| 1960s |

• Beatrice Orr (B.S. ’65) of St. Louis, Mo., is an income maintenance case manager for the state of Missouri. “I love to cook, read, and design and stitch needlecraft,” she says. Beatrice donates much of her free time to the St. Charles City-County Library District, where she serves as treasurer of the local Friends of the Libraries USA organization. She and her late husband, Warren, have one daughter, Candice.
• John Gustafson (B.S. ’69) of East Patchogue, N.Y., is the owner of the engineering firm J.G. & Associates. Through his business, John serves as an engineering representative for many companies in the motion control and robotics industries. He and his wife, Barbara, have four children. In his free time, John enjoys boating and skiing.
  
  
  

| 1970s |

• Bruce Katcher (M.B.A. ’71) of Aubonne, Switzerland, is a management consultant specializing in information technology and business process outsourcing. His wife, Lise, was offered a job in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2002, and since Bruce’s work allows him to work from anywhere, they relocated. “We live about 25 minutes east of Geneva and10 minutes west of Lausanne, facing the Alps and Lake Leman. Lots of chocolate, lots of wine, good bread, good cheese, but I really miss diners and a decent bagel.”
• Edward Pino (B.S. ’72) of New York, N.Y., is a professional counselor and therapist in private practice. “If it were not for the education and faculty at NYIT, I would not be in the field that I am in today,” he says. Edward is married and has a son who graduated from California Institute of Technology as well as a stepdaughter who graduated from the City College of New York. He travels extensively, and his hobbies include biking and pet care.
• Chester Schnepf (B.F.A. ’72) of New Haven, Conn., recently donated a copy of his latest book, “The Protagonist’s Dilemma in Poe and LeFanu,” to the NYIT library system. “My longtime fascination with gothic literature, Edgar Allan Poe and Joseph Sheridan LeFanu began with the survey literature courses taught by NYIT professors who loved to discuss the crafting presented in such works. I remember when the Old Westbury campus was new – the main road through the campus was still not paved in 1968. Yet it was the perfect environment to read, to wonder, to question, to be challenged, and to be inspired. I was hooked on literature and the complex, often misunderstood authors who created the fantasies, anxieties, phobias and inner conflicts that make us human. It all started with my studies at NYIT and has not ended to this day.” Chester is chair of the humanities department at Gateway Community College in New Haven.
• Lisa Mintz Harris (B.S. ’73) of Oceanside, N.Y., works with emotionally disturbed adolescents at Nassau BOCES. “I have done everything from teaching to being a caseworker to working with senior citizens at the Nassau County Department of Parks and Recreation. My main interests are theater, photography and animals. I am trying to start a side business as a pet photographer.” Lisa and her husband, Leigh, have one daughter, Jen.
• Russ DiBenedetto (B.S. ’76) of Melville, N.Y., is first senior vice president and director of audit for New York Community Bancorp and its subsidiary, New York Community Bank. He is also involved in several professional organizations, serving as president of the Community Bankers Forum of New York State and the Long Island Group for Savings Institutions. Russ and his wife, Claudia, have one son, Russell, and two grandchildren, Isabella and Luke.
• Craig Kinzer (B.F.A. ’76) of Davenport, Fla., works at Walt Disney World in Orlando, where he is involved in merchandise sales, inventory control and video production. In addition, he is webmaster for Meadow Fresh, a company that sells whey-based beverages. “NYIT was a wonderful experience. I learned much, and it was great being there when computer animation first started.” Craig remains an avid New York Yankees and Jets fan, and enjoys golf and photography.
• Michael Ricca (B.F.A. ’77) is taking a break from his communications consulting practice to pursue paralegal studies at Nassau Community College. Since graduating from NYIT, Michael has worked in various communication fields, including publishing, promotions, and public and media relations. He was also editor of the Journal of the Audio Engineering Society. While attending NYIT, Michael says he was “almost always at the Campus Slate office – it was my favorite place.”
• Michael Solomon (B.S. ’77) of Lake Worth, Fla., used the challenges he faced in the corporate world to his advantage, opening his own business and writing a book on the experience, “Success By Default.” Michael became frustrated by what he calls “the depersonalization of corporate America” and, in 1984, started Pro-Tech Security Systems, a residential and commercial security systems installation company. Michael’s business, which he sold in 2003, was built on the premise that people want to do business with people, not voicemail or other computerized options. He decided to write a book about his experiences after an exasperating call with a telephone company representative who told him he had the wrong department and refused to help him after leaving him on hold for almost 30 minutes. “I was so frustrated when I hung up that I turned to my secretary and said, ‘If I ever write a book about the rise and fall of customer service in corporate America, this would be Chapter 10.’ Two weeks later, I started to write. It is actually Chapter 20.” Michael has long been dedicated to philanthropic work. In 2000, he was named Man of the Year by the Rockland County Builders Association for helping to develop a community outreach program that builds wheelchair access ramps and other home improvements for the physically challenged. Michael and his wife, Barbara, will be married 40 years this summer. They have two daughters, Jennifer and Shari, and four grandchildren.
• John Scannello (B.S. ’79) is president of Seaford Bagels Inc., Dix Hills Bagels Inc., and the CRJ Trading Corp. He is a founding member of the Plainedge Youth Sports Council and coaches youth lacrosse in the Plainedge School District. He is also on the board of directors of the Lake Winds Homeowners Association in Lake George, N.Y.
  
