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Networking, right, is something I'll always come back to. I I think you got to do that a ton. Um, I know you're just with college students, but meet as many people as you possibly can in your time. Hello, Blue Jays, and welcome to the nest, stories about life after Manor College. I am your host, Kelly Peiffer, vice president of marketing communications, and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College, you belong here always.

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Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a patriotic segment of the show. Today, we're going to do a did you know, and we have some local help from a historian who used to be a former Manor College faculty history member, Matt Smalarz. >> Did you know that Manor College has ties to the American Revolution? Betsy Ross, otherwise known as Elizabeth Griscom Ross Claypole, was the mother-in-law to Abel Satweight, who was a prominent banking executive based here in Abington. On this property, Betsy Ross

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lived for a few years sometime around the year 1827. The land on which Betsy Ross once lived would be sold to the Ukrainian Catholic Church. The Sisters of St. Basil the Great acquired the property in 1924. Over the course of the next two decades, plans would be made to establish what would become known as Manor College, but in its early days was known as St. Macrina College. Behind me is the house in which the first classes would be offered in 1947. And so the linkage between America's revolution all

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the way to Manor's early founding is a strong one. Today's episode is sponsored by the Manor College Bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Justice just isn't a concept, it's a commitment. At Manor College, our criminal justice program is designed for those who feel the call to serve. You'll learn from seasoned professionals who bring real world experience from the field directly into the classroom. From law enforcement to the legal system, we provide an ethical foundation and the practical skills you

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need to make a real difference in your community. You belong here. Earn your bachelor's in criminal justice at Manor College. Visit manor.edu to learn more. So, hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest. We have a great guest coming with us today. This guest is a true embodiment of what it means to have grit, perseverance, and to really achieve greatness. Healing from the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia and a proud alum of Roman Catholic High School. He is a first generation college student who didn't just walk through the

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doors of higher ed. He blasted right through them. He started his college journey at a community college while working full-time where after those two years he made the decision that he wanted to really invest in higher education and be a full-time student and enrolled at Manor College. Fast forward to 2014 where he graduated from Manor with an associates degree in liberal arts. But if you look at the Manor history books, his name is written all over them. He was a standout soccer star and became Manor's first ever

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All-American athlete. In 2013 alone, he held the NJCAA Division Three with 22 assist, and 10 game-winning goals, finishing second nationally in points and shots. To this day, he still holds Manor's career record with 47 goals, 37 assists, and a massive 131 points. I can see the banner that's hanging in the gym right now in my mind. He was guided by impactful mentors like John Dempster and Jane Zegestowsky. He translated that elite competitive drive to from the field to the classroom and now to the career. Today he is the

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regional vice president of commercial strategy with Arc Hospitality. Please welcome to the show Mark Colville. Hi Mark. >> Wow, that was that was a lot, Kelly. Um, a big introduction um, for sure, but a lot a lot in there. And we'll I guess we're going to unpack some of that today. So, it's a pleasure. Thank you for having me. Um, every time I get to your face, Kelly, I think, man, you've changed marker manners marketing in general, right? For 12 years, I think you've been there now.

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So, really, really excited to join and kind of speak with you again and see where you got this place to and where it's at today. And again, I I can't drive around without seeing Manor somewhere. So, credit to you and and your team. Well, thank you. And I mean, I think a big introduction is only fitting for someone like you, Mark. It was really fun to kind of go through the archives and write that introduction. And um like we were talking before the show, Mark and I both kind of joined Manor at the same time.

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You coming as a student and I came on as staff in 2012. So, it was kind of fun to kind of be those journeys together. And to watch you, I mean, as a student, you absolutely crushed it on the soccer field. I remember um I was constantly writing about your name and stories and pitching it to different different um PR agencies, but now as a career and in the hospitality industry and as a father, it's really cool to see that um that part of you is still alive and you're just doing it in different ways. So,

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we'll get into that, but Mark, start us off by like how did you find out about Manor and how did you ultimately decide to transfer to Manor from the community college? Yeah, I think you touched on a little bit, Kelly. So, when I I kind of got out of high school and I was very very unsure um if I wanted to go to school, I I've worked since I was 14 years old at a rec center in my neighborhood in Fishtown. Um and I always wanted to work. I love money. Um I I absolutely it drove me. Um I always

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wanted something in my pocket. I always wanted to be able to buy something. Um so work was always on my mind. I always thought maybe I'd go right into something that put me into work. And then um obviously I played soccer since I was three years old, so it was always a part of my life. And I knew at some point it was going to end. I just I didn't think high school was the end of it. I knew I thought college was the way to probably end it. Um, so I I was kind of worked for almost a year and a

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half to community college for about a year and a half. And again, I I I kind of kept my mom kept asking me, "Hey, are you are you done? Are you done soccer? And if so, we're not doing school. Let's pick one or the other. Let's go full-time school or full-time work. Which will it be?" Um, so my mom kind of put that in my head about a year and a half in right out of high school that hey, you can't just keep going night classes two at a time. This isn't going

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to finish anytime soon. Um, so I got on the thing. I kind of looked around a little bit. I got introduced to a good friend, Mike McDev, who used to work at Manor College, and he introduced me to the coach, John Dempster. I came in to meet John um, I would say midsummer, right before I guess camp, maybe would have started, maybe a month and a half before camp started. Um, and I I just I loved everything about him. I loved everything about him. I loved everything about the school. Um, we walked around for probably 20 minutes

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and I feel like I met everybody at the school and everyone's door was open and ready to speak to somebody, right, John? We there was no schedules. There was no office times permitted. Like we just walked in, right? >> And people, student and staff were there to just greet you and and and just say, "Hey, how are you?" Right? So that to me, I just felt immediately like I was at the right place after day one. And I literally when I got home that day, I told my mom, I'm I'm going full time

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full-time college and it's going to be Manor. >> Oh, I love that. And I love a good like mom story, Mark. That just like that is the best, >> right? I mean, it was just one of those things where it just it kind of >> Yeah. >> she pushed me and then I I got there and I met John. It sounds like she knew what would be best for you and as hopefully like a parental instinct, you know, we kind of think we know what's best for our kids and it's good when it works out. And then shout out to Mike McDevitt.

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I forgot about Mike McDevitt, but yeah, he was an admissions counselor. >> Admissions counselor. Really good friend of mine still today quite a bit. We go a lot. Um he was the one who kind of said, "Hey, if you're looking right, I'm here and John would love right have a conversation with you." So that's how it started. >> Oh, that's great. I love that story. I didn't I didn't quite know all that part of it, but that's really cool. So, as like a first gen college student coming

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to college and then getting a degree and then you went on to St. Joe's after Manor because we were only a two-year school at that time, like what did that milestone mean for you and also like your whole family when like Mark's getting an associates, Mark's getting a bachelors, like what does that mean for your family? >> It was it was really it was really cool, Kelly. That's the part where I never I didn't think right I would get there. Um, I did when I stepped through the

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doors though through Manor, I had a good feeling that I was going to be able to get through it and and do pretty well. And again, a huge probably credit I have to say another name, which is my wife, um, Britney, who really really pushed me each day to to kind of be able to to study, to get into class, to make sure I'm on time, to make myself available, to sit in front of the class. Right? Those reminders to me were were something if if and that's the piece with Manor. you're if you're there and

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you're willing to put the work in a little bit, um teachers were always always happy to help, always give you extra work if you needed to catch up on things. Just door was always open. And that's one thing I I'll never ever forget. Um and something I actually do take with me on my journeys as I'm a kind of mentoring people and coaching people and training people is that your your door and your line of communication has to always be open because if those people are willing to learn, they're

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worth investing. and and a lot of people at Manor invested a ton of time in me to a kid who might have been a little hard-headed at first or just kind of was it one ear out the other, right? Kind of type person. And again, it really struck me there. I I I hit home me there. Uh to be very honest, it was just a quick thing. So, yeah, I mean, my mom always said it was the college thing was something we all thought should happen for me, would happen for me, and where my college kind of soccer career would

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end. So, um, it was it was really cool to be a first gen, um, student and then kind of go on and kind of continue down that path. So, >> Oh, that's great. I love that. And I think it's so cool how you've talked a couple times now about how like having open doors and open communication and just being welcoming is really important. Like you said, you came on a tour not really with much of an agenda. People didn't know this new, but yet you got to meet tons of people. And I know that was, you know, 14 years

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ago, but that's still true today. Like we still have that often where >> he's looking around, a family's walking around and then we all kind of make sure we stop and we talk to them. And that's part of why we say you belong here because that's the feeling and the culture um that we want people to feel. And I'm always so it just like warms my heart when I hear like people who came in the 90s, in the 80s, in the 2000s, in 2012, like still was true.

