BLI Graduation Year: 2011
Tell us briefly about yourself and please update your classmates on your personal/professional experiences since graduating from BLI:
I recently moved to a new house in Endwell, New York and live there together with my wife, Colleen, my two daughters, Ava (age 11) and Molly (age 2), and our dog Yankee (age 5). We are all very excited to be welcoming a baby boy to the family in August 2017!
Favorite books/movies:
Favorite movie: Wayne’s World; Favorite book: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Current and Past Notable Civic Activities:
Current: President, Broome County Habitat for Humanity; Board Member, Binghamton Philharmonic; Committee Member, STSW-RenewableNY Advisory Committee; Attorney Advisor, Maine Endwell Mock Trial. Past: President, Life is Washable, Inc. d/b/a The Magic Paintbrush Project
Interests/Hobbies:
With two kids, and a third on the way this August, my primary interests are spending time with my family. Also, I enjoy hot food, cold beverages and good times.
How did your BLI experience change your perception of the community?
BLI demonstrated that Greater Binghamton has a diverse economy powered by people who care not only about their personal and professional lives, but about the well-being of the community as a whole. Even more than that, BLI successfully demonstrated that Greater Binghamton remains a place where anyone can find success through hard work.
How did your BLI experience motivate you to become more involved in the community?
Contagious commitment to community. Everyone I met, from my classmates to the people who presented to us during the program, shared the same sense of commitment to improving the community regardless of background or profession. Seeing how everyone applied their particular skillset not only to their own professional development but to the betterment of the community was exactly the encouragement I needed to become more involved in the community.
What was your most memorable BLI activity/moment?
Touring the Broome County Jail. Not only because of the culture shock that came from being in a correctional facility, but also because of the professionalism of the Broome County Sheriff’s Department. The food wasn’t half bad either, although I am hoping I never have to eat it again.
What was the most valuable benefit to you from your BLI experience?
BLI provided me with a unique opportunity – to see my own hometown in a way I never had before. From the farmer’s field to the corporate boardroom, and everywhere in between, I was able to experience parts of Greater Binghamton that I never knew existed.
What “nugget of wisdom” do you have for your fellow BLI alum?
Always remember you’re unique, just like everyone else.