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CURRYM A G A Z I N E Spring 2018For CMC Food, Inc., CEO Michael Culley ’93, the C-Suite Isn’t a Place.IT'S A STATE OF MIND.page 15Colonel’s Cornerpage 12Journey to the C-Suitepage 14Class Notespage 30
Curry Magazine is a publication foralumni, parents, and friends of Curry College.Editor in ChiefFrances JacksonManaging EditorAlissa IreiClass Notes EditorSteven WhittemoreContributing WritersJecoliah EllisAlissa IreiFrances JacksonSenior Graphic DesignerRosemarie ValentinoPhotographersMassimo De GiovannaJohn EaganRich MorganBethany PrendergastCurry College Board of TrusteesChairW. Patrick Hughes, P ’96Vice ChairKathryn M. Sardella ’67, M.Ed. ’81TreasurerDr. James M. Sullivan, Hon. ’05ClerkDr. John J. Santilli ’71, Hon. ’02PresidentKenneth K. Quigley, Jr.Board MembersRobert E. Balletto ’79Hon. Anthony M. Campo ’79Dr. Ruth Ellen Fitch, Hon. ’11David K. Hemenway ’81Vincent J. LombardoJohn T. Mahoney III, Esq., P ’03Dr. Joyce A. Murphy, Hon. ’99Robert M. Platt ’67, P ’00Joseph P. Plunkett IIIChristine A. Pulgini, Esq. ’92Mitchell I. Quain, P ’01Kenneth K. Quigley, Jr.Thomas J. Quinlan III, P ’13Kenneth Wagner ’84Andrew B. Wrublin ’76CONTENTSCONTENTS3Meet Curry’s New Trustees4College Names Sullivan Building5Loud and Clear: WMLN-FM Gets Major Upgrades6A Vision for Student Success8Law Enforcement ExpertWilliam J. Bratton, Hon. ’97,Talks Modern Policing10New Math Ed Major12Colonel’s Corner14Journey to the C-Suite:Curry Executives ShareTheir Stories15Michael Culley ’93, CEO:Love What You Do18Gary Leopold ’77, President:Luck is Underrated20Debra Blair ’92, CFO:Make Your Own Opportunities22Anthony Chiaradonna ’96, CIO:Lead by Listening24Dorothy Dowling, P ’18, CMO:Keep Learning30Class Notes36The Latte FactorPlease send editorial correspondence to:Curry CollegeInstitutional Advancement1071 Blue Hill Avenue, Milton, MA 02186Phone: (617) 333-2121Email: alumni@curry.eduInside cover photo: Tiffany Nguyen, Class of 2019, and Garrett Whatley, Class of2019, experiment with lipids in Dr. Stephanie Walker’s Biochemistry lab.SPRINGSPRING 20182018CURRYCURRY COLLEGECOLLEGE MAGAZINEMAGAZINE 11
President Quigley meeting Suffolk Scholar Athletes Zone Program participants Solanyel Perez, Class of 2019; Gabby Kehayias, Class of 2020; and Brenda Mata, Class of 2021From the Desk of President QuigleyOne of Curry’s important aims is to prepare the future leaders of society – in health care, education, commerce, the arts, the socialsciences, and beyond. This issue of Curry Magazine showcases some of our alums doing just that – and the Curry education and valuesthat have helped them succeed. For example, you’re probably far more likely to find CMC Food Chief Executive Officer MichaelCulley ’93 – the man behind one of the nation’s best-known brands – helping team members on egg deliveries than addressingthem through an email. Similarly, CP Travel President Gary Leopold ’77 has spent decades teaching and mentoring employees atevery level of his best-in-class companies, some of whom he still counsels today. Both leaders say promoting the health, happiness,and success of their workers, customers, and clients provides them the ultimate professional satisfaction, while also benefitting theirbottom lines. All consistent with a Curry education.In this issue’s “Curry in the C-Suite” series, we also introduce Debra Blair ’92, Chief Financial Officer at the May Institute; AnthonyChiaradonna ’96, Chief Information Officer at Consigli Construction; and Dorothy Dowling, Chief Marketing Officer at BestWestern Hotels and Resorts, and a proud Curry parent. Despite the differences in these accomplished executives’ careers – whichrange across the food, construction, hospitality, and human services industries – all share a love of challenge, a passion for learning,and an appetite for service and success. All, again, traits of a Curry education.I’m confident that the students pictured with me above – three members of the Suffolk Scholar Athletes Zone Program who havematriculated at Curry, and who will be joined by a fourth student in the fall – will be among future Curry C-suite leaders makinggreat impact and contributions to our society.These qualities also bring to mind one of Curry’s greatest friends and leaders, Dr. James M. Sullivan, Hon. ’05. Jim has spent decadesin tireless service of the College, including eight critical years as the Chair of our Board of Trustees. His bold, clear-eyed vision hastruly made Curry what it is today – an institution that proudly honors its storied past, while actively preparing students for anincreasingly complex global future. I am pleased to announce that, in honor of the Sullivan family’s enduring legacy of leadership,support, and service, the College recently named the President’s Office as the “Sullivan Building.”