Alumni Association Board Biographies
Anika Aftab BS ’19, MS ’20
Analyst, AMI Expeditionary Healthcare
Anika Aftab currently works as an analyst in Washington D.C. She partners with government organizations and assists in project deployment for rapid health crisis responses both on a domestic and international level. She is starting her Masters in Business Administration at the Jack Welch Management Institute in April 2021 and is currently writing a book titled I Will Run for Congress and Why You Should Too with the Creator's Institute at Georgetown. She is exploring the intersection between women and politics, specifically in congress. She was inspired to learn from "the onlies" in a room - Women, POC, and underrepresented individuals that have defied obstacles and stigmas to stand up and, most importantly, speak up. Although she is just starting out her career she has aspirations to run for office one day! Outside of work, she is an avid reader, currently trying to complete the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge, and loves to stay active, especially team sports, her favorite is rugby.
As a student, Ms. Aftab held the role of Student Government President and also served as a senator representing the School of Individualized Study. She participated in several startups, including her own at the Saunders Summer Accelerator Program, and worked for the Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She was a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, the multicultural representative for academic success for SOIS, and was recognized as a Legacy Leader by the Center for Women & Gender. She was involved with Relay for Life, RIT Women's Rugby, TedxRIT, Saunders Mentorship Program, SOIS Student Council, and International Conversations Partner.
Omar Aponte M.E. ’08
Data Manager at Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region
Omar was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where he completed a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering before coming to RIT in 2007 to pursue a master’s of engineering (M.E.) degree in Engineering Management. After graduating from RIT, he started a professional career that now includes more than 10 years of industry experience working as an engineer, a consultant, a technical trainer, and a college professor. Omar came back to RIT in 2017, this time to pursue a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Engineering and focus his career on the application of data analytics to improve energy efficiency and reduce negative environmental impact. During this phase of his career, Omar is passionate about opportunities to use his experiences, knowledge, and skills to help organizations, nations and communities around the world in their quest to reduce their negative environmental impact and to be more resilient in the face of climate change and the natural disasters associated with it.
Throughout his time at RIT, Omar has been actively involved with different departments, clubs, and organizations. He worked with RIT’s Office of Strategic Planning and Sustainability supporting initiatives and partnerships that contributed to the achievement of RIT’s sustainability goals. Omar is an active volunteer for the RIT Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the Kate Gleason College of Engineering’s ECCO (Engineers of Color Creating Opportunities) Center, and a mentor for students within the M.O.C.H.A. (Men of Color Honor and Ambition) program. He has held executive board positions in student led organizations such as the Doctoral Student Association and Latino America Unida - Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. Omar is excited to bring his experiences as an RIT student and as a professional to the RIT Alumni Association Board of Directors and contribute to the realization of the goals set forth by the organization.
Joe Boyd BS ’04
Vice President and Partner, Brighton Securities
Mr. Boyd is Vice President and Partner at Brighton Securities, an independently owned stock brokerage and financial services firm in Rochester, NY. Joe worked at Brighton Securities for over eight years and previously served as a Financial Advisor. Prior to Brighton Securities, Mr. Boyd worked as a Project Manager at Mirror Show Management and as a Project Engineer at Ecovation, Inc.
Dawn Marie Caggiano ’94,’96
Marketing Operations Manager at ZVRS
Dawnmarie is a graduate of the College of Liberal Arts, Social Work program. She has been with ZP Better Together, LLC (ZVRS and Purple Communications) since 2008 and is currently working as the Marketing Operations Manager. Prior to joining ZP, she worked in various positions in the non-profit sector from 1998 – 2008.
She served on various boards of numerous organizations over the years including the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) as the current Affiliate Board Member and board liaison for NAD’s Taskforce on Aging, the Florida Association of the Deaf (FAD), NTID Alumni Association (NTIDAA), St. Petersburg College’s SLIP, Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (FRID), and Family Center on Deafness.
While a student at RIT/NTID Dawnmarie was Vice President of the Epsilon Psi Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma National Sorority, Vice President of NTID Student Congress, and various clubs on campus. During her leisure time, Dawnmarie loves doing arts and crafts, watching movies, traveling and spending time with her sister, Elizabeth, her close friends, and two dogs, Abby and Bella.
Andrea (Shaver) Carpenter ’17
Founder, Purposefully Curated
A 2017 Graphic Design grad from the College of Art and Design, Andrea calls herself a Curator of Purposeful Experiences because she works at the intersection of design, strategy, facilitation, and connection. Her passion is to help those in moments of transition by bringing humanity and data together. Andrea's background as a user experience designer and strategist helps her integrate a design thinking approach to her work by designing memorable programs and experiences to help others discover and fulfill their true purpose.
