick! I continue to be impressed by the amazing successes achieved by our Medaille College alumni. Check out some recent examples by searching #MedailleCongrats on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. And if you want to view what our current students are up to, go to medaille.meritpages.com. As the 2018-19 academic year marks the 50th anniversary of the College, I’m reminded of all of our recent reasons to celebrate our community. As we continue to offer cutting-edge and diverse academic programs in response to student demand, our freshmen class enrollment keeps trending upward. This fall, it was up close to 7 percent over the previous year, which saw 10 percent growth over the year before. In June 2018, we received a $143,000 Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant from the federal government, allowing us to reimburse students for qualifying child care expenses so that they can attend Medaille. We are grateful for this additional way we can accommodate students with families. In August, we received notice of an award of $300,000 from the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women to help us respond to issues related to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. While the Medaille campuses are safe, this grant will contribute to our ongoing efforts to make the College always feel safe. We’re building a new athletic complex! The first game on the new field at the Medaille Sports Complex is scheduled for March 3. See Page 7 for more. The College has developed an “Innovation Portfolio” of unique strategic partnerships. The goal is to find partners to help us expand the reach of Medaille College courses and programs nationwide. These include partners who will help us to build a regional network of high school dual credit programs, find industry groups with specialty certifications that we can weave into our graduate business programs, and create a platform for economically delivering continuing education credits for elementary and high school teachers. And we recently welcomed Toni Vazquez ’02, chief systems officer of Greater Buffalo United Allied Health Network, to our Board of Trustees. Just think — this is all from the first semester of our academic year. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Bethann Kibby ’06 Philip Splawski ’06 Dale Stephens ’99, ’06 Adriana Viverette ’12 **Updated January 2019 For a list of donors who made gifts during our 2017-18 fiscal year, please visit medaille.edu/donorroll.
Dr. Kenneth M. Macur, President Let’s stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn (KenMacur) and Twitter (@KenMacur).
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ENSHRINING MAVERICKS: AT H L E T I C H A L L O F FA M E H O N O R S T H E C O L L E G E ’ S F I N E S T
By Jeff Bucki Cooperstown, New York, is synonymous with the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Hockey Hall of Fame has a fitting home in Toronto. And the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has made Cleveland into a destination for music lovers worldwide. Remarkable achievements should be celebrated. That’s the underlying reason for any hall — Medaille College’s Athletic Hall of Fame now included. Established in September 2018, the Medaille Athletic Hall pays tribute to the thousands of talented student-athletes who have worn Maverick colors on the fields of play since the intercollegiate athletics program was introduced at the College in 1996. “After 23 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) regular season titles and 17 NCAA tournament teams, the timing seemed right to induct the inaugural class for our new Athletic Hall,” says Vice President for Student Development and Athletic Director Amy DeKay, M.S. ’95. Indeed, since joining the NCAA, Medaille has produced an enviable number of individual and team accomplishments. After so many years of success, you create a hall of fame. Simple, right? Yet establishing a brandnew, public-facing entity takes a great deal of work and preparation — not unlike the efforts of the players the College wanted to recognize. Medaille officials had to ensure they did this the right way, so their talented athletes and teams received the accolades they deserve. “The concept began to take shape in 2015,” shares Assistant Sports Information Director James Witherow ’09, ’11. Approval from Medaille President Kenneth M. Macur, Ph.D., followed in January 2017, and this,
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Witherow says, “set college on a path to making the Hall a reality.”
President, the late Kevin I. Sullivan, who was critical to the inception of the College’s athletics program. [Learn more about the inaugural inductees on Page 6.]
According to DeKay, Medaille officials reached out to a number of different colleges, both in and out of the AMCC.
The College wanted to make certain that key audiences, such as students and alumni, would notice the new Athletic Hall. In fact, the Athletic Hall of Fame is hard to miss when you walk into the Kevin I. Sullivan Campus Center. Here, a 10-by-12-foot wall greets you. It contains the names, photos, statistics and stories of the inaugural class.
“We probably researched more than two dozen colleges,” says Witherow. “We wanted to get a feel for how other schools treated their athletic halls, paying close attention to the selection criteria.” The inaugural selection committee consisted of a cross-section of the Medaille community, including, among others, DeKay, Witherow, Sports Information Director Josh Sova ’12 (also Medaille’s baseball and golf coach), Associate Athletic Director Laura Edholm ’07 (also bowling coach) and NCAA Compliance and Student Services Coordinator Mike Blaine ’17 (also men’s basketball coach).
