Fram Speaker Series: RIT Fram Critical Thinking Panel

The RIT Fram Critical Thinking Panel will feature Eugene Fram, Professor Emeritus, BS, M.Litt., Ed.D. and Saunders College of Business alums: Phaedra Ruffalo and Robert Fritze. The panel will discuss the importance of critical thinking in the business world.

Course #MGMT102 (Management 102 Business Planning and Professional Development) led by John Ward.

Zoom Information: https://rit.zoom.us/j/95770014250

Phaedra Ruffalo BS ’92, MS ’94 has over 20 years of extensive marketing experience and innovation in over 300 launches, including new platforms, products, programs, technology, and processes that resulted in revenue growth across the Foodservice, CPG, and Food Ingredients sectors. Currently, she is Director of Food Chain Outreach and International for the American Egg Board. AEB’s mission is to increase demand and consumption of eggs and egg products through education, research, and promotion representing America’s Egg Farmers. Phaedra holds a BS in Food Marketing & Distribution, with a minor in Packaging Science and a MS in Hospitality Management from RIT. She is also a certified ideation facilitator from the Creative Problem-Solving Institute and served on the Les Dames D’Escoffier Chicago Chapter board and be an active member.

Robert Fritze BS ’80 is the Founder and President of Pivot Leaders, an executive leadership coaching firm which services the needs of executives and entrepreneurs throughout the eastern United States. He began his professional career in publishing as an advertising sales executive at The Wall Street Journal in 1986. In 1993 he was recruited to the upstart personal finance magazine, SmartMoney and was promoted several times, ultimately to the leadership position of publisher. In that role he led both the sales and marketing teams to new highs in revenue generation and new clients. As publisher, he had access to business leaders across a wide cross section of industries and was able to learn firsthand of their business challenges. In 2002, he joined the Worth Magazine as its publisher and focused his attention on the more affluent side of the personal finance category. He later signed on with Rodale Publishing as the business development director at Bicycling Magazine before making a move to digital publishing with another upstart, Investopedia.com. There he led a team of international sellers as VP Global Sales. He later served as VP/Sales at AccuWeather where he led the efforts of incorporating predictive weather science into the timely serving of digital ads for increased performance.

Pivot Leaders is an executive coaching company dedicated to the sustained improvement of people's performance at work and in life. We operate under the simple belief that to improve is to change - or Pivot. Coaching is an essential and dynamic element in today's rapidly changing business environment. It requires a full understanding of our partners’ needs and then the delivery of a specific process to address them. While business moves quickly, habits change slowly. So, we work with executives and entrepreneurs to find clarity, define their goals and set strategies for achievement, team building and overall success. Bob holds a BS in Business Administration from RIT.