She's currently enjoying life in Denver, CO with her husband, Andrew (also an RIT grad), and their dog, Wilson. While at RIT, Andrea was involved in the performing arts and served on RIT's Student Government for three years, including being SG President in 2016-2017.
Kim Conti DeGroot BS ’90
Principal and Owner, Kimberly’s Global Real Estate Corp.
Kimberly Conti DeGroot holds an International Management Business Degree from RIT and serves as on the Alumni Board. Kimberly has over 20 years of real estate sales and property management experience. She is the founder of Kimberly’s Global Real Estate Corporation and the co-founder of Ruthian Investment Fund LLC., a real estate investment fund that offers access and opportunity to invest in residential income-producing properties across the USA. Prior to real estate, Kimberly worked for Eastman Kodak. While at Kodak, she managed international operations in Stuttgart, Germany as well as the represented Kodak at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Kim was one of only 10 people selected to represent each of the 10 worldwide sponsors for the Olympic Games. In addition, Kim and her husband, Dan, established the DeGroot Youth Activities Endowment Fund, a San Luis Obispo 503(c) charity that supports local children’s activities in San Luis Obispo, CA.
Jenna Deutsch BS ’13
Manager- Field Testing at iRobot
A College of Liberal Arts alumna, Jenna is the Manager of Field Testing at iRobot. She manages a team of User Testing specialists to run alpha and beta tests on iRobot's new products and features. Prior to iRobot, she was a Senior Program Manager- Beta Testing at Peloton. She managed beta tests with hundreds to thousands of employees and Peloton users to test and validate new products and features. She’s helped launch (and re-launch) the Peloton Guide, Heart Rate Band, and Tread. Before Peloton, Jenna was a Senior Program Manager- Beta Testing at Bose (helping to launch Bose Soundbar 700/500, Home Speaker 500/450, Frames, Sport Earbuds, QuietComfort® Earbuds, Sport Open Earbuds, Google Voice Assistant integration) and Program Manager- Beta Testing at Fitbit (helping to launch Fitbit Ionic, Flyers, and Aria 2). Before working in consumer technology, Jenna was a Program Manager in advertising at SapientNitro where she focused on Citizens Bank and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
While at RIT, Jenna was involved in Greek Life (as President of Zeta Tau Alpha), Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), RIT SportsZone, RIT Sports Information, as Residence Life. She’s very much looking forward to getting more involved with RIT as an alumna.
Outside of work, she loves to read (100+ books in 2020!), stay active with Peloton, travel, and bake. Jenna lives in Boston, MA with her mini-wirehaired dachshund, Dunkin’, and has received her MBA from Strayer University in Spring 2021 and PMP in Spring 2022.
Elizabeth Del Valle BS ’10
Global Head of Marketing for Gaming & Creator Communities, YouTube
Elizabeth is Global Head of Marketing for Gaming & Creator Communities at YouTube where she’s responsible for driving innovation in gaming, live streaming, and building programs that drive advocacy for the brand. An advocate for underrepresented voices in tech, including female and LatinX communities, she spearheads marketing programs that are both inclusive and impactful. Elizabeth is a native of the Dominican Republic and possesses a strong commitment to advancing LatinX and Caribbean communities in tech. As an advocate for underrepresented voices in gaming and tech, she spearheads programs that challenge students and industry professionals to build a more inclusive video games industry. She has appeared on panels about women who are breaking barriers in the gaming industry, inspiring future generations to pursue careers in STEM. Elizabeth started her marketing career in the video games industry at Sony Computer Entertainment of America, following a Master’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of Rochester and a bachelor’s degree in international business from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In 2020, Women in Marketing Global awards awarded Elizabeth with The Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Marketing-Brand. As a student, Ms. Del Valle was the Founder of the Model United Nations and a Telefund caller.
Maria Falaschi BS ’04, MBA ’06
Managing Principal, BluPoint Marketing LLC
Maria Falaschi is the managing principal of BluPoint Marketing, a boutique integrated marketing firm based in San Francisco. Founded by Ms. Falaschi in 2014, Blupoint offers a suite of services designed to create and grow the online brand of its clients, most of which are in the health and wellness industries. Prior to starting her own firm, she worked at numerous companies in the areas of project management, product development, and online marketing, including Xerox, Maximized Living, and Kinder’s Meats and BBQ. Outside of work, Ms. Falaschi volunteers with many non-profit organizations including the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay. Currently Ms. Falaschi also sits on the board of the Summit Bank Foundation, the Marketing and Communications Committee at the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, and the Colombo Club Auxiliary.