Going forward, the initial class will be enshrined on the Sullivan Center wall for a year, until the second class takes their place. The group photo of each class will always remain on display. And with so many stellar Mavericks to honor, there will be more and more reactions like Brandon Lumadue’s. “I was speechless when I found out about being selected to the Hall of Fame,” says the member of the inaugural class. “It was a phone call I’ll never forget.”
Thousands of student-athletes have suited up for Medaille over the past two decades. So narrowing things down took careful deliberation.
It gets tough when you compare, say, a star soccer player with an all-time basketball player. How does one evaluate completely different sports? That was a challenge for the selection committee members, who dug deeply into box scores and game logs. “The statistics speak for themselves and helped us make some logical determinations,” shares Witherow. “It got tricky with certain sports like volleyball, since the visiting team’s stats weren’t always kept. We did a lot of fact-finding and research to fill in the gaps of history.”
PHOTOS BY KATHARYN KETTER-FRANKLIN
“With the initial class, the options we had were a bit overwhelming,” says Witherow. “We managed to narrow it down to 25 finalists. Then, the discussions really got interesting. But we were confident we finished up with some excellent choices.”
Vice President for Student Development and Athletic Director Amy DeKay, M.S. ’95 (left) and Assistant Sports Information Director James Witherow ’09, ’11 (right) pictured with the new Hall of Fame wall in the Sullivan Center.
After many months of discussion, Medaille’s first Hall of Fame class emerged. It would consist of soccer star Gary Boughton ’09; baseball standout Brandon Lumadue ’11; Andrea Belis ’02, who starred at both volleyball and basketball; and baseball and basketball phenom Adam Baker. Also making the list was a former Medaille
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M E E T T H E A T H L E T I C H A L L O F F A M E CLASS OF 2018 Medaille College’s Athletic Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class of honorees on September 5, 2018. To date, more than 3,300 studentathletes have represented Medaille in athletic competition, and the inaugural class of 2018 honored four standouts. In addition, the Hall enshrined the former College president who started a program that has achieved tremendous success.
MEET MEDAILLE’S INAUGURAL HALL OF FAME INDUC TEES:
Kevin I. Sullivan The late Sullivan served Medaille for nearly 30 years in a variety of roles, and was College president from 1987 to 2001. A former athlete himself, he was instrumental in the establishment and creation of Medaille’s athletics program and its transition from the National Small College Athletic Association to NCAA Division III and, eventually, the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). PHOTO FROM MEDAILLE ARCHIVES
PHOTO BY TIM LUDWIG
PHOTOS BY NANCY J. PARISI
Gary Boughton, II ’09
Brandon Lumadue ’11
Adam Baker
Andrea Belis ’02
From 2006 to 2009, men’s soccer standout Boughton rewrote the record books for both the Mavericks and the NCAA. When his collegiate career ended, his 82 assists were the most scored by any player in NCAA Division III men’s soccer history — a record that still stands.
Lumadue holds nearly every important statistical batting record in Medaille baseball history, including batting average, hits, triples, home runs and runs batted in. As a senior captain, he led the Mavericks to the winningest season in program history.
Considered one of the greatest athletes in school history, Baker holds numerous statistical records. In softball, Baker led Medaille to its only AMCC Regular Season Championship, and on the basketball court, helped the Mavs become regulars in the NCAA Tournament.
One of Medaille’s first studentathlete superstars, B elis was a four-year member of the women’s volleyball and basketball teams, while also spending two years on the softball and women’s lacrosse teams. She holds various College volleyball records, and her basketball stats rank in the top 10 in Medaille history.
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NEW MEDAILLE SPORTS COMPLEX IS A GAME-CHANGER
A new era in Medaille College athletics begins this March, as the Mavericks take to the field at the Medaille Sports Complex located at 427 Elk Street in Buffalo. In addition to serving as the home of the men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse programs, the site will also include the Athletics Administration Building. Medaille and South Buffalo Development LLC held a joint ceremonial groundbreaking on September 10, 2018, to announce plans for the sports complex. Speakers included studentathlete Matthew Gabalski, who told the crowd, “The Medaille Sports Complex is so much more than just a place to play. It’s a place to call home.”
PHOTO BY TESS M. WILLIAMS
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MEN’S SOCCER RECEIVES AMCC AND ECAC RECOGNITION
FALL #HORSEPOWER
Following an appearance in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship Game, the men’s soccer team was selected to play in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament for the first time since 2011. Men’s soccer standout Lachlan Beever of Australia was also named the AMCC Newcomer of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year.