  
  

| 1980s |

• Ralph Boccagno (B.S. ’81, M.P.S. ’87) of Bayport, N.Y., received his doctorate in psychology from Southern California University for Professional Studies and is now a practitioner of health psychology, which focuses on the interaction of mind and body as it affects physical and psychological well-being. He gives seminars on health psychology and is writing an article for a professional journal on male eating disorders to be published later this year. “My education at NYIT inspired and motivated me to pursue my doctorate,” he says.
• John W. Hakola Jr. (A.A.S. ’83, B.S. ’92) of Port Crane, N.Y., is a senior architectural designer and project coordinator at the Binghamton, N.Y., office of Stantec Consulting Group Inc. John says, “I attended NYIT as a full-time student for about two years, then ventured into a career in construction. While working full-time, I married (1980) and took evening classes until I received an associate’s degree in architectural technology.” In 1985, John, his wife Cheryl and his daughter relocated to upstate New York after he accepted a position as a junior engineer (facility construction) at a large manufacturing facility. Later, he entered into the American Open University distance program (a precursor to today’s Web-based educational programs) and completed his bachelor’s degree in general studies in 1992. “Two more children, a career move or two, and 20 years later, I am still living in the area. My wife and I are active in the community and at any given time are involved in scouting programs, community academic and sports programs, and service activities.” John is also a commissioned officer with the rank of major and the executive officer of the 1-102nd Engineers, New York Guard, a light battalion that conducts construction operations at military reservations, such as Camp Smith and Ft. Drum, N.Y., as well as the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Over the years, John has been involved in a number of “state of emergency” active-duty missions. Recently, his unit’s focus has been the construction and improvement of facilities for the 10th Mountain Division currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. “My experience and education at NYIT is part of the reason why my civilian and military occupations are centered around the construction industry – a seed that was planted in my formative years.”
• Donald Meltzer (M.B.A. ’84) of Aurora, Colo., is vice president and general manager of the $600 million Roofing Systems Division of Denver-based Johns Manville, a $2.5 billion holding of Berkshire Hathaway. He and his wife, Debbie, have three children – one in graduate school, one in college and the third in high school. “NYIT prepared me well for the challenges and opportunities of leading a major business by helping me develop the abilities to think strategically, train people and get results.”
• Patricia O’Neill (B.Arch. ’84) of Plandome Manor, N.Y., is the winning designer for Long Island’s 9/11 Memorial, which will be built at Farmingdale State University of New York. Her husband, Tom, worked for Morgan Stanley on the 60th floor of one of the World Trade Center buildings and survived the terrorist attacks.
• Alexander Markowski (B.F.A. ’85) of Wilmington, N.C., has been a sound designer for more than 50 feature films, including several Academy Award winners and dozens of TV programs. He currently works as an audio direct recording mixer on the television show “One Tree Hill.” Alexander says he loves his career and enjoys facing new challenges. After graduating from NYIT, he was hired by Duart Film and Video in Manhattan. “At Duart, I was promoted to the position of film audio mixer because of the training I received at NYIT.” Alexander and his wife, Carolyn, have two children, Anna and Gregory.