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Like it's still kind of that hasn't changed. >> That's one thing I I I will definitely say has not left me. Right. If there's one thing I recall, it's the open doors, the line of communication. Um that was just always present. And again, we had no schedule, had no agenda. We were just walking indoors and meeting people. and everyone stood up, shook my hand, asked me how I was doing, where I was from. Right. It was just a I knew right then and there when I walked out

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those doors that this was the place I was going to come back to. >> Yeah, that's great. I love hearing that. So, let's talk a little bit about some of your your soccer uh career at Manor because obviously you've left a huge mark here on campus and a lot for the men's soccer teams that came after you to kind of live up to. And we've had you were the first um for any sport an all-American athlete. We've had a few since, but you were the first. So that that holds for something and you

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still have um the lead I believe for goals, assists, and overall points. Um so it's interesting to me like you scored the most goals, but you also had the most assists. And usually like you're either like a finisher or a playmaker, but you were good at doing both. How have you found those like attributes being a playmaker, being a finisher have like helped you in business like whether you're being the scorer and the leader or like a selfless teammate? Do you have find any like correlations between this and like your

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corporate world now? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Kelly, that's the piece I think I think I'll touch on two points there maybe. Um I think a good team, right? I was I was a part of two really really good teams there. Um it was not those individual awards were truly truly not done by myself. Um because there's people who on those goals have got me assists, right? And have helped me along the way. And like I said, we were I think in my two years there and correct me I

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could be wrong with the record here, but I think we only lost two games. They were both coming in kind of the regional final. Um so maybe 39 and two, right, in my college career at Manor. So I was a part of some really really good teams. Um, all those individual awards were great, but they all to me just just the record with with everyone and what we did as a group means more to me than any one of those um kind of awards that I've gotten. I don't hold any of those trophies. I don't have any of those

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papers. Um, that what sticks with me is the people and players that I met with. And I kind of take that into my corporate world, which is I have a ton of people on my team. I oversee 40 hotels right now um across the US and I have a team of probably 35 sellers who who work under me who sell hotels and and I could not do it without them my job. So to me that the correlation I always bring back to is just you you have to rely on people and people rely on you and you got to pick and choose those times when you're need it and you

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know you need them, right? And when you can call on someone to kind of to give you that or you know you can rely on them is kind of my piece, right? So there was times in my soccer career when I knew there was games I wasn't really doing too well, but we had others step up and and carry the torch there, right? So again, it's the same thing in the corporate world where those days are long, the nights are long, but um the travel is a lot, but again, I'm relying on people when I'm traveling that my

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other hotels are kind of moving in the right direction as I give them the right guidance again. Right. So right, >> they're kind of the two pieces that stick with me is you need a team. You always will. And you got to pick and choose your times when you're relied on and you need to rely on people, >> right? So times when you got to step up and other times where other people got to step up because you're just not able to do it. And then teamwork is teamwork

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regardless on a field, in a family, in a boardroom. It's just across, you know, something that just you do. And it sounds like you're definitely a natural leader. Um I've always known that about you and it's definitely apparent when watching you play soccer at Banner. You were definitely a leader out there. And it sounds like in your corporate role now, >> yeah, >> that has translated very very well. So talk a bit Mark about the hospitality industry and what kind of drew you to

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this for your career and kind of how did you get into it in the beginning? >> Yeah, it could be I'll make it as short as possible for us so we know we're get so we have some time, right? But it started for me in 2017. I um I I had a chance I had a really really good friend from soccer um and he uh he owned a hotel and was a general manager of one. Um Bobby Andrews is his name. Um really really really good friend, a mentor of mine who I always looked up to, super super successful in

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his career. um he always said to me as I got out of college and got done that if there's ever anything I need from him or or he always wanted me to to get into the world of hospitality always thought I had that and sales right he always said you're a seller um you're a seller you're a leader whenever you need to kind of someone lean on you're you're going to come to me right so 2017 I I kind of gave Bobby a ring and said Bob I'm looking to make a move um I would love to to give it a shot I went in and

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met with Bobby a week later uh met with the director sales um who was at the hotel which was not Bobby and named Chris who I followed along my career for almost eight years went multiple places with Chris. He went, I went. Um he things that would take five minutes, Kelly. Um or things that would take 30 minutes he would teach me and with right five minutes, 30 minutes he spent with me to tell me the who, what, why, and why we're doing some things, right? So to me um that was always something that

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stuck with me. I was a sales coordinator. I was a sales manager. I was an area sales manager. I was a uh director of sales for many years. Um, I had a chance once I had my son to, again, I met a regional um, who I work with today and she's still my vice president of sales, Heather Condeluci, who I who I really really liked and enjoyed and liked working for. Um, soon as I had my son, I was looking to kind of make a move and she reached out and I I left and she said, "One day we're going to work again." Um, and and within

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three months, she shot me a text and said, "Are you ready to make the jump?" Um, >> and here I am. um almost call it nine ten years later uh in hospitality and I've reached a really good point right a regional vice president of commercial strategy um and it is it has been a long journey um there's a lot in there to unpack but it was it was a fun ride a quick ride through co uh I really really learned a ton through that time in the hospitality industry I I really really say why it was tough on a lot of folks

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um it really some there was some huge lessons in there um and in my career in hospitality that taught me a ton and got me where I'm at today. And again, the people that mentored me, uh, Bobby, Heather, Chris, um, the list goes on and on and on. Um, and that that is kind of the piece that always kind of gets back to me is the people networking and the people you meet and you never know who's watching, right? Um, or who's taking notice of what you're doing and just come to work every day, right? Get the

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lunch pail and and get to work and and try to impress others and and go from there, right? And good things happen. So, never looked for a job. Always kind of was able to really really impress a few people and they always thought it was worth bringing me along for the ride. >> Oh, that's great. Yeah. I mean, it's definitely about the mentors and the network and the people that pick up on things when no one else is watching kind of that sticks out. That's really cool that you were able to kind of find a

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home and obviously some really good success with it and but also some great people to um kind of help you through and and get you to that next step, that next step. And now I'm sure you're able to give back and you're doing that for others. You know what I mean? So you can be a Heather and a Bobby to other people. >> Truly the worst that is the most rewarding part to me, Kelly, is is through these last probably two and a half years, I've been able to promote quite a bit of people and and just watch

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them grow through their career. And again, it's I meet I I mean, I work with every type of you can I work with 60-year-olds, 40-year-olds, 30-y olds, 20-y olds. I mean, I'm across the board, right? And you have to be able to adapt to people. Um >> I always thought that was a strength of mine is being able to manage and I can speak to anyone um and find some connection some way along the line. >> Yeah. I mean my my favorite part of being a leader and I I I see oversee a

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small team at Manor of about four or five, but like it's seeing their wins and seeing them get recognized and seeing them get awards and like yes it's the department, yes it's the team, but like that was Allison's work, that was Anthony's work and I'm so proud of them. that is it's it's just so rewarding to see people that you get to lead um get get kind of their flowers and get their kudos because it's just it's so just rewarding, you know. It's like a proud

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parent. >> Couldn't agree more, you know. >> I really can't say any better than that. That is the number one thing about my job that I absolutely love. >> That's awesome. So what um obviously AI is like here and everyone talks about it and I haven't really thought about we talk a lot about internally here like how AI is affecting higher education and different things like that and I think about it from a marketing standpoint but how is AI affecting hospitality industry

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and what are you like what are you seeing coming or has already happened that >> maybe us commoners need to know. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, so it is a big piece. It is it is it's here. Uh, it's not going anywhere. I can tell you that. It is part of hospitality. Every single brand conference that I've been to in the last year has had a full full I mean we're talking the Hiltons, the Marriotts, the Choices, the IHGs of the world, all these big brands. When you go to their their global conferences for

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the year, they all have a session that is dedicated to AI. Um, and they're all saying the same things that you have to make it a part of it. This hospitality is usually slow to catch up, but the AI one is if you don't get with it, you will be left behind. Um, it is a tough reality on to kind of take in depending on where you're at in your career, especially someone who's 25, 30 years in this career and >> kind of stuck in their ways and hard to change, but I I I can promise you um

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it's here. It is going to continue to be here and it is going it moves at a rapid pace. Um, how fast it's developing. I we also we we've actually created a CRM system using an AI tool which my VP Heather Condeluci has literally put into our company. Um the tool that was built on a AI to track our activities what our contacts like a CRM a full CRM system was built from someone who had no training in AI. Um, just get in there and and that's the best piece of advice I can give you is

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if you're not using AI, get in there, play around with it, right? Just again dabble in there and see what comes of it. And I promise you, you will be shocked by the results. It's a big part of my it it to me it's the >> the time the time that you get back on things that that can be just generated for you pretty quickly that really don't take much time, right? are are the time you get back by using the AI tool is just incredible and you can put that time into people and focus where we need

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to be and train them. So to me, AI is a big part of my job. And I I tend to kind of guide and push our people towards it and just saying, "Hey, if if you're not using it, right, you're >> you're wasting time." Um, at the end of the day, in my opinion, you just there's other things you can focus on, which is building relationships, right? Getting in front of clients. Um, if you're just there punching away at admin work or emails, right? >> Um, >> to me to me, you're just you're losing

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time selling and that's the biggest piece. So, um, AI's here. That's it. And I I I would gladly tell everyone if you haven't, >> please give it a shot. You'll be so so surprised by what's to come of it. >> I totally agree with your like strategy like use it for admin work, use it for email management that you can spend your time doing the things that really AI can't do and that's making a new relationship or >> Yep. >> communicating with someone and really or

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being creative in other ways and having brainstorming time. That's the way I I've been using it and my team's using it as well. So, and that's what we've figured out so far. I mean, it kind of changes. >> Um, but >> the data too, Kelly, right? The data that that we have and what we need. We have the data across multiple systems. >> Getting them to pull in to to send it up to ownership or send it up to our to our above, right? Um, >> it just gathers them together quickly,

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right? And puts it in a a nice little way and it send it up with a bow and call it a day and move on to just back to trading people and selling, right? So to me it just it can pull things faster than I can and instead of doing reports for an hour, I can build relationships, help train my team, right? And give my team more back of my time, which is also >> Yeah, I love using it as like I call it my brainstorming bestie. Like I have these ideas all day long and like my team doesn't need to hear all my crazy

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ideas, but like AI can. So like I'll plug it in there and we'll chat back and forth and then you know we kind of come to a conclusion. Um so it has been fun for that. >> Yeah. So, so Mark, kind of as we wrap up, I want to do a little bit of like Philly roots. Uh, kind of bring us back to the hometown. Are you still Fishtown local or are you somewhere else? >> So, no, I moved up to the Northeast in 2017. Um, it's not too far. Again, it was it was very different, right? Fishtown is is a lot different than it

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was 20 years ago. Great thriving city, gentrified completely. Um, >> homes are my god 500 to $700,000. I think my grandmom's house, Kelly, >> when she bought it, I want to say early 70s, late7s was, I believe, around like $20,000. >> Oh my gosh. >> Um, it is, it's so crazy to see. It's really cool, though. It's a great neighborhood, great restaurants. The bars are up and coming there. It's a really great place to live. I still have a lot of friends who live there. Um, but

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for me, it was it was getting a driveway um was important. The parking um in the neighborhood is a lot down there. My brothers and sisters still kind of >> go down there a ton. My mom lives in Port Richmond which is just the next town up. So parking is insane and I I refuse to do that. >> Yeah. Is there something though about Fishtown like nostalgia that you're like man that that shaped me or that is something that I miss that you know what I mean kind of hometown thing?