The women’s tennis team set a record of eight wins during the regular season, and competed in the AMCC Final Four for the first time in program history.
PHOTO OF CHUCK PANEPINTO BY LAURA EDHOLM ’07
WOMEN’S TENNIS EARNS FIRST FINAL FOUR APPEARANCE
PHOTOS OF JASMINE MOTT (TENNIS), LACHLAN BEEVER (SOCCER) AND MORGAN WALSH (WOMEN’S BOWLING) BY TIM LUDWIG
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES AND STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESSES
BOWLING TEAM WINS MEDAILLE INVITATIONAL The women’s bowling team proved victorious in the Medaille Invitational, taking down Villa Maria, Penn State Behrend, Daemen, Roberts Wesleyan and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The Mavs went undefeated, finishing 10-0 overall in the tournament.
These are just a few recent Medaille athletics successes. For more on all of the College’s sports, as well as the latest Mavericks news, visit medaillesports.com.
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PANEPINTO NAMED AMCC GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Medaille senior Chuck Panepinto was named the 2018 AMCC Golfer of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to earn the honor. Panepinto, a threetime all-conference selection, was runner-up at the 2018 AMCC Championships.
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50TH ANNIVERSARY THROWBACK
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As Medaille continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary this academic year, we have been digging into our archives to find some memorable photos. Much has changed since 1968, but as these images show, it has always been a great day to be a Maverick.
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Recognize yourself or a classmate in one of these photos? Email alumni@medaille.edu to let us know, and we will share the picture with a special shout-out on Medaille’s social media accounts.
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FACULTY Q&A DR. DONALD E. NOWAK, JR. ON THE NATIONWIDE PROBLEM OF COLLEGE STUDENT GAMBLING By Tara Erwin For almost two years, Donald E. Nowak, Jr., Ph.D., a clinical professor in Medaille’s Department of Counseling & Clinical Psychology, painstakingly waded through hundreds of journal articles for his latest research endeavor: to identify and document the occurrences of both problem and pathological gambling among college students in the United States over the past 25 years. Through meta-analysis (a statistical compilation of existing studies to produce an overall result), he was able to garner several key findings, the basis of which have become articles published in distinguished peer review journals. One of his latest works, entitled, “A MetaAnalytical Synthesis and Examination of Pathological and Problem Gambling Rates Among College Athletes,” recently appeared in the Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education.
PHOTO BY KATHARYN KETTER-FRANKLIN
Having his own research published is “exciting,” says Nowak, who adds that one of his articles has already been cited more than 70 times by fellow researchers. Here, he discusses his findings and how the accessibility and occurrences of problem gambling affect college students, their peers and their families. In your opinion, based on the research you conducted, is gambling a prevalent problem among college students? It certainly is, compared to the general population, of which about 1 percent exhibits a severe gambling problem. Compare that to college students, of which more than 6 percent are affected.
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What are some forms of gambling that are typical among college students, and what is the difference between gambling for fun and gambling as a problematic behavior for them? Gambling for fun for a college student might involve betting among peers on sports, playing poker with each other or even the occasional trip to a casino, among other things. It becomes problematic behavior when the student starts to experience many negative consequences of his or her gambling behavior, such as declining grades, poor attendance, and loss of money slated for tuition and books. It can even go so far as affecting mental health, including depression and suicidal ideation. Over time, has the percentage of problem or addictive gambling among college students increased, decreased or stayed the same? And is there any correlation between the economy and gambling rates? It seems, from the numbers and the metaanalyses I ran, the percentage has pretty much remained around a relatively stable 6 percent or so for the past 25 years. So I wouldn’t say that there is any correlation with the economy. Instead, the urge to gamble, especially for young people who are getting out on their own and experiencing some degree of freedom for the first time, seems to be inherently linked within human psyches and the need to risk something of value for an uncertain reward. It is a universal thrill that many seek out — for a small number of them, for a lifetime.
What are the signs to look for if you suspect someone you care about has a gambling problem? With college students, signs to look for would include declining grades, absences from class, constantly asking for additional money, irritability, depression, and the most obvious one would be a draining of savings and checking accounts. If you are seeking help for yourself or someone else, consulting the New York Council on Problem Gambling (nyproblemgambling.org/support) would be the best place to start.
