SUNY Alumni Honor Roll
Alumni Main Page
SUNY
Alumni Honor Roll
The State University of New
York began a recognition program in 1994 to give the University system a way to promote
the excellence of a SUNY education as exemplified by our outstanding alumni.
The criteria include:
- outstanding success in his or her
professional life.
- significant contributions to higher education
or public service.
- in education.
- in community service.
- in SUNY campus service or alumni association
service.
Alumni are encouraged to forward
nominations for the SUNY alumni Honor Roll to alumni@sunysccc.edu at any time.
2001
Alumni Honor Roll
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PETER J. O'CONNER
Class of 1977
Bali, Malaysia, Hawaii, Boca Raton, Singapore, Virgin Islands, Vienna... Building on his degree in Hotel and
Restaurant Management, Peter O' Connor has worked in some of the most exotic locations in the world.
Along the way, he built up an impressive set of skills and accomplishments and is now
Senior Vice President for the Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts in Singapore. After
graduating from SCCC, O'Connor started his career with a one-year management
training program at the Playboy Resort and Country Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
His next career move was to open a 1,000 room, four-star resort/convention hotel in
Dallas, Texas. In addition to opening new hotels, with all of the pre-opening
planning, design concepts and development, staffing, menu design, training,
financial planning, etc., he also supervised hotels in multiple locations and
even had to quickly learn German for his position at the El Dorado Park Hotel
in Vienna, Austria.
Over a 26-year career in the hospitality industry, O'Connor has consistently
increased sales through innovative sales and marketing programs; increased
profitability through re-engineering work processes, organizational
restructuring, cost reduction and extensive profit improvement programs;
adapted to diverse cultures and management styles through considerable international
experience; improved service levels through detailed training programs and direct
personal involvement; directed and coordinated pre-opening development and opening
activities for ten hotel and resort developments; supervised a work force ranging
from 225 - 1,500 persons with as many as 125 management personnel; and created new
operational concepts achieving significant product differentiation.
He is currently responsible for overseeing operations at the flagship Hard
Rock Hotel in Bali, fine-tuning the company's product development, asset
management, and expansion and development of future properties slated in
Asia, US, Europe and Africa. He has received numerous awards for excellence
in operations and excellence in meetings and convention management, in addition
to being awarded the "Best New City" Hotel Asia Pacific by Travel Trade Gazette
and one of the "Hottest New Hotels Worldwide" by Conde Nast Traveler for Palace
of the Golden Horses in Malaysia.
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2000
Alumni Honor Roll
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PATRICIA MOGRO
Class of 1983
Patricia Mogro exemplifies teaching at its best. She has been awarded the Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching and the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. She's also been named to Who's Who Among America's Teachers, and received the Leadership Award from the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers, the SCCC Faculty Advocate Award for Students with Disabilities and SCCC Student Government Certificate of Merit. Mogro teaches Spanish and Psychology at SCCC. She also created and runs the Language Laboratory. Mogro originally came to SCCC as part of the SUNY Minority Internship Program and now serves as a mentor in that same program. In addition, she serves as Advisor to the Spanish Club, one of the most active clubs at SCCC, which brings in weekly speakers and cultural programs on South American countries including music, food, typical artifacts, slides and pictures. The club has also been involved in community service, adopting a Latin family for the holidays, collecting school supplies for schools in Nicaragua and Honduras and purchasing books in Spanish for a children's library project in Peru. She has served as chair of several faculty committees, including Curriculum, Student Affairs, and Middles States Periodic Program Review, and has also served on numerous other committees including Affirmative Action, Multicultural Advisory Committee and the High School Visitation program. Mogro began her teaching career at SCCC in 1989 and was promoted to full professor in 1999. She earned her A.A. in Humanities and Social Sciences from SCCC, a B.S. in Liberal Arts from the University of the State of New York, and an M.A. in Spanish from the State University of New York at Albany. She was an active member of the former Hispanic Heritage Institute and the South American Club.