David Gallagher BS ’91
CEO & Owner, Capture Integration
Mr. Gallagher is the CEO & Owner of Capture Integration, an international award-winning digital systems integrator that provides sales and support specializing in the highest end digital capture system including Phase One, Hasselblad, Fujifilm and Leica. He also owns the distribution company Cambo USA and the studio production software company Shotflow. Previously, he held the position of Sales Manager at Phase One, Calumet Photographic, and Sinar Bron Imaging. David is an active volunteer at RIT, returning to campus frequently to speak with students at lectures. In addition to his volunteer work, David attends many RIT events including chapter events in Atlanta and campus events like Brick City Homecoming. Mr. Gallagher holds a degree in Imaging and Photographic Technology from RIT and was the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Collage of Art and Design.
Ms. Victoria Decker BS ’93
Vice President, Farmers Restaurant Group; President, Griffith Safety Group
Victoria Decker, vice president of quality assurance and purchasing for the Farmers Restaurant Group, a Washington, D.C.-based restaurant management and concept development company whose restaurants emphasize made-from-scratch dishes created in-house each day using fresh, sustainably-grown ingredients sourced from American family farms. Prior to joining the Farmers Restaurant Group in 2016, she ran her own consulting company for more than five years. She earned a BS in food marketing and distribution from RIT’s former College of Applied Science and Technology in 1993. She is a longtime member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, where she is currently the association’s president and representative on the Board of Trustees. She has also served on the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management International Advisory Board, on the Nathaniel Rochester Society Executive Committee, and as an alumni chapter volunteer and leader, and was honored with the 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award. She is also the recipient of RIT’s Sarah Margaret Gillam Memorial Award (2000) and the Entrepreneurial Award (2015) from the School of International Hospitality and Service Innovation.
Amanda Jackson-Jacobs EMBA ’09
Global Productivity Program Manager, Praxair
Prior to obtaining her EMBA from RIT, Amanda Jackson-Jacobs graduated with a BS from Northeast Louisiana University. Currently, she is working at Praxair Inc. as global productivity program manager and serves as an adjunct faculty member at SUNY Brockport in Business Administration and Economics. Previously, she held positions with both Kodak and Xerox. Very active in her local community, Amanda has participated in many leadership activities including: the American Association of University Women in Buffalo and Rochester, Leadership Women Pipeline USA, Leadership America, Women Resources Alumni, H.E.A.R.T. (Helping Empower At-Risk Teens), the NBA Math Hoops Pilot Program (Buffalo, NY), John F. Beecher Boys and Girls Club, Women Helping Women Chairperson, Scholarship Loan Committee, Tech Savvy (STEM Program for Girls grades 6 - 12), National Black MBA Association - Western NY Chapter, African American Affinity Group and the Inclusion and Diversity Council Retail Printing Solutions.
James H. Janicki BS ’93
Business Unit Manager, Sparton
James Janicki is co-founder and vice president of engineering and quality at Real Time Enterprises Inc. Founded in 1981, Real Time Enterprises, Inc. is based in Pittsford. It is a full-service software engineering firm with particular expertise in developing and implementing innovative business solutions. The company employs nearly 40 professionals. In addition to his leadership responsibilities at Real Time Enterprises, Janicki serves on the board of directors at both Memberware Technology and RTek Medical Systems. As a member of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers, he helped develop a robotics curriculum for the Pittsford school system. Previous employers include Eastman Kodak Company and Gould, Inc. He is a member of two of RIT’s industrial advisory boards – Computer Science IAB and Information Technology IAB. In addition to his master’s degree from RIT, he has a BS in computer engineering from Case Western University.
Sergey Katsev BS ’06
VP of Engineering, Catchpoint
Sergey Katsev is the Director of Back-End Engineering at Catchpoint where he is responsible for managing the back-end software teams responsible for gathering, storing, and analyzing the data in the Catchpoint SaaS platform.. With over a decade of extensive experience, he has held various positions of leadership at Interface Masters Technologies, Fortinet, Coyote Point and InteropNet. A dedicated RIT alumni, Mr. Katsev has volunteered at admissions receptions, college fairs and Summer Sendoff events in the Mid-Hudson Valley and New York City regions where he currently serves on both Regional Alumni Councils.