Free and confidential counseling services are available to all Medaille students. The Student Counseling Center is located in the Wellness Center at 117 Humboldt Parkway on the College’s Buffalo campus, and students can also call (716) 880-2339.
How can colleges and universities play a role here? One way is by screening for gambling problems early on when dealing with students coming in for help for other addictive behaviors or mental health issues. Making it a part of the conversation is a start.
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FACULTYSPOTLIGHT EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS RECENT COMMENTARY, AWARDS, ARTICLES AND PRESENTATIONS FROM MEDAILLE FACULTY
HONORS AND APPOINTMENTS
INTERNATIONAL LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS
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Alice Villaseñor, Ph.D., associate professor of English in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, received the 2018 Dr. Brian R. Shero Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award at Medaille’s Honors Convocation.
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Keith Klostermann, Ph.D., LMFT, LMHC, an assistant professor in the master’s in marriage and family therapy program, received the 2018 North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Janine M. Bernard Outstanding Supervisor of the Year Award.
Matthew H. Bowker, Ph.D., assistant professor of the practice in political science in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, recently traveled to the Singapore Institute of Management to deliver faculty workshops and “train-the-trainer” seminars on the subject of facilitating critical thinking.
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Vochita Mihai, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Science, Mathematics & Technology presented at the 25th International Conference on Learning at the University of Athens in Greece.
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Richard L. Jacob, Ph.D., professor and sport management program director, was selected to serve on the American Cancer Society National Sports Alliance Volunteer Workgroup.
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Susan M. Dunkle, Ed.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Education, presented on “A Literature Review of Andragogy, Its Methods and Principles, to Inform Educators of Adult Learners About Best Teaching Practices,” at the European University Continuing Education Network Conference in Norway.
PUBLICATIONS
EXPERT COMMENTARY
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Mary Louise Hill, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, published a story titled “Tekla’s Child” in the Poydras Review.
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Gerald J. Erion, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, published an article titled “Teaching Philosophy of the City” in the Teaching Philosophy journal.
Steve MacMartin, Ph.D. ’13, assistant professor of the practice and homeland security program director, discussed the investigation of the October 2018 suspicious packages case on WBEN-AM radio.
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Belete K. Mebratu, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Education, authored an article for the Bahir Dar Journal of Education titled “The Challenges and Strategies of Nexus Among Educational Research, Policy and Practice: Others’ Experiences.”
René A. Jones, M.S., LMFT, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Counseling & Clinical Psychology, discussed the decline in the national divorce rate with WKBW-TV.
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Susan C. Steffan, MBA, associate professor of the practice and chair of the Department of Business, Management & Leadership, was a featured panelist at a Buffalo Niagara Partnership BN360 “Legal Briefs” event titled “The Art of Negotiation.”
For more examples of the work Medaille faculty members do each day, on and off campus, visit medaille.edu/news.
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IT WOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT MEDAILLE. R I C H J U R E L L E R ’96 R E F L E C TS O N H I S J O U R N E Y TO C A R E E R S U CC E S S W I T H T H E B U F FA LO S A B R E S
By Patricia Jetty ’13 “May Day! May Day! May Day!” and “Top shelf, where momma hides the cookies!” are legendary phrases in Buffalo. The popularity of Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret’s words demonstrates the impact the team has on the culture and community of Western New York. The Sabres not only draw thousands of fans to games each season, but the franchise also gives back to the WNY community in a number of ways. That is where Medaille College alum Richard Jureller ’96 comes in. A member of the College’s first sport management graduating cohort, he now serves as president of the Buffalo Sabres Foundation and vice president of community relations for the team. He says one of the most rewarding aspects of his job is teaming up with Sabres players, alumni and team mascot Sabretooth on community outreach projects — everything from visiting hospitals to working with local kids. Some of his favorite Sabres to collaborate with over the years have been Buffalo favorites, as well — Rob Ray, Daniel Brière, Chris Drury, Ryan O’Reilly, Jack Eichel, Zach Bogosian and the late Steve Montador, to name a few. With trades and free agency, players come and go; as Jureller puts it, “It’s tough to see guys move on, but it is always great to work with new players coming in.” As president, Jureller helps promote the Buffalo Sabres Foundation’s core objectives of serving children and military personnel, caring for the sick, assisting physically and mentally challenged athletes, and supporting youth hockey initiatives. Whether it is working with disadvantaged local youth to make the game of hockey more accessible, or organizing the Sabres participation in the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month, the Foundation strives to make a positive difference in the lives of community members. “We do a lot of outreach with children who are sick, at places like Roswell Park. My favorite time out of the office is when we go out into the community with the guys and visually see the impact,” Jureller says. Another example of this is the annual Buffalo Sabres Alumni Wine Festival, which raises money for breast cancer care.
