Although he graduated from Baruch more than 65 years ago, Herbert Rubin (’56) still carries with him the qualities he honed during his college days: hard work, grit, and determination. Now 89 years old, Rubin has a wealth of stories and experiences to reflect on—and invaluable lessons to share with the next generation of Baruch … Continue reading Looking Back with Herbert Rubin (’56)
Rental Disruptors: Alumni Friends Hope to End Renter’s Remorse
Brandon Procak ('06) and Mashhood Ahmed ('05) forged an incredible friendship while studying at Baruch. Nearly 20 years later, that friendship has led to a business venture: RentCity, a tech platform that aims to disrupt the apartment renting process by providing comprehensive data and firsthand reviews from tenants. The two friends took time to chat … Continue reading Rental Disruptors: Alumni Friends Hope to End Renter’s Remorse
Three Million Masks: Baruch Friends Donate PPE during COVID-19
Baruch alumnus Owen Martinetti ('17), cofounder of HempChain Farms and Naturae Oils - one of the first licensed hemp farms and cannabidiol processing plants in New York - teamed up with Baruch friend Christopher Abbenda ('18) to make headlines earlier this year: securing millions of medical masks and donating thousands throughout New York when COVID-19 … Continue reading Three Million Masks: Baruch Friends Donate PPE during COVID-19
Fashionable Face Coverings with Nana N. Yoshida (’09, MA ’17)
In the wake of COVID-19, fashion designer Nana N. Yoshida (’09, MA ’17) quickly pivoted to creating fashionable face coverings for her clients. She chatted with us about the experience. When did you decide to start making face masks as a response to this pandemic? I started making face masks relatively early, in early March. … Continue reading Fashionable Face Coverings with Nana N. Yoshida (’09, MA ’17)
The Challenges of Covering Covid-19, with Reporter Elisha Ortiz (Fieldstadt) (’14)
As the Covid-19 crisis continues, new developments seem to emerge every hour, if not every minute. We caught up with alumna Elisha Ortiz (Fieldstadt) ('14), a breaking news reporter at NBC, who discussed the challenges of covering a global pandemic, how she sees the story evolving, and the ways that she honed her craft as … Continue reading The Challenges of Covering Covid-19, with Reporter Elisha Ortiz (Fieldstadt) (’14)
Artistic Rise: Director and Dramaturg Reuven Glezer (’19)
“I’ve worn so many hats,” says Reuven Glezer (’19), a Brooklyn-based artist who recently directed the play The Jewish Question: A Report from the Jewish Deportation as Documented by C.S. Chaplin at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. “I’ve been a stagehand, an assistant director, on crew, a light operator, a dramaturg, and a playwright – which … Continue reading Artistic Rise: Director and Dramaturg Reuven Glezer (’19)
The Zen CPA: Philip Adikimenakis (’14, MS ’15)
Baruch alumnus Philip Adikimenakis ('14, MS '15) is a full-time tax CPA at a mid-sized accounting firm in Whitestone, Queens. But his interests reach well beyond just taxation. For starters, he is a chair yoga instructor and, as the founder of Relaxation Zensation, is an inspirational voice and advocate for the power of ancient self-preserving practices. … Continue reading The Zen CPA: Philip Adikimenakis (’14, MS ’15)
The CX Pioneer: Nick Jiwa (’91)
What started as a summer job to make ends meet turned into a surprising career for Nick Jiwa (’91). The alumnus worked at a call center in 1986 and couldn’t wrap his head around the concept. “But I needed the money,” he recalls, “and so I stuck with it.” More than three decades later, Jiwa … Continue reading The CX Pioneer: Nick Jiwa (’91)
Reaching Through the Bars: Tom Lapinski (’72)
For decades, Tom Lapinski ('72) has worked to inject humanity into America’s prison system. And his latest project, Through the Bars, is his most ambitious venture yet. The foundation supports history, music, and an inmate-run newspaper program at San Quentin State Prison, with a goal of reducing recidivism and promoting successful reintegration of inmates into … Continue reading Reaching Through the Bars: Tom Lapinski (’72)
Operatic Homecoming: Jillian Flexner (MBA ’16) and Fresh Squeezed Opera
It was a homecoming, of sorts, for Jillian Flexner (MBA ’16), when she returned to campus in April for the New York City premiere of Bound, a one-act chamber opera, at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. The opera was presented by Fresh Squeezed Opera, an organization founded by Flexner in 2013. “We created Fresh Squeezed … Continue reading Operatic Homecoming: Jillian Flexner (MBA ’16) and Fresh Squeezed Opera