• Suzanne Sowinski and her husband, Richard Sullivan (both B.Arch. ’85), met while attending NYIT. They got married the September after their graduation 19 years ago. They have 15-year-old triplets, Kristen, Jonathan and Zachary, and run their own business, Sowinski Sullivan Architects, in Sparta, N.J. They originally started the business out of their house, but when Suzanne saw Richard using an ironing board as a work surface, she knew it was time to open an office. “Now, we generally have anywhere from 10 to 15 people working for us,” she says. “Our main focus is transportation, schools and recreational projects. We are at the forefront of transportation work with Metro North and New Jersey Transit. We are both very involved with the community. I belong to the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce and will soon be named to the executive board. Rich is trustee of Sussex County Community College and serves on the local boards of the Red Cross and the Sussex County Development Partnership.”
• After 14 years at the anchor desk of WFMZ-TV in Allentown, Pa., Nancy Bessman Werteen (B.F.A. ’86, M.A. ’88) of Orefield, Pa., is taking a break to spend some quality time with her new baby, Grace Mae, and her 7-year-old daughter, Marleesa. Although not sitting behind the anchor desk right now, Nancy is still on camera. She is hosting a weekly series, “Connecting with Kids,” that tackles parenting issues. She also writes freelance, produces and does voice-over work from home. “My husband works in television. He is a producer/director, predominantly for live sporting events. I am always thankful to NYIT and sing the praises of ‘LI News Tonight’ any chance I get. The preparation I received set the foundation for the career I have today. I studied in a real-world environment with skilled professionals. In addition, I met some wonderful friends and enjoy fond memories.”
• Donald Boone (B.T. ’88) of College Park, Md., is a project engineer at Geotechnical Consulting & Testing Inc. in Prince William County, Va. His company designs foundations for residential housing and offers land development consulting. He loves that NYIT’s Manhattan campus was so close to Lincoln Center since it allowed him to attend numerous live performances. “Even though I’m in a technical field, all those shows are what gave me an appreciation for the arts. I don’t believe I would have seen so many performances if I had not taken classes at NYIT’s Manhattan campus.”
• Patti Ann Browne (M.A. ’89) of New York, N.Y., has been a full-time anchor for the Fox News Channel for more than four years and is often a substitute anchor of “The Fox Report.” Patti Ann began her broadcast career in radio at WLIM-AM on Long Island and quickly moved to TV, starting at WLIG-TV 55, followed by News 12 Long Island and MSNBC. “I enjoy giving people different perspectives on stories and topics they’ve been hearing about for a while. I try to make people care. It’s gratifying when I get e-mails from people saying they understand a certain topic after seeing my coverage.” While at NYIT, ‘LI News Tonight’ Anchor and Executive Producer Ken Eckhardt (keckhard@nyit.edu) was her mentor and inspiration. “He’s tough in a good way. He’s determined to make journalists out of starry-eyed rookies who walk into the newsroom. I also learned from Professors Gary Licker (glicker@nyit.edu) and Carol Pack (cpack@nyit.edu). I did a three-part special report on water pollution for ‘LI News Tonight’ that won a FOLIO (Focus on Long Island Operations) award. I was in competition with some of the top reporters at Manhattan network affiliates. That award helped launch my career. I owe much to NYIT.”
  
  
  

