Strengthening your mind with a good education is one thing, getting a good job is another. Our finance students have a habit of moving on to bigger, better experiences after graduation. Students in the Class of 2006 are testament. Meaghan Lamothe joined the financial management program at GE Healthcare where she will work in Milwaukee and abroad, and Jessie Russell is pursuing a master’s degree in financial engineering at the University of Michigan.
Quinnipiac has a history of producing successful students from Bruce Dumelin ’71, former chief financial officer for Bank of America, to Robert Hammel ’06, a fixed price sourcing lead for engineering services at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Conn. The companies Quinnipiac finance students work for and the titles next to their names are evidence of the valuable education Quinnipiac offers.
Gary Helbling '95, associate vice president for Wachovia Securities in Hamden, Conn., says, “Quinnipiac’s finance program, by far, is the best experience that could have happened to me for my professional career as a financial adviser. The level of education and hands-on experience from the finance professors gave me the knowledge to succeed. The classes covered extensive areas in financial concepts, such as modern portfolio theory and asset allocation and how to apply them to real situations.”
Marilyn Aiello '03, investment analyst at USI Consulting Group in Glastonbury, Conn., says, “My professors and course work prepared me for a challenging career as an investment analyst. When I got into the field, I quickly learned that my Quinnipiac education was well respected among industry leaders.”
Brett Amendola ' 91, agency sales director for Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife, in Shelton, Conn., says, “I’ve hired many Quinnipiac students because they are technically proficient, self-confident and show maturity. They have a strong basis of finance knowledge and are eager to implement what they learned in the classroom. Quinnipiac’s faculty-advising system does a great job making sure students are ready for a successful career in finance.”
Daniela Castiglia '05, financial services representative for Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife, in Shelton, Conn., says, “I passed exams during the summer after graduation to receive the proper licensing to offer clients financial services, such as life, health and long-term care insurance; mutual funds; variable annuities; and advice about college and retirement planning. I began working at Barnum Financial Group shortly after. I help people achieve goals by appropriately diversifying their portfolios. These are similar projects I did for finance courses at Quinnipiac. Another valuable skill I learned before graduating is how to do financial research. Knowing this allows me to clearly explain the reasoning behind financial decisions I suggest to clients. My career is off to a great start. Quinnipiac made sure I was well prepared.”
Anthony Salerno '97, senior financial adviser for Ameriprise Financial in Norwalk, Conn., says, “Quinnipiac professors have great real-world knowledge about finance and discuss a lot of current trends in the classroom. The finance projects I was assigned to do were realistic. I learned how to use a financial calculator in my first finance class, and I’m still using what I learned today.”
Lianna Hartford ’05, accountant for Hartford Investment Management, a subsidiary of The Hartford, in Hartford, Conn., says, “The professors are always available for help. Classes cover a broad spectrum, and I especially liked the hands-on portfolio management class that allowed us to manage a real stock portfolio. That class alone impressed my prospective employers when I interviewed."
Kevin Haney, BS '04, MBA '05, senior financial analyst for Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, says, “A Quinnipiac MBA prepares you both in practice and theory. Whether you are interested in fixed income, portfolio management or equity analysis, every faculty member brings real-world experience to the classroom. The Terry Goodwin Financial Technology Center trains students in the latest financial software used by every major investment house. Simply stated, a Quinnipiac MBA is nothing less than first rate.”
Jeremy Hyatt ’05, pricing analyst for AllianceBernstein in White Plains, N.Y., says, “Thanks to my dedicated professors working hard to guide me, I was able to get an internship at Soleil Securities. The internship impressed employers when I was looking for a job after graduation and helped me land my current job in finance. The software in the Terry Goodwin Financial Technology Center is the same as I use every day at work."