Graduates on the go

A decade-by-decade look at our alumni.

| 1950s |

William Alexander Bogdan (A.A.S. ’59, B.S. ’64) of Lavallette, N.J., was the first NYIT graduate known to the world, thanks to the spelling of his last name. Alphabetically, Bogdan was at the top of the list when it came time to announce the college’s first 34 graduates. He is retired now after spending several decades in international sales for the Bendix Corp., now Allied-Signal Aerospace Company, in New York, N.Y. His career took him all over the world with visits to Sweden, Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Japan, China, Brazil, and many other countries. William and his wife, Laureen, have five children.

Walter Dillard (A.A.S. ’59) used his degree to work in fire protection engineering and recalls being one of the first minorities to be hired in the field. He says he enjoyed a long, successful career and is now retired. Walter and his wife, Valerie, have four children and “lots” of grandchildren.

Francis Carlson (A.A.S. ’59) of Bronx, N.Y., worked for Verizon and its predecessors for 27 years before retiring in 1999. He credits much of his early success to NYIT; as graduates from other schools floundered, Francis had a “good grounding,” thanks to the college. While in Spain, he met his wife, Juliana. They have one daughter and two grandchildren.

Stephen Carlson (A.A.S. ’59) of Portsmouth, Va., is Francis Carlson’s twin-brother. After a 25-year career as an electronics field engineer, Stephen still keeps busy managing a shopping center he owns in his hometown. He is happily married to his wife, Kathleen. During his career, Stephen spent six years in Saudi Arabia, teaching electronics to the Saudi Navy.

| 1960s |

Joseph C. Dimino (A.A.S. ’60, B.S. ’62) of Jackson, N.J., was an architect for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2001. “The most gratifying part of my career was becoming general manager for design and construction for the U.S. Postal Service. I was responsible for all postal projects in New England, New York, New Jersey and the islands of Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.” Joseph and his wife, Jeanne, have two children, Lt. Joseph M. Dimino, U.S. Navy, and Lauren J. Dimino. His hobbies include golf, bocce, woodworking and writing for his community magazine.

John Erskine (A.A.S. ’60, B.S. ’64) of Garden City, N.Y., didn’t know what he wanted to do when he got out of the U.S. Army. But he thought he was pretty good at math, and when he heard about a new college that was opening up near him, he decided to sign up. NYIT, he says, “was the basis for the rest of my life.” Through his work in electronics, John helped design the motion picture camera used on the moon during the Apollo space missions. He describes the experience as “a moment I am truly proud of.”

Jerome Figueroa (A.A.S. ’60, B.S. ’72) is retired after working as a GTE engineer for 25 years. He now lives in Hill, N.H., where he enjoys photography and “reading good books.”

Donald E. Ross (A.A.S. ’60, B.F.A. ’62) is president of Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. He was the first NYIT Student Government Association president and editor of the college yearbook. After graduation, Don taught in NYIT’s communication arts department and eventually became dean of students. His wife, Helen Landgren, was also a member of NYIT’s staff and played an important role in the opening of the Old Westbury campus. Don left NYIT in 1968 to become the founding president of Marymount College, which later became Lynn University.

John Castellano (A.A.S. ’62, B.S. ’63) of Columbia, Md., is a 38-year veteran of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a program manager, he worked on many exciting programs, including the Hubble space telescope, the Mars Observer and Galileo projects, the space shuttle and more. “Working for NASA provides both challenges and opportunities for a real sense of accomplishment. There’s nothing like it.” He and his wife have two children and seven grandchildren.

After graduating, Warren O. Birkett Jr. (B.S. ’65) of Baker, La., worked as a systems analyst for IBM before starting his own company, Wybirk & Associates, with a partner in 1977. “We provide management and computer consulting services in 11 states to government agencies, corporations, and colleges and universities, as well as business development services to small companies and those looking to start a business or nonprofit organization.” His wife, Brenda, is dean of the College of Business at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La. They have two sons, Clayton and Owen.

In 2004, Mel L. Globerman (A.A.S. ’65, B.S. ’66) of Lake Worth, Fla., retired from the federal government after a long and successful career. After graduating from NYIT, he became involved in the aerospace industry, working for Grumman Aerospace Corp., Sperry Corp., and ITT Avionics. In 1972, he went to work for the federal government, first with the U.S. Geological Survey and then later at the U.S. Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Facility. Mel has three children and three grandchildren.

