WINTER 2020
Bringing Bentley to the World and the World to Bentley Joseph M.
CRONIN Remembering our fifth president
“ From now on, it will be vital to know about the history, geography, sociology, political economy, languages, laws and cultures all over the globe.� JOSEPH M. CRONIN Inaugural Address, November 15, 1991
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Contents
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8 | Five Things: Surprising facts about sustainable investing 9 | Inside Job: Tara Williams ’09 tames the sharks 10 | Take Two: Tiffany R. Warren ’97 and Heather L. Mattisson ’97 on turning a moment into a movement 31 | Family Matters: A connection of 40 years and counting
FEATURES
12 | A Homegrown World Champion: Remembering Joseph M. Cronin 14 | Game On: Bhavit Sheth, MBA ’11 takes India to the top in fantasy sports 18 | Schooled to Make An Impact: Michael Black ’10 and Kaitlyn Swist ’12 improve lives in Albania and Africa 21 | One Day at a Time: Life during the pandemic, from the U.S. to Brazil, Italy to New Zealand 24 | Weaving Commerce & Compassion: Amanda Maringka ’14 of Indonesia 26 | The PROfile: The entrepreneurial beat goes on for England-born Sy Gray ’00, MSFP ’04 28 |
CLASS NOTES
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Magazine
BETWEEN THE LINES
Editor Susan Simpson Senior Director Strategic Communications John McElhenny Project Manager Vanessa Salas Writers Deblina Chakraborty Helen Henrichs Molly Mastantuono Jenn Spira Donna Talarico Kristen Walsh Creative Director Greg Gonyea Senior Associate Director Creative Services Claire S. Anderson Art Direction & Design Juliana Freire Kelly Milligan Multimedia Producer Kevin Maguire Associate Director Print and Production Judy Metz Executive Director Advancement Communications Terry Cronin
This issue of Bentley Magazine could not have been written without the man pictured on our cover. Inside, you’ll meet Bhavit Sheth, MBA ’11, whose company has put his native India on the map for fantasy sports. Amanda Maringka ’14 of Indonesia leads terARTai, which provides a path forward for people with special needs. Michael Black ’10 and Kaitlyn Swist ’12 are Americans whose business smarts found a home in Albania, Ethiopia and Kenya. Their far-flung stories owe much to Joseph Marr Cronin. The school’s fifth president, who passed away in October, set Bentley on a global course. A scholar of education, he arrived here with a vision of what students needed to be successful in life. Notably: an expansive worldview that would start with increasing international student enrollment and study abroad programs. Geography is just part of the story, though. His commitment to diversity and inclusion guided initiatives across Bentley, but had their greatest impact on a smaller scale. University trustee Tiffany R. Warren ’97 is among many alumni who considered Joe an ally; she and others describe his influence and inspiration in the story on page 12. My own history with Joe Cronin is brief. He was on the cover of the first issue of Bentley’s magazine that I edited, in 1997, featured when he stepped down as president. Working on this issue has raised my appreciation for the man I recall as thoughtful and low-key, with a writer’s love for a clever turn of phrase. Over time, when stories struck a chord, he would drop me a line. It was always good to know that Joe was keeping an eye out for us. Be well, stay healthy and enjoy the issue.
Senior Associate Director Advancement Communications Caroline Cruise Associate Director Content Development Kristin Livingston Communications Specialist Molly McKinnon Chair of the Board and Interim President Paul Condrin ’83, P ’19 ’22 Vice President Marketing and Communications Christopher Joyce
We welcome your feedback. Send your compliments and critiques on the stories inside — or suggest one for the future. MAGAZINE@BENTLEY.EDU || @BENTLEYU || @BENTLEYALUMNI || 781-891-2076 175 FOREST STREET, WALTHAM, MA 02452
Vice President University Advancement Maureen Flores
Bentley University is more than just one of the nation’s top business schools. It is a lifelong-learning community that creates successful leaders who make business a force for positive change. With a combination of business and the arts and sciences and a flexible, personalized approach to education, Bentley provides students with critical thinking and practical skills that prepare them to lead successful, rewarding careers. Founded in 1917, the university enrolls 4,200 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate and PhD students and is set on 163 acres in Waltham, Massachusetts, 10 miles west of Boston. For more information, visit bentley.edu. 72M11/20QD.COM.589.20
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JOY AND SAFETY The campus sprang back to life in late August, with resident assistants the first to return. More scenes from the trimester on page 6.
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Presidential Search Moves Ahead BY KRISTEN WALSH The trustee-appointed Presidential Search Committee began work in September to find Bentley’s ninth leader. Nick Stavropoulos ’79, a board member since 2009, is chairing the group. “The selection of our next president must be informed by the thousands of students, faculty and staff who make up this vibrant and compassionate community, and supported by the alumni who make this university proud each day,” says Paul Condrin ’83, P ’19 ’22, chair of the board and interim president. A seasoned executive, Stavropoulos has served on numerous board committees over the years. His experience includes more than four decades in the U.S. and international natural gas industry, with a special focus on utility safety. Additional members are Rob Alan ’91, trustee and chair, University
Advancement Committee; Nancy Antunes ’87, MBA ’98, associate vice president, Finance; Andy Aylesworth, associate professor, Marketing and chair, Faculty Senate; Estefania Barnuevo, MBA ’21; Chuck Coppa ’85, chair, Global Alumni Board; Joyce Elam, trustee and chair, Academic Affairs Committee; Fred Ledley, professor, Natural and Applied Sciences; Asimina Morris ’21; Lebone Moses ’02, trustee; Sue O’Connell ’90, trustee and chair, Student Affairs Committee; Melanie Otero ’91, MBA ’92, trustee; Kiana Pierre-Louis ’99, senior lecturer, Law and Taxation; Christian Rubio, associate professor, Modern Languages and director, Honors Program; and Christine Lookner, associate director, Housing and Residential Services. Maureen Flores, vice president, University Advancement, serves as the
search committee’s executive coordinator, assisted by Amanda King, chief of staff for the President’s Office. In September, more than 350 faculty, students, alumni and staff participated in listening session over Zoom, ensuring the views of the entire community were factored into the search process. Consultants from national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller facilitated the sessions. “We learned a lot to help determine the key qualifications for Bentley’s next president,” says Stavropoulos. “I believe I speak for everyone in saying that the committee is energized about the work ahead.” For the latest updates, visit bentley.edu/ presidential-search.
Racial Justice Task Force Continues its Work BY MOLLY MASTANTUONO More than 100 faculty, staff, students and alumni are members of the Racial Justice Task Force, which is working to address the effects of systemic racism on campus and help Bentley become a more equitable and antiracist university. “This is an important moment in Bentley’s history,” notes Provost Donna Maria Blancero, who co-chairs the task force with Katie Lampley ’96, chief diversity and inclusion officer. “Only by working together can we begin to heal the wounds of racism in our community.” Guided by a 15-member core team, the task force
embarked on a six-month plan with three phases: restoration and education; listening and contextualizing; and framing for the future. The group provides regular updates on its website, bentley.edu/racialjustice. In October, the task force launched an eight-week Racial Healing Practice Challenge, which engages small-group discussions about race and identity. The task force is having a ripple effect as members incorporate what they’ve learned.
For example, the Office of Undergraduate Admission invited current students and recent alumni to serve on an advisory board to ensure equity in the admissions process. Human Resources announced that faculty and staff performance goals will now include diversity, equity and inclusion. “The task force is only one mechanism for addressing systemic racism in our community,” Lampley says. “For real, lasting change to occur, each of us must actively work to identify inequities that exist in the areas we influence — and then take steps to address them.”
“ The task force is only one
mechanism for addressing systemic racism in our community.”
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Pulsifer Career Development Center ranked #1 in the U.S. BY HELEN HENRICHS
AR
Bentley offers this strong return on investment by teaching skills that prepare students for jobs of the future and providing plenty of opportunities for internships and other hands-on learning. About 92% of Bentley students complete at least one internship and 71% complete more than one before graduation. All of this leads to successful post-graduation outcomes: For more than a decade, 97% to 99% of Bentley graduates have been employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation. It’s the eighth year in a row that Bentley’s career development department has been ranked in the top 5 in the U.S., demonstrating the university’s successful approach to making sure that students secure good jobs and thrive after they graduate.
ES
#
The Pulsifer Career Development Center is officially the best in the country. The center is ranked #1 for Best Career Services in the Princeton Review’s latest guide, The 386 Best Colleges, 2021 Edition. Bentley is also ranked #4 for internship opportunities by the Princeton Review. “At Bentley, preparing for a post-graduation career isn’t something you wait until senior year to think about; it’s a critical part of the educational experience from day one,” says Janet Ehl, executive director of university career services. “Beginning in their first year, students take career education courses, are mentored by career advisers and connect with companies through events, programs and technology. It’s no surprise that so many of our students have jobs lined up 1 months before graduation.” C
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Meet the AD
Vaughn Williams took up his new role in September
BY KRISTEN WALSH What drew you to Bentley? I’ve known about it since the late 1990s, when Boston College was using some of Bentley’s athletic facilities. I stayed connected with [Athletics Director] Bob DeFelice and watched the program evolve in so many ways. The university was also on my radar as a top-notch business school; the Bentley alumni I had met were always very thoughtful leaders. My first week on the job, I talked to Max Adler ’17, the number one faceoff specialist in Major League Lacrosse, about why he chose Bentley. For him, the difference was the education and career preparation; having coaches who understood the importance of balancing sports with internships and classes. Another thing that resonates with me is Bentley’s work on diversity, equity and inclusion, including initiatives to add diversity not only to sports teams but also to our broader community. It’s important because the world is seen through so many lenses.