Michelle Magee MS ’05
Sr. Associate Director for Employer Relations, Career Services Coordinator, RIT
Michelle Magee is the associate director of employer relations at RIT. In this role, she develops and manages office-wide employer relations, including identification of target markets and customized outreach strategies. She also leads the College of Computing and Information Sciences Career Services office team. Michelle has previously held positions at RIT such as assistant director of alumni relations, adjunct instructor and associate director for student services. Prior, she held positions in Career Service Management at University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business and the University of Miami. In addition to an MS in information technology from RIT, Michelle holds an MS in education, counseling and work life studies from University of Rochester and a BA in psychology from St. John Fisher College.
Loretha J. McCollough BS ’85, EMBA ’06
HR Director of Supply Systems, Linde PLC
Ms. McCullough is an HR director of supply systems at Linde PLC. Linde is a leading industrial gases and engineering company that employs approximately 80,000 people globally and serves customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. Linde delivers innovative and sustainable solutions, providing products, technologies, and services that help customers improve their economic and environmental performance in a connected world. Linde PLC was formed when Praxair, Inc. merged with Linde AG in 2018.
Ms. McCullough previously worked at Praxair as a global HR director. In that role, she provided strategic and tactical HR operations leadership to the vice president, the directors of global supply systems, and the vice president and directors of global procurement and materials management. Before that, she worked for over 10 years at Xerox as a customer experience program manager, an HR business operations manager, an HR manager for the supplies business group, and an HR programs and process manager; she also offered Lean Six Sigma Black Belt support to various managers and executives. Additionally, from 2010 to 2013, Ms. McCullough taught as an adjunct instructor for RIT's former First Year Enrichment program, which acclimated students to college life at the university.
Ms. McCullough formerly served as president and director of scholarships for the Black Women's Leadership Council Foundation; as a mentor for Women Helping Girls; as an HR chair of Mercy Residential Services; and was a program participant in Leadership Rochester. In February 2020, Ms. McCullough was selected as a recipient of RIT's Division of Diversity & Inclusion's (DDI) Alumni Beacon Award. The DDI Beacon Award recognizes one alumni who has shown exceptional leadership and fostered diversity, and whose career achievements reflect their dedication to the university and their respective community.
Dawn McWilliams BFA ’85, MBA ’00
Director of Marketing and Communications, Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University
Dawn is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University. Previously she served as the director of marketing and communications with Cornell University's College of Engineering for 10 years. Prior to Cornell, she was the executive director of marketing and communications at the UR’s Simon School of Business for 21 years. She is a past president of the Rochester chapter of the American Marketing Association, and in 2002, was named by the Rochester Business Journal as one of its 2002 "40 Under 40" award winners. She is a sought after speaker for national organizations on the topics of branding and marketing in higher education. As an alumna, she has participated on the Saunders College Alumni Advisory Board and chaired the Saunders College Women’s Alumnae Network. Dawn has also served as a committee chair on the Alumni Association Board for the past 3 years.
Emily Moore BFA ’16
Customer Experience Strategist at Booz Allen Hamilton
Emily is an experience strategist, consultant, and sustainability advocate, primarily focused on supporting government agencies in their digital transformation and customer experience efforts. She currently works at the consulting firm, Booz Allen Hamilton, with clients like HUD, USDA, Navy, and NASA to provide empathetic, innovative, and user-centric solutions to complex public sector challenges. She also leads the firm’s internal volunteer sustainability group. Additionally, as an alumna of Washington, D.C.’s American University, she currently resides in the D.C. metro area and shares her love for local travel and the outdoors on her Instagram and blog (@emilygoesplaces). Emily also serves on RIT’s Honors Program Alumni Advisory Board.
Christina Mule, Ph.D., BS ’06
Pediatric Psychologist, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine.
Christina M. Mulé, Ph.D. is a Pediatric Psychologist at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center and an Assistant Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Mulé’s work focuses on comparative effectiveness research and health care services research within Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Her research has compared novel educational and behavioral interventions to current gold standard interventions for children with developmental disabilities. Dr. Mulé’s current research is focused on systemic interventions that help to reduce barriers to effective autism interventions and care coordination. She is an investigator of a Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office grant that seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the innovative Autism Behavioral Consultation (ABC) program at Tufts Medical Center. A proud and active alumna, Christina frequently attends alumni events in the Boston area including Global Day of Service and Roar Day.