Ralph Schipani Jr. (B.S. ’66) of Guilford, Conn., is retired after more than 40 years in the information technology business. One of the highlights of his career was managing the construction of a new data center, including the relocation of all services from an existing facility to a new one for a Fortune 500 company. He and his wife, Beatrice, have two children, Marissa and Ralph III.

James Geoghan (B.F.A. ’69) of Los Angeles, Calif., has been writing and producing situation comedies in Hollywood for more than 25 years. Some of his hits include “Silver Spoons,” “Amen,” “The Facts of Life,” and “Family Matters.” Right now, he is involved in several projects, including a new show on the Disney Channel, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.” He has also written a play, “Two Gentlemen of Corona,” which is scheduled to open at the Ensemble Studio Theater in Los Angeles and has been optioned for a New York run.

Samuel A. Pakrad (B.S. ’69) of Brewster, N.Y., enjoyed a successful 25-year career at IBM before retiring in 1993. After leaving the company, Samuel started an education consulting firm, SMP Enterprises, which continues to grow. He and his wife, Millie, have two married sons, Christopher and Brandon, and five grandchildren. “My family spends summers at the Jersey Shore and enjoys the sun and surf.”

| 1970s |

Ken Goodgold (B.S. ’70) of St. Louis, Miss., says, “Several years ago, I retired from SBC Laboratories, where I was director of advanced technologies. I got paid to play with the latest telecommunications prototypes and took pleasure in seeing several of the projects I worked on – such as DSL, ISDN and videotelephones – introduced as commercial products.” Today, Ken’s hobbies include boating, golf and travel. He and his wife have one son, Jason, who just graduated from the University of Mississippi.

William Pezzulich (B.S. ’71) is a principal mechanical engineer for Technip USA in Houston, Texas. During his long career, William was responsible for the engineering design, purchase and construction of mechanical equipment for chemical, natural gas and refinery plants in the United States and Asia. He and his wife, Trudy, have been married for more than 40 years, and have four children and three grandchildren. “All of our children are college graduates – two teachers, one accountant and one lawyer.” His hobbies include paleontology and collecting antiques.

Martin Feuer (B.S. ’72) of Williston Park, N.Y., and his wife, Susan, have two children, Elizabeth and Jonathan. “Since graduating from NYIT, I have been fortunate to have a career as an international banker, regulator, compliance officer and now consultant. My work over the years has given me an opportunity to travel and live abroad, and provided me with a broad range of knowledge in the global financial arena, which I now use as a consultant to financial institutions. Helping others identify, address and resolve problems is the most gratifying part of my work.” He enjoys softball, cycling and stamp collecting.
 
Gary Frankel (B.S. ’72) has served in public office as mayor, vice mayor and commissioner of North Lauderdale, Fla. He has worked as a successful real estate agent since 1992 and likes to collect antiques.

Sal Esposito (B.F.A. ’73) lives in Bellmore, N.Y., with his wife, Susana. As a special education teacher in the Levittown, N.Y., school district, he says the most gratifying part of his job is working with students who are often passed over by others. During his years at NYIT, Sal was the sports editor for the Campus Slate and held various positions in the athletic department. His best memories involve the former athletics director, Hank Jacobson. “He always had a story or a quip that would have the students laughing,” Sal says. He adds that his best professor was Luis Navia, Ph.D., who opened his mind and inspired him to seek knowledge. In addition, the Vietnam War gave Sal the opportunity to spend time with returning veterans who were also instrumental in his education.

Marianne Griffin (B.S. ’75) moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, soon after graduation and started what she calls a “wonderful career” in marketing research, where her love for logic and math are a perfect fit. She is senior vice president of project management at StrataMark Research, a division of RDI Marketing Services. “My fondest memory of NYIT is graduation day. There were only four of us graduating with a degree in physics – three men and me. As we stood to be recognized, a voice from the crowd shouted, ‘She’s off my payroll!’” As the only woman standing, Marianne says, there could be no doubt whom the comment was intended for. On the 30th anniversary of her graduation, she called her dad and began to reminisce about that beautiful day. “As I said, ‘And then a voice called out ... ,’ he interrupted me with, ‘She’s off my payroll!’ What a great way to remember my last day at NYIT!” She and her husband, Mark Schmitt, have three children, Steve, Caroline and Suzanne.