PHOTO BY KEVIN MAGUIRE
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Are there mentors or role models who have inspired you? There weren’t a lot of people who looked like me in college athletics leadership roles when I started my career in 1992. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had already learned certain leadership traits from my parents. I got my servant heart from my mom, who worked as a physical therapist at a veteran’s administration hospital and would always take people in. My execution, decisionmaking and risk-taking characteristics come from my dad. As my career has progressed, so many people — from coaches and administrators to colleagues who work alongside me — have been impactful. A big village has helped me get to where I am. How do you run an athletics program around the challenges of COVID-19? Mental health and engagement are a big focus of helping student-athletes navigate the pandemic. This is particularly true for first-year students, who haven’t had a normal opportunity to develop a tight network of teammates while also learning the ins-and-outs of the college experience. Coaches and established players need to do their due diligence to make sure no person is left behind. This is also a good time to reflect on what is important to you. Reconnect with your why and your purpose. You can’t control the pandemic, but you can control your attitude. BENTLEY MAGAZINE | 5
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A NEW LOOK FOR CAMPUS LIFE
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Our one-of-a-kind trimester featured a student safety mantra — Don’t Falc It Up — that everyone took to heart. Here’s what learning, dining and socializing looked like this fall.
PHOTOS BY JOY LEDUC, KEVIN MAGUIRE AND JAMIE WEXLER
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PHOTOS BY JOY LEDUC AND KEVIN MAGUIRE
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5 FIVE THINGS »
Surprising Facts About Sustainable Investing BY MOLLY MASTANTUONO
Sustainable investing now comprises $30 trillion annually in global assets. According to Otgo Erhemjamts, Finance professor and associate provost for strategic initiatives, younger investors are particularly keen on creating portfolios with a higher purpose. Here are her insights on a “modern” practice that dates back some 3,500 years.
IT’S ROOTED IN RELIGION.
ORANGE INSPIRED THE NEW GREEN.
WOMEN ARE POWER PLAYERS.
SUSTAINABILITY IS PROFITABLE.
Faith-based communities were the first to integrate ethics and finance, beginning with the Jewish concept of tzedek (justice) around 1500 BC. Later, Sharia law forbade Muslims from collecting interest and investing in taboo commodities like alcohol and pork products. In the 1650s, Quakers prohibited profits from slavery, while 18th-century Methodists condemned “sin stocks” such as tobacco, firearms and gambling.
Opposition to the Vietnam War intensified around the use of Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide that devastated the environment and caused lasting health problems, including cancers and birth defects. In response, two Methodist ministers created the world’s first socially responsible mutual fund. Introduced in 1971, the Pax World Fund allowed investors to avoid Agent Orangecomplicit companies.
Until recently, male fund managers scoffed at the field’s money-making potential. “They viewed it as an important but thankless task,” Erhemjamts explains, “so they handed it off to women.” As a result, it’s one of the rare areas of finance where women are well represented: While just 16% of chartered financial analysts are female, recruitment firm Acre Resources reports that 44% of the sustainable investing roles it filled over the past five years went to women.
“Early investors were willing to sacrifice larger returns to avoid sin stocks,” says Erhemjamts. Today, the field is evolving into investing in best-in-class companies or creating impact. Multiple studies confirm that sustainable funds are as profitable as conventional ones. Moreover, reports Morningstar, 72% of all sustainable equity funds ranked in the top half of their respective investment categories in the first six months of 2020.
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THERE’S AN OPTION FOR EVERY CAUSE. From a single choice in 1971, environmentally and socially conscious funds have grown to nearly 400 today. Climate change and human rights are among the top-ranked concerns, but as Erhemjamts notes: “Whatever issue is important to you — from affordable health care and sustainable agriculture to LGBTQ+ rights and renewable energy — you’ll find an investment tailored to that.”
PHOTOS BY CHRIS SAN ANTONIO AND APPLEZOOMZOOM/SHUTTERSTOCK
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« INSIDE JOB
Pitch Perfect Tara Williams ’09 is truly a mother of invention. Last May, the finance grad pitched her fledgling business, Dreamland Baby, on the ABC reality show Shark Tank. Her product — a weighted blanket designed for infants to safely wear — was inspired by her youngest child’s struggle to sleep through the night. While tens of thousands try for a spot on the Emmy-winning series, fewer than 1% ever land an investment offer from its celebrity capitalists. THE PREP I applied to Shark Tank in March 2019, and was invited that July to their fall filming. I was assigned two assistant producers and a design team, who worked with me all summer on my business plan, pitch and set. I spent at least 20 hours a week getting ready. I bought my nursery props at Target for about $1,000, and had them shipped to the television studio. Outside of my introduction, everything you see is completely candid. THE BUILDUP In September 2019, my husband, Rob, and I spent three days in L.A. On day one, all the groups were excitedly talking about their valuations and products. We met with the show’s legal team for hours to learn what we could and could not disclose. On day two, we confirmed our props and did our final pitch to the producers. On the third day, we pitched to the sharks! Some groups never got called, which was heartbreaking. They tell you upfront: There are no guarantees, even at that late stage. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ALUMNA
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THE DEAL On air you see about 10 minutes of my pitch, but I was actually in front of the sharks almost 90 minutes. Surprisingly, I felt really confident. This was the most prepared I had been for anything in my life! Lori [Greiner] and I had a great dialogue, and we negotiated a deal of $100,000 for 22.5% equity. She was the shark I really wanted, so it felt like I’d won the lottery. THE PAYOFF Even after making the deal, I didn’t know if my pitch would air. The season started in January, but by March 2020 we still hadn’t been on. I was beginning to lose hope. I knew that being seen by millions of viewers could change everything for my young business. When we got the May air date, it was a scramble to make sure our website could handle the traffic, that we’d have sufficient customer service and enough inventory. That night we sold almost as much as we had in the entire month prior.
THE EPILOGUE What starts as a “gentleman’s handshake” during the negotiation process is subject to due diligence after the show. Unfortunately, the deal with Lori did not go through. She and her team were very gracious with their time and advice, and I have nothing but amazing things to say about them. Month-over-month sales were seven times higher right after we aired and have continued to grow by 20% per month ever since. THE BONUS From the early days of the company, my four kids helped pack orders, prayed at bedtime that I would do well on the show, and even helped pick my TV outfit at the mall. I’m so grateful to have shared this once-in-a-lifetime experience with them and my husband. As told to Jenn Spira
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TAKE TWO »
A Movement, Not a Moment Creating diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace
HEATHER L. MATTISSON ’97
TIFFANY R. WARREN ’97
joined Intel in 2016, most recently serving as strategy manager for university partnerships, in Global Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact. Her work has included expanding the career pipeline for Black students in STEM. In December she becomes chief of staff, People Team, at Gusto.
has more than two decades of experience championing diverse professionals, most recently at Sony Music Group. She is a Bentley trustee and founder of ADCOLOR, which celebrates and advocates for professionals of color in the creative and technology industries.
INTERVIEW BY KRISTEN WALSH
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« TAKE TWO
What are approaches to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) that have worked well at your companies? Heather L. Mattisson: Leadership accountability and ownership is the number one element of successful DE&I. When we started conversations about DE&I, just before Intel’s Diversity 2020 initiative, we had direct buy-in and advocacy from the CEO. We then gathered data about where the company stands, first by holding focus groups and later at all levels of the organization. This allowed us to develop strategies for accountability in regard to tying performance reviews and business outcomes to DE&I. It also informed training so we could teach people about the “why” behind these initiatives. Tiffany R. Warren: There are four things I apply when I’m thinking about situations. First, people want to be seen, which equals diversity. Do the metrics of employee diversity within your company reflect U.S. demographics or the goals a company sets for itself? Second is value, which equals equity: opportunities, compensation and meaningful recognition. Third is respect — being included in conversations. Fourth, and most important, is protection: feeling psychologically safe in an environment where you are different from someone else.
What are the biggest challenges to creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace or society? HLM: We know how to hire more women, people of color and people who have different gender identities or diverse abilities. The question before leadership and companies is, “Are we willing to do it?” Even further, are we willing to move people who don’t align with that vision into roles where they have less influence over our products and people? Because that’s what it’s going to take to impact the outcome.
TRW: A big hurdle is transitioning from sympathy to empathy. Sympathy makes people feel bad; empathy makes people act. The murder of George Floyd created empathy to work toward that goal of dismantling systemic inequity. Developing a strategy to do that doesn’t mean creating glossy DE&I initiatives; it means identifying the root cause of issues at your organization. As Heather mentioned, that could require removing people of power who aren’t willing to be an advocate or ally. I haven’t seen that type of sacrifice yet.
What inspired your racial justice work? HLM: My interest started when I was about 7 years old and watching cartoons — Tom and Jerry. There was always just one Black character on the show, and her representation didn’t match my reality. “Mammy” was a maid with tattered slippers who didn’t use proper diction when she spoke, which made her sound uneducated. I remember watching Mammy and turning my head to look at my mother — and there was the split. My mother read books and went to college. It was then that I realized there was someone crafting that message, those images, for me. I was awakened and started observing how the Black community talked about race, white people, people of other races, and even about ourselves when it came to race. TRW: I remember, as a child, getting so excited if I saw a person of color on a commercial, which didn’t happen often. A lesson I learned really early on: If you can see it, you can be it. My first touch with a DE&I program was when I was 3 years old, in Head Start, a program for inner-city kids because often pre-k was elusive. Since then my inspiration points are many: from the Winsor School to the Colonel Daniel Marr Boys & Girls Club to Bentley, where I had immediate leadership opportunities. In the midst of developing myself, an activism grew in me.
