In December 2010, the 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚 University Alumni in Finance Network launched its inaugural event at Bayard鈥檚 in Hanover Square, Manhattan featuring speaker Frank D鈥橝melio 鈥79, current chief financial officer and executive vice president, global supply and business operations at Pfizer Inc. No one in the room that evening could have predicted the future success of the Alumni in Finance Network, which was designed to 鈥渦nite 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚 graduates from all eras, to learn and exchange ideas, to expand and explore new professional relationships and to connect and engage with the [then] College.鈥
Eight years later the Network continues to thrive and has recently evolved into the 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚 Business Network, in order to draw people from all areas of business beyond only finance. Alumni in Finance was reimagined as the 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚 Business Network last year and the events still have the same goal in mind: to bring C-Suite speakers to intimate settings and unite graduates and friends of the University from all fields of business, share industry advice, offer mentorship and engage with the University. On the eighth anniversary of the network鈥檚 inaugural event, the group came together once again at India House (formerly Bayard鈥檚) to hear from D鈥橝melio. Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., newly appointed KPMG dean of the 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚 University School of Business joined him for a discussion followed by a Q&A.
Dr. Naatus has been influential in the business department at 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚 University, previously serving as interim dean, business administration department chair and as an associate professor. Dr. Naatus provided an overview from the School of Business and recapped recent successes.
鈥淒r. Naatus has built meaningful relationships with students, local entrepreneurs and big businesses,鈥 said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚 University.
D鈥橝melio was born and raised in Hoboken and earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting from 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚 University and a M.B.A. in finance from St. John鈥檚 University. He started his career at Bell Labs in 1979. Since then, he has been ranked among American鈥檚 top CFOs numerous times by Institutional Investor magazine. He currently serves on the boards of directors of Humana, Inc., Zoetis, Inc. and the Independent College Fund of New Jersey. Eight years ago, D鈥橝melio鈥檚 presentation was memorable and he set the standard high for future speakers.
Mark Kahrer 鈥83, vice president of regulatory affairs at New Jersey Natural Gas and member of the 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚 University Board of Trustees said, 鈥淔rank is a genuine guy and even though he is high level he is still in touch with his roots.鈥 In addition, Kahrer, who attended the first event and the most recent stated, 鈥淭he all-encompassing format allows more people to come and network and reconnect with 猫咪社区 Peter鈥檚.鈥
Dr. Naatus asked D鈥橝melio about his past, how he overcomes challenges, what he has learned from those challenges and where he sees the future of Pfizer. A lively Q&A followed the discussion, where D鈥橝melio addressed concerns about health care costs.
鈥淥ur main goal at Pfizer is to improve everyone鈥檚 life health-wise,鈥 D鈥橝melio said.
Other advice D鈥橝melio offered included three points: get out of your comfort zone, take advantage of Kodak moments and surround yourself with outstanding people.
鈥淚f you surround yourself with outstanding people at work, they will make you better,鈥 said D鈥橝melio.
This event was the first attended by Matthew Feeney 鈥15, who works at Pfizer as a financial associate. He attended to hear from D鈥橝melio and also meet new people and reconnect with former classmates.
鈥淵ou guys are on fire!鈥 Feeney exclaimed in reference to recent awards the University has won and the $10 million gift recently given by Trustee Joseph A. Panepinto, Esq. 鈥66.
鈥淚 chose to attend tonight because it offered a nice opportunity to come back into the community and see people I haven鈥檛 seen and keep my network strong,鈥 added Feeney.
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