“Dare to do what you dream, but be not an idle dreamer,” Samuel Silas Curry urged a century ago. Today, Jim Sullivan embodies thistimeless ideal of vision made real through action. Thanks largely to his exceptional leadership and long service, the College continuesto shape minds and change lives – and will do so for generations to come.Jim, we thank you.Best wishes to all in 2018,Kenneth K. Quigley, Jr.2 CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINESPRING 2018
ON CAMPUSBoard of Trustees Welcomes Three New Members:Robert E. Balletto ’79, Christine A. Pulgini, Esq. ’92 , Kenneth Wagner ’84Robert E. Balletto ’79 is President of theGeorgetown Bank division of Salem FiveBancorp, based in Salem, Massachusetts.Mr. Balletto previously served 29 years asChief Executive Officer and 13 years asPresident of Georgetown BanCorp, Inc.– the holding company for GeorgetownSavings Bank – with branch offices inGeorgetown, North Andover, and Rowley,Massachusetts, and in Stratham, NewHampshire. He also held a Board ofDirectors role for over a decade.Mr. Balletto began his tenure withGeorgetown Savings Bank in 1982. Inmore than 30 years in local banking, hestrove to make a positive difference in thecommunity by facilitating exceptionalpersonal service and helping customersachieve their financial goals.Mr. Balletto graduated from CurryCollege in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree inBusiness Management. He is a member ofthe Curry Council advisory group.Christine A. Pulgini, Esq. ’92 is thecurrent Chairwoman of the BostonLicensing Board, which issues and regulatesmunicipal licenses for restaurants, bars,hotels, inns, dormitories, social houses,bowling alleys, billiard halls, and fortunetellers in the City of Boston. Mayor MartinJ. Walsh appointed her to the role in 2014.Ms. Pulgini previously worked as anattorney at the Law Offices of Joseph J.Pulgini, P.C., in Hyde Park, Massachusetts– a firm specializing in workers compensation, accidental disability retirement,social security disability, and civil litigation.Ms. Pulgini graduated from CurryCollege in 1992 with a bachelor’s degreein Communication, going on to earnher Juris Doctor from the New EnglandSchool of Law. Ms. Pulgini is a memberof the Massachusetts Bar Association andof the Massachusetts Academy of TrialAttorneys.Kenneth Wagner ’84 is President, ChiefExecutive Officer, and Founder of HenryElliott & Company, Inc., a leadingnational staffing firm that specializes inrecruiting highly skilled database softwareand health care IT professionals.Mr. Wagner named Henry Elliot &Company in honor of his father andgrandfather, whose strong personalintegrity and professional ethics he abidesby in his own corporate practices.Before founding his own company in1992, Mr. Wagner spent eight years inthe professional services, staffing, andhuman resources industries – working as avocational and rehabilitation counselor, anaccount manager, and a technical recruiter.Mr. Wagner graduated from CurryCollege in 1984 with a bachelor’s degreein Psychology. He currently serves on theCurry Council advisory group.SPRING 2018CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINE 3
ON CAMPUSCollege Names Sullivan Building in Honor ofDr. James M. Sullivan, Hon. ‘05, and FamilyThe Sullivan Building is located in the heart of the Milton campus, on Westhaver Park across from the Student Center.Curry College recently named the Sullivan Building – home to the office ofPresident Kenneth K. Quigley, Jr. – in recognition of Dr. James M. Sullivan,Hon. ’05, and his family.The naming pays tribute to Dr. Sullivan’s longstanding service to the College, and honors theSullivan family’s generous financial support.Dr. Sullivan has spent more than 20 years – eight of those as the Chairman of the Board ofTrustees – working tirelessly to ensure Curry continues to uphold its highest ideals, educating andgraduating students prepared to engage in successful careers and active citizenship.“No person has had a greater impact on the College’s progress over the past two decades than JimSullivan,” President Quigley said. “His leadership and service truly leave a lasting legacy, whichwill influence Curry and its people for the better for countless decades to come. We owe a deepdebt of gratitude to Jim, his wife Diane, and all of the Sullivan family.” u4 CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINESPRING 2018