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>> Yeah it's really the little small community. It's same way right. It stuck with me. It showed to me at Manor the community there right? It's the same thing when I grew up. I that it doesn't exist anymore. Unfortunately, in Fishtown, at Manor, it does, which is awesome. Um, but in Fishtown, I was able to kind of just go once I got home from school every day, it was change into your sports clothes and get to the rec center and kick a ball, play soccer, play whiffle ball,

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um, you name it. Uh, it was it was always go right to the rec center and find something to do. So, to me, it's I wish my son could have that upbringing. I I would kill for it. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist anymore, but uh that's one thing I'll never let go is having friends being able to walk right to their houses, knock on their door. Um I know that's a thing of the past as well. Um all kids have cell phones now, but it is um that's to me probably the biggest. That's the

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nostalgia that comes back to me is being able to just get done school or in the summer, wake up at 9:00 and be at the rec center till 10 o'clock at night every day. >> Yeah. Well, no wonder why you were so good at soccer. I mean, we were just playing pickup all day long. >> Yeah. All everything. every sport, hockey, basketball, you name it, we played it. >> That's awesome. All right, Mark. So, we're going to end with the same question I ask our guests always. It's

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our final question is just what advice would you give to Manor students today um based on what you've learned and you know, they're in their studies right now and they're they're in the middle of like their couple years here. What advice would you give for them for success? >> That's deep. Um very deep question. I'm going to give it a couple thoughts. The um networking, right, is something I'll always come back to. I I think you got to do that a ton. Um I know you're just

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with college students, but meet as many people as you possibly can in your time. Um and then time. Time is the fastest thing. It goes by so fast. You have a couple years to capitalize on kind of your career and what's going to be next for you after college. So to me, it's capitalize that time. Every day, every second matters when you're there. Um I was able to kind of grab that pretty quickly there. And I think that's what led to my success. And then probably final piece I would say is is put the

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work in. Um it's worth it at the end. It really really is. Um nothing comes easy. It's not easy. It's hard, right? But each day if you just kind of keep taking that step forward and putting one foot in front of the other and show up, show up, right? That's think that's one of the big pieces as well is if you're willing to put the work in, there's people who are willing to invest in you. And I think um I was able to be a real success story of that. And

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and that's to the people at matter, to the people who were there, the my classmates, my my teammates. Um if you were there and willing to put the work in, people were there to back you up and get you to where you needed to be. Teachers, students, staff, um show up. Show up is what I would say would be a big piece of it. >> Well, I love that. Thank you, Mark, so much for joining us today. Your story is incredible. It's resilient and really, you know, our mission, we say we want to prepare students to graduate, to go out

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and serve society effectively and compassionately and you're doing that. So, thank you for being like a true embodiment of our mission. You belong here always and always a part of our Manor family, but I wish you nothing but success and have a have a great rest of your summer. >> Kelly, thank you so much. I appreciate you and again, go Blue Jays. >> Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by

00:28:32 - 00:28:58
following Manor College on Instagram @ Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always.

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Believe in yourself. Don't ever say to yourself that you can't do it or I don't know if I can. Well, I don't know. Don't stop with the I don't know. Stop with, well, I don't know if I can. You know, just don't put it off. Do yourself a favor. Do not put it off because you know what? It's all going to work out in the end. Hello, Blue Jays, and welcome to the nest, stories about life after Manor College. I am your host, Kelly Peiffer, vice president of marketing

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communications, and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College, you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a segment of the show I like to call, did you know? Where we will share some fun facts about Manor College that you may or may not know. Did you know that our marketing team recently came back from a conference with some new awards? Yes. Back in March, our marketing communications team

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attended Cuprap, the organization for college and university public relations and associated professionals annual conference in Lancaster. This year, the Manor marketing and communications team brought home a record-breaking 12 Cuppie awards. This hits home for me personally because I have the privilege of overseeing our marketing team here at the college. So to put this into perspective, we earned the second most awards of any institution at the conference. We are a small and mighty team that works really hard to produce great work

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that will tell the manor college story and make our campus community feel like they truly belong here. Our goal is always just making sure that people feel included and welcomed and that they have a place at Manor College. So being honored with awards for some of the work that we do is truly icing on the cake. We won awards for different categories like graphic design, videos, articles, ads, and several other projects that we produce throughout the year. Something that I am most specifically proud of is

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the fact that we won for this podcast. We have been producing and making this podcast for um over a year now. It's unique. It's unique in the world of higher education and we were really excited and honored to win an award to be recognized for the work that we're doing on the podcast. And thank you to our listeners who are making this possible. Something else that's unique that we won for was some murals. We have had some murals done on campus uh last summer by a wonderful Baltimore based

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hand painter, Sam. And uh we were lucky enough to win some awards for the murals that we've done to really just brighten and bring our brand from uh digital assets and advertisements, but to actually make them into the environment on our campus. So this achievement is really a direct testament to the talent within our marketing team across writing, photography, design, media, and content. Our marketing team consists of three full-time staff members, myself, and then we have Anthony Machcinski and

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Allison Meyers. They are crazy, wildly talented and dedicated people who um just love the work that they do but also are just innovating and just crazy talented in the work that they do. So also really this work that we do is really possible because of we have a lot of collaboration that helps and that defines who we are at manner being a small team you need to work with others to get a lot done. So these awards, these 12 copy awards, I would say belong to our entire campus community. From financial aid to admissions to athletics

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to alumni to advancement, the president's office, academic affairs, student life, all these winning projects prove that when we work together, we can produce excellence. And I'm really grateful for the teams that we get to work within. So that dedication to excellence is really intentional um for the marketing team I can speak to. And that's why we're being recognized amongst the best in our in the in the couple states that Cuprap really reaches out to. It's proof that Manor College, the story behind the

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work that we're doing and we're trying to tell is just as powerful as the education being delivered. So huge congratulations to the marketing team to Anthony and Allison and our campus partners and just a really exciting time for us to to be honored with that award and thank you for Cuprap for making the awards possible. Today's episode is sponsored by the Manor College Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice. Justice isn't just a concept, it's a commitment. At Manor College, our criminal justice

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program is designed for those who feel the call to serve. You'll learn from seasoned professionals who bring real world experience from the field directly into the classroom. From law enforcement to the legal system, we provide the ethical foundation and the practical skills you need to make a real difference in your community. You belong here. Earn your bachelor's in criminal justice at Manor College. Visit manor.edu to learn more. Welcome back to the podcast where we bridge the gap between the classroom and career,

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highlighting the journeys of those who paved the way. Today's episode features a story rooted deeply in the heart of the Northeast. Imagine the early 90s in Philly. Our guest is walking the halls of Archbishop Ryan, a proud member of the class of 92, beginning a journey that many of us can relate to. being the first in her family to navigate the world of higher education. As a first gen college student, the path isn't always laid out for you. You have to build it yourself. That path eventually led them

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to Manor College, where they dove into the world of law and logic. While they'll be the first to admit that they didn't join as many clubs as they probably should have, they were busy putting in the work where it counted. Under the mentorship of impactful faculty like Diane Pevar, they mastered the complexities of the parallegal program. In May of 2000, that hard work culminated into an associates degree, a credential they took straight into the workforce without looking back. There was no need to transfer. They had the

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tools they needed to succeed right then and there. Fast forward over two decades, and our guest has become a fixture of public service. For the last 14 and a half years, they have dedicated their career to the city of Philadelphia as a tax analyst, proving that a foundation built at Manor can lead to a lifetime of impact. Please welcome to the show from the class of 2000, Antonietta D. DiFrancesco. Hi, Antonietta. >> Hi, Kelly. How are you? >> Thank you for being with us today. >> Thank you for having me.

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>> So, take us back. How did you first hear about Manor College and why did you choose to attend? >> So, as you mentioned, I graduated Archbishop Brian in 1992. Um, I started a high school where I knew absolutely nobody. Um, I was intro actually my cousin attended. So, she introduced me to a few people. Fast forward, I till this day am still friends with Kristen. I will not mention her last name, but I remember she attended Manor right after high school and because I wasn't sure what I

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wanted to do, I decided to just work. Um, then I got to a point where I needed to make a career for myself and I reached out to Kristen who was currently working as a paralegal in a private firm in the Mayfair section and I asked her about her experience at Manor and I knew that I wanted to also be a paralegal not because I wanted to work for a private you know injury attorneys or anything like that. I wanted to be a paralegal to work out in the corporate world. So after a half hour conversation

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with my girlfriend Kristen, I applied at Manor and it was again, you know, I started there in the '9s, graduated May of 2000. Um, it was it was different. Um, I liked it because one, it was close to home. I loved how the classroom sizes were nice and small, and I liked the one-on-one that you would get from the instructors. So that is how I came about to become a Manor alumni. >> I love that. You know, your story is not that dissimilar to what we hear from students today. They got introduced to

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the college by a friend. They were convinced by that same friend to to maybe attend or maybe come on a tour. um you know they worked while they're a student and and they wanted they kind of knew what their career path was going to be and and Manor was able to give them the school the tools and the skills to do that. So I think it's really actually pretty similar to what we hear a lot of our students doing today. Unfortunately we no longer have our paralegal program but there are whispers that it might be

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coming back. So >> Oh I hope so. >> I I am a big advocate of that. I think it's a great program. I think um our students would really benefit from it because honestly some of the most successful alumni I talk to tend to be from our paralegal program. We currently have criminal justice and legal studies and they're similar but they're not, you know, as career like point A to point B as paralegal is. Um that's great. Shout out to Kristen. Thank you for being a good friend and uh