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“The sport management program at Medaille gave me the opportunity to do something that I thought I would enjoy. It gave me a sense of what I felt I should be doing.”
PHOTOS BY NANCY J. PARISI
“It’s nice to work somewhere that has that such a profound influence,” Jureller notes. But how did his career path get started and bring him to a position that gives him an opportunity to lead an organization like the Buffalo Sabres Foundation? Jureller admits to having difficulty finding his niche as a young adult. However, a newspaper ad announcing the launch of Medaille’s sport management program intrigued him. “I was 20 years old at the time, watching friends who were set on what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives, and I wasn’t one of those people,” he says. “Ultimately, the sport management program at Medaille gave me the opportunity to do something that I thought I would enjoy. It gave me a sense of what I felt I should be doing.” His career path started a year into his Medaille education, with a call from Jim Kelly Enterprises. “They called Medaille specifically because it was the only college with a sport management program at the time,” he explains. After completing his internship, Jureller was hired by the Buffalo Bills legend’s company for a full-time position, and ended up working there for 10 years.
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Jureller reflects often on his time at Medaille, remembering how faculty members helped him to understand and believe that there was a career ahead of him in the sport management field. “The program showed me that there is a lot more to sports than I would have ever known,” he says. Jureller worked just as hard to get hired by the Sabres as he did to work his way up within the organization. “With the NHL lockout ending in 2005, I got in touch with the Sabres about a marketing coordinator position,” Jureller says. “I was very persistent, and they eventually hired me.” He then advanced within the organization to his current role. Fundraising and community relations were not areas Jureller expected to pursue, but he now relishes in the community involvement. “Children and adults are often equally excited to get a chance to interact with our alumni or current players, and it can be very impactful,” he says. “It’s especially gratifying when we’re working with youth who have a disadvantage or disability, or those who don’t otherwise have the opportunity to be around someone that they can look up to.” As he ponders his career success, Jureller says his college experience was essential: “It wouldn’t have happened without Medaille or its sport management program.”
BUFFALO SABRES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN ACTION
PHOTO BY FLASHES OF HOPE
Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt (left) and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (right) pose with patients for photos taken by the Buffalo chapter of Flashes of Hope.
PHOTO BY ROSWELL PARK STAFF
Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner brings some joy to kids at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
SPORT MANAGEMENT TURNS 25 The 2018-19 academic year marks the 25th anniversary of Medaille’s sport management program. Over the last quarter-century, graduates of the program — including Rich Jureller ’96 of the Buffalo Sabres — have gone on to successful careers with professional sports teams, colleges and universities, and globallyrecognized companies. As program director Richard L. Jacob, Ph.D., puts it, “Our students are prepared with a business skill set that is focused on the sport industry, and this sets them apart from others in the field.” Sport management was recently highlighted as Program of the Month on Medaille’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. Search #MedaillePOTM to view all content.
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BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP MEDAILLE ALUMS ON WORKPLACE MYTHS AND FACTS
By Christopher Schobert Consider this situation: You are a twentysomething, recent college graduate, and it is day one of your first office job. When meeting your fellow employees, you discover a range of ages — some fellow Generation Zers, but also Millennials, Generation Xers and Baby Boomers. The road to workplace success, it seems, will involve learning how to work together with people of all ages, and it’s not always going to be easy. So how does one learn to collaborate and work cooperatively with different generations in the workplace? It’s an important question, and it formed the basis of a conversation held on Medaille College’s Buffalo campus on November 7, 2018. A group of accomplished Medaille alumni discussed a variety of topics, including what professionals of varying ages have in common, how they are different and how changing technology impacts workers.
To ponder these issues, Medaille Director of Diversity and Inclusion Kenya Hobbs led the following alumni in a discussion: • •
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Millennials
Gary Damon, Jr. ’13 (New York State Senior Site Director for the Center for Employment Opportunities and a Medaille adjunct professor) Brian Cleary ’15 (Manager, Martin Sport for The Martin Group)
Generation Xer
Carlette Bradley ’13 (Learning and Development Consultant at Univera Healthcare and CEO of the Masterpiece Project LLC)
Baby Boomers
Tracey Wild ’85 (Vice President, Legal Collections at ABC-Amega) Donald Tomasulo ’79 (Director of Results at Entercom Communications Buffalo and a member of Medaille’s Board of Trustees)
The following pages feature just some of the insightful comments made during the conversation; visit youtube. com/medaillebuffalo to watch the event in its entirety.
