Alumni Spotlight

Why did your family choose Kennedy for your education?
My parents both attended catholic schools in their childhood and wanted my brothers and I to have a similar experience to attend a school with a great curriculum and religious background to guide us to future success.  Fun fact, my dad was high school classmates with Mr. Karrenbauer who taught English and Latin when I was in school.

What is your favorite Kennedy memory?
I have so many great memories it’s hard to choose just one.  I had a lot of fun playing sports at Kennedy.  I was on the cross country and track teams and even played soccer my senior year (the 2nd year Kennedy had soccer as a sport).  Another great memory was being part of the speech and debate team.  The speech meets were surprisingly intense, and we even went on overnight trips as far as Dayton and Cincinnati to compete.

All of this was such a great experience where I learned to be part of a team environment and developed lifelong friends.

Did you have a teacher or class that was a major influence on you?
This question is a hard one, so many teachers were great influences.  Mrs. Prebish for English opened my eyes to not being afraid to write from the heart.  Some of my skills I have today to think logically to solve problems certainly started with math teachers like Mr. Zolciak and Mr. Spano.  The entire staff at Kennedy were all amazing, a quick conversation at lunch with Mrs. Fee would always put a smile on your face. 

Education/Professional Experience:
I graduated from Miami University in 1995 with a BS in Accounting and Management Information Systems. 

I work in the management consulting industry with a focus on exploiting new technologies to deliver complex financials, supply chain and human resource solutions.  Over the years, I have implemented different software products such as PeopleSoft, Oracle and a more recently a new cloud product called Workday.  Currently, I work in Denver, CO at KPMG as Managing Director in the Advisory Workday Practice.  KPMG is a firm that operates in 146 countries and territories across the globe, offering audit, tax and advisory services. 

What career did you choose and tell us a little bit about how you got there:
I aligned myself to an accounting path in school and was thinking a career as a CPA.  I failed miserably at interviewing while in college and graduated without a job lined up.  With some help from my dad, I got a job as staff accountant at a manufacturing company close to home.  What I did not know then was that job set me on my path to work in the consulting industry.  That company was in the process implementing a new accounting system and I became very intrigued with troubleshooting and improving process issues to make the system better.  This experience led me back to college for one more semester to focus on Management Information Systems.  From there on, I found success in the consulting industry.  Consulting is an interesting industry; you get a new job every project with new clients and new challenges to solve every day.  I do travel a lot for work and have worked in many cities across the US and some overseas.  With the pandemic, we have found new ways to serve our clients while working from home.  Luckily for me with less travel and more time at home, I have managed to stay married.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of developing and mentoring new talent and leading teams I work with to deliver the best results for our clients.  I am very lucky to be surrounded with amazing talent and helping them grow in their careers like others have done for me is very rewarding. 

What is a specific piece of advice you would give to a Kennedy senior?
I think the best advice I can give to you is a reminder of something you already know, The Kennedy Mission.  Now they have done their job, it’s time for you to be a leader with courage, integrity, and dedication, a leader who will serve our world with excellence. Think big and be bold and don’t be afraid to admit your mistakes and learn from them. You will be challenged to do the right thing in life, lean on your moral compass to make the right choice.  Whatever path you choose, dedicate everything you have to produce quality results. Be inclusive, you cannot succeed in your career and life without support from your colleagues, friends and most importantly your family.  Best of Luck, GO EAGLES!