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sharing that. So that's really cool to hear. I want to talk about you being a first gen college student. This is also what we find the majority of our students today are first gen. Um and it's just a different mindset. They have different challenges. Um everything kind of holds a bit more of weight when you're a first gen student. So what was that for you like? Um were how were your parents supportive of you going to college and what did it mean for like the whole family? Uh so I have an older

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brother so he attempted to go to Holy Family for accounting then decided after two semesters it wasn't for him and he got out of it and he went into it. So he now has God bless him a successful IT business. Um my parents were very supportive. Um which was great because I put off going to college like I said because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I was petrified of graduating and then having to worry about the school loan. And you know, unfortunately, my parents were not in a position where

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they could have supported me financially, but did say, you know, anything that we can help you with as far as like when you need to purchase books, stuff like that, they were more than helpful. Thank goodness I was able to do it on my own. Um, did I feel the pressure if I did maybe if I got a failing grade in one of my classes? Yes, I'm very hard on myself. I I like to succeed in everything that I do. Um I know that sometimes it'll take more than one try, but after probably like I would

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say my first semester at Manor, I got a little bit more comfortable. And so I, you know, I was attending Manor full-time. I was working, you know, in the evenings part-time on the weekends. Um, you know, sometimes I just found it easier to do my work in Manor's library. So, I would be up at the library on a Saturday morning for a few hours when I didn't have a Saturday class. Um, so there was there was a little bit of pressure for me to finish college, but um, all in all, I mean, I'm

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I'm proud of what I was able to accomplish. Um, I owe it to Manor. You know, Miss Pevar was amazing. All of my instructors at Manor were truly amazing. Um, I did in my final year, I lost my grandfather, so my instructors were amazing as far as letting me take my finals >> after the funeral. So, I I I can't say I can't say enough nice things about Manor and the instructors that I had back then. >> Oh, that's that's awesome to hear that they were flexible and understanding.

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Um, that's definitely something that I hear a lot of students today still mention in different nominations and stuff. Let's talk about Diane Pear for a minute. She is someone who has certainly impacted so many people at Manor. She's retired. She worked at Manor for I think almost 30 if not more than 30 plus years um as the the head of our paralegal program and she did a lot of other things with committees and different um organizations here. So, what is something that um either either

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a specific memory or like a piece of advice that really sticks with you that she kind of imprinted upon you? >> There's a there's a couple things that come to mind immediately when I hear the name Diane Pear. Um I remember when she was put into groups together when we had to do our mock trial. I personally I had no intentions on continuing my education after Manor to become a lawyer. I knew I wanted to be a paralegal and and that was it. So she assigns me the role of an attorney and I I I just was absolutely

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petrified. I remember going up to her in class and I said, "You can't do this to me." I mean I mean and the group that I had that she had put together for our group was amazing. Like we all got along. I couldn't have asked for better people to work with. I said, "Miss Pew," I said, "I don't want to be an attorney." She goes, "You're going to be an attorney. That is the role that I assigned you, and you're going to do just fine. Just just work with your

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group." >> So, that sticks out. Um because you know what? We ended up winning during our mock trial. It was great. Um, and I remember when, and it was very sad for me because I knew that it was like the end of my time at Manor, >> but I remember meeting with her when she asked me, "Where where do you see yourself working after you leave here?" Because at the time, I don't know if they still do it now, but they helped you get job placement. >> And I remember saying to her, I want to

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work at an immigration law firm. And she sat back and said, "Okay." She said, um, you know that that's a very specific type of law. And I said, yes, I'm well aware. Um, but she did say, she said, I don't know how far we're going to be able to take you with that, but just be open to working at other places in case we can't make that happen for you. I said, okay. I said, that's fine. I said, but that would be my first choice. >> I graduated May of 2000, and in June, I

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had an interview with an immigration firm downtown, and I started working there. um like probably by the end of June after paperwork was all processed >> and I worked there I was there for about three years. So I got it and you know what >> I remember reaching back out to Miss Pew and she was just ecstatic for me. She was so happy. >> Oh that's great. She would be absolutely that's awesome. So yeah, um Antonietta, let's move into a bit of your your career and um you know, specifically the

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work that you've been doing for the city. You've worked for the city of Philadelphia for quite some time, for 14 and a half years. >> Yes. >> Um so like what is it about serving in in the city of Philadelphia specifically that has kept you motivated to keep doing it for like over a decade? Well, what's funny is that I had no intentions on working at the city, but um I ended up my job where I was I was working at Aramark and they ended up eliminating my position. So, I didn't know what to do

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and I I was I'm not a person to sit at home and collect unemployment. So, I just remember my cousin reaching out to me at one point saying, "Oh, I heard on the train by someone saying that, you know, the city was hiring." So my cousin ended up getting me this person who was working for the city. She got me her business card. I didn't know her at all. I got her business card. I emailed her my resume and within a week I had an interview with the city and I started there as a paralegal. I did paralegal

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work for probably about four and a half five years and then I switched to a civil service position as a tax analyst. And for me, my role hasn't really changed too too much. The only difference is I don't take cases before the tax review board. Um, but I basically review and analyze taxpayers, businesses, you know, accounts and I help them, you know, if they're behind on their taxes, I get them into a payment agreement. We figure out, you know, why they're still showing a balance and and

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where the disconnect is. And you know, I mean, you're not going to please everybody, but there are a good handful of people that are very appreciative of the help that you give them. And when you get that thank you at the end of the day and they call you, oh, you're a blessing or you're my angel for helping me with it's great to me. I know that my job has done its thing. >> Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, you're definitely helping people and serving people. Um, and it it sounds stressful

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to me and and and challenging for sure. >> It can be. >> Yeah. >> But every job is like that. But you know what? At the end of the day, you know, if I if I was able to assist three people out of five and I got a thank you from them and, you know, not an email where it says, "Thanks a lot, but no thanks." Then, you know, my job is good. My day is done. >> Oh, that's great. What's like um a myth that people assume that like oh she must do this all day about your job, but it's

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really really not the truth. It's not I mean I also work closely with um some of the council people from city hall and I mean there's one specifically that that I won't mention but I mean I literally say every day I'm like you know I should just come work in your office because a lot of you know taxpayers need help that are in that council person's ward. So when they feel that they don't know where else to turn and it's a shame because a lot of them are elderly and you know they're getting

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these notices and and they don't know what to do with it. A lot of them are not computer literate. So they go into this council person's office and they just they ask for help and there's a con constituent that I do work with daily where either he reaches out via phone, via email and you know I try to to get to their requests as quickly as possible but sometimes they're not as easy as one two three. So but it's all good. >> Yeah, for sure. I'm sure it's a lot of

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um trying to communicate and a lot of like logistics. I imagine it's that kind of work for sure. >> Um so let's let's talk about kind of reflecting a little bit here. So like obviously hindsight is 2020. Um if you could go back to, you know, 1992 and your version of yourself going to high school and then 2000, you know, being at Manor, knowing what you know now, um about your career, about kind of how your your path would go, what would you tell yourself? Believe in yourself. Don't ever say to

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yourself that you can't do it or I don't know if I can. Well, I don't know. Don't stop with the I don't know. Stop with, well, I don't know if I can. You know, just don't put it off. Do yourself a favor. Do not put it off because you know what? It's all going to work out in the end. I wish I would have gone to Manor right after co high school but like I said I just I wasn't sure and you know I knew I always said paralegal but I kept thinking well maybe there's

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something else that I could do maybe you know at the time I was working part-time I was working retail I'm like well maybe I become you know a manager or an assistant manager and then it was like well why do I want to deal with that type of a headache >> so like I said after you know doing a couple odd and jobs and then reaching out to my girlfriend Kristen and you know just hearing what she had to say I knew that it was the best move for me. So I would definitely say just keep on going because there came a time had I

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not spoken with Kristen I probably would not have ended up at Manor and I don't know honestly I probably be working in some type of retail store still. I don't know >> because you need a degree today whatever degree it is get it and put it to use. That's great. I definitely, you know, I think I know you said that um you kind of wish you went right away, but I I don't know. I would just say that I think a lot of today we're finding students who took a gap year or

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took a little time between high school and college, you know, they come with a set of maturity that that's a little bit different. They have some experience. and they they might have a greater a greater appreciation for higher education because either they're paying for it themselves or they have to manage college and work and it's it's just a different type of student and we are finding a lot of students um are not straight out of high school. They're not coming and they're 18 19 years old.

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They're coming and um the average age of our student is 23 24. So a lot of students are taking those years to figure things out. oftentimes it's figuring out what they don't like more than what they do like, you know. Um, kind of a similar with internships. A lot of our students, you know, they go for internships and most the times it's to weed out what you don't like or what you're not good at opposed to finding, you know, the thing that fits. So, I think that's great that you did that,

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frankly. And I think it's really um it still holds true. I really do. your story is very much I feel like what a lot of our students today are going through and it really just resonates. So, and I I love that you're working in the city of Phil Philly um and in a service role. I think that really aligns well with the mission here at Manor. You know, we want to educate students to serve society uh effectively and compassionately. That's the words and our mission and Antonietta you're doing

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it. So thank you so much for being a walking talking breathing example of the mission of Manor. It's really really cool and special to see. So final question for you. What advice would you give Manor College students today who are um we're you know we're we're kind of ending our our semester soon and we're coming into summer students kind of take classes all year long anymore about what advice would you give them? >> Enjoy the college years. Get involved as much as you can. Whatever you know

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activities they have going on. Go show your support. Just be involved. Just do it because you know what? There's no break after college. It's you're put out into that real world. And I say it to my son almost every other day. I would give anything to go back to high school. I would give anything to go back to college. And it's funny because he knows we drive past Manor College. >> And he says it all the time. Mom, that's your college. I'm like, yeah, that's my

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college. >> So just enjoy it. Make the best of it. >> It really does. Honestly, I can't believe like when I think back, I cannot believe how quickly my time at Manor went and the fact that I am friends still with the few people that I met at Manor till this day. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. You know, you get you get a great education, you get prepared for your career, but you also get lifelong friendships and these people who you can, you know, not see them for a while, but then you see

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them and it's just like you never never left. You >> never graduated Manor, >> right? that kind of special friendship is really um really a great a great perk to college life frankly. So it's awesome. Well, thank you so much for joining us today. It has been an absolute pleasure to talk to you and to hear your story and I know it's going to encourage a lot of our students. So, thank you so much, >> Ellie. Thank you very much for having me. This has been great.