“Being a site director, I allow my staff to be who they are in their own right, but some choose not to have that freedom. There are exceptions, but in my experience, older generations would rather have more guidance, while the younger generation tends to want to stay off the leash and try to be different.” - Gary Damon, Jr. ’13 16 Medaille Magazine | Winter 2019
“A lot of younger employees will come in and say, ‘I have social media experience.’ But they don’t know how to use it for business, which is completely different. Even if you are technologically savvy, it’s important to also understand the other tools of communication.“ “As a recent graduate, you want to have the respect of the older employees and executives, and not have your voice quieted because you don’t have the experience. At the same time, it’s on the younger generation to use more experienced people in the workplace as mentors, and to learn from them.“ - Brian Cleary ’15
“A lot of companies are having to adapt. For example, in human resources, we have to implement things like digital interviewing. By 2020, Millennials will be 60 percent of our workforce. That’s a huge expectation on companies to be more agile in meeting the needs of those folks.” “The bottom line is that everyone wants to do a great job, and we all have our preferences.” - Carlette Bradley ’13
“At the end of the day, business fundamentals don’t change. And there’s a difference between being socially savvy and being social media savvy. We’ve got to focus on being socially savvy, so we can continue to be able to communicate in our day-to-day conversations.” - Kenya Hobbs
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“Great managers manage people the way they want to be treated. Bad managers manage people poorly, no matter what generation they are. Niceness never goes out of style.” “You can have all the technology and skills, but at some point you have to communicate with me as an older person, and I have to communicate with you as a younger person.” - Donald R. Tomasulo ’79
“It goes back to social skills, and having the thermometer to gauge people. In the class I teach at Medaille, we say, ‘Level up.’ You always want to grow and learn, no matter your age.“ - Gary Damon, Jr. ’13
“The biggest assumption about my generation is that Baby Boomers don’t embrace technology. I think that is a huge myth. I think, in fact, we’ve embraced it a little too much.” - Tracey Wild ’85
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PHOTOS BY NANCY J. PARISI
Pictured, from left: Gary Damon, Jr. ’13, Tracey Wild ’85, Kenya Hobbs, Carlette Bradley ’13, Donald Tomasulo ’79 and Brian Cleary ’15.
SUMRINA R AHMAN ’18, C O M M U N I C AT I O N P R O G R A M G R A D U AT E
Sumrina’s career is just beginning, thanks to the vision of people who invest in legacy gifts. Help the next generation of students turn their passions into fulfilling careers by including Medaille in your will. It’s easy to do, and is lifechanging for them. To learn more about the Sister Alice Huber Society, visit medaille.edu/bequest, or contact Director of Philanthropy Jeanine Purcell ’14 at (716) 880-2259.
Medaille Magazine | Winter 2019 PHOTO BY CARLA F. KESTNER
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND A THIRST FOR INNOVATION DRIVES DR. JEFFREY M. SHEPARD ’04 By Jana Eisenberg If you want to be successfully innovative, says Jeffrey M. Shepard, Ph.D. ’04, you must learn to accept that the process includes struggle, and even failure — possibly multiple failures. Of course, qualities like perseverance, an openness to the unknown and a willingness to push the envelope are also necessary. Dr. Shepard, 43, lives by these rules, and needs an entire hat rack for his current roles. These roles include founder, chairman and CEO of MedaCheck, a technology company focused on medication adherence and remote patient care; trustee at Medaille College; faculty and entrepreneur-inresidence at Saybrook University in Oakland, CA; owner of a professional and educational lacrosse organization based in his hometown of Rochester, NY; a global entrepreneurial consultant; law student; soon-to-be husband; and a father of two daughters and two future stepdaughters. He also earned a Ph.D. in leadership in 2011.
