BLI Graduation Year: 2012
Tell us briefly about yourself and please update your classmates on your personal/professional experiences since graduating from BLI:
I grew up in Carthage, NY and came to Binghamton in 1988 for my first and only professional job in architecture. I married my wife Leslie in 1996 who teaches at Seton Catholic Schools. We have two children, Zach and Jordan. I am an Associate Director for IBI Group which is an international architectural and engineering firm. I specialize in the design of K-12 schools and have developed an expertise in the field. Since graduating from BLI, my kids have continued to grow and achieve many great things and are currently in college, RIT and Binghamton University. My wife and I are getting accustomed to being empty nesters but having our daughter at BU is nice since we get to see her often.
Favorite Books/Movies (feel free to provide short explanation/commentary):
When I was young, I loved the movie Back to the Future. I was a big fan of Michael J Fox since many people called me his twin. I even had the nickname MJ in college. I still watch the movies off and on when they are on TV.
Current and Past Notable Civic Activities (boards, organizations [member/officer]):
Union Endicott Education Foundation board member 2014-2019
Board President 2017-2019
BLI Canstruction committee member 2013-2019
BLIAA board member 2012-2016
Co-Advisor for the Seton Catholic School Science Olympiad glider team 2017-2019
Interests/Hobbies (sports, music, travel, etc):
I am a very competitive person and currently a cycling enthusiast. I really enjoy the competition at the local club races. My wife and I are big Yankee fans and we are really enjoying the great season they are having. I have a small hobby of restoring Corvettes although with busy schedules, it is a very slow process.
How did your BLI experience change your perception of the community, and motivate you to become more involved in the community?
The BLI program got me to experience many things that I did not even know about in our community even though I had lived here since 1988. I loved how each session was devoted to a specific topic and how that played out in our community. I got a better understanding of the different organizations that exist in our area, both private companies and non-profits and where the needs are in our community. The experience led me to become a BLIAA board member. While I was on the board, I was instrumental in getting the BLI Canstruction event started and have been involved with organizing the event for the past 6 years.
What was your most memorable BLI activity/moment?
There are many memorable moments that occurred while participating in the BLI program but the one thing that I will always remember is the very first day. Twenty complete strangers came together that morning and participated in a lot of team building activities. As the day went on, we got to know more and more about each other and by the end of the day it seemed like we had known each other for much longer than a day. It was a very nice experience.
What was the most valuable benefit to your from your BLI experience?
Learning more about our community was of great value. It was amazing to me to learn about organizations, companies, activities, etc. that are in our community that I was not aware of or had very little knowledge of.
What “nugget of wisdom” do you have for your fellow BLI alum?
I have found that the most rewarding and exciting volunteer activities that I have participated in have involved working with children. I seemed to be able to relate to your people well, probably because I feel like I am still a child at times. I would encourage everyone to put your energy into activities that you really enjoy and it will be a much more rewarding experience.