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>> Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram, Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest, stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always.

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I always tell the current students or you know recent grads like hang in there. This will be worth it. Everything that you're going through the tassel will be worth the hassle. >> Yes. >> Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College, you belong here always.

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Before we get to today's guest, it is time for another Blue Jay Spotlight segment. This time, we're talking to one of our newest graduates, Tamia Gladney. Tamia first came to Manor College for an associates in veterinary technology in 2021 and now she recently has completed an associates degree in dental hygiene as well. Listen to Tamia's story. >> I've always just liked not necessarily liked school but just having like more knowledge like knowledge is power. I feel like that is a saying that's known

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all around the world and it's true. um you can never stop learning and you know the more that you learn the more um opportunities you create for yourself. So why not have two you know careers that um you know god forbid another like co situation happens I can lean on one the other or both at the same time. So just wanted to make you know multiple routes for myself career-wise. Definitely lean on your classmates like that is the biggest one I could take away like the community here. Um especially like when you're in programs

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here that are smaller. It's a smaller school which is why I came back in the first place. Um I just remember doing that when I was in Vet tech too. Um just relying on one another. And just having that mental like awareness like I'm not the only one going through this right now. I'm not by myself. I have people beside me going through this too definitely helped me like mentally and emotionally like still persevere and push through cuz there was moments where I was like can I do this? Um but you

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know having you know my friends and you know faculty also helping me too along the way was nice. Don't be so hard on yourself and I'm even struggling with that now like preparing for boards. Um I've made it this far. I've persevered through many things not just in the program um but outside because life doesn't stop while you're in school. Like things happen. So, you know, you have your highs and your lows, and it it it is easier said than done, but just reminding yourself of like where you've

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come from. Like, you know, I wasn't in the dental hygiene program, but I got accepted. That's a goal right there. Um, so I just had to take the small successes and, you know, bunch them up into a big one until I got to the point to where I am now. So, that's the biggest thing. >> This episode of the nest is sponsored by the Manor College dental hygiene program. If you are looking to jumpstart a career in healthcare and you want a program with a proven track record at Manor, the results speak for

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themselves. Our students in dental hygiene don't just pass the national dental hygiene exam, they crush it with a stellar 98% pass rate. But it's what happens after graduation that truly sets Manor graduates apart. The program has a 100% employment rate for graduates in dental practices within 12 months of finishing the program. That means when you walk across that stage, you aren't just getting a degree, you're going to step directly into a career. If you're ready to join a program where success is

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the standard, visit manor.edu. That's manor.edu. You belong here. Joining us today is a guest who truly embodies the grit and dedication of the city of brotherly love. Born and raised in northeast Philly, she spent her high school years at the legendary Philadelphia Creative and Performing Arts High School. back in the days before the city's charter school had expanded. While she started in the arts, her professional calling took a clinical turn when she arrived at Manor. She enrolled in one of the most

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rigorous programs on campus, dental hygiene. Between the intense clinical hours and the demanding coursework, she'll tell you firsthand she had zero time for clubs and extracurriculars because it was all about the work. Under the mentorships of Manor legends like Dr. Dr. Ginny Saunders and Kathleen Daily. She earned her associates degree in 2010. Since then, she hasn't just practiced dental hygiene. She has become a vital leader in our city's infrastructure. Today, she serves as a

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public health dental hygiene practitioner and a health services administrator for the city of Philadelphia Department of Public Health. She is a 2010 Manor graduate and a true champion for community wellness. Please welcome to the show Leslie Riley. Hi, Leslie. Hey, Kelly. Thank you for that introduction. My goodness. Wow. It really takes me back to my time at Manor and I I can't believe how quickly everything has passed. >> Yes. Thanks so much for being with us today. I'm honored to talk to you. So,

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take us back, Leslie. How did you first hear about Manor College and why did you ultimately decide to attend? >> I first heard about Manor probably through family members. Um, as you mentioned, you know, lifelong Philadelphian here, specifically from Northeast Philly. Um, Manor was always, uh, mentioned, I think even before it was called Manor College. I think it may have had a different name even decades before that, but it was still well known in the area. Um and the dental hygiene program always,

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you know, was something that clinicians in private practice in the professional world always had mentioned as an option. Um, you know, somewhere close to home and it was probably in 2007. I had already obtained my bachelor's degree at that point in a completely different major. Um, and just looking, you know, at at the optics at that time, looking, you know, what what I could do to ensure a successful path for myself, for my growing family, um, and just to be have that financial independence um, that I

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was so seeking at that moment. And I applied to Manor. I had a seamless application process um, you know, toward the facilities. And little did I know what I was getting myself into at that time, but it was one heck of a wild ride and I am so glad I did it. >> That's awesome. That's great. I mean, how was it going from creative and performing arts high school to dental and kind of what sparked that that shift? >> That shift. Yeah. Um so yes so I obtained my bachelor's in fine arts from

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the University of the arts that has since closed in recent years um in dance education um extremely passionate about dance. I love it. It is my heart song. You can always find me, you know, even now in clinic with patients. I'm always singing and dancing and trying to keep the mood light. Um, but at the time I was a recent newlywed and really saw the demands of the environment changing in Philadelphia and wanted to have that self-s support to be able to provide for myself and you know children down the down the line and it

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was almost between nursing and and dental hygiene and I said oh you know it's this doesn't sound so bad and oh I already have you know college degree under me. This will be, you know, this can't be that bad. Um, and little did I know, I was in for some of the toughest academic coursework probably since early grade school. Um, so it was I I often compare myself jumping almost like in Legally Blonde, like Elle Woods going from fashion merchandising to, you know, Harvard Law. I I felt like I was

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emulating Elle Woods in my time, you know, leading up to and then during Manor. Um, just really, you know, kind of having that uh culture shock in terms of academic uh expectations from a fine arts degree to a heavy um science degree with such intense coursework and balancing your clinical component as well. And I think that that was something that Manor in hindsight um for me in you can't it's priceless. You could not put a price on that at this point. I really look back at all the tears, the sweat, the stress and it was

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just so worth it, you know, being on the other side and coming out on the other side, you know, and I always tell the the the current students or, you know, recent grads like hang in there. This will be worth it. everything that you're going through, the tassel will be worth the hassle. >> Yes. Yes. Well, I have to go back to the Legally Blonde um obviously moment there you mentioned. Love that reference so much. Big Elle Woods fan over here. >> But um so yeah, the dental hygiene

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program is very intense. Um a lot of times those students don't participate in campus activities or on sports teams. um they usually don't work outside of you know their studies. It's really really intense. It's two years. Um they do these clinical rotations. They have to bring in their own patients a lot of times their own family and friends and you know sit in the chair and and get a cleaning and they have to have people with certain amounts of different things, you know. Um, >> so how did like the intensity of the

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program prepare you for the pace of now public health that you work in? Like do you see any like correlations between the two of them? the pace of the coursework um that that Manor sets forth with with the students and I think almost any Kota accredited program out there for dental hygiene um it's unlike anything and I I often you know h I do carry some animosity towards nursing majors um because they don't have to go through the same rigorous clinical work like we did where we are held accountable if a patient doesn't

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present that day. Um, uh, cosmetology students, they don't get docked points or, you know, penalized in any way. So, it's definitely something I try to let current or prospective students know is that, you know, hey, start building your patient base now and start, you know, advertising. I mean, in 2008 to 2010, my time there, you know, social media was not a thing as it wasn't even on the same level as it is now. So, it's much easier to have visibility now to recruit

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patients as a student. Um, but often so many of us now in the dental hygiene profession, we always say to ourselves, if we survived hygiene school, you can survive anything in life. And I really feel that's true. Um, just the extra stress of finding those patients was such an added layer. Um, so I think having that balance in the past totally prepared me for just balancing the the tenants of public health uh the clinical application even in my masters program um the coursework in my masters in in public health it it

00:11:35
I felt like I could I was able to breeze through it because I didn't have that clinical component um you know adding to the weight of the program. So, I I felt more than prepared having successfully completed the coursework that Manor requires to graduate. Um, I I really do feel that like you could take on the world if you got through hygiene school and with Dr. Saunders, like you can do anything in life. >> Well, that's a really good uh kudos for the program. It certainly is

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challenging, but >> absolutely. >> It's very preparatory. Like, it's going to make you ready to do >> um anything like you said. That's really good feedback for us to hear. >> Absolutely. >> C can you talk to us about exactly your role that you're working in today? Um I know some people might hear public health and think one thing and they also hear administrator and hear another thing. Can you kind of give us the breakdown? What is your role

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>> and how are you serving the city of Philadelphia? >> Sure. So my role currently I've had for the last uh nine years. Um, I am currently a public health dental hygienist or dental hygiene practitioner as the state of Pennsylvania recognizes us. They have recognized that we have had enough hands-on experience in the professional sector um post-graduate, you know, as a practicing registered dental hygienist um where we do not need the direct supervision of a dentist on site in the facility that we're working

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in. So such facilities could be nursing homes, long-term care facilities, um mobile dental clinics in rural areas, uh school um school dental hygiene programs, uh again is more commonly seen in rural areas of the state um and also in federally qualified health centers. So Philadelphia has eight health centers deemed for residents of the city. um you just provide your proof of residency, you know, a bill or a photo ID. Um these clinics provide multiple different services to to the to the residents in

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terms of medical, dental care, um medications, and with pharmacy, x-rays, mammograms. So, it's really nice to have everything in one building, one brick and mortar stop. Um, so placed throughout the city, there's eight different centers that have dental clinics. So I see patients throughout the week. Um, the location that I work in currently um is in like the Northern Liberty's Fishtown section. So most of the patients in that area is a high migrant population from Central America.

