Catching up with a ‘Sea-E-O’

BY MARY K. PRATT

Emily Wilder, MBA ’19 is bringing a taste of the Pacific Northwest to customers near and far. Her 2-year-old online store, Salinity Seafood & More, features food and wares from Washington state.

“I’ve always been really drawn to food and the excitement around food,” says the native of Whidbey Island. “I knew that would be my journey from the time I was a teenager.”

Her preparations for the venture included earning a Bentley graduate degree and working as a tour guide for a Mass.-based oyster farm and as a sales rep for a shellfish company back home. She credits the experiences for revealing “the niche I needed to fill: telling the stories of local farmers and artisan makers.”

Salinity sells sweet and savory foods, including local oysters that Wilder champions, along with crafts and household goods. It carries 100 to 200 products at any given time, sourced from more than 50 vendors. She calls them “small businesses with good intentions.”

These are companies whose values reflect her own, which focus on making a positive impact on the community, the environment and the workplace.

Accordingly, as the self-dubbed “Sea-E-O” works on growing Salinity, she donates a portion of revenue to schools and nonprofits such as Whidbey Island Nourishes and Island Senior Resources.

Wilder says those dual goals are in her DNA, pointing to her late grandfather, Joel B. Wilder ’58, H ’02. A real estate entrepreneur and lifelong philanthropist, he was among Bentley’s most generous donors; in fact, Wilder Pavilion was named in recognition of his immense contributions to the university.

“He taught me to deal ethically with others in all matters,” says Wilder, “and to always give back.”

(Class of 2010, continued)

Michelle (Brouillard) Rubin and husband Daniel, Framingham, Mass., welcomed Andi Samantha on October 3, 2022. She joins big sister Kenna Stevie. Fun fact: Daniel is the broadcaster for Bentley’s DI ice hockey team.

2011

Daniel and Kimberly (Markowitz) Bonamassa , Pleasantville, N.Y., welcomed baby girl Juliana on March 15, 2022. She joins older brother Nicholas.

After postponing their wedding for a year due to the pandemic, Michael Shea and Shelly D’Aleo ’13, MBA ’15 were married at last on May 21, 2022, at Belle Mer in Newport, R.I. Fellow Falcons at the nuptials included maid of honor Erica Thibodeau ’13; bridesmaid Deanna Sleeper ’13, MBA ’20; and Amber Clarke ’12, MSA ’13. The newlyweds live in Hingham, Mass., after a honeymoon in Bali, Indonesia.

2012

David Koschei and Amanda (Wagner) ’14, Wilmington, Mass., welcomed daughter Ruby on June 26, 2022.

Katie (Donnellan) Harrington, MSA ’13 and husband Ethan ’13, MSA ’14, North Billerica, Mass., became parents to Weston Daniel on August 27, 2022.

2013

10th Reunion FOLD

Shelly D’Aleo, MBA ’15 married Michael Shea ’11 after having to postpone their wedding for a year due to the pandemic. The couple were married at Belle Mer in Newport, R.I., on May 21, 2022. Fellow Falcons included maid of honor Erica Thibodeau; bridesmaid Deanna Sleeper, MBA ’20; and Amber Clarke ’12, MSA The newlyweds live in Hingham, Mass., after a honeymoon in Bali, Indonesia.

Ethan Harrington, MSA ’14 and Katie (Donnellan) ’12, MSA , North Billerica, Mass., became parents to Weston Daniel on August 27, 2022.