Business Horizons
Contact
Julio Talledo
jtalledo@saunders.rit.edu
Business Horizons brings together leaders from finance, real estate, hospitality, and other fields to share their experiences with students, faculty, and guests. Each event highlights emerging trends and career opportunities while offering students a deeper understanding of how different industries are evolving. By connecting directly with professionals, students gain practical insight into career pathways and build relationships that support their growth beyond the classroom.
Past Events
Event Details:
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Gueldenpfennig Auditorium (1050), Max Lowenthal Hall
Dress Code: Business Professional (highly recommended)
Explore career opportunities in finance. This networking event is open to all Saunders College students. You will interact with recruiters from national and regional organizations looking for co-ops, management training programs, and other supervisory and professional positions.
Speakers:
- Keynote – Adam Mattina (RIT BS, Economics ’06), Co-head of Portfolio Technology Optimization for Blackstone
Careers in Finance Panelists:
- Svetlana Opsenica (RIT BS, Computational Math ’03), Head of Liquidity Risk Management Governance, JP Morgan Chase & Co.
- Rob Poltrino, Chief Operating Officer, Skull Diamond and Heart Capital
- Mark Kazmierski (Saunders BS, Business ’84; MBA ’90), recently retired Director of Finance and Controller for North America, CooperVision
- David Black (Saunders MS, Accounting ’84), CFO, STV
Careers in Portfolio/Asset/Wealth Management Panelists:
- Raj Garigipati (Saunders MBA ’03) Managing Director, Global Head of ETF Portfolio Management, Goldman Sachs
- Christopher Petrosino (RIT MS Statistics ’03), Head of Investments, Wealth Management, Manning & Napier
- Jody Rossiter (Saunders BS Finance ’98) Senior Portfolio Manager, Alesco Advisors LLC
Event Details:
Thursday, October 23, 2025
2-6:30 p.m.
Susan R. Holliday Center (4050), Max Lowenthal Hall
Dress Code: Business Professional (highly recommended)
Explore career opportunities in hospitality, service, travel, and experience industries. This networking event is open to all Saunders College students regardless of major (including Accounting, Finance, Global Business Management, Hospitality, Marketing, MIS, etc.). You will interact with recruiters from national and regional organizations looking for co-ops, management training programs, and other supervisory and professional positions.
Speakers:
- Patti Cameron, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, Concord Hospitality
- Zachary Rambuss, Assistant General Manager, Delaware North
- Bethany Chandler, Talent Acquisition and Development Manager, DelMonte Hotel Group
- Sarah Wall, Market Area Sales Leader, DelMonte Hotel Group
- Bianca Anderson, University Recruiting Manager, Hyatt Hotels
- Jared Hopkins, General Manager, Irondequoit Country Club
- Scotte Ellender, General Manager, Monroe Golf Club
- Dedra Pembroke, Area Director of Human Resources, Omni Hotels
- Karen Sutera, Area Director of Human Resources, Omni Hotels
- Shane Tavolino, Assistant General Manager, The Woodcliff Hotel
Event Details:
Friday, March 21, 2025
8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Susan R. Holliday Center (4050), Max Lowenthal Hall
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Palmers Family Atrium (1912), Max Lowenthal Hall
Curious about the future of the Finance Industry? Don’t miss this exciting event featuring top executives as they tackle some of the most pressing topics in the finance world today: AI and the Cashless Economy. Learn how artificial intelligence is transforming the finance industry, and explore how banks are adapting to digital payments and a cashless economy. Additionally, discover the diverse range of career opportunities for business students in the finance world.
Speakers:
- Keynote – Phil Pecora, President & CEO at Genesee Regional Bank
- Moderator – Gary Schwingel, Retired CFO at Genesee Regional Bank and current adjunct professor at Saunders College of Business
Panelists:
- Mike Colyer, CEO, Foundry Digital
- Tina Knapp, CFO at ESL
- Laura Geary, SVP and Division Manager of Community Banking at Tompkins Financial
- David Hoppenworth, Retired Chief Credit Officer and Regional VP
- Blake Jones, Chief Marketing Officer at Five Star Bank
- Tim Brown, SVP and Regional Director for Evans Bank (soon to be NBT Bank)
Event Details:
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Susan R. Holliday Center (4050), Max Lowenthal Hall
Real estate executives and other industry professionals (banks, hospitality, developers, managers, etc.) will share their extensive industry experience and insights into current industry trends, practical career guidance, and strategic growth areas with our students, faculty, and industry guests. This event will provide business students with a comprehensive look into diverse career pathways in real estate.
Speakers:
- Keynote – Mark Laport ('92 MS hospitality and tourism), CEO/President of Concord Hospitality
- Moderator – Anastasia Callahan ('90 BS hotel and resort management), Vice President of Franchise Account Management, Marriott Int'l
Commercial Real Estate Entrepreneurship Panelists:
- Tim DeGrave, Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate, M&T Bank
- Tim Dollinger, Real Estate Manager, Wegman's Food Markets
- Noah Morgenstern ('07 BS finance), 5-time business owner of hospitality real estate
- Scott Seppen ('01 BS int'l bus/finance), CEO, Lighthouse Management LLC
- Moderator – Ben Hart, Saunders MBA candidate and President of Real Estate Club
Commercial Real Estate Development Panelists:
- Ken Becker ('72 AAS business), President, Rakusin and Becker Management
- Kim Burkhart ('89 BS business/acctg), COO, Landsman Development Corp.
- Michael Caruso, Senior Vice President, Underwriting and Strategy, Broadstone Net Lease
- Mark Fuller ('76 BS business; '77 MBA), President, DePaul Group
- Eric Mulata ('04 BS finance), Vice President of Development, Dalian Development
- Moderator – Anthony Testa ('96 MBA) Saunders faculty member and director of Commercialization Training Programs with the Simone Center for Entrepreneurship
Event Details:
Friday, February 16, 2024
11:15 a.m.-3 p.m.
Susan R. Holliday Center (4050), Max Lowenthal Hall
Saunders Financial Horizons: A Forum for Financial Industry Insights and Exploration: This is a day dedicated to local/regional Banks & Financial companies. Company leaders are invited to connect with our faculty and students in roundtable and panelist settings. There will be opportunities for tabling and networking as well.
Speakers:
- Keynote – Kathleen Whelehan, CEO of Upstate Bank
Digital Transformation Panelists:
- Katie Gross, SVP, Retail Regional Manager, CNB
- Briana Malloney, EVP, Director Digital Transformation, M&T Bank
- Reid Whiting, Chief Banking Officer, Five Star Bank
Commercial Real Estate Development Panelists:
- Tonya Lake, SVP, Enterprise Risk (Climate), M&T Bank
- Erin Komorowski, EVP, Sustainability, M&T Bank or Asa Guilamo, Head of Climate Strategy, M&T Bank
- Greg Helmer – VP, Commercial Services, CNB