ON CAMPUSGift from Benita and Joe Kaminkow ’83 Funds WMLN Studio UpgradesLeft to right: Cory Kaminkow, MBA ‘15; Matthew Weddleton, Class of 2018; Joe Kaminkow ‘83; Max Cowell, Class of 2018; Martha Konstandinidis, Class of 2018; Derrell Wyche, Class of 2017; Dr. AlanFrank, faculty director of WMLN.}WMLN-FM looks and sounds better than ever, followingextensive renovations last year. New soundproofing, roofing,furniture, and carpeting now supports the work of Curry’sstudent broadcasters.The major upgrades came thanks to a gift from Joe Kaminkow'83 and his wife, Benita, to WMLN-FM. The award-winning,student-run radio station has been on the air for more than 40years. WMLN has served as a real-world training ground forthousands of alumni who have produced, directed, or hostedstudent shows, many of whom have gone on to successfulcareers in media. uTo find out how to listen toWMLN-FM live onlineanytime, anywhere, visitcurry.edu/magazine.}1932The year Curry students firstbegan producing and performingreadings, plays, and impersonationsover Boston’s WLOE, a radio stationthat broadcast from the HotelBellevue on Beacon Hill.250,000Number of potentiallisteners in WMLN’smarket area.0Number of commercials40Evelyn Riley, Class of 2018, WMLN-FM news director and co-host of a weekly entertainmentnews broadcast called “The Dark Side,” uses the new studio equipment.approximate reach, inmiles, of the station’sradio signalSPRING 2018Number of hours a day thatWMLN broadcastsCURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINE 5
ON CAMPUSA Vision for Advancing Student SuccessScience and Integrated Learning CommonsBlue Jay Way ViewThe Learning Commons will house the Academic EnrichmentCenter (including The Writing Center and Peer & ProfessionalTutoring), the Academic Success Office, the Advising Office,the Office of Disability Services and Assistive TechnologyLab, the Speaking Center, and the Study Abroad office. Anew Quantitative Commons will support curricular and cocurricular programming in mathematics, statistics,and quantitative reasoning.Newly-constructed science laboratories will support: Anatomy& Physiology, Introductory Chemistry, Organic/InorganicChemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Physics, andScience Research. These labs will provide hands-on learning6 CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINESPRING 2018and research experiences, providing benefit and opportunityfor all students, particularly those studying Biology,Biochemistry, Nursing, Community Health & Wellness, andPublic Health & Wellness. The laboratories will also allow theCollege to consider adding new STEM (Science, Technology,Engineering, and Math) programs, and will create furtherlab-based opportunities for existing majors, such as CriminalJustice and Psychology.High-tech classrooms will be designed to support Curry’sinnovative General Education program and provide spaces foractive learning to occur. The active learning spaces will includefour active learning classrooms and two seminar-style rooms.Site preparation and initial construction activities havecommenced on this exciting project, which is expected to becompleted before the start of the school year in the fall of 2019.}Curry plans to build an integrated Learning Commons,connecting the Science Building and the Levin Library, andexpand and enhance science facilities. This state-of-the-artspace to promote student success will feature new classrooms,labs, offices, and 24-7 group study spaces. The 36,500-squarefoot facility has been thoughtfully designed to encouragecollaborative, multidisciplinary learning, engaging studentsand professors in an educational environment that extendsseamlessly beyond formal classes.For more information about how youcan provide philanthropic support forthis project, please contact theOffice of Institutional Advancementat 617-333-2121.}