In the wake of media coverage and public acknowledgment of systemic racism, what needs to happen next? TRW: It’s been a special and really hard time for those who are in DE&I work. When George Floyd was murdered, companies did not go to their heads of public relations. They went to their heads of DE&I to ask not only how to craft a message, but how to create a moment of healing in our company and make a statement to the world about how we feel about this very specific moment. It wasn’t a PR issue; it was a human issue. HLM: It normally doesn’t happen that way. TRW: It feels different, like we’re moving at a grander pace toward the finish line of equity. I want people to keep the same energy to approach this problem that has been centuries in the making. People want things fast, but racial equity work and antiracism work is hard. It’s not going to happen overnight. HLM: To Tiffany’s point, we want a movement, not a moment. Let’s do as much as we can in this moment while we have attention, but use tough, eye-opening conversations to create a movement. Also, the social contract between company and employee has shifted. There is now an acceptance and allowance to discuss issues of social equity, whereas before it was very common to say, “That’s politics; we don’t talk about that in the office,” to deflect away from uncomfortable topics about gender and race. After the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, that’s no longer acceptable. TRW: Because of Black Lives Matter, because of this awakening, it feels that we’re in an era of action and accountability. That couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
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COVER FEATURE >>
A Homegrown World Champion Marking the legacy of Joseph M. Cronin By Kristen Walsh
By Kristen Walsh
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Born in Dorchester and raised in Milton, Massachusetts, Joe Cronin was a lifelong educator who spent much of his career in the Bay State. But his vision extended well past his own backyard. As Bentley’s fifth president, from 1991 to 1997, he raised the school’s profile on an international stage. “President Cronin knew that if the business sector was going global, so must Bentley, and he pushed the institution to move quickly in expanding its international reach,” says Paul Condrin ’83, P ’19 ’22, chair of the board and interim president. “This led to a new strategic plan, a revised curriculum and new opportunities to send students around the world and to bring students from overseas to our campus in Waltham.” The population of international students on campus doubled during the Cronin administration, as did the number of Bentley students studying abroad. Today, 50% of undergraduates study outside the United States, many for a semester or longer. “President Cronin was the first true champion who set Bentley’s sights broader than New England,” says Natalie Schlegel, MBA ’08, who directs what, in 1997, would be named the Joseph M. Cronin Office of International Education. “The vision he laid out spurred internationalization and diversification that permanently strengthened our institution. He set the foundation for the community we have today, where students, alumni, faculty and staff call many different places home and speak
many different languages — yet we all share a home in Bentley.” Cronin’s presidency also saw the creation of the International Cultures and Economy major (now International Affairs) and a campus chapter of the Model U.N. ADVOCATE AND ALLY The former president embraced diversity in all its forms. A steering committee that he established in 1993 developed workshops and action teams to address issues across the institution. “Attracting and retaining students of color, international students and women depends on an environment that welcomes, supports and truly educates these students,” Cronin wrote in a memo to the Bentley community. Tiffany R. Warren ’97, now a Bentley trustee, experienced that philosophy firsthand. “Throughout my career at Bentley, Dr. Cronin was a mentor to me and a group of students — most of them were multicultural — and he would regularly
Joe Cronin with Chancellor Gregory Adamian, at his 1991 inauguration, and with students at a service-learning site
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<< COVER FEATURE
“ We teach productivity and profitability, yes; but we also teach that the world is more than a marketplace.” check in to make sure we were doing well. He looked out for me.” Warren vividly recalls a point when she was struggling to balance academics and her roles as a resident assistant and president of the Black United Body. “Dr. Cronin told me that our purpose sometimes overshadows those day-to-day priorities, and I had to think hard about how to manage both. Those were some of the conversations we had that led me to make some really strong decisions in my life both professionally and personally. “He was one of my first allies. It was such a big gift, because I’ve been able to recognize that kind of behavior in other people throughout my career.”
that could add a dimension to our curriculum.” Zlotkowski went on to launch the Bentley Service-Learning Project. Today, the Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center continues to help students make a positive impact on the Waltham community. “We teach productivity and profitability, yes; but we also teach that the world is more than a marketplace,” Cronin said at his inauguration. “Bentley College will be a business school that prepares students for a long career of personal and corporate social responsibility. We seek to promote those civic values that will improve the world we live in.”
THE RIGHT THING TO DO It was in the late 1980s that faculty member Edward Zlotkowski was planting the seeds of experiential service opportunities for Bentley students. “Joe thought that developing some kind of community outreach was morally and civically the right thing for the college to do. He backed it to the hilt,” recalls Zlotkowski. “I had his assurance that this commitment to civic engagement would become part of the institution. He believed that it was something
EDUCATOR AT HEART In Massachusetts, Cronin served as the state’s first secretary of education, professor in the history of higher education at Boston University, and associate professor of educational administration and associate dean at Harvard. In addition to holding many roles in the Massachusetts educational sector, he served as Illinois state superintendent of education. He was a consultant at Edvisors, which provides information about college planning and financial aid; more recently, he served as a senior fellow for Eduventures, which advises colleges and universities on shaping strategic plans. A determination to provide equal access to education led Cronin to found the nonprofit New England Education Loan
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BENTLEY ARCHIVES
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Marketing Association, a secondary market for student loans. Now known as the Nellie Mae Foundation Corporation, it is New England’s largest philanthropic organization focused solely on education. Cronin was also a founding member of Access, the college scholarship program for Boston public schools, and served on the board for the Boston Plan for Excellence in the Public Schools, among others. The lifelong academic earned a master’s degree from Harvard University and a doctorate in education from Stanford University. He published widely on school finance, student aid, cultural diversity and other topics with far-reaching impact on higher education. Reading, writing poetry and painting were his creative outlets; paintings reflect his love for both international travel and education. Among his works: a rendering of the President’s House on campus that became a gift for his predecessor, the late chancellor Gregory H. Adamian. Writing in the former president’s memory to students, faculty and other supporters of the Cronin Office of International Education, Schlegel spoke for many. “Thank you, President Cronin, for lifting our sights to horizons beyond our borders. We remember you as a force for building bridges between nations and across differences. We remember you as our friend Joe, who inspired us to make Bentley, and the world, better and stronger together.”
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Game
FEATURES »
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on How Bhavit Sheth, MBA ’11 rode a dark horse into the Unicorn Club
By Kristin Livingston Photography by Vidhi Thakur
« FEATURES
I
t’s August 1998 and the Manchester United Football Club is headed to its first match of the season. As their bus winds along the narrow streets of East London to the Upton Park pitch, hundreds of West Ham United loyalists — the opposing team’s die-hard fans — hurl stones and bottles at the passing coach. Just a month earlier, the Manchester team’s midfielder, a young David Beckham, had been red carded and ejected from a World Cup match that ended in a loss and sent England home.
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At Upton, Beckham’s every touch of the ball is booed. The ensuing schedule of matches is a heady slog: 10 months of last-gasp kicks and fierce digging in. Defying the odds, Man United steadily climbs in the rankings. Beckham begins to redeem himself. A miracle is sweeping the season. Some 4,500 miles away in Mumbai, two Indian teenagers watch in awe. Clocking every goal, imitating every victory run, fist pumping every mind-blowing penalty shot. It’s never say die. In the end, Man United not only wins — they become the first team in English Premier League (EPL) history to clinch the holy treble of English and European football trophies: the FA Cup, Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Twenty years later, Bhavit Sheth, MBA ’11 and Harsh Jain will make their own miracle. But first, like the boys at Upton Park, they’ll have to start from square one.
Countless dreams are left behind on barroom napkins. Not Dream11. The idea, birthed in the low light of a bar in 2008, came to the friends just as the India Premier League (IPL) was about to host its inaugural cricket tournament. After years of living and breathing the EPL, stacking their fantasy teams with all the football greats — Henry, Rooney, Ronaldo — Sheth and Jain wanted to use their knowledge and passion for cricket instead, and play along to the IPL with their other heroes — Pathan, Watson, Tanvir. But nothing existed. “We thought, we should just do this ourselves,” Sheth remembers. At the time, he was in finance, fresh from his undergraduate degree in engineering; Jain was working in real estate with his family. Young in their careers, with extra hours they can’t even conceive of now, they dove into research. As far as they could tell, there weren’t any competitors. “Remember, this was 2008,” says Sheth. “So mobile phones are fairly new, Facebook hasn’t taken off in India, and other apps aren’t prevalent.” The average internet download speed at the time was 40KB per second in India, compared with the international average of 5.6MB. As luck would have it, just as Sheth and Jain hatched a plan that required optimal internet access, the Indian government launched a $13 billion initiative to bring broadband to the masses. (Today, India is the second-highest user of the internet in the world, right behind China.) Cricket was the obvious choice for their app — it’s the game in India. Injected into the nation’s bloodstream by British colonists in the 1700s, the sport is so deep-rooted in Indian culture that the country has a rivalry with Pakistan that makes March Madness look like a backyard cornhole bracket. Sheth and Jain found that about 70% of U.S. sports fans play fantasy sports. In India, a nation of 1.35 billion people, an estimated 1 billion follow at least one sport — that’s nearly triple the entire population of the United States. “If we could capture even 10% of that market,” Sheth says, “it had the potential to be really significant.”
