In late January, Oswego students gathered from far and wide to attend a popular annual event, hosted by University Advancement: New York City Career Connections.

The New York City Career Connections event brings together alumni and students to strengthen their Laker network and professional connections. This free, award-winning event connects SUNY Oswego alumni working in New York City with current students, giving them the opportunity to explore potential career paths and expand their professional networks through shared experiences. Undergraduate students at any stage — from seniors exploring next steps to freshmen curious about careers beyond campus — were welcome to participate.

"Now in its 25th year, New York City Career Connections stands as a proud SUNY Oswego tradition that reflects the commitment and pride of our alumni community,” said Emily Cole ’17, the associate director of Alumni Engagement, who played a key role in putting the event into motion. “For a quarter century, alumni have welcomed us into their Manhattan workplaces to connect with students, share real-world experiences and help guide them as they prepare to enter the workforce and live in NYC.”

The day began around 9 a.m. with a site visit of the students' choosing. Soon-to-be professionals could explore careers at one of four locations:

  • Adobe, for students interested in technology, sales and business.
  • 5W Public Relations, for students interested in public relations.
  • KPMG, for students interested in finance and accounting.
  • NBCUniversal, for students interested in broadcasting, production, marketing, media sales, studio, digital and programming.

At each site, a respected alum took on the task of hosting current Oswego students in their workplace.

The first location, at Adobe headquarters, was hosted by David Pearlman ’92, who works as a vice president of education and healthcare. Pearlman shared a story about his transition from a SUNY Oswego student into a member of the workforce, and the day progressed with a presentation of Adobe’s vision and company overview, as well as a tour and Q&A session.

Chris Thatcher ’08, senior vice president, hosted Oswego students during their visit to 5W Public Relations. During a presentation at 5WPR, students learned about the agency’s culture and work, as well as what daily life is like for public relations professionals in New York City. Thatcher also shared words of encouragement and career advice with the group.

Ryan Dadey ’14 M’17,​ advisory director at KPMG, welcomed students and led a discussion on career pathways in the field, along with a showcase of the firm’s new office space. He also introduced several alumni who shared insights on collaboration and their roles at KPMG, including Robert Cowan ’08, an audit manager; Elise Tartaglia ’15, a human capital advisory manager; Erin Gantley ’20, an audit and accounting advisory services senior associate; and Caitlyn Zimmerman ’18, an audit manager.

The final site was NBCUniversal in Rockefeller Plaza, hosted by Justin Dobrow ’17, who is the director of partner operations and solutions with NBC/Peacock. This visit began with a panel discussion with alumni Kendall Smith ’15, automation manager of platform monetization, and Vincent Fleszar ’13, senior manager of programmatic strategic planning NBC. Following the panel, students had networking opportunities with Elizabeth Anderson ’19, Neil Scher ’86, Briana Watson ’20 M’21, Michelle Garcia ’06 and Adam Luis ’05. Their visit concluded with NBC pages leading on a tour of 30 Rock, including the studios of both the “Late Night with Seth Meyers Show” and the “Kelly Clarkson Show” and during which the students learned about the history of the 30 Rock building and NBCUniversal company as a whole.

For the second portion of the day, students made their way to the LinkedIn Headquarters in the Empire State Building.

From there, students attended a presentation by Jared Wohl, a senior account director with LinkedIn. He discussed the platform’s key features and how they can be used as a powerful tool in today’s professional landscape, including LinkedIn Learning and its artificial intelligence capabilities.

After the presentation, alumni panelists from various fields were invited to speak in a Q&A panel titled “Success in the City: How to Make it in the Big Apple.”

John Mongiello ’14, a video editor at HBO; Sheneya Wilson ’15 M’16, who founded FOLA Financial LLC; Reed Motti ’18, a marketing manager with the brand For Them; and Mathews Frank ’24, a router at the Chef’s Warehouse, served on a panel moderated by senior Gabriella Misciagna. They answered questions about the ins-and-outs of being a professional in the city while trying to navigate a life in an ever-changing, always bustling environment.

The day ended with networking sessions with the four panelists and a tour of the LinkedIn facilities.

This year’s Career Connections event gave students highly valuable insight to a modern professional world and what past Oswego students are now doing with all of the lessons they learned at the college.

“These meaningful connections not only honor our shared Oswego legacy, but also create opportunities that benefit students long after graduation,” Cole said.

-- Written by Gabriella Misciagna of the Class of 2026 for University Advancement