ON CAMPUS}Organic/Inorganic Chemistry LabVisit curry.eduto take a virtual tourand see the vision for thisdynamic new structure.}Collaboration SpaceMicrobiology LabActive Learning Classroom24/7 Study SpaceAcademic Quad ViewSILC from the Academic QuadImages reflect architectural concepts and precedents for the project.SPRING 2018CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINE 7
ON CAMPUSWhen William J. Bratton Talks, People ListenMaster of Arts in Criminal Justice program hosts discussion of 21st century policingDorchester,Massachusetts native WilliamJ. Bratton, Hon. ’97, took the Boston PoliceOath of Office at a tumultuous moment inAmerican history – close on the heels of theKent State Shootings, the Stonewall Riots, andthe assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Theyoung, idealistic rookie officer – who would goon to become one of the most famous figuresin American law enforcement – believed betterpolice practices could do more to ease society’sills and less to exacerbate them.“I came into a world that was changing – and a world Iwanted passionately to change by changing policing,” Mr.Bratton told students and alumni during a guest address inthe Oscar B. and Frances A. Keith Auditorium last fall.The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ) programinvited Mr. Bratton to campus to discuss the challengesand opportunities of policing in the 21st century, 47years after he began his career. He would go on to leadMr. Bratton addressed students and alumni in the Oscar B. and Frances A. Keith Auditorium.8 CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINESPRING 2018
ON CAMPUSLeft to right: Richard “RJ” Silva, Class of 2018; Nathan Almeida, Class of 2019; William J. Bratton, Hon. ‘97; Daniel Ceurvels, Class of 2019; Nicholas Brosseau, Class of 2019six police departments, including thosein Boston, Los Angeles, and New York.During that time, Mr. Bratton advocatedfor progressive policing, with a greateremphasis on crime prevention andcommunity engagement. He believed aheavy focus on reactive crime response –driven in part by shrinking departmentbudgets and a growing reliance on costeffective vehicle patrols – had alienatedlaw enforcement agencies from thecommunities they served. This created avacuum in which violent criminals, gangs,and drug dealers thrived.Many law enforcement experts credit Mr.Bratton with driving down crime in NewYork City, first as head of the New YorkTransit Police Department and later as thecity’s Police Commissioner. During histime as Commissioner of the BostonPolice Department, the city’s homicide rateplummeted from 154 deaths per year to 26.“His experiences and insights have savedcountless lives in declining homiciderates, improving the quality of life incommunities across the country, fromcoast to coast,” said Retired Boston PoliceCaptain and Curry Senior Lecturer AlSweeney, MACJ ’00.master’s degree students, many of whomare law enforcement professionals themselves, to hear Bratton’s perspective onleading in challenging times.“We live in a very polarized world,” Dr.Balboni said. “Communities need goodpolice. Through our MACJ program,we’re trying to encourage officers toembrace this moment in history, embracethese values, and really listen to each otherin order to move forward.” uBy 1996, Mr. Bratton had won globalrecognition as a community policingadvocate and crime fighter, with areputation for re-engineering departmentsto make cities safer. That year, TimeMagazine featured him on its cover.Prof. Sweeney and MACJ Co-Director Dr.Jennifer Balboni said they wanted their}WEB EXTRA: Before the lecture, Mr. Bratton – who had just returned fromLas Vegas following the mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino –addressed the tragedy in remarks to the media. To see event coverage from NBCBoston, WCVB-TV, and Boston Herald, visit curry.edu/magazine.SPRING 2018}CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINE 9
