As the CEO of Onward Publishing, Jeffrey Barasch '70 says his job allows him to pursue his passion for publishing.

As an undergraduate, Barasch majored in psychology, but the fieldwork for his courses made him conclude that a career in psychology was not for him. In the process, he discovered his talent and love for print publications.

Barasch applied these skills to several jobs in sales, including his "dream job" at Time magazine as a sales representative in Dallas and then New York.

After 15 years in sales, Barasch decided it was time to reinvent himself. Together with his wife, Melissa, he launched Onward Publishing, based in Northport, N.Y.

"Our first project was creating beautiful newsletters celebrating the lives, legacies and achievements of nursing home residents," he said. The company now focuses almost exclusively in health care with clients such as UnitedHealthcare.

"Custom publishing is a cutting-edge trend that lets us reach new levels of effectiveness," Barasch said. "Printing presses now can capture and include personal and variable information about readers targeted to their interests."

On a recent campus visit, Barasch found that the "small village" he remembered as a student had blossomed into a major university. What impressed him most about Quinnipiac as a student still impresses him now. "They still have the personal touch," he said.

"Quinnipiac seemed to ground us in strong relationships, galvanizing the seriousness of love and friendships," Barasch said. "My closest friends and I all married women we were dating back in 1970. We all are still together and see each other regularly. Those bonds were forged with the help of Quinnipiac."