| 1990s |

• Seena Stern (M.A. ’91) of Derry, N.H., is a bariatric support specialist, coordinating support for pre- and post-gastric bypass patients. She is the author of three books, including a guide to gastric bypass recovery titled “So You’ve Had a Gastric Bypass ... Now What?” and two children’s books, “I Came from Heaven in a Parachute” and “The Super Hero in the Dishwasher.”
• Sandra Benjamin (B.Arch. ’92) of Old Bethpage, N.Y., is an associate principal for the Thomas Group, a leading architecture and engineering firm specializing in the design of educational facilities. She is a licensed architect and member of the American Institute of Architects. Most of her projects involve additions and renovations for public schools. She designed a 150,000-square-foot high school for the Barnegat School District in New Jersey. “I stay in touch with many of my NYIT friends, who have trouble believing that my girls, Felissa and Stephanie, will be 25 and 21 years old, respectively. My husband Howard and I will be celebrating our 32nd anniversary this June.”
• John Pasutto (B.S. ’92, M.S. ’97) of East Lyme, Conn., environmental health and safety director for Wheelabrator Technologies in Lisbon and Putnam, Conn., recently received his professional engineering license. He says, “I am very happy in Connecticut with my fantastic wife Genevieve and our three kids – Katherine, 6, Christopher, 4, and Jonathan, 10 months. I love spending time with my family.”
• Helene Pecora-Montalto (A.O.S. ’92) is on a mission. She wants everybody – even those who cannot tolerate dairy – to be able to enjoy ice cream. She has developed a non-dairy, nut-based ice cream, and published her first book, “Nut Creams,” to share her new product with the world. “I want my book to be a vehicle that teaches others how to enjoy ice cream without dairy, soy or refined sweeteners. Food is fun for me, and I hope to convey this through my book.” Helene entered NYIT’s culinary arts program when she was 19. “NYIT helped me develop a standard of good workmanship in the kitchen and taught me the foundations of cooking.” But she offers a warning: “You will taste everything – and I mean everything – you and your classmates prepare. This may cause temporary weight gain. I entered the program at 99 pounds and graduated at 115. Luckily, I’m back in shape.” She and her husband, Sergio, were married in 1996.
• Robert Cody (B.Arch. ’93) was recently made an associate at the architecture firm Beckhard Richlan Szerbate + Associates in Manhattan. He joined the firm in 1997 and has played a key role in many projects, including the Catherwood Library Renovation for the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University and the new Williamsburg Childcare Center in Brooklyn for the city of New York. He is the project manager for a 140,000-square-foot, long-term acute care facility in New Jersey and two community centers under construction for the New York City Housing Authority. Robert has been an adjunct associate professor at NYIT.
• Walter Martinez (B.S. ’93) of North Bergen, N.J., is a registered architect and associate with the firm Israel Berger & Associates in Manhattan, providing consultation services to building owners, developers and design architects.
• Discell Charlton (B.S. ’95) of Waldorf, Md., is a senior treasury analyst for the ICMA Retirement Corporation in Washington, D.C. He is responsible for the monthly distribution of a treasury report detailing the holdings and total market value of the corporate portfolio. “My hobbies include investing, writing fundraising proposals to raise money for worthy not-for-profit organizations, traveling, and education. I am working on a book about children who live in the inner city struggling to obtain the American dream.” He says that one of his best times at NYIT was when he was elected president of the Student Government Association at the Central Islip campus. “I had the opportunity to work and laugh with students, faculty and staff.”
• Gustavo A. Penengo (B.Arch. ’96) and Philip Rossillo (B.Arch. ’97) met while attending NYIT. “Frustrated by the monotony of typical architecture firms,” they opened up their own business, PRdesigngroup, in Manhattan. “We have a similar dedication and passion for quality design,” say the architects. “The proper balance of inspiration and forward-thinking allows us to constantly challenge each other to produce a successful collaboration.” Gustavo, who lives in Manhattan, enjoys winemaking, glassblowing and traveling. Philip, who lives in Queens, N.Y., is engaged and loves snowboarding,painting and traveling. They recently added another NYIT graduate to their team, Vladimir Kowalyk (B.Arch. ’96).
• John McHugh (B.F.A. ’97) of Massapequa Park, N.Y., is founder and president of Brainstorm Studios, a design firm specializing in Web and print communications. “When I graduated from NYIT, I went to work for Sam Ash Music as an art director,” he says. “In 2002, I took a huge leap of faith and left the security of a paycheck to launch my own design firm. Just a few months after I’d opened my doors, I received a call asking if I would like to design a project for a local college that turned out to be NYIT. The project was an interactive holiday card for President Edward Guiliano that received a BOLI (Best of Long Island) Award from the Long Island Ad Club.” The following year, John had the chance to work on that same project again, winning another award as well. “My time at NYIT really pushed my art and computer skills to the next level. Starting my own business was the most fulfilling decision I ever made. Much like my college days, I find myself burning the midnight oil and working weekends, but it is all worth it.”
• David Nadler (B.S. ’98, M.S. ’00) married the love of his life, Kathleen Lally, last August. He is an engineer in the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Office of Environmental, Health and Safety Compliance. “My job is to ensure that several hundred of the DEP’s facilities comply with environmental regulations and to oversee contractor assessments of these facilities.”
• William Ostrow (B.S. ’99) of Farmingdale, N.Y., is a staff accountant in the broker-dealer division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He says his work is rewarding in many ways because the primary goal of the SEC is to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the securities markets. “If it was not for Professor Nancy Hayes (nhayes@nyit.edu), I would not have met my wife, Jenice. Professor Hayes selected me for a Leo Goodwin scholarship at Geico, where I met her during my senior year. I also need to thank Professor Hayes for being an excellent accounting professor and providing me with the skills that I continue to use extensively at the SEC.”
• Karen Richards (M.S. ’99) of Brooklyn, N.Y., went on to earn a doctorate in computer technology in education at Nova Southeastern University in 2004. She is now the instructional technology manager for a physician continuing education program at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. “NYIT was a great place to study. For a city girl, the campus was beautiful all year-round. Every class was practical and provided valuable skills to bring to the workplace. Those skill sets ultimately paid off in job satisfaction and a promotion.”
  