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Being an innovator is part of Dr. Shepard’s nature. “No matter where I am, I’m always thinking, ‘How could this experience be better?’ — more efficient or easier for me and others,” he says. “Innovation, or looking at how we can improve a process, product or service, is the answer to a lot of these questions.” Building, growing and running companies, he says, feels better than anything, though he loves sharing information. “I’ve tried a corporate job. Being entrepreneurial and aiming for innovation gives me the opportunity to think differently, and act on that thinking,” says Dr. Shepard. He earned his MBA at Medaille, and the College ended up becoming a pivotal element in his journey. “I was intimidated at first by my cohort of smart, amazing people,” Dr. Shepard says. “We pushed each other really hard and developed lifelong relationships. The professors were some of the best teachers I have ever experienced, and they shared so much practical knowledge with their
students. My choice to attend Medaille is a big part of the success I have had in business and life.” Dr. Shepard remains deeply connected to the school, serving as a member of its Board of Trustees. In addition, he taught at Medaille’s Rochester campus from 2005 through 2009 as a senior adjunct professor. “I am passionate about Medaille. One reason why is that I see good people sticking together and helping one another. The key to success is people, and finding ways to work together, motivate and collaborate,” he says. Teaching brought Dr. Shepard full circle. “Sharing information has always been central to my beliefs in growing as a person. Based on this philosophy, it seemed natural for me to teach, but I had no real aspirations of getting into education. When I was first asked to teach at Medaille, it was just to fill in,” he recalls. “I fell in love with teaching — with creating a classroom of learning and engaging students’ minds. I was inspired by all of the great professors I’ve had. And helping others always has a really great way of coming back around.” Another way he aims to help others is through his ownership of the Rochester River Monsters team of the Can-Am Box Lacrosse League. “Growing up, lacrosse was my passion,” Dr. Shepard says. “I purchased the
team in 2016 as a way to stay connected and give back to the Rochester community. We have extended the local lacrosse community from a professional team to include a competitive youth program. We also partner with Rochester city schools to teach the game to children who wouldn’t have access to it.” His hope is that the program grows into a community-run effort, able to sustain itself while he steps away. Relaxation, you may ask? Yes, he does it. While Dr. Shepard travels frequently for business, he also does it for fun. “My partner is an educator as well — we’re both lifelong learners — and we love traveling and learning wherever we go,” he said. “I take pleasure in experiencing new cultures, and enjoying food and wine from all over the world.” And, like so many Western New Yorkers, he’s all about the Buffalo Bills. “I’m a third-generation Bills fan, raising wonderful daughters who are self-proclaimed fourthgeneration fans,” he happily attests. “Win or lose, I love coming back to Buffalo and going to the stadium to watch a game with my best friend, his daughter and my girls.” Any signs of slowing down? Not likely. “I’m currently pursuing a law degree, so I’m still a student, too,” Dr. Shepard says. “I think I’ll get a master’s in computer science next. Just kidding. Well … maybe.”
PHOTOS BY NANCY J. PARISI
“No matter where I am, I’m always thinking, ‘How could this experience be better?’ Innovation is the answer to a lot of these questions.”
Medaille Magazine | Winter 2019
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#MEDAILLECONGRATS . . . 1980S
Medaille College is so proud of all of our alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends! We send our #MedailleCongrats to recognize the life achievements of these empowered individuals who embody Medaille’s mission of academic achievement, career success and civic engagement. Visit medaille.edu/congrats to learn more and submit your own class note. Trustee and alum L. Nathan Hare ’82 on being presented with the Living Legacy Award. Hare was also honored with an African American Heritage Living Legacy Banner.
Sundra Ryce ’07, the founder and president of SLR Contracting & Service Company, on completing her doctorate degree in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University in May 2018.
WBFO Senior Reporter Eileen (Galbo) Buckley ’85 on receiving first place for the Art Athens General Excellence of Individual Reporting at the New York State Associated Press Association awards banquet for the ninth time in her career. The media communication alum also earned first place for Best Documentary and second place for Best Use of Sound.
Laura Hervey ’08 on her hiring as a 9th grade English teacher at Akron Central High School. Hervey also published her first novel, Scarlet Tears, in 2018. MBA alumna Javeena (Norwood) Edwards ’09 on her new position as manager of accounting for Twin Tier at Kaleida Health.
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Mary Jean (Rumpl) Jakubowski ’88, the director of Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, on being named to Buffalo Business First’s 2018 “Power 125 Women” list.
BBA and MBA alum Allan Karchefsky ’09, ’11 on opening a business and IT consulting company, Buffalo Computing Technology, Inc. MBA alumna Cindi McEachon ’10, this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, on behalf of her work as Executive Director of Peaceprints of WNY. The organization was announced as the first within Erie County to be awarded $1 million in Second Chance Act Funds to launch a pilot program.