150 rejections. Give or take. That’s how Silicon Valley welcomed COO Sheth and CEO Jain when they pitched Dream11 across the Bay Area in 2014. “Everyone said no,” Sheth says. “Everyone.” The reaction wasn’t new. Earlier, when the duo met with gaming industry experts looking for advice, the standard response was: Don’t do it. Don’t even try. It hurt to hear, he says. “But they were absolutely right. Our original model was a season-long fantasy product, which relied on making revenue through advertisements. Our product was too niche to get that kind of scale at the time.” Eventually, they burned through the capital they had raised through friends and family. But like the Man United team of their youth, the friends weren’t ready to give up. Instead, they moved sideways, launching Red Digital, a digital communications agency that acts as the go-between for clients and vendors. In just a few years, they had offices across the country and were building websites and games, managing social media and more for titans like Lufthansa and Pepsi. Meanwhile, they took turns going back to school in the States to earn MBAs and the know-how to run their businesses — Jain to Columbia and Sheth to Bentley. “But we weren’t feeling successful,” he remembers. “The agency wasn’t the product we wanted to pursue. It wasn’t our passion.” In 2011, with grad degrees in hand and revenue pouring in, they hired a crack team of 10 and pivoted Dream11 to its current model: a daily fantasy sports app with pay-to-play content. The rules: Find an upcoming match, build a fantasy team using your sports knowledge and participate in cash contests. However, they faced a steep Indian learning curve. While Sheth and Jain had spent years playing fantasy EPL, many of their peers didn’t know what fantasy sports were or meant. Users wondered why their players weren’t actually playing right then and there. Dream11 explained: This isn’t an arcade game. It’s a game of strategy. As Sheth puts it: “We were making the market from scratch.” As the app gained traction and they educated the population, Sheth and Jain sold Red Digital and pumped everything they had into Dream11. By the time they reached their fever pitch session in San Francisco, they had 300,000 users. And miraculously, after 150 votes of no confidence: two series A funders.
Five years, four more rounds of funding and 83 million users later, Dream11 has won the crown. In April 2019, the company was the first Indian gaming company to enter the “Unicorn Club” — an exclusive circle of private startups valued at $1 billion or more. According to CBInsights, as of September 2020, there are more than 400 unicorns worldwide; 22 are in India. But what seems like a sprint was most certainly a marathon. Sheth and Jain focused most of their funding on user acquisition and
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Everyone said no. Everyone.
marketing, slowly building a tech company with a lean team that went from 10 to 300. The company doggedly scaled the fantasy sports learning curve not only on the concept, but on how to download the app. While the United States is an Apple orchard, India is a galaxy of Androids. And, at Dream11’s launch, Google Play was a supermassive black hole: It banned any games played with cash from the store. “So we needed users to download the app from our website,” Sheth explains. “But every time they tried, a message popped up saying: This app could destroy your phone because Google hasn’t verified it.” Fortunately, the average user — 18- to 35-year-old males — defied Google’s ominous warning and downloaded the app. And discovered the competitive spirit and love of the game that’s carried Sheth, Jain and Dream11 all along. “This is bringing the match into your home. You don’t have to pay for an expensive ticket. And the stakes are high, like you’re one of the players or the coach, because you’ve invested your knowledge and money into the match,” Sheth says. “Everyone loves to talk about what went wrong if we lose a game, or what went right when we win. Everyone has an opinion. Now’s the moment when you can put your money where your mouth is and brag about it.” While the pandemic slowed Sheth’s projections for the year, being virtual has helped the company stay buoyant — and relevant. This fall, Dream11 won the bid to sponsor the India Premier League tournament. Named the Dream11 IPL, the event is putting the company in front of hundreds of millions of fans, and has created an even bigger opportunity to play fantasy cricket around the months-long tourney. Their competitors (Sheth estimates there are about 250) most likely choked on the announcement. “Not only do they have to catch up to us, they’ll have to go through our entire life cycle, which could take years,” he says. Not only that: “We’re planning on seeing an increase to 100 million users by the tournament’s end.” Reaching the 10% market share they had hoped for. Partnerships have poured in as Dream11 expands from cricket to hockey, football, basketball and kabbadi, a tag-like contact sport popular in South Asia. The user base has grown from Sheth’s peers to men and women of all ages, united by the thrill that comes with picking the winning hand. And, most important to Sheth, success led to creating the Dream11 Foundation, a nonprofit that provides education, health care, sanitation and, of course, sports opportunities to kids in underserved areas of India. A dad himself, Sheth is proud to help position India’s next generation for success.
Why Dream11? “A cricket team is 11 players,” Sheth explains. “So you’re choosing your dream team.” Playing fantasy sports and creating a company for it matches Sheth’s personality. He’s never been one for the spotlight. Jain, he says, is usually the face of the company. “I’m more in the background, planning and building and managing” — ensuring Dream11 gives back to the fans as much as it gets. Because, he says, “without the fans, we would just be a good idea that never went anywhere.”
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albania MICHAEL BLACK ’10 Training young environmentalists
SCHOOLED TO MAKE AN IMPACT Cleaner water. Healthier lives. Stronger leaders. Communities the world over can change for good when professional expertise meets personal calling. Such was the case for Michael Black ’10 and Kaitlyn Swist ’12. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Black took his entrepreneurial mindset to the Balkans, while New York native Swist followed her business acumen to Africa.
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KAITLYN SWIST ’12 Advocating for clean water and entrepreneurship PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ALUMNI
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CHANGING SCENERY. CHANGING COMMUNITIES. A young boy, making his way through a community park in eastern Albania, stops in his tracks. He bends over, picks up an empty potato chip bag and places it in a nearby trash can. The unprompted, eco-friendly act catches the eye of Michael Black ’10 and a realization hits home: He has made a difference. In March 2017, the former Management major had landed in Librazhd, Albania, for a 27-month assignment with the Peace Corps. His work as an organizational development volunteer included creating an environmental education program in the town of 11,000. The idea was born over coffee — a drink the alumnus appreciated only after trying the Turkish brew served in cafés sprinkled across his host town. Black’s companion that day was Arlis Alikaj, an environmental activist who cared deeply about the pollution plaguing the river valley community. “It’s an incredibly beautiful natural area, but you see people burning trash or dumping it in the river,” says Black. “These are deep-seated attitudes. But if you can educate people while they’re young, you can change minds.” Black and his in-country contact received a USAID grant of $300 — enough to buy pencils and supplies and to fund a special field trip. They developed a lesson plan and, every Friday for 12 weeks, led 20 young environmentalists through outdoor activities. The program ended with a visit to Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Park, home to diverse wildlife including the Balkan lynx and geological features such as glacial lakes. Business-Minded in the Balkans Black credits Bentley for instilling the entrepreneurial mindset that fueled his work in the Peace Corps. As he puts it: “Turning problems into possibility … that is entrepreneurship. It’s not just about starting a company and making money.” As he built relationships in the Librazhd business, municipal and education communities, and assessed neighborhood needs, Black developed and partnered in a range of impactful projects. One was an entrepreneurship education program for women that gained national recognition in Albania. Over 12 weeks, about 25 women gathered to learn finance, bookkeeping, market research and other business-focused skills. Participants came from the town and surrounding villages,
Scenes from Michael Black’s 27 months in Librazhd, Albania
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including the local Egyptian and Roma communities. The crowning achievement of Black’s time in Librazhd was planning, constructing and opening a public recreation facility — another idea born over coffee. His collaborator this time was Albano Roci, the Librazhd mayor’s chief of staff. This venture, too, called for an entrepreneurial mindset. Black had to ask questions like, Do we have land? What are our resources? Where are we going to get the money? The project received a $4,000 grant as well as the necessary permits and approvals, and moved ahead despite weather delays and bureaucratic hiccups. Hundreds of residents attended the grand-opening celebration. “One child asked me during construction, ‘What will it cost to use this?’ A community park was unheard of where we were,” says Black, who would stop by regularly during his remaining time in Albania. Recruit Turns Recruiter Returning to the States in May 2019 and planning his next career move, Black found serendipity: The Peace Corps was looking for a recruiter in Boston. Three months into his new role, COVID-19 disrupted life around the world. “It’s the first time in our 59-year history that we’ve evacuated all of our volunteers,” he says of the thousands who serve in 60 countries. “The Iran hostage situation, the fall of the Berlin Wall, 9/11 … none of those required global evacuation.” Black continues to recruit during the pandemic. “We’re hoping that in 2021, host countries will be accepting volunteers again,” he says, explaining that Peace Corps volunteers typically have six to 12 months between applying and embarking on their assignment. Without avenues such as in-person career fairs, information tables in student centers and one-on-one appointments, Black meets students where they are: online. There is still plenty of interest, he reports. “This whole situation highlights their desire to do something positive,” he says of life during COVID-19. Young professionals who are furloughed or working remotely may be rethinking their future — much as he did in leaving the corporate world for the Peace Corps. “The need to do something that directly benefits other people is there now more than ever.”
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NATURAL RESOURCES. NATURAL LEADER. The sun has long since set in New York, but Kaitlyn Swist ’12 is still at it. Across the ocean, in the communities she serves, dawn approaches — and families, schools and businesses will start the day without access to a vital resource. This is why Swist burns the midnight oil. “I knew if I spent one more minute or one more hour working, that meant we were going to raise more money, which meant we’re going to provide more people with clean water. That equation was always clear to me.” Although not on the ground in Ethiopia, Swist understood the impact of her work for charity: water — a New York City-based organization that delivers safe drinking water to developing nations. “We help people by bringing them clean water. But how do you bring clean water to people?” she asks. By making smart business decisions. From Project to Profession Swist had discovered charity: water through her minor in Nonprofit Organizations, then a new option at Bentley. “The CEO was breaking the mold of what was known in the nonprofit world,” she says of the organization’s business-minded approach to operations. “I realized, ‘There’s a way I can do business — what I’m good at — but also something that fills my heart.’” Swist pursued an internship at charity: water and went on to join its staff full time as a development assistant. Over six years, as she advanced into senior roles, the relationship between revenue and survival for an NGO became even clearer. She was especially impressed by its goal to promote long-term sustainability through community empowerment. For example, while charity: water funded clean water efforts, local experts — such as Ethiopian geologists and hydrologists — managed projects on the ground. As she puts it: “Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t.” Room for Growth Talent and opportunity are central in Swist’s new role at a different organization. In fall 2019, she became director of membership strategy and operations for The Room, a leadership and talent development program based in Nairobi, Kenya. It joins several ventures underway across Africa spearheaded by Ghanian entrepreneur Fred Swaniker. All aim to develop skilled and ethical leaders at every career stage, recognizing that, by 2060, Africa will have the world’s largest workforce.