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Um, I'm often leading with Spanish as the first language versus English. Um, so it's given me again some perspective of how to structure my day. What do I need to do with just providing access to care for people who have never seen a dentist before in their life? Um, how do you educate people to make different changes within their diet, within their environment? Um, so I felt like Manor 100% prepared me for that. just having those um patient interactions, the motivational interviewing um and

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giving me the confidence to really just build my autonomy as a hygienist, as a clinician to to manage my own pace. Um how to support other staff members, other clinicians, um how to integrate within other disciplines, addressing also people with various special needs. Um, again, just realizing that people although they may have a certain level of education, their health literacy may be very little. They may not know certain things that you're supposed to do, like changing your toothbrush every

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two to three months or after you've had a cold or illness. So, simple things like that I felt more than capable to do. um as well as transitioning to the administrative component of what I do um in terms of overseeing grants um data analysis reports um the city receives federal funding for these health centers in order to serve the public. So making sure that we're meeting certain um indicators for national goals, federal standards as far as services and preventive care. So all things that on a

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smaller scale at Manor I was doing I'm now doing it on a bit larger scale with uh other dentists and medical directors. >> Wow. That's a lot. >> It is. It is. And it's really it's really cool to see um you know I and I feel like I kind of navigated that path on my own. It wasn't necessarily at the time something so common that Dr. Saunders or Dr. Scorpio even um may have had such familiarity with maybe I feel a lot of the manner grads go right into

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private sector which is great. Um there's so and now there's so many dental offices in our surrounding area. Um so it's definitely great to have had that experience but I felt like I was the only one. It still seems like I'm the only one that kind of went this path. Um and I love that it was unconventional because that's exactly how I felt at Manor. Like I was the I was the only one in my graduating class that had no experience prior to Manor um working in the dental field. I

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again like Elle Woods just kind of woke up one day and I said I think I'm going to go to hygiene school and do this because this sounds like a fun career. And so I I definitely struggled to overcome those adversities in the program as being the one without that prior experience to navigating a new experience of my own to be able to to come back and talk to alumni um or current students about an opportunity. >> That's awesome. Well, Leslie, thank you so much for sharing all of that you're

00:17:50
doing. It's certainly a lot important. Um, I I love I love that so much and I think it's really just amazing how you're so capable of doing, you know, so many different things. So, what's like the biggest oral health challenge that you would say is currently facing people in Philadelphia? What are you seeing is like very prevalent? >> Still feel access to care. Um, a lot of people, um, even as I said, you know, maybe just in in the the scope of residents of Philadelphia, um, a lot of

00:18:26
children have access to care through CHIP or Medicaid with certain adults. However, Medicaid at the adult level has a very limited uh, scope of service for oral health. Um, and as we know, you know, prevention is better than the cure most times. So being able to really target and and and treat the youth um educating young parents or parents of newborns just to get them on um a path of success to prevent such diseases like early childhood carries. um educating them about uh the use of, you know,

00:19:09
sweet liquids in a baby bottle or certain, you know, fruit snacks, uh goldfish crackers, things like that that really have a high decay rate, um and can put individuals at risk for having a high decay rate. Also, a lot of people in Philadelphia, a lot of, you know, maybe migrants or new residents of the city, they're not aware that our tap water has fluoride in it, which is one of like the best public health uh, you know, creations in my terms as a public health major. Um, one of the best things

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that really has developed. It's such a low cost option um, as a preventive agent. So that's something that you know I do educate people on you know and what's how can we get these tools and products into your hands without breaking the bank what's realistic for you and your budget. So I feel looking at these issues that are are present, you know, in terms of starting so young with oral diseases um or teenagers with vaping and the and tobacco use um different things even HPV and oral cancer screenings um with

00:20:15
vaccinations. So it there's so many facets of whole body health that really do have a central theme of the mouth. Yeah, for sure. I'm so glad that um we're doing so many things to make access to health care just better, more affordable, more available. And >> definitely it starts with your mouth. I mean, it's huge. Um >> so Leslie, looking back at your 2010 version of yourself, I guess what would you say to your younger self? um if you could and kind of knowing what

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you know now and knowing how she was feeling then, what would you would you share with yourself in like retrospect? >> Um looking back, oh my gosh, it's like getting emotional. Woo! >> I I I would I would tell her this is buckle up. This is only the beginning. Um I had mentioned earlier in the podcast uh when I began um my enrollment in 2008 I was a newlywed. Um shortly after in 2012 um life just completely changed for me. Um I am now divorced and had I not hadation that Manor provided me with I don't know

00:21:41
where I would be. Um so I'm Again, looking back, I survived hygiene school. I got through some pretty, you know, stressful life, uh, unfortunate life events that I've turned into lemonade. Um, had it not been for those moments, I wouldn't be in public health. This is never where I saw myself. I, you know, thought I would be um, you know, in a pediatric practice and, you know, working only a few days a week and and, you know, with a a large family. And had it not been for these adversities, I don't think I would have

00:22:19
been prepared to take on the role I have today. Um, one of my first jobs in public health was working in the Philadelphia prison system. >> And the clinical experience that that provided me, my goodness, like I thought I had a great uh purview and and and kind of, you know, offering at Manor College. But my goodness, there was so much to learn and I was I'm so grateful. I always tell everybody I miss working in the prisons. And it really was true. It really just tied in so many different aspects

00:22:52
of the program and the coursework from medical sociology to psychology to nutrition to the clinical component that the the hygiene program brought forth. So I really am so grateful and the path that I I don't think I could take another path like this is my destiny like I really was meant for this. So I 2010 was only the beginning and it's such a feather in the cap as you might say like to my life thus far like I I don't think I would change anything. I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. I I

00:23:32
saw it when we had to take our clinical board exam um the graduating class you know once we have to begin pursuing our professional license. And it was at that moment I said, "Wow, this is why the teachers are so specific and particular and raised us or you know brought forth this discipline. This is why this is why they have such high expectations and this is why little partial sorry but this is why I think Manor brings out the best in in the dental hygiene students that are out in the workforce. I think I'm all partial

00:24:07
to the Manor students, but um >> that's okay. >> Even the EFAs that come out of the program, I do have some of them as colleagues currently. >> They are some of the top tier professionals in in oral health and just are so assertive with working and their their expectations of their their uh work performance. So I have to say Manor is doing something right. I I I still feel Manor is >> for sure. For sure. Well, it's it's amazing to hear how fulfilled you you

00:24:39
feel and how you just feel like you are you are doing your life's work. That's a that's a great feeling and that's something that I would wish for all of our alumni that they are out there and they are feeling that same way. It's um it's really special to hear you just talk about it. >> So, we're going to kind of play a quick a quick this or that round dental dental hygiene version. >> So, um you just pick which one you you like more. So, a manual or electric

00:25:06
toothbrush? >> Electric. >> Morning breath or coffee breath? Which one is worse to work on? >> Morning. >> String floss or those floss picks? >> I'm I'm going to still stick with string floss because I like that you can advance to a clean piece every time. Floss picks are great for in a pinch in a bind. It's better than nothing, but at the end of the day before you go to sleep, you know, really to get in there and the string floss for me. >> Paste flavor, mint or tropical?

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>> Got to go with mint. Class, a classic never dies. >> And then what is like your best dental everyday tip that you can give? Oh, I I guess as far I'm trying to keep it and I'm trying to keep it as friendly as possible. Huh. Not flossing your teeth or cleaning in between the spaces of the teeth is like not cleaning in some of the dark warm spaces of our body. And I think I think our audience might know without me saying it, but it's very similar. So, um, definitely want to make sure you're

00:26:24
clearing everything out before having a great 6 to 8 or 10 hours sleep. So, for me, it's always going to be that nighttime oral hygiene routine is is the most important. >> Can you tell when you're working on a patient and you're telling them to make sure you floss and they and they tell you like or or you ask them like, "Do you floss every day?" and they go, "Yes." Can you tell when people are lying? I feel like that happens so much. It does. And I also

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acknowledge that you've got to, you know, phrase your question a certain way. Um, but I think it's also as a clinician our duty to meet the patient where they are. Um, I know you're going to do it right before you come in and pro you'll be motivated maybe the next couple days, but it really and again, Manor taught me this, Dr. Caldwell, our periodontist teacher. Um she said, you know, as far as building a habit, it's really going to take that 21 to 28 days to pick up a habit. Um so I said, you know, like what

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can we do? What's the most realistic approach with your day-to-day life, your schedule? When can we find a time? Where do you like to shop and buy your products? What's going to work for you? So I feel my time as a clinician really has helped me see rather than always being the the hygienist wagging your finger at at you know the patient and making them feel even more secluded and isolated and having that guilt of not doing what they're told. I want to encourage them to be realistic as I tell them, you

00:27:59
know, hey, I love I love my two cups of coffee a day. I love it. I love my iced coffee in the afternoon as a treat. We have to be realistic. Um, not everyone is going to be able to isolate all vices or or you know, questionable items from their their diet, you know, whether it's your glass of white wine, a beer, a cigar, you know, and you've got to meet people where they are just to have a more realistic outcome. >> Yeah, for sure. Well, you could tell they're lying, right? You could tell

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because I can always tell. I feel like >> and and I you know I pointed out and I think that's what you know there's so much technology now and um you know just to really explain to them and making sure you're able to communicate with them. I'm very grateful that the facilities I'm in we do have interpreters or a third party phone service where we can communicate in their the patients preferred language. Um making sure that everything is like culturally appropriate. That's very

00:28:54
important for me. I always want patients to feel comfortable in whatever language they are um using primarily. I want them to be able to receive their medical care or their oral health care um as comfortably as possible. >> That's awesome. Well, Leslie, before we let you go, we have to mention the movie Hustle. And for our listeners and watchers, Leslie attended a career fair at Manor College earlier this year in March. And um she got talking to our um a staff member of ours, his name is

