The visit featured an engaging panel discussion with alumni and executives representing diverse sectors such as wealth management, corporate finance, and technology. Panelists shared their career trajectories, discussed challenges within the tax and accounting industry, and highlighted emerging trends shaping the business landscape. Students gained valuable perspectives on developing critical skills, navigating the early stages of their careers, and making meaningful contributions in a corporate environment.

Following the panel, attendees toured PwC’s state-of-the-art facilities and participated in a networking luncheon with Montclair State alumni. This lively session allowed students to build professional connections and further explore potential career paths.

This enriching experience bridged the gap between academic learning and practical application, offering students a clearer understanding of how they can succeed in the professional world.

The Feliciano School of Business extends its deepest gratitude to PwC and the ����vlog alumni who generously shared their time and expertise to inspire the next generation of business leaders.

Special thanks to our PwC partners: Maura Cheatham, Chenelle Manley, Lyndsey Farrell, Nicholas Lopez, Mike Rodriguez, Melany Melendez, Marissa Marcantonio, Amankwah Clinton, Lexi Castellano, Christopher Wood.

Shout out to our RedHawks! Feliciano School of Business Graduate Assistants Nicholas Burgess and Ralph Ramayoni for expertly guiding our students on this trip.

“Setting your resume apart from other applicants gives you an upper hand in receiving the job”, noted Sanichar. It is important to quantify accomplishments to help demonstrate a student’s impact in jobs and projects. Resume writing techniques that lay out Problem, Action, and Results (PAR) can be very helpful. By looking carefully at the employer’s job description and “aligning your background and skill set to what they are seeking”, students can better align their skill set with the specific job responsibilities needed, advised Lobb.

For nearly 150 years, Prudential has maintained its Newark headquarters, contributing to its home community while building a highly-admired multinational financial services corporation. Likewise, over the course of its 115-year history, Montclair has become New Jersey’s second-largest institution of higher learning as well as one of its most diverse – a highly regarded university with a public purpose. It follows then, that these iconic institutions would find ways to become partners in creating opportunities for New Jersey students while strengthening workforce pipelines for the state and the country.

The institutions’ newest shared endeavor, MSU + Pru Connect, is taking their partnership to a new level, connecting and engaging Montclair alumni who work at Prudential. The organization’s goal is to create meaningful opportunities for alumni at Prudential to support the University, its students, and each other.

According to Michele Ansbacher ’80, executive in residence and chair of the Feliciano School of Business Advisory Board, the timing is right. “A Board of Trustees member and I were kicking around the idea,” she explains. “When I mentioned the idea to Kent Sluyter, the recently retired president of Prudential Annuities who was named to the ����vlog board, he took up the cause in a big way.”

Ansbacher drew on her deep Prudential connections to organize the launch. Before joining Montclair as executive in residence, Ansbacher enjoyed a 34-year career at the company, most recently as Prudential Financial’s vice president of the Eastern Territory in Agency Distribution (now Prudential Advisors).

A working group of Prudential employees emerged to support Ansbacher and Sluyter that included Stephanie Geannakopoulos ’17 MBA, director and HR business partner, Global Technology; Evelyn Hudson-Dorrah ’90, senior business risk and control manager; Vincent King ’14 MBA, director of Abandoned Property Operations; and Patrick Whittam ’93, communications director, Prudential Communications. Susan Chegwidden, Prudential’s vice president and chief human resources partner, currently serves as the initiative’s executive sponsor.

When the group tested the waters with a November 2019 event held at Prudential’s Newark office, they realized the initiative’s potential. King points quite specifically to the event as the moment he knew that MSU + Pru Connect was going to be big. “I was amazed at the response,” he says. “More than 120 Prudential employees expressed interest in the event, and alumni were interested in further participation … I am very proud of all we have accomplished these past few years.”

Hudson-Dorrah also saw the potential. “It was an eye opener to see how many Montclair graduates were working at Prudential, and yet we were meeting each other for the first time,” she says.

Ansbacher’s enthusiasm springs from her own experience as a new Montclair graduate. “At my graduation, as a student officer, I was seated on the dais,” she recalls, “and was placed next to a Prudential executive who invited me to apply to Prudential. For me, the encounter was fortuitous and led to a very rewarding career. Our goal is to build a platform for many such conversations and many such opportunities for students.”

King echoes Ansbacher: “I was part of the first graduating class of the MBA cohort-based program,” he says. “At the time, formalized mentorship was not part of the curriculum. An affinity group like this within an industry of interest would have been invaluable to me in planning my career.”

“MSU + Pru Connect is a terrific example of our commitment to creating a path for students from college to successful career,” says Feliciano School of Business Dean Kimberly Hollister.

Since 2019, MSU + Pru Connect has hosted a series of in-person and virtual events. At a 2022 event, MBA students visited the Prudential campus. A half dozen speakers from sales to actuary provided sessions on company structure, career paths, and culture. Prudential Vice Chair Robert M. Falzon was on hand to meet and greet participants.

In addition to events, MSU + Pru Connect has formed online communications groups within the Prudential network and as part of the University’s MONTCLAIRConnect network.