Launched in early 2020, The Room is an online extension of these programs. Its more than 2,000 members, from 50 countries and 30 industries, seek and give guidance and share opportunities. These connections matter, Swist notes, because about 80% of jobs are secured through word-of-mouth. “The better someone knows you, the more personal the recommendations become,” she says, adding that participants learn of under-the-radar opportunities like speaking engagements, access to venture capital or an open spot on an NGO’s board. There are resources such as Pathfinder, a program inspired by Hollywood agencies like William Morris. Athletes and celebrities rely on agents to land additional opportunities (and income), so CEO Swaniker brought the concept to The Room. Each member, says Swist, has a dedicated pathfinder — an adviser, an ambassador, a connector — whose goal is “to map out their ambitions, to transform the way they look at their careers.” Always Iterating Designed to operate virtually, The Room already offered a robust online experience when COVID-19 struck. But Swist, who had relocated to Nairobi in January, found herself on a plane back to New York in March. From there, she worked remotely to build a member base and launch the platform. Colleagues joined her from their own shelter-in-place locations in South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and the United States. Swist is excited to return to Nairobi when there’s a green light. Those two months on the ground let her get acquainted with her team and the city. “I was able to ask my colleagues better questions. Sure, I could have gained some context remotely, but it wouldn’t be the same,” she explains. “There’s value in being present in this particular instance.” Swist says she “drew some lucky cards” in having worked with such ambitious, visionary leaders. First, Scott Harrison of charity: water and, now, Swaniker, named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people for 2019. Witnessing his flexible approach to making things happen, Swist learned success isn’t about being 100% ready or perfect. “I’ve always put excellence first,” she says. “Now I see you can commit to something and forge forward, knowing you’re going to iterate.” Through her own iterations, Swist has discovered a path she intends to follow for a long time. “What my job is, what drives me, is providing something life-altering to others.”
Kaitlyn Swist (r.) with a colleague in Nairobi 20 | WINTER 2020
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One Day at a Time Economies are down. Borders are closed. And COVID-19 has taken family members and friends, including those of our featured alumni and the Bentley Magazine staff. And, yet, we move onward. Home schooling. Zoom gathering. Connecting and learning in ways we never could have imagined before now. Here, Falcons share tough realities, tender moments and hopeful mantras from inside the pandemic.
Interviews by Kristin Livingston
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WASHINGTON, D.C. JOHN FAGAN ’34
As reported by his grandson While 2020 has been a challenging year all around the world, my grandfather’s mantra of optimism and perseverance hasn’t changed: “One more day!” usually accompanied by a thumbs-up. Those who do the math will note that John was alive during the 1918 pandemic. Read his life story at bentley.edu/fagan.
BOSTON SCHNELLE SHELBY ’04
When it became mandatory to wear a face mask, I didn’t have one and neither did my fiancé. No one I knew even knew where to get one. So I made them and started using the time stuck at home to make more. Considering that COVID disproportionately impacts Black people — we’ve lost three people in my family already — I wanted to make sure the masks are helping our community and all types of essential workers, like your grocery store clerk, your UPS driver. A Bentley friend made a logo for me, we got the website up, and to date I have made 1,707 masks and donated 246. While it may seem like I’ve accomplished a lot, go easy on yourself and remember: The most important thing you can do in COVID is survive. Listen to the alumna’s full story at bentley.edu/howimadeit and check out her masks at schnellecares.com.
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RIO DE JANEIRO MARCELO SÁ ’01, GLOBAL ALUMNI BOARD
It’s hard to think of a personal lesson learned in COVID without thinking about the larger context of Brazil. Millions of children haven’t received formal education since March because our public schools, especially beyond the cities, aren’t equipped to teach remotely. The Brazilian real has devalued drastically and inflation rates have impacted countless families. On a positive note, government subsidies have reached families in the lower economic strata and have even caused upward social mobility for some. A side effect of this was that 22% Brazilians who were unbanked had to either open an account or download a digital wallet app to access the government payments. As a result, two-thirds of smartphone owners — about 120 million people — have adopted digital
wallets as a means of safely making and receiving payments, accelerating the growth of e-commerce and delivery services, keeping the economy afloat. A stronger sense of community also surfaced, exemplified by neighbors looking out for one another, confronting and exposing the increase in domestic violence. We are not to expect that society’s underlying problems will be solved by how we react to a huge crisis like this pandemic. But the way governments, corporations and civil societies have mobilized proves that we are capable of promoting the transformation that we need to foresee a better world for future generations. Read more of his insights into Brazil’s post-pandemic growth at bentley.edu/marcelosa. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ALUMNI
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FLORENCE BERLIN RYAN CLARE ’13
I struggled with the isolation, for sure. I also never felt as distanced from my family in New York as when they were in a COVID hotspot where hundreds of people were dying every day. It was terrifying. However, at one point, things in Germany relaxed to the point where I was able to travel within Europe. My boyfriend and I also did a lot of cooking, once even staying up until 1 a.m. to make pelmeni [Russian dumplings] from scratch. While it hasn’t been easy — Zoom fatigue is real — I’ve learned how much I truly value the people in my life.
LISA (PROMISE) COLELLA ’09
After barely being able to leave the apartment in Florence for months, we found a beautiful home with a garden, cypress trees and fresh air. Businesswise, with fewer clients during the pandemic, I was able to finish building a new travel website for Marriott; the extra time gave me the push I needed. This entire experience has really made my husband [Matt ’07] and me realize that you never know what will happen and when. Maybe now is the time to start that company and move to that dream location.
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AUCKLAND HONG KONG KAREN LIANG ’09 AND KEVIN SO ’08, MBA ’10
We had a baby last year and without the lockdown, honestly, we wouldn’t have been able to spend this time with her. We didn’t miss a first: step, word, sentence/demand — that we know of! When Gabi turned 1, in February, we threw her a party with a lot of soft toys as her “friends.” We feel bad for this generation for missing opportunities to socialize outside of the house, but having these months at home has been a blessing.
STEPHEN BELL ’90
With an island, you can close the borders pretty quickly. It wasn’t perfect, but at the end of the day we’ve had 1,500 cases — minute in the grand scheme of things. What’s amazed me is the tolerance for working from home, how we’ve adapted. You’re never late to a meeting anymore! I’ve got a busy work schedule at KPMG, so I’ve enjoyed the time with my three girls. I taught my youngest to ride a bike. And biking here in the springtime, you’ll see sheep and cattle roaming around the park, all the lambs being born. We’ve been lucky to have this time together. BENTLEY MAGAZINE | 23
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COMMERCE & COMPASSION By Deblina Chakraborty Amanda Maringka ’14 discovered her calling in helping others find theirs. As founder of Indonesian company terARTai, she co-creates art with people who have special needs and turns the work into sellable products. They are able to earn money and take away something perhaps even more important: a sense of purpose. The artists Maringka works with in her home country are adults. But they live with conditions, such as autism and cerebral palsy, that make it difficult to become independent and find meaningful pursuits. “They want more in life,” she says of her collaborators, who attend Kyriakon School and Therapy Center in Jakarta. “They want to contribute, but they don’t know how. The school doesn’t know how. Even their parents don’t know how. They are often underestimated.” 24 | WINTER 2020
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SEARCH FOR CLARITY
Maringka, 28, can relate to those feelings of aimlessness and uncertainty. When she first walked into Kyriakon School, in early 2019, she was on a sabbatical from global marketing and consulting firm Innate Motion. Five years into the job, she had hit pause to plot her next career move. A school, where she expected to volunteer with children, was the last place Maringka thought would provide clarity. She stumbled into it when joining a friend to set up an event for World Down Syndrome Day. “I was always awkward with kids,” Maringka admits. “So I was a bit nervous, especially knowing they had special needs.” To her surprise, several students who joined Maringka for simple art projects in those early days were at least 20 years old. Some had graduated from Kyriakon School long ago. “Outside of the school, there’s nowhere for them to go,” she says. Parents continue sending their sons and daughters there, she explains, so that they can at least feel productive and engaged. As they did art together, the students started opening up to Maringka. Helped along by iPads and communication boards that show words and pictures, they told their stories. And for this alumna, the wheels started turning. In her marketing role at Innate Motion, Maringka had learned to use an “empathy lens” on clients’ behalf. That is, to develop insights about a target customer’s motivations, which a company could then apply in shaping innovations and communications. “Being trained that way,” she says, “allowed me to identify the problem that the students were facing.” Seeing how they viewed their conditions as roadblocks to living a more fulfilling life, she was inspired to launch a company that creates a possible path forward. Its name — terARTai — comes from the Indonesian term for water lily, a flower that grows in the mud, where sunlight is scarce. “It suggests that even in darkness and struggles,” says Maringka, “something meaningful can still be found.”
“Gerry was very critical,” Maringka says with a smile. “I felt like he was the art director.” She selected four designs from those Sahabat sessions and produced 50 scarves, which went on sale in September 2019. Mahadi’s design, featuring a serene blue river filled with orange fish and two bright green hills dotted with deep red flowers, was the first to sell out.