Imad Azar (B.S. ’76) of Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., joined Schenker Inc. in 1978 and has since worked his way up to route development manager for the 600-office firm. Imad is very proud of his wife, Marion, who, after working for designers like Oscar de La Renta, opened her own fashion house three years ago. “The business has been a success from day one.” Her clients include first lady of New York Libby Pataki, as well as New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams and Broadway star Leslie Uggams. When he’s not working, Imad can be found training at the local fitness center. “Last year, I ran the Long Island half-marathon and finished the race in two hours and 10 minutes.” Imad also travels the world with his wife.

David Carr (B.S. ’77) now lives in Maringa, Parana, Brazil. “The most gratifying part of my career was the development of a very popular service for New York Telephone Company – the first public chat service for mass telecommunications in the United States.” David and his wife, Hilda, have one son, Marcus. “During the late ’70s, I was very busy raising a family, working and attending school. I enjoyed my classes and the many people whose paths I crossed at NYIT.”

Maura Fitzgerald (B.S. ’77) of Mt. Sidney, Va., worked for many years as a technical writer and editor for AT&T before going back to school to start a second career as a teacher. Recalling her years at NYIT, one of her favorite memories is a psychology project that she and her classmates conducted on subliminal messaging. She also remembers fun times with friends, including “all the break times we spent talking and laughing.” Maura enjoys making scrapbooks, needlework, gardening and reading. She is married and has four children, Melissa, Virginia, Andrew and Joseph.

Narinder Singh (B.S. ’77) of Holmdel, N.J., and his wife recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary by taking the entire family to Las Vegas, Nev. “What a coincidence that NYIT is celebrating its 50th anniversary, too.” He wishes NYIT and all the faculty and staff members his heartfelt congratulations. “Thank you for all the help I received,” Narinder says. “Without my education, there is no way that I would have achieved so much success in my career.” A quality control engineer, Narinder retired from NYNEX in 1994 after 26 years with the Bell company. He enjoys reading, traveling, photography and flying airplanes.

Maureen Duignan (B.S. ’79) of Pensacola, Fla., went on to attend Albany Law School. She became the first female partner at her law firm, Shell, Fleming, Davis and Menge P.A. When she isn’t working, Maureen enjoys gardening, water and snow skiing, rollerblading, and biking.

Denis Foley (M.B.A. ’79) is retired from the U.S. Air Force and living in Brooksville, Fla., with his wife, Eleanor. He received the NYIT President’s Award in 1989 for his work on behalf of the college and continues to organize several alumni events in Central Florida. He is also president of the John C. Meyer Chapter of the Air Force Association. The chapter supports four Air Force Junior ROTC units and three Civil Air Patrol Squadrons in the area. “Being retired allows me to do the things I enjoy.” An avid reader, Denis also likes gardening. “With 15 acres, it’s a lot of fun.”
 
| 1980s |

Barbara Rogg Maloy (B.Arch. ’81) lives in Boulder, Colo. “I have my own architectural firm, specializing in residential work, and now take only one client at a time.” She and her husband, Mike, have two daughters and three grandchildren. “My best to NYIT and to the architecture class of 1981.”

Nancy Davis Rosenberg (M.B.A. ’83) of Land O’Lakes, Fla., is the owner of A2Z Resumes, a resume-writing business. After graduation, she worked in computer security management for five years at MIS Security in New York, N.Y. She decided to stay home and begin the resume-writing service after her daughter, Alison, was born.

William V. Baker (M.A. ’84) remembers his NYIT master’s project very well; he interviewed Bob Keeshan, who played legendary children’s television character Captain Kangaroo. “It was an experience that I will never forget,” he says. “I have worked in radio, television and voice-overs ever since graduation, doing everything from overnights to morning drive.” He is now the midday radio host at ABC Classic FM and a television host at WCNY-FM-TV in Syracuse, N.Y. “It’s always been about connecting with the listener ... a comment or quip here ... a great song there ... and then the phone call or e-mail from a listener who appreciates the connection.”