“Our students and community win with so many stakeholders working together. We look forward to continuing to expand and deepen our relationship with Prudential,” says Chad Brown, executive director for Corporate Partnerships and Development, Feliciano School of Business.

MSU + Pru Connect represents an expansion of Prudential’s long-time support of career initiatives and student success at Montclair.

“Prudential has a very inclusive culture that encourages affinity groups,” Sluyter notes. “The company has a values-driven history of helping people connect. This is the backdrop. When I became a trustee of Montclair, I began to learn more about the University and its alumni. The alumni I met wanted to connect with each other, and they wanted to know more about what was going on at their alma mater.”

“I was confident that this initiative would thrive and would be a value add for both Prudential and Montclair,” Sluyter continues. “Prudential’s talent pipeline – the single-most important element in the company’s success – gains an excellent source of diverse talent, and Montclair students gain access to excellent career opportunities at a great company, as well as a warm welcome from fellow Montclair alumni.”

Hudson-Dorrah has a first-hand appreciation for what newly employed Montclair graduates stand to gain from a robust affinity group within the company. “It would have meant a great deal to me as an undergraduate stepping into the business world,” she says. “The corporate environment can be intimidating. Knowing that I could reach out to fellow Montclair alumni at the company would have been monumental.”

MSU + Pru Connect is bringing together the University’s champions from the corporate community and from within its alumni community, with the goal of engaging a network of dedicated professionals who are ready to support students’ career goals. The initiative’s founders see several opportunities for expansion.

Prudential recruits its workforce from a diverse array of disciplines, extending well beyond the expected business and MBA degree graduates. “My degree is in broadcasting, and rather than joining a major network I made my career in corporate communications at Prudential,” Whittam points out. “Before I joined the company, I had no idea that they housed top-of-the line video production facilities.”

Sluyter agrees. “There are great things happening in every corner of the university, and so many opportunities for leveraging this partnership across disciplines. I can also see this partnership as a resource for forecasting employers’ workforce needs going forward.”

MSU + Pru Connect is moving forward, full steam ahead. “The word is getting out,” says Hudson-Dorrah. “More and more Montclair alumni are raising their hands, and they represent all levels at Prudential – junior level, mid-management, and senior executive. It is a wonderful way to encourage alumni to give back to Montclair, and to share what they have learned in the business world.”

“We are already lining up activities for spring employee recruitment, as well as the fall internship recruitment season,” adds Whittam, who is leading the team of alumni at Prudential.

With Montclair’s talented alumni working at many major employers, it is expected that the initiative will grow.��“I envision this partnership expanding at Prudential, and also expanding into other corporations throughout New Jersey and beyond,” says Hollister.��“We are already in conversation with ADP, another corporate leader based in New Jersey.”

The summit was sponsored by Horizon BCBSNJ, Bristol Myers Squibb, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Moody’s, Merck, and KPMG. Volunteers were present to network with students and to lead conference sessions on a range of topics including networking, mental health, and seeking mentors and sponsors, all driven by student interest and feedback.

ALPFA (the Association of Latino Professionals for America) is the premier professional association dedicated to empowering and developing Latinx leaders in every sector of the economy. Learn more about the organization at .��

The summit was also the official launch for ����vlog’s new chapter of ALPFA, established this year. Thank you to Sabrina Sanichar, Director of Career Services; Silvia Romero, Professor of Accounting & Finance; Ron Strauss, Senior Associate Dean in the Feliciano School of Business and McColgan Center; Katia Paz Goldfarb, Associate Provost for Hispanic Initiatives and International Programs; Gabriel Contreras ‘23 (Business Administration); and the volunteer leadership at ALPFA, including Frank Galindo ‘20 MBA, for their support in establishing our chapter in this preeminent organization.

That’s thanks to her coursework at the Feliciano School of Business and ����vlog’s collaboration with ADP to prepare students for the world of work. As a Business Administration major with a Marketing concentration, Calderone also earned a certificate in Professional Selling and Sales Management, part of a dedicated sales curriculum directly tied to today’s business needs developed collaboratively by Feliciano School of Business faculty and ADP professionals.

“Having the sales certification on my resume and the experience of sales training helped prepare me for the interview, and I think helped me stand out among the candidates,” says Calderone.

The certificate program involves 12 credits of coursework, with students completing a marketing course along with Professional Selling, Sales Management, and Sales Leadership and Negotiation courses, and builds students’ analytical, leadership, customer service and communication skills.

Devon Johnson, associate professor of Marketing, started work developing the program in 2015. After conducting several focus groups with industry sales practitioners and meetings with the Feliciano School of Business Undergraduate Committee, it was decided that a program was needed that prepared students for success on day one. This would be realized through an emphasis on three features: strong relational and personal interaction skills, innovative technology focus and an executive/professional presence in the classroom.

“We were inspired to create a practical sales initiative that combines rigorous academic structure along with practice-oriented industry involvement,” says Johnson. “ADP has been part of the development and the execution to create this successful model, and it is delivering value for our students.”