ART AND REDEMPTION
DEFINING FRIENDSHIP
The company’s first project was a scarf collection called Sahabat, the Indonesian word for “friendship.” Maringka identifies a central theme each time she paints with Kyriakon School students, and then they all brainstorm around that idea. This time she had asked: How do you see friendship in your lives? “All of these exciting and very unique perspectives about friendship started to come up,” she recalls. “One said, ‘Friendship reminds me of a river.’ I just found that astounding.” That student, Gerry Mahadi, later explained he felt friendship was like a river because it should be about giving and ever-flowing. Maringka ran with the inspiration, creating basic designs out of Mahadi’s idea and those of a few other students. “Imagine a coloring book,” Maringka explains. “I make outlines — like an outline of a river. Then I distribute the outlines and students develop them from there.” Using paint to make the designs their own presents a significant challenge for some. Mahadi, for example, has cerebral palsy and can barely move his arms. He needs help from at least one person, sometimes two, to execute brush strokes. But the resulting artwork is indisputably his. He used a communication board to tell helpers exactly how the painting should look.
Initially, terARTai had a fairly basic business model. Maringka sold the scarves in two sizes, priced from $20 to $25, through Instagram and at occasional pop-ups and bazaars. The artists received 20% of the proceeds. “Every six months I create a report for each of the artists, and then I present the report to the school and to their parents,” she explains. “Then I give the students their money as well.” In December 2019, terARTai released its second collection, Terang, which means “light.” There are six featured special needs artists, all affiliated with Kyriakon School, who work regularly with Maringka on the creative side. After initially funding and running the business by herself, the former Marketing major now has help from a co-founder and two interns. Plans include diversifying products and moving into bulk souvenir and B2B sales. During the pandemic, bimonthly meetings with the students over Zoom have continued to fuel projects. Those included a collaboration with social media influencer Jessica Tanoe. “The Beginning of Hope” campaign experimented with some non-scarf offerings. A portion of proceeds went to special needs teachers, who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The campaign’s name sprang from the pandemic, as “dead ends seem to be everywhere,” says Marinkga. “However, hope is still growing here and there.” Her own hopes for terARTai remain high. “People aren’t just buying a cool product, they’re helping others,” she says. “It’s redemptive.”
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THE
PROfile By Kristin Livingston Photography by Ron Hill Sy Gray ’00, MSFP ’04 routinely calls the most important moves of his life “lucky slip-ups.” In fact, the natural-born entrepreneur has composed a career in accounting and finance on his own terms, by tuning into his intuition. Here, he shares five cuts from his life’s soundtrack and turns them up to 11, so we can listen and learn from his “mistakes.”
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[1] Muscle Memory Maximus Born in England to Jamaican parents, I can seamlessly switch from speaking American English to South London slang. Ya get what I’m sayin,’ yeah? When I was 10, we moved back to the island, where the educational system is very European; you pick your track by 13. I chose economics, doing a year each of macro and micro by the time I finished high school. So when I got to community college in Boston, I sailed. I didn’t ace everything because I was smart; it was just muscle memory from Jamaica. After two years, I transferred to Bentley, and maximized my dollars and course credits by taking night and summer classes.
[2] Go Study a Book (feat. John Sims) Looking for advice after graduating, I went to the career center and John, the adviser, asked, “Did you ever think about grad school?” He mentioned diversity scholarships. I said, you don’t have to tell me twice. When I left Jamaica, my grandma — you know how grandmas are — says, “Go study a book.” Which means, study hard. I pushed myself to put those degrees in her hands. So, for me, the win was getting that paper on her wall. Making her proud.
[ 3] It’s Not You. It’s Me. (But Kind of You.) I was going to grad school, taking the CPA, the series 7/66 qualifications, all while moving around at PwC but never really going up. I burned out on January 15, 2004 — the nonprofit tax deadline — and didn’t get up the next day. Or the next. Or the next. I didn’t call in sick; I just didn’t go back. It felt like I was breaking up with someone. My friends handed me their taxes. And their moms.’ And their friends.’ I ended up doing like 40, 50 returns. And what’s crazy was, you know still to this day, there’s not a lot of people of color CPAs. So it happened to be the right time, the right place, where I was serving this community that needed a classically trained guy. Word got out, and suddenly I was in business.
[4] Def Jam Paradise There’s this magical thing called entertainment accounting, and I found it after I moved to Atlanta in 2007. This guy I met, a fellow sneakerhead, says to me, “I have a 2 million-dollar problem.” He had signed artists from his independent label to Def Jam, but was struggling with the finances. So now I’m on new training ground, in a wave of hip-hop royalties, budgets and corporate tax. Setting up payrolls. Figuring out withholdings abroad while we’re on tour with Chaka Khan or Wiz Khalifa — all while seeing the world. Amazed at my luck, I slept through the shows, did the early-morning accounting, and hit my bucket list in every city.
[ 5] I’m With Her (feat. Beatrice Dixon) My first weekend in Atlanta, I met Bea — aka, my business partner and chosen sister. Five years later, she comes to me, asking for help with her company, The Honey Pot: organic, chemical-free feminine products she makes by hand. I’m like, look, I know nothing about feminine care, but I invest to keep her going and the products sell out. I invite her to move her business into my space, where hip-hop artists are flowing through, picking up The Honey Pot. It gets the “As seen at Whole Foods” sticker, and, a few years later, Target calls. She quits her job to go full time, and, like I said, she’s my sister. Thrown into a new industry, I sell my business and dive in alongside her. Today, we’re in 10,000 stores and I’m a chief strategy officer. I’m working from my new home in Amsterdam, where I’m giving my kids the best life I can. Every day I think, “Wow, I made some good mistakes.” BENTLEY MAGAZINE | 27
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CLASS NOTES
Yes to the Dress ... Wedding bells are set to ring for Boston residents Schnelle Shelby â&#x20AC;&#x2122;04 and Carrington Moore in April 2021. The couple first met on Match.com, but sparks didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fly until a chance encounter, four years later. Read their full story at bentley.edu/ schnelle-and-carrington
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<< CLASS NOTES
1966
55th Reunion Currie Morris, Manchester, N.H., married Jacqueline Spenard on May 4, 2019, at St. Marie’s Church in Manchester.
1979 Thomas M. Connors, Dedham, Mass., is now an adjunct lecturer in Computer Information Systems at Bentley University.
1987 Linda M. Smith, Andover, Mass., was elected partner at Morrison Mahoney LLP. Her practice focuses on tort defense, professional liability and employment cases, for clients who include attorneys, insurance agents, accountants and home inspectors.
2000 Janak Joshi, MBA, Wakefield, Mass., was appointed in September 2019 as an adviser to Walmart, guiding health care initiatives across the company’s retail clinics, pharmacies, wellness, optometry and audiology services. He leads strategy in technology planning, operations, regulatory and compliance, clinical and patient engagement, and M&A due diligence. In addition, Joshi serves on the Advisory Board for Offscrip Media Corp., one of the country’s leading patient advocacy media broadcasting companies.
2002 Longtime commercial and celebrity endorsement agent Kristin Nava, MSFP ’03, Encino, Calif., has launched her own firm: Nava Artists. Her résumé includes 18 years with A3 Artists Agency (formerly, Abrams Artists Agency). Most recently, as a partner, she oversaw the youth and adult commercial and endorsement divisions in Los Angeles and New York. Nava writes: “I mentioned wanting to open up my own talent agency in a class note over 10 years ago, and I just accomplished that dream!”
2006
15th Reunion Alissa Rogers married Michael Massimilla on June 13, 2020, at the Burlington Town Common. Fellow Falcons who attended via Google Meet included Stephanie (Weilert) Casanova ’05, MBA ’10; Tara Fortunato ’04; Paul Havey ’87; Teverann (Dooley) Herrera ’04; Kevin Kidd; J Kohari ’05; and Michelle (Borden) Penney ’05. The couple is living in Bedford, Mass. Jaclyn (Johnson) Soderlind, MST ’07, Kennebunk, Maine, was promoted to senior manager in the Tax practice at Baker Newman Noyes.
2008 Kristin (Forte) Allaben and husband Marshall, MST ’09, Wilmington, Mass., welcomed their third son, Daniel Charles, on October 14, 2019. His very excited older brothers are James and Thomas. William “Bill” DeRusha and wife Hannah, Medford, Mass., welcomed baby Abigail Marie on August 17, 2020. Abby joins big brother Nathan, who turned 2 in September.
Eric Jackson and wife Rylee, Waltham, Mass., welcomed baby girl Magnolia Presley on August 31, 2020. She joins brother Avery. After graduating from UC Berkeley’s MBA program in 2018, Yvener J. Petit, Los Angeles, Calif., joined the San Francisco office of EY-Parthenon. His work as a strategy consultant focuses on clients in technology, media and telecom. In October 2020, Petit transferred to the company’s Los Angeles office, taking on the role of director in the Corporate & Growth Strategy practice.
2009 Matthew Allison wed Casey Whittaker on June 8, 2019, at the historic Colony Hotel in Kennebunkport, Maine. The couple celebrated with close friends, family and many fellow Falcons. They call Portland home. Kaitlin (Chepeleff) Lane and husband Nathaniel, Wrentham, Mass., welcomed their second child, daughter Quinn, on March 29, 2020. Tatiana (Casale) Mullaney, MBA ’17 and husband Michael, Newton, Mass., welcomed Ava Rose on October 1, 2020. The alumna reports, “Another princess joins the family!” Ava joins big sister Mia.