Nikhil Nampalli ’07
Head of Proprietary Products, American Express Canada
Nikhil Nampalli is an alum of the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and is a Product Management professional in the Digital and Mobile Payments space. He is currently the Head of Proprietary Products for American Express Canada based out of Toronto. Previously, he held various leadership roles at Citibank in the US across Commercial Payments, Consumer Banking, Finance and Technology. Nikhil is a native of India who grew up in the Middle East and his volunteerism has included mentoring students through the iMentor program, servicing on the Board of Managers for YMCA and providing tax assistance through the Internal Revenue Services’ VITA program. He is also active with the RIT alumni community servicing as Chapter Leader for RIT’s Greater Toronto Area chapter and previously, for RIT’s New York City chapter.
Orlando Ortiz BS ’04, MBA ’08
Manager, Component Manufacturing at The Gleason Works
Born in Cayey, Puerto Rico, Orlando Ortiz and his family moved to Rochester, NY in 1991 and have called Rochester home since. Orlando attended Edison Technical Vocational High School specializing in machine shop technology. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Monroe Community College and graduated earning his associate degree in Manufacturing Engineering. Orlando then continued his education and attended Rochester Institute of Technology where he achieved a bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering and a Master of Business Administration. Orlando has worked in a Manufacturing environment since 1998 and as a Manufacturing Manager for the last 8 years. He currently works at The Gleason Works in Rochester, NY.
While at RIT, Orlando joined Latino America Unida, Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. and held various executive board positions, setup community services in Rochester, and improved his leadership skills. He currently serves as the Alumni Advisor to the local Chapter. Through Lambda Alpha Upsilon, he volunteered for the Puerto Rican Festival and after 2 years in 2005, became a board member. Going on his 16th year on the board, Orlando has served various roles on the board and since 2008 continues to serve as President. Orlando's community involvement extends to various community boards which include, The Housing Council at PathStone, PathStone Corporation, Foodlink, and has served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2013 and is the current board Secretary. He also served on the university’s Strategic Planning Committee.
In 2019, Orlando was named Hispanic Businessperson of the year by the Rochester Hispanic Business Association and co-recipient of the NextGen philanthropist of the year (along with wife Denishea Ortiz). In 2020, Orlando was a 40 under 40 recipient and served as RIT’s Minett professor.
Orlando is married to Denishea Ortiz and has 2 boys (Esaias & Gian Ortiz) and resides in Rochester, NY.
Christina Paliouras-Pierce ’91, ’96, ’12
Sales Operations Manager, Panasonic Corporation
Christina currently leads the sales operations for Panasonic’s Industrial IoT Solutions group leading a technical sales team developing Industry 4.0 material flow solutions for the manufacturing industry.
Prior to joining Panasonic, Christina spent 22 years at Xerox Corporation. While at Xerox she held a number of roles in engineering, manufacturing and supply chain, strategy and business operations.
Outside of work, Ms. Paliouras-Pierce is active in her community having previously served as Club Co-Coordinator of Victor Central School’s FIRST LEGO League Club, and as the President of the Monroe County Women’s Alliance. She is currently on the leadership team of the New York Chapter of Women in Manufacturing. A three-time alumna of RIT, Ms. Paliouras-Pierce has volunteered at Brick City Homecoming, Imagine RIT, the Rochester Alumni Chapter, We@RIT, Open Houses and attends numerous chapter events.
At home, Christina is the proud mother of two future Tigers – John & Theo and is married to fellow Alumni Travis Pierce ’91.
Zoran Pejović BS ’04
Hotel and Resort Management
Mr. Pejović has more than 15 years of international experience and a number of successful hotel and restaurant openings to his name. He is co-owner of Wine & Cheese Bar Paradox in Split, Croatia, named Hideaway Report’s Editor’s Choice for Best Wine Bar in the World in 2019. Most recently, Mr. Pejović has lead project development and pre-opening for Maslina Resort, on the island of Hvar, which is one of the first successful Greenfield Investments in luxury hospitality in Croatia. Additionally, under his Paradox Hospitality consultancy umbrella, Mr. Pejović consults on a number of hospitality projects, ranging from hotel conceptualization and development to crisis communication and management.
While he was a student, Mr. Pejović was Student Council President at RIT Croatia, and he and some fellow students started a band named “Tambo band.” Since graduation, he has consistently remained connected the university through: participation in alumni events, some of which have been hosted in his wine bar; being a guest speaker on numerous occasions; hiring RIT Croatia students for co-ops, and training and hiring alumni; working closely with HTM faculty; and presenting a Tiger Webinar on the topic of Post-Coronavirus Travel and Tourism. Aside from his engagement with RIT Croatia, he has been active in charity events, including hosting an annual Beard Auction at Paradox, designed to increase awareness about prostate cancer, while raising funds for the Croatian League Against Cancer. Mr. Pejović is the first international campus representative on RIT’s Alumni Association Board of Directors (main campus).