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SUSAN M. WATSON
Class of 1978
"You've Got to Believe" captures Susan Watson's positive attitude about
the City of Schenectady and reflects her "can-do" outlook about life in
general. A Certified Public Accountant, Watson demonstrated her belief
and commitment to Schenectady by purchasing and renovating a downtown
building for her business specializing in Estate and Trust Taxation.
Watson is the author of dozens of valuations, has testified as an expert
witness on numerous occasions, and is experienced in malpractice-loss of
earnings potential, matrimonial proceedings involving valuation of
closely held businesses, professional licenses and degrees, estate tax
valuations and gift tax valuations. She has lectured at numerous
seminars on taxation, aspects of investments, and estate and trust
matters. Watson serves on the WMHT Planned Giving Board, as an officer of
the Kiwanis Club of Schenectady and the SCCC Paralegal Advisory Board Member.
She earned her A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies at SCCC, a B.S. in Accounting,
Magna Cum Laude, from the College
of Saint Rose and an M.S. in Corporate Tax at the State University of
new York at Albany. She is a member of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Certified
Public Accountants, and the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York.
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1999
Alumni Honor Roll
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James V. Bigley
Class of 1976
James V. Bigley formed Quality Food Management, Inc. (QFM), a contract food management
company, in 1982 serving one facility. The company continues to grow and now serves
51 colleges, schools, health care facilities and businesses with sales of more than $12
million. QFM employs more than 630 people serving 23,000 meals on a daily basis from
the Canadian border to Westchester County, and from the New York/Massachusetts border to
Oneonta. The largest contract is the Schenectady City School District, with 4,200
lunches served daily. Nearly a dozen of QFM's key management positions are filled by
SCCC graduates. Bigley has been an active participant on the Hotel and Culinary Arts
Advisory Committee at SCCC for more than 15 years. He is also a member of the NYS
School Food Service Association, the NYS School Business Officials, and the National
Automatic Merchandising Association. In addition, he also serves on the Board of
Directors of the Northeast New York Alliance of Business and is a NYS Special Olympic
Coordinator.
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1998
Alumni Honor Roll
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Bruce M. Beaudette
Class of 1980
Bruce Beaudette has been President/CEO of Sunmark Federal Credit Union (formerly GE
Turbine Federal Credit Union) since 1986. Sunmark serves over 28,000 members and 183
employer groups, including GE Power Systems, Lockheed Martin Knolls Atomic Power
Laboratories, GE Corporate Research and Development and Quad Graphics. He also serves as
President of TCU Services, Inc., a subsidiary corporation which offers discount brokerage,
insurance, tax and estate planning services. Through his leadership, Sunmark has grown
from $30 million in assets to nearly $120 million, and from 15 to 67 employees. Bruce has
nearly 20 years of experience in the Credit Union field and serves as Board Treasurer for
the Empire Corporate Federal Credit Union and on the board of the Member Trade Financial
Group, LLC. He is also a member of the Credit Union Executive Society. Active in the
community, he serves on the Board of Directors of Schenectady Habitat for Humanity, is a
Trustee of Schenectady County United Way, is President of the Schenectady Kiwanis
Foundation, chairs the Finance Committee of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and coaches for
the Highland Soccer Club.
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1997
Alumni Honor Roll
William E. Burdick Jr.
Class of 1985
William E. Burdick Jr. is an
electrical engineer for General Electric Corporate Research and Development in
Schenectady. He was awarded a U.S. patent and is the author and co-author of numerous
technical papers. Bill was inducted into the GE Whitney Gallery of Technical Achievers and
has presented a paper on electronic tests at the International Test Conference in
Washington, D.C.