Pamela Tesoriere Dirisio (B.F.A. ’84) is director of corporate communications for Martin Marietta in Raleigh, N.C. She has 21 years of experience in still photography, video production and corporate communications. An avid volunteer, Pamela has dedicated many hours to leading community fundraising campaigns for local arts and educational programs. She and her husband have one daughter.

Nader Moniriarani (B.S. ’85) is a staff engineer and project manager for Johnson Controls Inc. in Milwaukee, Wis. He is involved in the development of electro-mechanical building devices that help make indoor life safer. He and his wife, Vida, have five children, Nahal, Nouzsan, Nava, Nouzar and Naami.

Cecil V. Regman (M.B.A. ’85) of Irvington, N.J., is a financial analyst and has worked for General Motors for more than 40 years. “My hobbies are music, chess and paddleball.” Cecil and his wife, Anita, have five children, Cecil Jr., Stacie, Alexia, Stephen, and Tiffany, and one grandchild.

George I. Rodriguez (B.F.A. ’85, M.B.A. ’00) of Marlborough, Conn., works in the information technology project management department for Webster Bank. He and his wife, Christine, have two children, Megan and Adam. “When I was an undergraduate, I recall having a professor who was very passionate about poetry and teaching. That teacher was none other than Dr. Edward Guiliano, NYIT’s current president. I really enjoyed attending the college for my master’s degree. The quality of education was very high!”

Richard Bearak (B.Arch. ’87) of Brooklyn, N.Y., is deputy director for planning and development for the borough of Brooklyn. Richard provides technical assistance to communities and developers. “I was recently involved in the rezoning of the Williamsburg and Greenpoint waterfront neighborhoods to achieve affordable housing on a scale unlike anything New York City has ever accomplished before.” He and his wife, Adrianne, have three children, Douglas, Mathew and Marisa.

Gregory Bonsignore (B.Arch. ’87) of Forest Hills, N.Y., is managing director of the Hudson Development Group, a residential real estate investment company that develops high-end single and multi-family residences in Manhattan. He has been a guest on the Bloomberg news radio show, “Money Line,” and has been featured in the New York Times. Greg continues to enjoy teaching at the Real Estate Institute at New York University. “I will never forget the encouragement I received from NYIT faculty and all the great parties and lectures.”

Frank DiMaulo (B.F.A. ’87) of Huntington Station, N.Y., is an Emmy Award-winning audio engineer. He garnered his first Emmy working for ABC’s “The View” in 2000 and earned another in 2004 for his work on the CBS daytime soap opera, “As the World Turns.” Looking back on his NYIT years, Frank remembers some intense communication law classes with Professor John Summerfield. But his favorite memories center around his Sunday morning shift at WNYT. “I used to really annoy the architectural students who slept next to their projects down the hall from the radio studio.” He and his wife, Elizabeth Firestone (B.F.A. ’86), have two children, Michael and Kristiane. Frank enjoys skiing and collecting coins and watches.

Thomas J. Maher (B.S. ’87) of East Northport, N.Y., works with Fortune 500 clients at William F. Collins AIA Architects LLP in Setauket, N.Y. He and his wife, Melissa, have three children, William, Brendan and Annabel.

Steve Verderosa (B.S. ’87) of Apex, N.C., is a scout for the New York Giants. During his 17-year career with the team, the Giants have been to the Super Bowl twice, winning once. Steve came to NYIT to study architecture, but as he played for the football team, he parlayed his love of the game into a winning career. “I am very blessed with how things turned out.” He and his wife, Lori, have three children, Alex, Matthew and Mikala.