2010 Allison Eckert married Andrew Riotto on January 18, 2020, at the Tupper Manor in Beverly, Mass. The wedding party included bridesmaids Casey Caufield, Katy (Zaremba) Gilbert and Demi (Tetrault) Marsh. Other Falcon guests: Paul Gershlak ’81, Eric Gilbert ’09, Ryan Grabinski and Maria (Raspa) Millner ’11. “It was a perfect winter wedding,” writes the bride, “followed by a phenomenal honeymoon in Saint Lucia!”
Lauren (Westling) Fostveit, MBA ’11, MSA ’16 and husband Jared, Sudbury, Mass., welcomed son Chase Jared on June 3, 2020. He joins big sister Skylar. Manyang Mangar and wife Atong, New Britain, Conn., welcomed baby girl Aker on September 17, 2020. He reports that mom and baby are doing well. Aker joins big brother Chep. Rachel (Pereira) Mondi and husband Peter, Elmhurst, Ill., became proud parents of son Oliver on January 4, 2020, at 1:04 p.m. She writes: “This former Math major loves how Oliver’s birthday and time of birth match!” Laura Murphy, MSA ’11 wed Preston Carbone ’11 on October 19, 2019, at Mad River Barn in Waitsfield, Vt. Fellow Falcons attending included James Angelo ’11; Michael Comiskey ’11; Cait Deneen; Tyler Farrell ’11; Kristy Gonsalves; Mike Guerrero ’11, MSFP ’12; Tom Hadala ’11, MSF ’11; Michelle LaRosa, MBA ’11; Alex Macielak ’11; Amanda Markert; Marissa (Cavallo) Mazzarelli, MSA ’11 and husband Dino ’09; Christa (Grippo) Patsos ’11 and husband Rick ’11; Ashley Platt ’11, MST ’12; Josh Ranger ’11; Daria Razzazan; Elena Skaletsky ’13; Paul Smithwood ’11; Jillian Tourangeau; and Lindsay (Sauve) Wiedemann, MSA ’11 and husband Ted, MST ’13. The couple is living in Madison, Wis. Katie Passkiewicz married Andrew Green on June 24, 2020, in Dallas, Texas. Unfortunately, no Falcons were in attendance due to COVID-19. The newlyweds are living in Dallas. Scott Rosen and wife Leah welcomed daughter Sophie on August 27, 2020. She joins big sister Maya.
Alexandra (Lambert) Scaringe and husband Stephen, MBA ’16, Reading, Mass., said hello to son Greyson Stephen on February 28, 2020. He joins sister Savannah as a future Falcon. Lindsay (Sauve) Wiedemann, MSA ’11 and husband Ted, MST ’11, Westwood, Mass., welcomed Sienna Marie into the world on February 5, 2020. She joins big brother Theo.
2011
FOLD 10th Reunion Preston Carbone married Laura Murphy ’10, MSA on October 19, 2019, at Mad River Barn in Waitsfield, Vt. Fellow Falcons attending: James Angelo; Michael Comiskey; Cait Deneen ’10; Tyler Farrell; Kristy Gonsalves ’10; Mike Guerrero, MSFP ’12; Tom Hadala, MSF ’11; Michelle LaRosa ’10, MBA; Alex Macielak; Amanda Markert ’10; Marissa (Cavallo) Mazzarelli ’10, MSA and husband Dino ’09; Christa (Grippo) Patsos and husband Rick; Ashley Platt, MST ’12; Josh Ranger; Daria Razzazan ’10; Elena Skaletsky ’13; Paul Smithwood; Jillian Tourangeau ’10; and Lindsay (Sauve) Wiedemann ’10, MSA and husband Ted ’10, MST ’13. The couple is living in Madison, Wis. Miranda (Charles) Galvin, MSA ’11 and husband Brian, Hanover, Mass., welcomed baby girl Tessa on March 5, 2020. Phung Truong and husband Michael Tran, Quincy, Mass., said hello to Amelia Ruby Tran on March 22, 2020. The new mom shares: “We are very excited for her to join the Bentley community and be a future Falcon!” BENTLEY MAGAZINE | 29
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CLASS NOTES >> (2011, continued) Rich Van Kampen wed Melissa Shea on December 13, 2019, at Skylands Manor in Ringwood, N.J. On hand were fellow Falcons Ben Burkholz and Cliff Ulrich ’12. The couple resides in Hawthorne.
2012 FOLD
Melissa Reville, PhD ’20 and Zachary Renschler exchanged vows on June 1, 2019, at Commander’s Mansion in Watertown, Mass. The bride reports: “Thirty fellow Falcons joined us, and Jamie Carrillo officiated our ceremony!” The couple is living in Cambridge. M. Hannah Stewart married John F. Veale on November 2, 2019, in Westerly, R.I., surrounded by friends and family. The alumna is director of development at Mystic Aquarium and her new husband works as a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The couple resides in Charlestown, R.I., with their two dogs.
2013 FOLD
Evan Pincus, London, England, is head of finance and operations at nate — an app that enables mobile checkout for online retailers. The company reports: “Evan played a key role in securing funding for nate and has been instrumental in our growth. Additionally, his sister, Lindsay Pincus [Class of 2023] participated in nate’s Career Accelerator, a program that aims to custom-fit opportunities and training to applicants’ individual interests, rather than fill positions according to company needs.” Alex Rusate, MSA ’13 married Katharine Roy on September 21, 2019, at the Gideon Putnam in Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Joining the party were fellow Falcons John Aminti, MSA ’14; Dayna Block, MBA ’15; Justin Connolly, MBA ’14; Anthony Curto, MSA ’14; Taylor Murphy; Alicia (Smolenski) Noll; and Emily Roy. The couple resides in Saratoga Springs.
Greg Tourangeau married Nicole D’Achino on September 28, 2018, in Cape May, N.J., in the company of 20 fellow Falcons. The couple is living in Boston.
2014 FOLD
Colin Adamson, MSF ’17 and Kristen Palumberi, MST ’15 exchanged vows on October 4, 2019, at Birchwood Vineyards in Derry, N.H. The many Falcons who attended included graduates from the classes of 1984, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The couple lives in Wilmington, Mass., with their dog, Luigi. Mary Farrell and Joe Herbert tied the knot on September 26, 2020, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Meredith N.H., with a reception following at Whiteface Hollow in South Tamworth.
Olivia LeClair married Angelo Grauel on November 3, 2019, in Beverly, Mass. The Falcon contingent included the bride’s parents, Ronald ’82, P ’11 ’14 and Nina (Locketti) LeClair ’83, P ’11 ’14; along with Maggie (Brogan) Calvetti ’08 and husband Joey ’08, MST ’09; Jenny Ehalt ’05; Greg Farber ’03; Gerard Fischetti; Jessica Jacovino; CJ Pellerano; Carolyn (Suarez) Schneider ’07; Ron Ardizzone ’98, MBA ’01; and Melissa (Reville) Renschler ’12, PhD ’20 and husband Zachary ’12. The couple lives in Boston.
2015
Joe Hark, MSA ’15, Pendleton, S.C., has joined the Business Strategy and Transformation practice at CFGI. He is a manager in the company’s new office in Charlotte, N.C. Jason Lieberman and Danielle Hellstern tied the knot on October 26, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
2018 FOLD
Samantha Gugino, East Amherst, N.Y., has been hired at Buffalo-based Lumsden McCormick as an audit staff accountant.
FOLD
Chris Bates married Julie Nickerson on September 21, 2019, at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee, Mass. The couple is living in Hingham.
Send us your notes and photos! bentley.edu/class-notes
SPOTLIGHT UPDATE BY MOLLY MCKINNON
Featured in the Winter 2018 issue, Victoria (Guenther) Watts ’98 writes that her all-natural skincare line, Victorialand Beauty, has rebranded with packaging for people who are visually impaired. The alumna collaborated with the LightHouse organization to develop a tactile symbol system, which is placed on each product to facilitate its identification by touch. The CyR.U.S. Raised Universal Symbol System is named for her 4-year-old son, Cyrus, who has a hereditary disorder that affects the retina. The inclusive packaging has received great reviews since launching in November 2019, reports Watts. “It’s our mission to empower all consumers, sighted and unsighted, with skin that looks and feels good enough to ‘go naked,’ and inspire other consumer brands to follow.” Learn more at bentley.edu/victoria-watts and check out victorialandbeauty.com.
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<< FAMILY MATTERS
It Takes Two to Transfer Abigail ’18 and Annalisa ’22 Souza have a lot in common: They are sisters, they are transfer students to Bentley, and they share Falcon status with father David ’81 and mother Adrienne (White) ’81. BY MOLLY MCKINNON
“Having both girls go to Bentley was not planned. But given how it defined a clearer path for their future, Bentley was a great choice,” says David, a former Computer Information Systems major. “We were thrilled when both of them chose Bentley,” adds Adrienne. “We tried hard not to sway them and to let them make their own decisions.” As a former transfer student herself, Abigail, now a consultant in the brand strategy division at Kantar, has been a resource for her younger sister this year. “It has definitely been hard to meet people as a transfer student during the pandemic,” says Annalisa, an Accountancy major. “But I am very comfortable here. That has helped me put myself out there and join the community as much as I can during this strange time.” The sisters’ separate decisions to transfer sprang from common sources: seeing their parents’ love for the school, feeling a sense of community attending campus events as children, and witnessing their parents’ success after earning a Bentley degree. Past and present give the Souzas a lot to bond over. “There are so many aspects of Bentley that have been around since my parents were students, but also so many new pieces,” explains Abigail, who majored in Marketing. “Somehow, they all fit nicely together and allow us to connect as a family.” PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FAMILY
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The Trees residence hall has special meaning as the place where David and Adrienne met. When Abigail was a sophomore, she lived in the same dorm her mom did as a senior — 35 years earlier. Reflecting on her path to Bentley as an Accountancy major, Adrienne shares that her grandfather was a CPA. “He initiated my interest in business,” she says, “and Bentley taught me the skills to pursue an accounting career.” Today, Adrienne works for the family’s medical billing business. David’s mother encouraged college and he discovered Bentley through his high school basketball coach: Bob Watson ’68, who played four years of Falcon basketball. “Imagine finding your wife at Bentley, and now we’re celebrating our 38th anniversary. Imagine finding your first job through Bentley, at Putnam Investments, which was a tiny company in 1981, and working there for 27 years,” says David. “Bentley has given me so much.” Adrienne confirms the gratitude and affection that have kept the couple involved at Bentley for more than four decades — and counting. Adds Abigail: “I can’t wait to someday bring my family to campus for Homecoming and all the sporting events and activities that were a huge part of our lives growing up.”