00:29:26
Anthony. He actually helps produce this podcast. And um she was telling Anthony how much she loved the movie Hustle. Hustle was filmed right here on Manor's campus. Um Adam Sandler starred in it. A bunch of NBA players starred in it. Uh Philadelphia legend Villanova coach Jay Wright was in it and lots of other big names. So Leslie, just tell us briefly um why did you love this movie and what was your reaction when you're watching it and you realize like oh my gosh that's Manor College. What was that like

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for you? >> I feel as an Philadelphian we're always partial to those underdog stories, the Rockies, the um yeah, like there's just something in us. there's this fire that we have and coming off of the you know the the 2018 Eagles win um and then seeing this movie and see not knowing that Manor was going to be featured in it. Uh, I immediately recognized the facility right away. And it was at such a pivotal point in the movie where Adam Sandler is talking to his, you know, young

00:30:35
uh, recruit, you know, and and asking him, "Do you really want this?" Like, because you're not showing me, and I need you to I need you to want it more than I want it for you. And at that point in it was in the gym. It just h tore my heart apart because my days at Manor that's really where I had to dig deep and say every day Leslie do you want to do this because you have to keep fighting. You can't let these teachers see you cry. You have to want this for you. And that truly was the fire that got me through

00:31:10
the program. that that internal fire and lighting that that that self-ignition to to to just finish this program on a successful note and I still carry that to this day. So for him Adam Sandler to say it to the protagonist at that point every time I watched that that clip it is just that's my that's my kryptonite. I I'll start crying immediately. But it was just such a full circle moment and I was so grateful that that scene was filmed at Manor. Um, we're so much so many of of the fellow hygiene

00:31:42
students, I think, probably have gone through the same thing. But for me, I'm a bit of a baby in that sense when it comes to that underdog story and just wanting it for yourself to prove to everybody that, you know, you can do anything if you put your mind to it. >> Yeah. I I I really think that a lot of our students resonate with that underdog mentality. It's a very Philadelphia thing, but particularly, you know, 85% of our students are working, 30% of our students are full-time caregivers, 65%

00:32:13
are first gen. So, like all those things combined make college just more meaningful because you have a lot of other things up against you or in your life. You're surviving, you know what I mean? So, I think it just really all that combined makes moments like that really special. And I'm so glad you were able to enjoy that. And we have a great photo, I know, of you um in the same spot that um Adam Sandler and I think Bo Cruz was the character's name for the NBA player from Spain. Um but

00:32:46
Leslie, thank you so much for joining us today. It has been truly such a joy to talk to you and hear your story and thank you for being an advocate for public health and thank you for being a real embodiment of our mission. You know, our mission here at the college is to encourage students to um serve society well and effectively and compassionately. And I can't think I mean, you're doing that. You're doing that tenfold. And um thank you so much for doing that. We really are so blessed

00:33:16
to have you and and we appreciate how much you endorse the Manor College. That's really means a lot to us. So, we wish you nothing but the best. >> Thank you. Thank you all for giving me the opportunity. I feel like I'm just a big dental nerd sometimes and that's how Anthony and I got talking and you know this is how I'm here. But yes, Manor changed the course of my life completely and I'm so grateful I had the chance to have my education be with Manor. >> Thank you for tuning in today. If you

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like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor college. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always.

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Yeah, it's really a discipline. I think it's putting in the work. It's putting in the energy. It's putting in the effort. It's never giving up, never quitting. Um there's going to be challenges. There's going to be setbacks. Um not everything's going to be easy. Hello, Blue Jays, and welcome to the nest, stories about life after Manor College. I am your host, Kelly Peiffer, vice president of marketing communications, and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will

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encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College, you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know? Where we will share some fun facts about Manor College that you may or may not know. Did you know that Manor College recently has celebrated a major milestone at its May commencement? For the first time in college history, Manor graduated a full class of 4-year bachelor degree students from our psychology program, marking a

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new chapter in its growth as a destination for students seeking a complete college experience close to home. These graduates are the first to start and finish the psychology program from day one, earning their bachelor degree after the college has expanded its academic offerings just a few years ago. It's a powerful moment that reflects not only the evolution of Manor College, but also the determination of our students, many of whom balance work, family, school, proving that opportunity and achievement can go hand in hand right

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here in our community. Today's episode is sponsored by the Manor College Bachelor Degree in Psychology. Are you ready to make a difference? At Manor College, our bachelor's degree in psychology prepares you for a career in social services and counseling. With flexible classes and a personalized attention, all at a low cost tuition, we'll help you unlock the full potential that you have within yourself. Build a meaningful career. Earn your bachelor's in psychology at Manor College. Visit

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manor.edu to learn more. Today's guest is a perfect example of how a strong foundation can lead to a lifetime of professional success. Growing up in Huntington Valley and attending La Salle College High School, he brought a sharp mind and a spirit of service to Manor College campus in the late 90s. During his time at Manor, he was a fixture in student life, serving in campus ministry and achieving academic excellence as a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He credits much of his personal growth to

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the impact of dedicated faculty members who helped guide him to earn an associates degree in psychology in 1998. But his journey didn't stop there. Demonstrating the grid of a lifelong learner, he transitioned into the world of commerce, attending night school at Holy Family University to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration. Today, he takes that same dedication to service and applies it to the financial world, helping people secure their futures as a retirement plan advisor

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with Empower Financial Services. Please welcome Manor College alumni from the class of 98, Joe Hayes. Hi, Joe. >> Hello. Hello. I'm happy to be here. Thank you for having me. >> Yes. Happy to have you on. So, so Joe, you're a Huntington Valley local person. Did you always know you wanted to stay local for college and what about Manor kind of like fit for you when you were looking for higher education? >> Very good question. So yeah, I mean um I learned about Manor through a family

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member. So from uh from really good word of mouth and from hearing from family member, I heard great things about Manor and that's what got me interested in it. you know, growing up in a Catholic family, you know, um with with with that background, uh family of six, Irish Catholic family. Um you know, I just uh went to, you know, Catholic high school and I was, you know, happy to stay in the area and stay local. Uh honestly, when I started, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I didn't know what

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my exact field of study was going to be, but I was excited to join Manor when I did, and I'm proud to call myself an alum. >> Oh, that's great. I didn't realize you're uh one of six. That's where do you land in the one of six? Which number are you? >> Right in the middle. >> Okay. >> Okay, that's cool. Um that's really neat. It definitely having that like family around you. Um probably made staying staying local for college a little bit easier of a transition going

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from high school to college and that kind of that kind of setting. So you started out in psychology, but now you are a retirement plan advisor. So does that mean that like half of your job is basically being a therapist for people who are stressed out about their money? How did that how do those things translate together and kind of tell us the thread that took you from psychology to working in financial services? >> Definitely. Yeah. Well, um, when I wrapped up at Manor in psychology, uh,

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with that field of study, I initially worked for a company that actually helped, um, traumatic brain injured adults. That was my role as a, as like a social worker, like a client care worker, was I helped adults that were injured with traumatic brain injury. Um, eventually I actually came back to Manor and I worked in the alumni and development office for a little bit. Um eventually I decided that I wanted to go back and pursue my four-year degree, my business degree, and I decided to take my studies to Holy Family University. Um

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around that time, that's when I actually started changing gears in my in my career and I learned about financial services again through some family and some friends. Uh got my foot in the door with a financial company as a customer service representative and you know, I took advantage of the benefits from that company. I actually took advantage of their tuition reimbursement program which was awesome and it helped me pay for my college for uh night school to finish up my bachelor's. Um that was the

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start of my journey in my career in financial services was getting my feet wet in customer service working in the call center. But that's where I laid my roots in financial services and um it was a great experience. It taught me a lot about helping people, being patient, solving problems. uh people come to you for help and we say we we're you know we wear many hats and we do you know in in the role we do we wear many hats helping people with different different life situations and financial matters.

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>> Yeah I'm sure and I think starting in customer service kind of like in any industry whether it's like sports starting in ticket sales you know kind of you learn a lot and it kind of like is your um you know introduction to an industry. That's really cool to hear that that was kind of your introduction. What was it like for you kind of grinding it out at Holy Family in night school while working um you know working full-time and trying to pivot careers. What was that like for you?

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>> It it was tough. I mean I have to admit it was it had its challenges because that at that time I was just starting to raise a family. I just had my first son at the time and you know raising a family and you know working and doing all of that it was a juggle. It was a sacrifice, but I think looking back on it, it was all well worth it. It was really a matter of balancing time. Um, because there's only so many hours in the day for you to do things and you just have to make make use of each hour

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and each minute that you've got to make the best of the day and get the tasks accomplished that you've got to get done. That's what's worked for me. When I made when I made my commitment to go to school and finish up, I just listed out my courses one by one and then I would check them off as I finished them. And that was a feeling of you know accomplishment and satisfaction and helped me you know feel a sense of um you know satisfaction you know getting closer and closer to that goal of

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finishing the degree. >> Nothing like a good checklist to keep you keep you going there and you know having a young family and oh my goodness that is that is a lot a lot to do but looking back on that you're like okay I'm glad I did it. I'm glad it's over. You know I don't have to do that again. But that's certainly, you know, a lot of our students today, um, we just got new survey data in actually just a few weeks ago and 40% of our Manor College students are primary caregivers. So

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either they are raising their own families or they are taking care of siblings or parents or grandparents. So that's a really common culture we find here at Manor that so many of our students are taking care of families and school is just not the number one priority because it just can't be. They have to, you know, take care of other people. So that's something that we constantly are trying to think about. How can we support our students more through services and different resources

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who are in those situations. So that's very that's good to hear that you kind of understand and can identify with that. For sure. Um let's talk about kind of when you were at Manor any faculty who really left a mark on you who really impacted you. Was there any particular faculty that come to mind or any specific memories or moments of things that just kind of clicked? >> Great memories, great moments. I mean it was a little while back going back to when I went to Manor back in the 90s,