Scott T. Mislan (B.F.A. ’88) says, “I followed my passion for filmmaking and turned it into a career.” Although he resides in Beverly Hills, Calif., his work takes him all over the world. “My true love is film – I have been producing, writing and directing film and television for major networks for the better part of 15 years. Currently, I am producing and directing the A&E series, ‘Airline.’” During his time at NYIT, Scott founded the Feedback Club and hosted many symposiums with media professionals. “My favorite guest was Baltimore filmmaker John Waters, who came to speak to a packed house just after the release of his big hit, ‘Hairspray.’ John started with a dream and made it reality. So did I.”

| 1990s |

Lisa M. Choleff  (B.S. ’90, D.O. ’93) of West Islip, N.Y., is a family practice fellow at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, N.Y. “I assist in training interns, residents and students in the family practice inpatient service. Teaching and seeing my students grow as physicians is the most gratifying part of my work.” Lisa was a U.S. Army reservist while earning her medical degree at NYCOM. “Operation Desert Storm occurred while I was a second-year student. One of my classmates was sent to Iraq while the Army allowed me to continue my studies. I felt a sense of guilt that his studies had to be curtailed, and he was placed in harm’s way while I was safe and studying at home. The class wrote several letters to politicians to shorten his tour of duty so that he could complete medical school. He was back one year later, without any injury, and restarted his second year. I believe this experience shaped my views about the present war in Iraq and the need to support our troops.”

Raymond Colanero (M.S. ’91) of Denville, N.J., became a systems administrator for Con Edison’s environmental safety and health departments three years ago after working in power and steam generation for 29 years. He just earned a Ph.D. in environmental engineering and is taking online courses through NYIT to maintain his New York professional engineer license. Raymond and his wife, Susan, have two children, Raymond and Linda.

David E. Garcia, O.D. (B.S. ’91) of Jackson Heights, N.Y., is an optometrist with Lens Lab Express. After graduating from NYIT, he studied optometry at Nova-Southeastern University and did clinical rotations in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

William Hatzichristos (B.S. ’91) of Danbury, Conn., is the director of corporate procurement for the New York Mets. “Accepting a position with the Mets was the best career move I ever made. It allowed me to establish a world-class procurement organization. We are creating efficiencies and cost savings never seen before in the team’s 40-year history.”

Theresa J. Jackson (B.S. ’92) of Massapequa, N.Y., enjoys participating in the pro bono program at Computer Associates International, where she has been an intellectual property paralegal for several years. She has five children, Uthman, Jaquone, Jamal, Shantel and Ashley, and one grandchild, Sakinah.

Robert Buchalter (M.A. ’92) of Howard Beach, N.Y., is supervising post producer of the MTV show, “Room Raiders.” He was also co-creator and producer of the television show, “Shipmates.” Other television work includes senior producer for the “Judge Mills Lane Show,” talent coordinator for David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants Production Company, and a post-production producer for “Judge Hatchett.” Robert says, “My NYIT background prepared me for success in the field of television.”

Errol Young (B.S. ’92) has a clear affinity for his work as president and CEO of Solutions Technology Inc. in Jersey City, N.J. “I’ve been working in the financial industry for a few years as an information technology (IT) consultant. I love being where the action is and understanding how my IT knowledge can help solve everyday business problems.” He adds, “Great work, NYIT! Thank you for preparing me for my future!”

Carlos A. Caraballo (B.T. ’93) of Stamford, Conn., is a mid-range systems engineer in the technology operations services division of General Electric. “I enjoy my job because every day is different, and I really enjoy leading projects that bring new technologies or software to our customers.” His hobbies include golf, coaching little league and serving as a youth pastor. “I enjoy helping others and learning from them.”

Ella Faye Chazan (M.P.S. ’93) of Boca Raton, Fla., is a psychotherapist with a private practice. She says her passion is couples therapy. “I have a solid basis for clinical practice today because of the fine professors and mentors I met during my training at NYIT. I will forever be grateful for my education, as it prepared me for a wonderful career.”

Nicholas Ferrari (B.S. ’93) of New York, N.Y., is a project manager for Turner Construction, one of the largest construction firms in the nation with more than 1,500 projects performed each year. He married his wife, Roseanne, last year and enjoys running, skiing and golf.

Ann Marie Mowbray (B.S. ’93) of New York, N.Y., is a personal assistant to what she calls “a number of very interesting people here in New York and in Germany.” She is a widow, raising four children, Daniel, David, Douglas and Gary. “I went back to college when I was 40. My fondest memories are of my first-year professors and how wonderfully enthusiastic they were about teaching their subjects. I was so happy to attend NYIT and fortunate to experience more than one campus. Happy 50th anniversary, NYIT!”