ON CAMPUSNot Your Mother’s Algebra: New Math Ed Major Brings Concepts to LifeAmidst a nationwide shortage of math teachers, Curry’s newMath Education major intends to change lives – one problemat a time.This fall, Curry will launch a new Math Education major thatintegrates coursework from both the Education Department andthe Science & Math Department, to best prepare students for theunique challenges of teaching middle and high school math.“Math changes lives, and we want all students’ lives to be changed,”says Dr. Jennifer McNally, Associate Professor of Natural Sciences& Mathematics. “Not just our students, but the ones that ourstudents will someday teach.”At Curry, Mathematics course-work goes far beyond mindless, formula-crunching with hands-on, in-depth explorations of concepts.Students discover how math works and why it matters, resulting in deeper and more meaningful learning.Dr. McNally, herself a former sixth-grade math teacher, says sheis confident Curry’s Math Education majors will land good jobsafter graduation.“Schools really want to see teachers who love math and who caninspire that love of math in their students,” she says.The Math Education major prepares students for licensure, with foursemesters of on-the-ground experience in middle- and secondaryschools. uFor more information about theMath Education major, contact theAdmission Office atadm@curry.edu or 617-333-2210.}“Math changes lives,and we want all students’ livesto be changed – not just ourstudents, but the ones that ourstudents will someday teach.”- Dr. Jennifer McNallyAssociate Professor of Natural Sciences &Mathematics}REFER A FUTURE CURRY STUDENTDo you know a promising high school junior or senior who youthink would love Curry College? Share that student’s contactinformation with the Admission Office, and we’ll reach out toshare more about what makes Curry great.Just email adm@curry.edu or call 617-333-2210 – we look forward tohearing from you!10 CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINESPRING 2018
BLUE HILLS AND BEYONDIIE’s Generation Study Abroad Welcomes Curry as Partner“My study abroadThe Institute of InternationalEducation (IIE) recentlywelcomed Curry College asa partner institution of theGeneration Study Abroad Initiative, in recognition of theCollege’s strong commitment to global education.As an official partner of Generation Study Abroad, Currywill join other thought leaders in sharing and discussing bestinstitutional practices for facilitating impactful internationalexperiences. The College will also contribute annual updatesto IIE for inclusion in the initiative’s yearly progress report. u” - Meaghan Leary ’17zone.}Generation Study Abroad seeks to double the number ofAmerican students studying abroad annually – from 300,000to 600,000 – by the end of this decade. IIE believes educationexperiences outside the U.S. facilitate the development ofimportant key competencies, such as language and problemsolving skills.experience changed mywhole outlook on life.It taught me to reachoutside my comfortCurry Students HaveStudied on Every ContinentExcept Antarctica}Nursing Students ObserveHealthcare Practices in FranceA group of Curry nursingstudents traveled to Francelast summer to observenurses in European hospitals,clinics, and home-healthsettings. Prof. Linda Tenofsky,who led the trip, calls theopportunity to explore foreignhealthcare systems invaluableand eye-opening.“The students saw majordifferences when compared tothe evidence-based practice weespouse in the United States,”Dr. Tenofsky says. “We founda greater emphasis on caring,particularly with regard tohome care for elders.” uTop row, left to right: Karissa Murphy, Class of 2019; Alivia Wokoske, Class of 2018;Idris Khiyhaty, Class of 2018; Anthony Maffie, Class of 2018. Front row, left to right:Talia Forte, Class of 2018, Gabrielle Marhoffer, Class of 2018; Haley Soltys, Classof 2018; and Professor Linda Tenofsky visited the operating room at the ToulouseLautrec Clinic in Albi, France. Photo courtesy of Linda Tenofsky.SPRING 2018CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINE 11
COLONELS CORNERNew Athletics Website Set to Score with Colonels FansIn early February, the Athletics Department rolled out major upgrades tocurryathletics.com, with a new userfriendly interface to keep Colonels fanseffortlessly up-to-date and in-the-know.If you bleed purple, bookmark the siteto keep up with team news, check stats,view schedules, browse merchandise,and even stream games live online.Emily Irwin, Class of 2020, scored her1,000th point as a Curry Colonel in ahome game against Gordon College onJanuary 20 – also tallying a game-high 20points.SPRING 2018Ryan Madden ’16 LandsDream Job as AthleticDirector“Sports teaches you about leadership, teammorale, and being part of a team,” he told theMilton Times. “It teaches you life lessons.”“Emily is an exceptional athlete,” Women’s Basketball Coach Francis Elms toldthe Town Crier. “There is no quit in her – she has played through everythingfrom a broken nose to an injured wrist . She never stops.”