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CLASS NOTES >>
Your Bentley
Margaret Fitzgerald, P ’16/’17 ’18 ’20, Lexington, Mass., writes of having three children and a son-in-law who are Bentley alumni. From left: Liam Fitzgerald ’20; Caroline (Fitzgerald) Caito ’16, MSA ’17; son-in-law Austin Caito ’16; and Sean Fitzgerald ’18.
Kristin Capell, P ’14, Charlestown, Mass., reports that daughter Brya Capell ’14 said “yes” to Ryan Nelson ’14, MSA ’19 in Osterville on September 19, 2020. The two met as sophomores through a mutual friend on campus. The prospective bride and groom live and work in Boston, she in advertising and he in accounting.
Kim Pollard, MBA ‘19, Acton, Mass., and a handful of classmates have stayed in touch for six years now. “Some of us met in the first class or first semester of the MBA program,” she writes, “while others came into the group through mutual friends of the program or other graduate degrees over time.” In December 2019, the group headed to New York (Buffalo and Niagara Falls) to visit other friends who are fellow Falcons. “We try to get together on multiple occasions throughout the year. This year changed everything, of course.”
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<< CLASS NOTES
Pics! Nick Hentschel ’14 proposed to Gabby Clemente ’14 on the Bentley campus on Saturday, August 15, 2020. Fellow Falcons on hand for the occasion: Sam Warren ’14, MSA ’15; Joel Guevara ’14; Nate Miller ’14, MSA ’15; and Krystin (Pashby) Shaw ’14 and husband Glen ’14, MSA ’15.
Caroline Hillier ’17 and Matthew Dalle Ave ’16, Topsfield, Mass., got engaged on April 25, 2020, at Hardings Beach in Chatham, Mass. The Bentley lovebirds met when she was a first-year student and he, a sophomore. The couple plans to tie the knot in October 2021. Photo by Annmarie Swift
November 2019 took Katie (Donnellan) Harrington ’12, MSA ’13 and husband Ethan ’13, MSA ‘14 to Australia. The couple, from Waltham, Mass., visited Ethan’s former roommate, Mitch Hadfield ’13, MBA ‘14, a manager at EY working in Sydney through 2021. They explored Melbourne, Cairns and Sydney, and spent time with Mitch getting to know his new stomping grounds. The trip also included a stopover in Dubai, home to fellow Falcon Akhil Chimnani ’12 . Says Katie: “We reflected on our time shared at Bentley and all that we’ve accomplished worldwide since then!”
Writing from Danvers, Mass., John Taylor ’77 reports that Kappa Pi Alpha fraternity brothers enjoyed a day at Shining Rock Golf Course in Northbridge. The outing on August 14, 2020, included (back row, from left) Bill O’Neil ’77; Bob Tobias ’78, MBA ‘92; Mike Duffy ’79; Tom Vassallo ’78; John Taylor ’77; Bill Vellante ’78; Jack Byrne ’79; Chuck Doolittle ’80, MSFP ’13; Mike Swiech ’80; (front) Jimmy Preston ’79; Bob Rice ’77, MST 87; Hank “Birdieman” Bornstein ’77; John Fernez ’76; Ron Wuennemann ’78.
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Weddings
1.
3.
6. 6. 2.
4.
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<< CLASS NOTES
5.
6.
7.
1. Chris Bates ’15 and Julie Nickerson 2. Katie Passkiewicz ’10 and Andrew Green 3. Jason Lieberman ’15 and Danielle Hellstern ’15 4. Melissa Reville ’12, PhD ’20 and Zachary Renschler ’12 5. Olivia LeClair ’14 and Angelo Grauel 6. Katharine Roy ’13 and Alex Rusate ’13, MSA ’13 7. Laura Murphy ’10, MSA ’11 and Preston Carbone ’11 8. Greg Tourangeau ’13 and Nicole D’Achino
8. BENTLEY MAGAZINE | 35
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9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
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<< CLASS NOTES
14.
15.
16.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
M. Hannah Stewart ’12 and John F. Veale Allison Eckert ’10 and Andrew Riotto Currie Morris ’66 and Jacqueline Spenard Matthew Allison ’09 and Casey Whittaker Mary Farrell ’14 and Joe Herbert ’14 Kristen Palumberi ’14, MST ’15 and Colin Adamson ’14, MSF ’17 Alissa Rogers ’06 and Michael Massimilla Rich Van Kampen ’11 and Melissa Shea
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CLASS NOTES >>
4.
1.
2.
5. 7.
3.
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6.
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9.
8.
11.
13.
10.
12.
1. Oliver, son of Rachel (Pereira) Mondi ’10 and husband Peter 2. Magnolia Presley, daughter of Eric Jackson ’08 and wife Rylee 3. Abigail Marie, daughter of William “Bill” DeRusha ’08 and wife Hannah, with brother Nathan 4. Greyson Stephen, son of Alexandra (Lambert) Scaringe ’10 and husband Stephen ’10, MBA ’16, with sister Savannah 5. Daniel Charles, son of Kristin (Forte) Allaben ’08 and husband Marshall ’08, MST ’09, with brothers James and Thomas 6. Quinn, daughter of Kaitlin (Chepeleff) Lane ’09 and husband Nathaniel 7. Aker, daughter of Manyang Mangar ’10 and wife Atong 8. Tessa, daughter of Miranda (Charles) Galvin ’11, MSA ’11 and husband Brian ’11 9. Sophie, daughter of Scott Rosen ’10 and wife Leah, with sister Maya 10. Ava Rose, daughter of Tatiana (Casale) Mullaney ’09, MBA ’17 and husband Michael 11. Sienna Marie, daughter of Lindsay (Sauve) Wiedemann ’10, MSA ’11 and husband Ted ’10, MST ’11 12. Chase Jared, son of Lauren (Westling) Fostveit ’10, MBA ’11, MSA ’16 and husband Jared, with sister Skylar 13. Amelia Ruby, daughter of Phung Truong ’11 and husband Michael Tran
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CLASS NOTES >>
In Memoriam 1942 Joseph Dwyer
1960 Thomas Krisko
1977 Patrick H. Arter Jr., MST
1948 Richard Peterson
1964 Brian Benvenuto William Reghitto
1978 Donald Rock Esther Stanley, MBA ’87
1965 Irving Weiner E. Edwin Wiesner Jr., P ’90
1980 James Burgess, MST
1950 Daniel Delgizzi 1951 Charles L. Burke Jr. 1954 Frederick Huntley 1955 Celeste (Hermes) Scarnici 1957 George Jenkins 1958 David Drew Stephen W. Henneberry Jr.
1966 Peter Johnson Elliot Levine 1969 Francis “Chuck” Gallo Robert J. Walsh Jr. 1970 Ralph Perry Richard Sawyer
1986 Mark Stinehour 1989 Robert Palladino 1991 Jill (Sutherland) Fitzgerald 1993 Terrisina “Terri” (Smith) Wright
1971 David Collins, MST ’79 John H. Craig III
W. TIMOTHY (TIM) ANDERSON (1948-2020) Tim Anderson, a Sociology professor who taught at Bentley for 34 years, died on Sept. 11 at age 72. A scholar of Native American culture, Professor Anderson spent time in Montana with the Crow Nation, who adopted him as a brother. He incorporated much of what he learned there in his classes, including the use of a “talking stick” to foster careful listening and mutual respect. He is survived by his wife, Teri, and daughter, Sara ’03. Bentley has established the W. Timothy Anderson Scholarship, to be awarded annually to an undergraduate. To donate, visit bentley.edu/timandersonscholarshipfund (note W. Tim Anderson Scholarship Fund in the text box).
Parents, Faculty and Staff Joseph M. Cronin, P ’94, Former President (see tribute on page 12) John L. Edwards, Former Master Plumber, Facilities Management Lawrence C. House, Former Assistant Professor, Mathematics David Ring, Former Faculty, Accountancy Charles L. Saccardo, Former Adjunct Professor, Economics Dibinga W. Said, Former Assistant Professor, Philosophy Elgin Summerfelt, Former Associate Director, Career Services
ARTHUR G. KOUMANTZELIS ’49 (1930-2020) Longtime Bentley benefactor Arthur Koumantzelis died on Oct. 6 at age 90. The son of Greek immigrants, he graduated high school at 16. He began a distinguished career in accounting and finance in 1949, upon earning his Bentley degree. Devoted to helping others, Mr. Koumantzelis served on the boards of various nonprofits, including the Immigrant Learning Center. In 1996, he established the Arthur G. and Vaia L. Koumantzelis Scholarship Fund to support Bentley students. The auditorium in Lindsay Hall was dedicated in his honor in 2000. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Vaia, and seven children, including Paul Koumantzelis ’04, MSA ’05.
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BE A FORCE
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