Anthony G. Acerra (B.S. ’94) has been involved in the construction of several hospitals and schools in the New York metropolitan area. He is a project executive with Skanska USA Building, the U.S. subsidiary of the Swedish-based construction firm, Skanska. Anthony and his wife, Sandra, have one daughter, Isabella. His hobbies include golfing, boating and fine cuisine.

Robert Cody (B.Arch. ’94) is an associate at Beckhard Richlan Szerbaty + Associates, an international architecture, planning and interior design firm in New York, N.Y. Cody, who joined the firm in 1997, has played a key role in many of the firm’s most important commissions, including a new office building in Roseland, N.J., designed for Mack-Cali Realty and the new Williamsburg Childcare Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Current projects include a 140,000-square-foot, long-term, acute-care facility in New Jersey and two community centers for the New York City Housing Authority.

Dina Elardo (B.A. ’96, M.B.A. ’02) of Massapequa, N.Y., started her own business, Notary Public Central, through which she provides corporate training and consulting for Fortune 500 companies. “I was written up in Working Mother magazine in October 2004 and received one of the highest honors in my field, Special Honoree 2004, from the National Notary Association. It was not always easy, especially after having twins mid-way through my graduate degree, but I wouldn’t trade my NYIT experience for anything. The professors challenged me to think outside the box and expand my horizons.”

Nathaniel Howard (M.S. ’96) of Brooklyn, N.Y., has worked for Con Edison for 29 years. “I’ve spent most of my career developing, delivering and managing a variety of training programs. What’s most satisfying is being a resource for my colleagues.” He and his wife, Debra, have one daughter, Mia.

Stephanie Cole Sanchez (B.S. ’96) lives in Lodi, N.J., with husband, Noel, and their newborn daughter, Segall. Stephanie is an early childhood education teacher and enjoys garage sales, redecorating, running and waking her daughter up in the morning. “One of the most gratifying aspects of my career is hearing family members tell me what a difference I’m making in the lives of young students.”

Laurie Heinitz (B.S. ’97), who moved to Orlando, Fla., right after graduation, is a manager in the application support department of software company Air Transport IT Services. “I enjoy the constant challenges of learning new technologies,” she says.

Jacinda M. Rentrope-Dunlop (M.A. ’97) of Westbury, N.Y., married the love of her life, Richard Dunlop, last year. “I am a producer for ‘The People’s Court.’ The most gratifying part of my job is meeting many different people and helping them through stressful situations.” When it comes to her NYIT experience, Jacinda especially loved “LI News Tonight” and the opportunities it gave her to meet media professionals. “I learned a great deal and valued every minute.” She says she loved the assignments given to her by Professors Anthony Piazza and Don Fizzinoglia in her television production classes. “The most memorable project was my senior graduate thesis – I directed and edited my first music video.”

Shawn Bolduc (B.S. ’98) of Rochester, N.H., is a job captain for the design firm JSA Inc. in Portsmouth, N.H. He also serves on the board of directors for the American Institute of Architects’ New Hampshire chapter and is in charge of the Young Architects Committee. “I completed the intern development program through the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and am in the process of taking the Architectural Registration Exams to become licensed in New Hampshire.” When not advancing his career, Shawn enjoys spending time outdoors, golfing, fishing, camping and hiking. He and his wife, Rachel Ann, have one daughter, Quincy Ann.

Art Demarest (B.Arch. ’98) founded his own architecture firm, Demarest Architects, in Hackettstown, N.J. “After graduation, I had the opportunity to work with fellow alumni Emily Cohen, Manny Bejarano and John Quaranta. We graduated NYIT together and share a great friendship.” Art and his wife, Ricki, have two children, Theo and Michele.

Wendy DeNicolo (B.F.A. ’98, M.A. ’03) of East Meadow, N.Y., is library coordinator for TV Land, Nick at Nite, Noggin, CMT and LOGO at MTV Networks. Of her time at NYIT, Wendy says, “I loved my classes in the master’s degree program with Dr. Michael Banks. He is one of the most knowledgeable, entertaining and interesting people I know.”