The integrated learning experience involves ADP sales professionals working with professors and coming to the classroom a few times each semester. ADP associates share successful selling techniques, details on the technology and real-world applications, and serve as role-playing coaches and mentors to provide feedback for students.

Instructor Tom Miller says the certificate program gives students lifelong skills for selling. “You use sales techniques in all parts of life,” says Miller. “Through the certificate experience, students realize if they want to go into sales as a professional job, and they learn life skills of how to be persuasive.”

“I especially remember the lessons on building rapport and the art of closing,” says Calderone. “The sales program at Montclair gave me excellent training, and having the ADP leaders come into class reinforced specific selling techniques and increased my interest in sales.”

Calderone aced the interview and landed that first job before graduation, beginning her career in June 2019 as an associate district manager at ADP. Hitting her numbers, she was promoted to district manager in the Parsippany office within a year.

“Today’s sales environment is continually evolving,” says Barat Dickman, SVP, Worldwide Commercial Operations at ADP. “With the rise of hybrid and remote selling and new tools aimed at tailoring the sales process to each prospect’s unique needs, modern sellers need to be adaptable. At ADP, we’re passionate about training the next generation of sellers to focus on the client’s dynamic needs, to provide solutions that meet the needs of the moment and those of the future.”

Gabriella Calderone ’19 aced landing her first job before graduation, beginning her career in June 2019 as an associate district manager at ADP.

Learning from leaders

From complementing the curriculum to supporting the University’s students and the workforce’s next generation of talent, ADP leaders are directly involved in sharing their skills with the University. Dickman serves on the Feliciano School of Business Advisory Board, and ADP’s Chief Human Resources Officer Sreeni Kutam serves on the University Board of Trustees.

In April, Kutam spoke on campus to students and alumni as part of the Feliciano School of Business MBA and Graduate Programs Office executive speaker series, describing his career and personal journey along with insights on the human resources profession.

“I love complex problem-solving, and humans are the most interesting problem-solving opportunity,” Kutam said in explaining how he landed in human resources. Kutam earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Andhra University, India, and began his career teaching software programming. He went on to earn his MBA from Purdue University.

“Leadership and teaching are noble professions … they are enabling functions focused on unlocking people’s potential,” says Kutam.

Describing the role of human resources as being “the architect of the DNA of an organization,” Kutam cites problem-solving and critical thinking as among the most important skills students can demonstrate to stand out to employers. “You want to bring quantitative skills to qualitative problems,” he says.

In transforming today’s students into tomorrow’s business leaders, the Feliciano School of Business prepares students to build the skills needed to excel when entering the professional workforce.

“We believe that strong industry partnerships are critical to preparing our students to succeed in an evolving marketplace. The collaboration with ADP is an excellent example of the practical, impactful learning experiences we offer at the Feliciano School of Business,” says Dean Kimberly Hollister. “We’re proud to be working with ADP.”

“I came out of college with a job and felt confident in my sales training thanks to the course approach and direct exposure to industry leaders,” says Calderone. “I was prepared – Montclair opened the door to sales for me and has helped me succeed.”

Industry experts W. Scott Stornetta, a co-creator of early blockchain technology, Sean Stein Smith, an assistant professor at CUNY-Lehman College and founder of the Institute for Blockchain & Cryptoasset Research, and Rashmi Jain, Department Chair and Professor of Information and Operations Management for ����vlog, shared insights on how the technologies are creating new challenges and new opportunities in a panel discussion for the Feliciano School of Business Executive Speaker Series on Feb. 15.

The panel, moderated by Accounting and Finance Department Chair Deniz Appelbaum, highlighted how blockchain and cryptocurrency requires careful thinking about how it evolves.

Cryptocurrency – such as Bitcoin – is a decentralized digital currency is exchanged between two parties without involving intermediaries like banks or other financial institutions, or the fees such transactions would otherwise incur. Blockchain is a tamper-resistant, digital ledger that facilitates those transactions.

Stornetta said blockchain technology should be treated like other emerging technologies with underlying value creation and forecast rapid evolution in the years to come. Considered one of the founding fathers of blockchain, Stornetta has spoken widely – including in Congressional hearings – about the need to move away from a regulatory environment focused on protecting-the-status-quo to an approach that reflects the power of the blockchain.

Stein Smith, a certified public accountant, said blockchain technology and cryptocurrency have evolved positively since its inception, raising questions about how to establish public policy around it. Because crypto is an umbrella term known from an international standpoint, panelists suggested agency oversight could offer one approach.

Noting that blockchain is a distributed ledger system, Jain urged caution in any regulation.

“Cryptocurrency is something that is very different and complex; one has to be very careful in understanding the emerging consequences,” she said. “So long as the dollar continues to be strong and used as a reserve worldwide, I think we need to be the leaders in the space of regulating crypto and blockchain.”

Opportunities offered by blockchain reach well outside the business community, Jain said, pointing to potentially life-changing value for students the school’s entrepreneurial and arts programs.

“I would say that we need to tell our students in the performing arts program about the value of NFT and how they can digitize their talent,” she said.

To watch panel discussion video: MBA Executive Speaker Series – Blockchain/Cryptocurrency Panel – YouTube