}12 CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINE}Ryan Madden ’16 recentlylanded his dream jobas the athletic directorat Milton High School,where he, his parents,and his grandparents all attended school. Ryan,says he loves sharing his passion for sports andsports education with young athletes.Emily’s impressive performance hasgarnered regional buzz. The New EnglandWomen’s Basketball Association hasnamed the student-athlete to its weeklyHonor Roll multiple times this season, andthe Wilmington Town Crier and Lowell Sunrecently highlighted her achievements intheir sports coverage.WEB EXTRA: To read the Town Crier’sin-depth profile of Emily, visitcurry.edu/magazine.curryathletics.com}Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in BusinessManagement with a concentration in Sportsand Recreation Management while at Curry,also interning at Milton High’s athleticdepartment.SAVE THE DATE!The 2018 FootballGolf Outing will beJune 28 at theBrookmeadow Country Club.Photo courtesy of Milton Times}Nothin’ But Net: Emily Irwin Scores 1,000 Pointsand Counting as Curry ColonelCheck out the new look andupgraded functionality at:
COLONELS CORNERAfter Banner Football Season, Coach and Players Take HomeBig CCC AwardsCurry Football fans had plenty to cheerabout in the 2017 season, with the teamcounting an impressive five-win year-overyear improvement and securing a spot inthe New England Bowl.The Commonwealth Coast Conference(CCC) recognized the team’s achievementswith three major post-season awards –naming Quarterback Alex Corvese, Classof 2018, as Co-Offensive Player of theYear, and Sean Amaru, Class of 2019,as Offensive Rookie of the Year. HeadCoach Skip Bandini took home the awardfor “CCC Football Coach of the Year.”The CCC also named 25 members ofthe Football Team to the Academic AllConference Team.To qualify for this honor, student-athletesmust attain at least second-year standingand maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 orhigher.Skip Bandini, Head Football CoachSean Amaru, Class of 2019Alex Corvese, Class of 2018Gear Up!Curry AthleticsLaunches New Online Storeshopcurryathletics.comColonel Plays withBaseball Legend PedroMartinezDavid Griffin, Class of 2018, had an“unbelievable experience” last summer,playing catch with Red Sox Hall of FamerPedro Martinez. The two warmed upbefore taking the field as teammates in the24th annual Oldtime Baseball Game, inCambridge, Massachusetts. The 2017 gamebenefited Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosisresearch.From coffee mugs and t-shirts toduffle bags and infant onesies,Curry Athletics’new online shop hassomething for everyColonels fan. Visitshopcurryathletics.comto browse availablegear and showyour purple pride.SPRING 2018CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINE 13
CURRY IN THE C-SUITEJOURNEY TO THE C-SUITEby Alissa IreiC-SUITEnoun, adjective: a colloquial term used to referto an organization’s top tier ofexecutive leaders C-LEVELMeet the C-Suite: Key Executive PositionsChief Executive Officer or Presidentnoun: the leader of an organization with primarydecision-making authorityChief Financial Officernoun: the executive responsible for overseeing fiscalmattersChief Information Officernoun: the executive who manages informationtechnology and computing resources andstrategiesFinding a path to the C-Suite is less like usingGoogle Maps and more like using Waze, withan infinite number of ever-changing and evolvingpossible routes to the top.For some professionals, like Gary Leopold ’77, a leadership role proves thenatural next step after achieving success in a particular field or industry. Others,like Debra Blair ’92, identify their dream positions early, and work to gain theskills and experiences necessary to achieve their goals. While every successfulexecutive has a unique journey to the C-suite, virtually all share some importantpersonal and professional qualities – like passion, curiosity, and drive.Curry alumni, friends, and parents in C-level positions helm organizationsand brands ranging from The Farmer’s Hen to Best Western Hotels &Resorts. These top-of-their-field executives – several of whom share theircareer journeys and professional advice in the following profiles – representthe kinds of leaders the College is proud to educate and know. Their insights,experiences, and advice serve as both inspiration and guide to those aspiringto carve their own path to the C-suite, and execute great work once gettingthere.Chief Marketing Officernoun: the executive in charge of communication andcontent strategiesAdditional C-Suite positions may include titlessuch as Chief Human Resources Officer, ChiefOperating Officer, Chief Compliance Officer,and more. The number of C-level positions,and their titles, vary from company to company,and depend on the size of the company, itsmission, and its operating industry or sector.