  
  

| 2000s |

• Stacy-Ann Gooden (B.A. ’00), traffic anchor for Fox 5’s “Good Day New York,” never thought she would have a career in broadcast journalism. “I went to St. John’s University as an English major. I wanted to be a lawyer, or so I thought. By the time I was a senior, I did absolutely nothing to get into law school. With the advice of a career counselor, I applied for an internship at News 12 Long Island, and I was hooked.” However, Stacy-Ann realized that she needed more experience if she was to become a reporter and decided to attend NYIT. “Signing up for ‘LI News Tonight’ was the best thing I ever did. Without it, my chances as a reporter were slim to none. I learned to write for news, shoot video and edit packages.” But it wasn’t easy, she says. Her biggest problem was changing her writing style from literary composition to news copy. Yet, whenever she had writer’s block, Carol Pack (cpack@nyit.edu) was there to provide assistance. In addition, Gary Licker (glicker@nyit.edu) stepped in to help Stacy-Ann with her editing skills and Ken Eckhardt (keckhard@nyit.edu) “whipped us all into shape.” After the program, she was fortunate to land a full-time reporting position at Cablevision’s “Metro Traffic and Weather.” She then made the transition to Fox 5’s “Good Day New York.” Stacy-Ann says there is much more that she wants to accomplish. “I haven’t even reached the pinnacle of my career.
• Keema Davis (B.F.A. ’03) works for the Administration for Children’s Services, helping children find adoptive families. She serves as media liaison and coordinator for “Wednesday’s Child,” a segment on WNBC TV in Manhattan. “All children deserve permanency in their lives. One of the goals of the show is to help children find people to call their ‘forever families.’ This position is very rewarding to me personally because I found [my forever family] at 14. Knowing that someone cared about me and my well-being and that I was no longer just a case number helped me to feel better about myself and make positive decisions about my future. I guess you can say I’m ‘paying it forward.’”
• Joseph Fassacesia (B.S. ’03) is overseeing the building of roads in Afghanistan as a U.S. Army engineer. He is second-in-command of design and construction of roads and forward operations bases. “I am extremely proud as a New Yorker to have the opportunity to do my part after the Sept. 11 attacks.” He adds that his experiences abroad tend to make problems at home seem less complex. “Things that used to be stressful will now be a walk in the park. Combat zones have a way of changing your priorities.” Joseph’s unit was featured in the military publication Stars and Stripes. Upon returning to the United States, Joseph plans to travel a bit, and in spring 2006, he plans to go back to NYIT to earn his master’s degree.
• It didn’t take long for Jitendra Jain (M.S. ’03) of Herndon, Va., to make good use of an electrical and computer engineering degree. Jitendra is currently a senior quality analyst for the Fortune 500 company Freddie Mac.
• Aaron Loor (B.S. ’03) of Astoria, N.Y., is an assistant branch manager for Flushing Savings Bank. “I’m single with no kids and enjoy traveling. I recently visited Romania, Germany and Hungary.”