A Passion for Games, a Vision for Business

Electrical and computer engineering technology student Cody Ortiz grew up observing his father run his own flower shop and floral event décor service. But while his dad arranged cuttings, he unknowingly sewed seeds, too, planting a dream of entrepreneurship in his son’s mind.

Ortiz’s undergraduate studies are teaching him to become an inventor and innovator, and his minor in technology entrepreneurship is supplying the skills he’ll need to launch his own technology-based enterprise. If all goes according to plan, that enterprise will be a video game company.

“I’ve always loved video games, so I knew I wanted to get into the industry in some way,” the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences student says. “Not only do I want to make games, but I also want to start my own game company and work and compete with some of the best studios in the world that I’ve always looked up to.”

Working with his father, Ortiz is gleaning what entrepreneurship entails. He oversees the florist’s social media and serves as the main point of contact with catering halls. He also represents the business at wedding expos and helps set up clients’ event décor. While he says this work teaches him a great deal about the logistical and business sides of running a company, Ortiz sought to deepen his understanding of its technical aspects.

During the fall 2025 semester, Ortiz enrolled in the class NESTS: Necessary Eleven Steps to Tech Startup. Citing the course as an excellent resource for learning the technicalities of legal necessities, marketing, copyright, and patents, this experience in entrepreneurship was just a taste of what Ortiz hopes for his future.

This summer—and continuing through the fall—on the Long Island campus, Ortiz took a further step into leadership as a student ambassador, where he shows parents and prospective students all the university has to offer. They tell him about their goals and dreams, and he delivers a tour experience unique to their potential college journey. Learning how to “know” his crowd is a skill he unexpectedly picked up that will serve him well when he becomes a business owner.

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, Ortiz plans to further his computer engineering and technology skills with a master’s degree. Once ready to enter the professional world, he would like to secure a position in the video game industry to get a feel for what it’s like to be a professional in the field. All this in preparation for his dream of starting a video game company.

“Working with my dad has instilled in me the drive and passion to run a business. Now, I want my own passions to become a business,” Ortiz says. “The future is unknown, yet bright, so anything is possible. The best thing about life is how many open doors are out there waiting for us.”