After several years in global banking, Mustafa Karahan (M.B.A. ’97), who lives in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, started his own business, Central Asian Financial Advisory Services LLP. The company enables Turkish and Central Asian banks and corporations to reach emerging market investors in Europe. Karahan is also a professional painter with an exhibit, “Samples of Turkish Modern Art 2005,” touring Central Asia, Turkey, France, the United Kingdom and Holland.

Barbara Roth Porter (B.S. ’99) of East Northport, N.Y., is director of order capture services for 1-800-Flowers.com. She and her husband, Phil, have two children, Katie and P.J.
   
| 2000s |

Bill Sorice’s (B.F.A. ’00) play, “Out of the Box,” opened at the Producers Club Grand Theatre in New York, N.Y., in September. The Manhattan playwright is also directing the character-driven comedy, which explores breaking down barriers and demystifying unconventional mindsets.  

Jodi Wladyka (B.A. ’00) is an administrative assistant for JRS Architects PC in Mineola, N.Y. “I will never forget Dr. Anthony DiMatteo; he opened my eyes to wonderful works of literature. I know my college experience would not have been the same if he were not part of it.” Jodi and her husband, William, live in East Farmingdale, N.Y. She enjoys writing, scuba diving and working out.

Keith Burger (B.Arch. ’01) of White Plains, N.Y., is a project manager at Jones Footer, Margeotes and Partners in Greenwich, Conn. He says his favorite moments at work are when clients show their appreciation for his home designs. While a student at NYIT’s Manhattan campus, Keith enjoyed “walking in Central Park between classes and experiencing the city as an extension of my classroom.” Keith and his wife, Jenna, have been married for two years.

Kurt A. Franklin (M.B.A. ’01) of East Brunswick, N.J., is a senior manager for Morgan Stanley. He is responsible for managing the monthly review process for the $1 billion in advisory fees that the firm receives from clients and funds. As for hobbies, Kurt enjoys weight training and traveling.

Stephanie G. Giering (M.P.S. ’01) is director of housing services for Camillus House, one of the largest providers of homeless services in Dade County, Fla. She oversees 11 facilities and the 561 clients who live in them. “We provide case management, active parenting, GED classes, job development, tutoring, and mental health services. I am thrilled to give back to my community and help individuals achieve self-sufficiency.”

Anthony J. Raganella (B.S. ’02), a lieutenant in the New York City Police Department, authored a research article while attending NYIT on law enforcement recruitment practices. The piece was published in the Journal of Criminal Justice.

Prasit Imvised (B.S. ’03) of Phuket, Thailand, is the information technology manager for the Diamond Cliff Resort and Spa in Phuket. He maintains the hotel’s computer network and oversees its Web site. Prasit says his hotel suffered only slight damage following the December 2004 tsunami in Asia.

Robin Richardson (D.O. ’03) is in his third year of residency and serves as the house doctor for North Philadelphia Health Systems in Philadelphia, Pa. His wife, Brittney (M.S. ’04), is human resources manager for a manufacturing company in Philadelphia. Because Robin’s residency caused the couple to move several times in the last few years, Brittney praised NYIT’s professors for working with her to complete her education. “NYIT will always be a part of our lives; I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”

Suzanne Samara (B.S. ’04), a graduate of NYIT’s program in Amman, Jordan, works in the human resources department of Consolidated Contractors Company in Jordan. “What’s most gratifying to me is that I have the opportunity to apply what I learned at NYIT and contribute to the advancement of my department,” she says.

Marwan Zakaria (M.B.A. ’04) of Indianapolis, Ind., is a systems manager in the information technology development and deployment group of General Motors. Already a longtime employee, Marwan decided to pursue additional education through NYIT’s online programs. “Studying through Ellis College of NYIT and being part of its first graduating class were extremely exciting for me. I was challenged to complete my studies full-time while maintaining a 70-hour workweek and being a parent as well.” Marwan and his wife, Dima, have four children, Farid, Hani, Omar and Dina. 

Andrew N. Vourlos (M.A. ’05) of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., is a program manager in anti-counterfeiting operations for Underwriters Laboratories. He works with federal law enforcement agencies to prevent shipments of counterfeit or potentially dangerous consumer electrical products from entering the United States. “Probably the most fun I had at NYIT was the road trip to Brookhaven National Laboratory and seeing the lab’s power distribution, as well as its heating and air-conditioning equipment.”

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