Felician Alumni Virtual Business Networking Event: Connecting Success Stories!

Felician University held its first virtual Alumni Business Networking event of 2022, on Thursday, January 13, at 7pm. The 60-minute online discussion was an exciting chance for Felician Alumni to connect and share ideas on growing and marketing their businesses with members of the Felician University Community.

Alumni Association Advisory Board member Jason Fermin ’17, a Detective with the Passaic County Prosecutors Office, moderated the event. Mr. Fermin is a member of the Alumni Engagement Committee and seeks opportunities for alumni, and ways for them to network both virtually and in person. Fermin served in both the US Marine Corps and Army and works closely with Felician veteran alumni. He encouraged the 30 alumni and entrepreneurs who participated in the Networking Event to tap into Felician University resources, including the Lenke Family Center for Innovation (CFI), where students and entrepreneurs can exchange ideas, and the Center for Personal and Professional Development, formally the Career Development Center.

Professor Joseph Lizza, CFI Executive Director, encouraged alumni to utilize the Center for Innovation. “Students get an opportunity to interact collaboratively, and entrepreneurs get the benefit of being able to collaborate with industry leaders who are looking to give back in the form of mentorships.” Prof. Lizza says marketing strategies come in all shapes and sizes, and encouraged business owners to use, “the ones best aligned with your industry and professional environments.”

Felician Alumna Wanda Gozdz ’71 is a consultant, residential interior designer, author, accomplished educator and speaker, as well as an award-winning advocate for seniors. She is Founder and President of W. Gozdz Enterprises, Inc., a company offering management and consulting services to law libraries, accounting firms, and legal professionals. Ms. Gozdz graduated from Felician with an education degree and started businesses in male-dominated industries. She spoke of the importance of doing what you love and having a good mentor, saying, “Sometimes you might have to change paths along the way to find what works for you, and remember what you say has to be consistent with what you do.” Ms. Gozdz, who started one business with $200, also stressed the importance of having a good mentor.

Felician Alum Jazlyn Pipkins ’17 is CEO of Jazleticz, a brand that inspires people to enhance their fitness both physically and spiritually. The young entrepreneur agreed with Ms. Gozdz about the importance of, “having a mentor to hold you accountable.” She also spoke of the need to find the right niche for your business.

School of Business and Information Sciences Associate Professor Michael Omansky spoke of the benefits of Felician’s MBA program designed for working professionals, who can complete a degree in less than two years. “Hybrid courses are in person, in class, for three and a half hours once a week, and the rest of the work is online,” said Prof. Omansky, who added, “It is a good degree that will advance you, help you get a good job, or start your own business.” The MBA also features an optional one-week study abroad opportunity in Dublin, Ireland, to replace one of the 12 courses during the program.

Greg Skelley, Executive Director of the Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), told participants that portfolio creation is an essential part of a job search and urged them to provide, “Really good recommendations to potential employers.” He also encouraged alumni to take advantage of what CPPD has to offer, saying, “We have resources, programs, software, and counselors to help you.”

Jason Fermin and the other Business Networking Event panelists told attendees to use LinkedIn to grow their business. “You have got to get on LinkedIn because there are so many untapped resources and people who want to jump in and invest in you and your business,” said Mr. Fermin.

Diane Sedlmeir, Director of Alumni Engagement, thanked all of the participants and urges alumni to contact her with ideas for future networking events at SedlmeirD@felician.edu.