}Watch for more profiles in our ongoing “Curry in the C-Suite” series in upcomingeditions of Curry Magazine. Are you a Curry alumnus/a in an executive-level position?We want to hear your story! Please email magazine@curry.edu.14 CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINESPRING 2018}
CURRY IN THE C-SUITEMichael Culley ’93President, CEO, and OwnerCMC Food, Inc.Graduating Class:1993Major:Business ManagementMinor:CommunicationFirst job:Supermarket Cashier/StockerFavorite part of current position:Every day is different.Advice:You have to like what you do.SPRING 2018CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINE 15
CURRY IN THE C-SUITE“Curry prepared me for what I am today.I learned how to work within a community,build relationships, and communicatewith people, and I definitely took thoseexperiences into my career.”LIKE FATHER, LIKE SONCMC Food President Michael Culley ‘93 touches base with Safety and Security Director Bill Panich.When he first stepped into the CEO position at thewholesale egg company behind The Farmer’s Henbrand, Michael Culley ’93 says he didn’t know that one ofthe most critical and demanding parts of his role would havenothing to do with eggs.“As a young kid, I saw my father in business,and I wanted to work with him. That wasthe initial draw,” Michael says. “But I wasfortunate in that I also developed my ownpassion for the food business. I enjoyed thework.”At the age of 16 – determined to learn theindustry from the ground up – Michaelfollowed in Charlie’s footsteps and got ajob at a local grocery store. He went onto work for a retail food broker, beforegraduating from Curry with a major inBusiness Management and a minor inCommunication.“Balancing the highs and lows of morethan 90 different employees’ personalitiesis probably the most challenging thing Ido,” the CMC Food, Inc., CEO says. “It’stough, but I enjoy it.”Michael views the ongoing cultivationof internal relationships as a top businesspriority saying that a strong, harmonious,and happy team makes achieving profitand growth objectives possible. As ahands-on leader, he regularly visits thewarehouse floor, often pitching in tooperate machinery, drive trucks, and makedeliveries alongside employees.CMC Food President Michael Culley ‘93 and Sergio Portorreal, a LeadDe-Nester on the Processing Team, examine a palette of eggs.“I care an awful lot about them and theirhappiness,” Michael says. “I don’t wantto sit in an ivory tower – I want to be asapproachable as possible.”He adds that his time at the College shapedhis leadership style and how he views hisC-suite role, which he has now held for14 years.16 CURRY COLLEGE MAGAZINEMichael’s father, Charlie Culley startedCMC Food in 1984, after 32 years in thefood industry. Charlie started his careerwhen he was 15, stocking shelves andpushing shopping carts at a New Jerseysupermarket. He rose through the ranks,ultimately becoming Vice PresidentDirector of Dairy & Deli at a large NewYork retailer, before leaving to open hisown company.SPRING 2018With a particular interest in marketingand sales, Michael began his tenure atCMC Food as a junior sales representative.He worked alongside his father for 10years, holding positions at all levels of thecompany, before taking over as Presidentand CEO in 2004. Michael promised togrow the family business one egg at a time.“Every day is different,” he says. “WhetherI’m working on growth, operations, ormarketing, it’s always challenging, and it’snever monotonous.”
CURRY IN
President Quigley meeting Suffolk Scholar Athletes Zone Program participants Solanyel Perez, Class of 2019; Gabby Kehayias, Class of 2020; and Brenda Mata, Class of 2021 . MBA '15; Matthew Weddleton, Class of 2018; Joe Kaminkow '83; Max Cowell, Class of 2018; Martha Konstandinidis, Class of 2018; Derrell Wyche, Class of 2017; Dr. Alan .