Greg Penoyer ’06
Associate - Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Greg is a business and intellectual property attorney and advisor Mintz Levin, a general practice, full service law firm, where he guides technology and financial companies through complex IP and transactional issues. Before Mintz, Greg was Senior Counsel at SimpliSafe, Inc. where he led strategy and enforcement for IP and technology-related matters. Previously, Greg was an Associate General Counsel at HID Global, an ASSA ABLOY company, and, prior to that, was in private practice at international law firms, Proskauer Rose LLP and Fish & Richardson, P.C., where he built and enforced robust patent and trademark portfolios for small and large companies. Before entering law Greg started his career as a project engineer for the likes of General Electric, Boeing, and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. Greg is a registered US patent attorney and received his JD from Suffolk University Law School in Boston.
Chris Petescia ’05
Owner, True Fan
After more than a dozen years as Chief Experience Officer for a digital experience agency he co-founded and sold, Chris brings a deep competency for the the union of technology, community, brand and business. Self-identifying as a Fan-first Experience Strategist & Creative, Chris actively collaborates with global brands like Rolex, The New York Yankees & Disney through consumer awareness and strategy. Also building audience and brand design for startups like Community & TURN, Chris brings uniquely nuanced skill set and passionate energy. As an advisor and board member to several successful entities in the digital experience space, he also brings a wealth of experience and passion for product development.
Greg Pollock BS ’12
VP of Business Development at CSD
Greg boasts over 11 years of corporate expertise. Armed with a degree in Professional Technical Communications from RIT, Greg excels in communications, marketing, compliance, and program management. His forte, however, lies in human-centered experiences, steering high-level UX/UI strategy and employee experience for Fortune 500 companies.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Greg is deeply committed to disability inclusion. He co-chairs the Pittsburgh Disability Inclusion Consortium and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central PA.
An avid nature enthusiast, Greg enjoys embarking on hiking and backpacking adventures with his trusty fur companions, Moose and Pepsi. A proud Steel City native, Greg now calls Pittsburgh home after stints of living in New York, Louisiana, and Michigan.
Eric Senna BS ’91
Territory Sales Manager, Travelers Insurance
Eric has been in the insurance industry for over 20 years; he is currently a Personal Lines Territory Manager overseeing sales for Central Coast California. Eric presently lives in Camarillo, California with his wife and blended family of five children. In his down-time he enjoys reading, exercising, and watching the L.A. Dodgers, Lakers, and Rams.
As an alumni, Eric has been a past Chapter lead for the Los Angeles Regional Chapter. He and Dr. Fred Smith (former V.P. of Student Affairs) established the RIT Tiger Spirit Leadership Award which Eric also supports. While a student, he was a Student Government Vice-President, Director of Club Affairs, and a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. The Tiger Statute concept was originated and implemented by Eric.
Victor Silva ’03
Team Leader, Publisher Development at Oracle
An accomplished cross-platform media executive, Victor Silva is Team Leader for Publisher Development at Oracle where he heads the Publisher Development team focused on DMP, 3rd party data targeting, and custom integrations for premium publishers. Previously, he served as Senior Partner Development for Google, also at Oracle, where he managed 3rd party data relationships with Google across Media & Entertainment, Tech, and B2B. Mr. Silva specializes in the launch of new business units, video advertising, audience targeting, and expansion of new markets. Currently, he also serves on the board of advisors for TVision Insights, a consumer insights company. Prior roles include Director of Video at the Interactive
Nicholas Schneider ’10
Consultant, Boston Consulting Group
Dr. Nicholas Schneider is head of Business and Development Strategy at Text IQ. Previously, Dr. Schneider held was a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group, a global firm serving a number of diverse industries. Prior to this, he was a doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania from 2010-2015, studying and performing research in the fields of microscale and nanoscale science. Nick received his Ph.D. in 2015. During his academic career at UPenn, he received numerous awards including the 2015 M&M Presidential Scholar award from the Microanalysis Society and the 2014 John A. Goff Award for scholarship, resourcefulness, and leadership from the university’s department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics. In addition to his Ph.D., Nick received concurrent BS and MS degrees in mechanical engineering in 2010 from RIT.