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Carolyn Crocker Johnston
Class of 1973
Recently retired as Assistant
Director of the Division of Adult Education for the Detroit public school system, Carolyn
Crocker Johnston administered and taught an academic program for over 1,000 adults working
toward General Equivalency Diplomas. She was awarded the Principal's and Educators'
Achievement Award for Outstanding and Dedicated Service. Carolyn earned her bachelor's
degree from Skidmore College's University Without Walls and her master's degree in
administration and organizational studies, which focused on adult education, from Wayne
State University.
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1996
Alumni Honor Roll
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The Honorable Albert P. Jurczynski
Class of 1984
Al currently serves as the 54th
Mayor of the City of Schenectady, elected in 1995 after serving on the City Council for 12
years. In 1983 he was elected as the youngest councilman in the city's history. He is the
owner of DoMore Office Furniture. Earlier in his career, Al attended the U.S. Army's
Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California to study Russian and trained and served
as an army interrogator. He is former president of the Hamilton Hill Neighborhood
Association and past president of Schenectady United Neighborhoods.
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 Josephine Woodward Massaro
Class of 1979
Dominick Massaro
Class of 1983
Josephine Woodward Massaro and
Dominick Massaro are the founders of the Palms of the Oasis Foundation, a not-for-profit
organization to provide education and housing to individuals and families dealing with
HIV/AIDS. During the past four years, they have established funding and a board of
directors for the organization. In July of 1996 they opened their first three-unit house
in Albany, NY, for women and children with HIV/AIDS, rehabilitated in part with funds
awarded by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The Massaros have
purchased land on Sacandaga Lake and are developing a year-round camp for AIDS children
and their families. Trained through the AIDS Institute of the NYS Health Department,
Josephine recently began conducting prevention workshops for teens.
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1995
Alumni Honor Roll
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Margaret Huff
Class of 1981
Now a partner with the law firm
McCary and Huff, Peg entered SCCC's paralegal program as a widow with four children,
subsequently earning a baccalaureate degree from Siena College and a law degree from
Albany Law. A strong advocate for the College, she serves as Vice President of the SCCC
Foundation and is a member of the SCCC Paralegal Advisory Committee. She represents SCCC
as College Attorney and also represents several school districts. Peg also serves as
Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Glenville.
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Michael Iacobucci
Class of 1988, 1989
Mike is an enthusiastic booster
of Schenectady and the founder of Tuesday in the Park, a day-long celebration
featuring games and fireworks for 55,000 people, as well as Schenectady's winter Colonial
Festival, celebrating the city's early history. He is the owner and operator of Mike's
Pizza Adobe and is best known for his civic activities, including service as Schenectady
County Legislator, DARE program advisory board member, and member of the Merchant's
Council. He has served as a board member of the Capital District Transportation Authority.
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1994
Alumni Honor Roll
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Angelo M. Mazzone
Class of 1974
Angelo is CEO and President of
Mazzone Management Group, which includes the historic Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia. He
is the former president of the Canal Square Merchant Association and promoter of
Schenectady's downtown area. Angelo was the recipient of Best New Enterprise recognition
awarded by the Schenectady Chamber of Commerce. In the past he served as a member of the
SCCC Board of Trustees and currently serves on the SCCC Foundation Board. Angelo is the
recipient of numerous awards, including the Small Business Person of the Year Award by the
Capital District Business Review. In addition to an Associate's Degree from SCCC,
he also earned a bachelor's degree from the University of New Haven.
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Elizabeth V. Gemmette
Class of 1977
Elizabeth is a lawyer, author,
and scholar whose work has been widely published in the Capital Region press and journals
such as Journal of Health, Politics, Policy, and Law. She is currently practicing
law while teaching on an adjunct basis. She is a former faculty member at SCCC, the
College of St. Rose, University at Albany, and Albany Law School. She is the author of Law
in Literature: Legal Themes in Short Stories. She was the 1986 recipient of SCCC's
Distinguished Alumna Award. She holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology from
Union College, a master of arts in English from the College of St. Rose, a Doctor of Arts
in English from the University at Albany, and her juris doctorate from Albany Law School. |
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