Sport management alum A.J. Lauzze ’97 on being appointed as director of wireless sales at Everstream. MBA alumna Lisa True ’02 on being named among “Top Women in Benefit Advising” by Employee Benefit Adviser magazine. True works as chief operating officer for Nova Healthcare Administrators.
MAOL alumna Angela Pucciarelli ’13 on being appointed as assistant director of athletics and senior women’s administrator at Fredonia State University. MBA alum Kevin Hernandez ’14 on his hiring as an operations director for M.A. Silva USA. English program alumna Sarah Kinne ’14 on her hiring as instructional design specialist at Joliet Junior College. Accounting alum Jaime Salcedo, CPA ’15, ’16 on his promotion to the position of audit senior at Deloitte. BBA alum Douglas Stoll ’12 on being promoted to the position of manager, retail pricing and analytics at Tops Friendly Markets. MAOL alum and adjunct faculty member Ken Carter ’16 on being promoted to vice president of claims operations at Merchants Insurance Group.
MBA alum Jillian Suttell ’10 on her hiring as a controller at Employer Services Corp., a professional employer organization headquartered in Amherst.
John LeViness, IV ’10 on his hiring as a system resolution coordinator at Fidelis Care. Sport management alumna Megan Valentine ’04 on her new position as director of intercollegiate athletics at Hilbert College.
2010S
MAOL alum Deshawn King ’16 on being appointed to the Board of Directors for HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Equal). King currently works as an international finance accountant at FedEx Trade Networks.
Matthew Champion ’05 on starting a wealth management firm, Excelsior Wealth Partners, with partner Matthew Dauksza. In addition to being co-owner, Champion serves as the president of the firm.
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MAOL alumna Stephaine ( Jones) Huston ’11 on being appointed to the B oard of Directors of Family & Children’s S er vice of Niagara. Education alumna Marion Singleton ’11, ’12 on being promoted to head coach of the women’s bowling team at Daemen College. Nicholas Beardi ’12 on his promotion to assistant branch manager at M&T Bank.
Clinical mental health counseling program graduate Lynn Lauria ’16 on her hiring as a mental health counselor and skill builder at G.A. Family Services. MAOL alum Mark Kosowski ’17 on his new position as an inside sales representative at ITT Enidine Inc. Business administration alumna Alexandria Cicero ’18 on her hiring as human resources generalist at Dimar Manufacturing Corporation.
The graduates highlighted here are just a small sample of recent alumni successes. Follow Medaille College on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to catch all #MedailleCongrats alumni updates and to join the celebration of our Maverick community.
MAVERICK MILESTONES
Congratulations to Megan Fitzgerald Hassenfratz ’10 and her husband Joe Hassenfratz Congratulations to Stephen Stirling ’91 on the birth of their first child. and Darlene Sikorski-Petritz ’91 on Their daughter, Grace Fitzgerald their marriage. The ceremony took place Hassenfratz, was born on in July 2017 at Boldt Castle. October 29, 2018. Congratulations to vet tech and biology alumna Leah (Hill) Lincoln ’09, ’10 on the birth of her son. Judah was born on June 25, 2018.
Congratulations to business administration alum Danielle Rollins ’12 and her husband Darin Johnson, who wed in August 2018. Rollins also recently started a health insurance planning company called New Buffalo Financial Group, which is based in Tonawanda.
Congratulations to education alumna Faith (Shaw) Adams ’12, ’13 and her husband Avion Maurice Adams on the birth of their son. Avion Lennox Adams was born on June 10, 2018.
Congratulations to business administration a l u m T J ( K aur) Kennedy ’12 and her husband Cody Kennedy on the birth of their son. Connor Davin Kennedy was born on June 20, 2018.
Congratulations to A sh l e y ( Hass e tt) Hir tz e l ’1 2 and he r husb and Joshu a Hi r tzel on t he bir t h of t he ir d aug hte r. Oliv i a R e es e Hir tzel was born on August 25, 2018.
Medaille Magazine | Winter 2019
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Giving Day
TUESDAY, MARCH 5 To kick off our first annual Giving Day, we’ve compiled nearly 50 years of yearbooks to share online. Find yours beginning March 5, 2019 at medaille.edu/yearbooks.
Help us celebrat e Medaille Colle ge Giving Day with a gift to suppor t our students. Yo ur gift today is an investment in th e success of th e alumni of tomorro w.
Give now at med
aille.edu/give.
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