Tony Onello BS ’90
Founding Partner, Onello & Mello LLP - IP Law
Tony Onello is a Founding Partner at Onello & Mello LLP an Intellectual Property Law Firm in Burlington, MA, 10 miles north of Boston. After graduating from RIT in 1990 with a BS in Electrical Engineering, Tony worked as a digital hardware design engineer in industry for several years while attending Suffolk University Law School – Evening Division, Boston (JD, 1994). Tony’s law practice focuses on Patent Prosecution and related strategies, US and international, serving corporate and university clients in the electrical, mechanical, and software arts, and, in particular, in areas such as medical devices and sensors, semiconductor devices, microprocessor architectures, robotics, optical systems, laser systems, micro-precision pumps, dust control systems, and the like.
Tony and his wife Jennifer (IPKG ’90) met at RIT and live in a town north of Boston where they raised their two children.
William Snyder ’81
Professor, Photojournalism Undergraduate Program Director, RIT
Four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and editor William Snyder is currently serving as professor and chair of the Photojournalism Program at RIT. After his graduation from RIT, he joined the photography staff of The Miami News. Two years later, he moved to the Dallas Morning News. During his 15 years as a staff photographer at the DMN, William won three Pulitzers Prizes. In 2005, he was named The Morning News’ director of photography and guided the photography staff to the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News for their coverage of Hurricane Katrina. He also produced “Eyes of The Storm,” a 256-page book featuring the DMN photo staff’s images from hurricanes Katrina and Rita which sold out its first edition. William then served as an adjunct faculty member of The Art Institute of Dallas and the University of North Texas until his return to RIT in 2008. He has won numerous awards including: The National Press Photographers Association, Associated Press Managing Editors, Society of Newspaper Design, Robert F. Kennedy Foundation, Dallas Press Club, The Texas Headliners, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the Olympic Photo Committee.
Dr. Christopher Tanski ’00
Physician and Assistant Professor, Upstate Medical University
Dr. Chris Tanski is an attending physician and assistant professor of emergency medicine at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He also serves as chief police surgeon for the Police Benevolent Association of New York State Troopers. Previously, Chris served as medical director of Mercy Flight of Western NY, an EMT for Henrietta Ambulance and as a physician at Erie County Medical Center and Albany Medical Center. In addition to a BS in information technology from RIT, Chris earned an MD from State University of New York Upstate Medical University and an MS in education, health science, from State University of New York College at Brockport.
Mr. David J. Torrente, ESQ ’97
Attorney Principal, Law Office of David J. Torrente
Mr. Torrente is attorney principal at Law Office of David J. Torrente. Previously he was with the law firm of Hoffmann & Barron. Prior to this, he was an applications engineer with Vickers-Warnick, Inc., served as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, worked as a patent agent/patent attorney for Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser, and as an associate attorney for Ostrolenk Faber LLP. Mr. Torrente is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and his areas of expertise include crafting, securing, and defending intellectual property rights, as well as the technologies of industrial automation, power plants, medical devices, image processing, cellular communications, and autonomous computer-based aircraft command and control. He has counseled, advised, and represented clients concerning patent and trademark issues at the trial and appellate levels. He received his JD from Fordham University School of Law.
Ricardo Venegas-Giron ’92
CFO, One Media Corp, Inc.
Ricardo Venegas-Giron is currently a self-employed international finance executive. Previously, he was responsible for oversight of various operating entities, business units, and legal entities owned by America One Holdings, a sports media-related holding company where he was CFO of One Media Corp, Inc., In this role he was responsible for the cable/satellite sports network, ONE World Sports, as well as the professional soccer team New York Cosmos LLC. Ricardo joined America One Holdings and its subsidiaries in 2013 after serving as CFO of CloudBurstTV. Before that, he was CFO and executive vice president of ImpreMedia, a leading online and print Hispanic news-and-information provider. Ricardo is a member of the board of directors of the Hispanic Federation. He graduated from RIT with a BS in finance.
Mashal Waqar BS ’17
EIR at MyLily and a Sr. Consultant at Telescopic Ventures
Mashal Waqar is a writer by heart, an entrepreneur by experience, and a techie by education. She's currently an EIR at MyLily and a Sr. Consultant at Telescopic Ventures. She was previously the co-founder and COO of The Tempest, a global media company reaching millions of readers around the world. She was also a co-founder at 60 Day Startups, a business accelerator supporting women entrepreneurs in growing from early-stage to revenue in 60 days. Mashal has been recognized for her work by the Pakistan Foreign Minister for the Achieving Overseas Pakistanis list, 2019 Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 list, 2019 Entrepreneur Middle East’s Achieving Women of the year, and 2020 Women in Marketing Changemaker of the Year. She's an advisor at Brulee Beauty, Polinate, and NOMAD (a project by Al-Ahli Holding Group). She has previously co-authored a research paper on challenges faced by female entrepreneurs and is a co-author of the Possibilities Project. Mashal is passionate about women empowerment, startups, and media and is a frequent speaker on these topics; she has given two TEDx talks and has been a speaker at Stanford University and Harvard University conferences. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computing Security from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai.
Stephanie White ME ’16
Global Proposals & Orders Director for the Mixing solutions product line at SPX FLOW
Stephanie White is the Global Proposals & Orders Director for the Mixing solutions product line at SPX FLOW, where she is the functional authority for planning, controlling, and completion of all customer-specified requests related to process engineering, mechanical engineering, drafting, manufacturing engineering & project management tasks. Her responsibility includes interacting with global cross functional teams, directing process improvements globally, supporting business acquisitions & integrations, supporting business growth deliverables.
Stephanie is personally committed to developing her leadership skills, networking, and achieving a diverse professional experience. She has gained valuable experience through several different positions at SPX Flow where she spent time as a CAD designer, project engineer, product development manager, order engineer manager and Global order engineering manager. Stephanie has also dedicated herself to being the Co-Chair of her companies first Black ERG, called ABLE (Achieving Black Leadership Excellence) where the group focuses on attracting, retaining, and aiding in the promotion of Black people through professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Outside of work, Stephanie is passionate about giving back to her community, mentoring youth, and promoting diversity & equity. She is currently a student mentor for RIT’s Women of Color, Honor and Ambition (WOCHA) program where she mentors one student per year to help develop future leaders. She is also the executive programs chair for the Rochester National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the executive treasurer for the Rochester Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
Stephanie has her Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (2016) and a Yellow Belt certification from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from The Pennsylvania State University (2012).
Dr. Breeann Wilson, BS ’02
Owner and Podiatrist, Pure Podiatry of WNY PLLC
Dr. Breeann Wilson BS '02 is a licensed podiatrist and the owner of Pure Podiatry of Western New York. Located in Buffalo, NY, Pure Podiatry provides comprehensive podiatry services as well as surgical procedures related to complications from diabetes. Dr. Wilson is currently the only licensed podiatrist in the Buffalo area that is a female person of color. After graduating from RIT, she went on to study podiatry at the William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in North Chicago. She completed her two-year surgical residency within the Catholic Health System in Buffalo, and completed an additional year at Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital in Norwalk, CA, where she specialized in rear foot surgery. In 2009, Dr. Wilson earned an MS in public health from the Aristotle University School of Public Health Research Institute. In recognition of her successful career, Dr. Wilson was a recipient of the 2011 Black Achievers in Industry Award. Outside of her podiatric career, Dr. Wilson also serves on the board of directors of the YMCA Buffalo Niagara. She currently resides in Buffalo with her husband, Dorian.
In recent years, Dr. Wilson has been quite engaged with RIT. She has served as a guest speaker for RIT's Woman of Color, Honor, and Ambition (WOCHA) student group and has attended a College of Science honors alumni dinner. As a student, she was a member of the women's basketball and track teams.
Rudi Winsberg ’01
Owner, Andean Origins
Mr. Winsberg is an owner of Andean Origins, a boutique travel company focusing on destinations and tours within Winsberg’s native Peru. He also went on to form Elite Sports Travel, which coordinates travel to premier sporting events like the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games and Formula One racing. Prior to attending RIT, Mr. Winsberg worked for the United Nations in New York City. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for the School of Individualized Study this year. Mr. Winsberg is president of the RIT Alumni Andean chapter and hosts frequent meetings with this group as well as events, like Global Day of Service. He has actively connected with current Andean students and includes them in the Chapter activity in Peru. Recently he visited RIT campus be a featured meRIT webinar speaker and to meet with current administration and staff to further opportunities for RIT Alumni within the Andean Alumni Chapter to stay connected to RIT.
Edward Wolf
Technical Program Manager, Meta (Facebook)
Edward Wolf is a Technical Program Manager at Meta (formerly known as Facebook). He previously worked at the social networking company before joining Uber in 2015 as a Sr. Product Manager to lead the ridesharing company's internal productivity tools and growth platform efforts. Mr. Wolf is a member of the San Francisco Bay Area alumni chapter and has deep experience building internal tools and scalable infrastructure. His career spans multiple industries and includes positions at JW Player, Time, Inc., and Fidelity Investments. Edward graduated in 2009 with a BS in Computer Engineering from RIT and also served as the President of Student Government from 2007-2009.