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but my memory does not does not fade away. Um I really appreciated working with um Jackie Theresa Meyers who was actually I worked with Jackie in the campus ministry um part of Manor. You know we would have services. We had a group that would meet um I played guitar and we actually met in the chapel there and um Jackie had a good influence on me uh with her you know I would call it mentorship. She helped me through the journey of going through college and being involved in my spiritual life. And

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uh I'll never forget that, you know, working with Jackie, Sister Francis as well. Uh Sister Francis was very um active and just a great presence at Manor College. I hope she's still working there and doing well, but um she was also very instrumental in my in my time at Manor. >> Yes. Yes. Jack Jackie was great. And Sister Francis, she's no longer working at the college. She is, I would say, retired and she's still obviously she's um over at the convent next door. in the

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mother house with the sisters of St. Basil the Great and we check on her often and hear hear how she's doing. So, it's always good to hear about Sister Francis. >> Fantastic. I'm glad she's doing well. >> So, so Joe, let's talk a little bit about um your role and your career in retirement planning. Um, I'd like to ask this question to some of our guests, particularly ones who work in the financial world, but what's like um a myth about your role or your job in

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retirement planning that people think like, oh, he must do this all day all day all day long or he must, you know, um, but it's really a myth. What's a myth that you want to kind of debunk for us? >> I think sometimes people get the impression that folks in in my position, we're numbers crunchers. We're on calculators. we're, you know, doing a lot of, you know, that deep in the weeds work and that sometimes we have the crystal ball and have all the answers to what's going on with the with the stock

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market. And um, you know, that's a common myth. You know, we don't we don't have all the answers. We don't have the crystal ball. Um, one thing that I think is important to address is that in in my field, and I think this is important for folks um, as they finish school, is that I think life, you know, education is a lifelong experience. It's not something that ever goes away. I think when no matter what our roles are, uh we want to stay fresh, we want to stay up to speed, and we want to

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continue learning and adapting and navigating as things change over time because in all businesses, things are constantly evolving. And I think staying on top of education in whatever capacity folks are in, I think that's important. And that's been an important part of my role in what I do is I continue education uh each year and um try to stay on top of what's going on out there so I can be the best that I can be in my role helping people. >> Yeah. So not all number crunchers, more

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relationship based I'd imagine and and more kind of going back to your early days customer service. A lot of probably just chatting, listening, understanding people and where they are and then trying to find solutions for them that that work best for them. That's really neat. So, what's like a most common mistake that you see people making with their retirement planning? And is it ever too late to fix it? >> It's never too late to fix it. I think, you know, um you know, sometimes folks

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get to the the planning process late in the game. Um I think naturally we can be procrastinators as humans. You know, we push things off and we don't worry about things until we feel like we need to worry about those things. And I think time is of the essence. I think time is something that we hold as precious and we can't get back. Lost time. So the common thing I see folks sometimes get into is they'll wait until very late to start planning and putting together a strategy and starting to save money for

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whatever life brings. Whether it's, you know, saving for kids for college, whether it's planning for retirement, whether it's saving for emergencies. Um it's something I think it's important to put those things in place early and often. Um, and I try to influence my kids in terms of sharing those lessons that I've learned in life's journey to start things early. You start a job, take advantage of your company's benefits. Look at the benefits that are available to you, the savings plans, the

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retirement savings plans, things of that nature, and take advantage of them, you know, because when you start saving and paying yourself first, um, that's where the rubber hits the road and helps you in the long run. And my whole thing is when things come out of my paycheck and go towards certain things like savings and retirement, it's out of sight and it's out of mind and I'm paying myself first and I pretend that it's not even there because if it lands in my paycheck, if it comes out of my paycheck

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and lands in my bank account, I'm guilty as charged. I'm going to spend that money. I'm going to find something to spend it on. Whether that be ice cream, a night out, a vacation, uh a a gaming system for my house here. Uh but you know it's all a balancing act. I think it's all a balancing act. You want to find that balance of uh enjoying your life now but also preparing for your future. There's nothing like compound interest working for 20 30 40 years opposed to working for only 10 or five

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or something. So obviously that's a huge thing. I know a lot of our students when they're finding their first jobs, you know, they don't put any money into the retirement plans because they just want the full check that, you know, maybe they're paying off loans and and different things like that or, you know, a car payment, but it does even if you can just do the company match, just do the match for a number of years, you know, that's really helpful. That's great to hear. Um that, you know, it's

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balanced and it's never too late because sometimes I think people think with retirement like, well, what's the point now, you know? Um, that's good to hear. So, Joe, looking back at the class of 98 version of yourself, what's one thing that you now know about success that you wish you could have told yourself back then? >> It's it's really a discipline. I think it's putting in the work. It's putting in the energy. It's putting in the effort. It's never giving up, never

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quitting. Um, there's going to be challenges. There's going to be setbacks. Um, not everything's going to be easy. there's going to be classes that you take in your studies and in school that are harder than other classes. And I think looking back, it's just trying to, you know, when you run into that, keep grinding it out. You know, work with, you know, your your your uh your classmates, work with your professor, uh work with those folks that, you know, are very smart in that

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field that can help you through that process um to work it out. You know, you're not alone. There's the one thing I would say is don't ever be afraid to ask questions. Um don't ever feel afraid to ask for help because there's people that are out there that are there to help you. And I've never had people reject me or say no, I can't help you. It's either they help me or if they can't they point me in the direction of somebody else that can. >> So uh you're never alone. And uh that

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that's one of the experiences that I always take from manor is that I always felt part of the family and I still feel part of the family as an alum that uh it's just it's a great community and there's a great network of people to help you out no matter what you're dealing with even if it's personal matters if you if you have someone that you can talk to to talk through personal stuff you're going through. >> Yeah. >> It's always good to talk to somebody.

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>> Absolutely. you know, um, a couple weeks ago, I was shopping in my local Costco with my kids and, um, I was in total mom mode. You know, it was a it was after work hours. I think it was a Thursday night and have the big shopping cart with my my two two of my kids were in the cart and um, I'm walking past the AT&T like sales guy and you know, they try to like, oh, do you want to switch over? And I just, you know, politely, no, no, thank you. And then I double take and it's it's a Manor

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student. this student named Jacob. And I was like, "Jacob?" And he was like, "Hey, Kelly." And I was like, "Hey." And I was like, "I didn't know you work here." And we chit-chated for a while. And he's graduating this year. And just in that little conversation we had, um, Jacob said like, "Oh, I'm so sad to leave Manor. I love it. There people are so helpful. People, they've always helped me. They support me." And it was just so sweet to hear that. Um, that was

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kind of the first just he wasn't in a focus group. It wasn't like a survey, you know, it was just a normal conversation we were having and the words that came out were Manor has always been helpful and supportive of of anything that I've done. And it was just so great to hear that and so great to hear that, you know, you are a graduate from 98, you know, almost 30 years ago and those words still ring true. So, it's really good to hear that we've been consistent in like who we are and how we

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serve students for for that long. So, it's always really reassuring to hear that. Absolutely. Absolutely. 100%. >> So Joe, final question here. What advice would you give to Manor College students today? >> Enjoy the journey. Enjoy every bit of it. Soak it up and enjoy the the culture, the community, the uh the collaboration you have with your your fellow students and the and the and the uh staff there and and the teachers. Um take advantage of the programs that are

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available to you. uh take advantage of the different clubs and associations that are available. Uh don't hesitate to get involved. There's a lot of great things to get involved in that you could get a good experience in and learn from. You build great relationships and it helps I think prepare yourself and shape yourself up for your future. Um and just don't be afraid to, you know, get that experience and get the get the work under your belt to um to develop. And uh don't like I said, don't ever be afraid

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to ask for help because it's always there, you know, hop skip and a trot away for when you need it. >> Yeah, definitely get involved, talk to people. Um don't be shy, you know, step out of your shell. Those are that's great advice, Joe. Thank you so much for that. And Joe, thank you so much for spending time with us. I I always love talking to alumni and particularly I love talking to alumni who are out in the world making a change and making a difference. And you know the mission of

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us is to graduate and educate students to be compassionate people of society. Um that's in our mission statement and I feel like you are a a good living embodiment of that mission. So thank you for the work that you're doing and continue to do and we wish you nothing but the best. >> Thank you so much. Thank you for having me here and uh go Manor. >> Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up tod date with all new episodes by

00:19:58
following Manor College on Instagram, Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest, stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always.

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keep on doing everything that they can do. Do not give up. Turn in all your work on time. Get your assignments in. Make sure you studying cuz once you study and you do the work, then you don't have nothing to worry about. Hello Blue Jays, and welcome to the nest, stories about life after Manor College. I'm your host, Kelly Peiffer, vice president of marketing communications, and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at

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Manor College, you belong here always. This is a special edition of the Nest coming out to you the day before our class of 2026 commencement. Congratulations, graduates. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a Blue Jay Spotlight graduation edition. Aiden Tiblier graduates from Manor College tomorrow with his bachelor's degree in psychology. He came to Manor College from New Orleans, Louisiana. Before coming here, he never lived in the Northeast, never had a cheese steak, and only heard the rumors about Philly

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sports fans. Before he crosses the stage tomorrow, we asked him a few questions about his time at Manor College. >> I kind of took a gamble on Manor. I was coming off a really big knee injury and I was kind of told like they weren't my doctors were like they weren't sure if I was ever going to be playing at a high level again. I was on a recruiting platform that I forgot about and JD sent me an email. uh we had a talk on FaceTime telling me about the program and honestly most of the questions we

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started talking about was more like about me as a person and that that really like made me want to come here. um because he was making more of an investment into me as a person than just as an athlete. And I think you know without without ever looking at Manor, ever visiting or being in the like the only place I had been in the Northeast was New York for a couple of days and uh I drove up here and I moved in the residence hall all by myself. So Manor community here like that held up for sure. Like at first glance like you

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might think that a lot of people here are like really shy or like you know very quiet but like once you warm up to the community a day doesn't go by that I don't talk to people like I don't just end up having like random fun conversations or interesting conversations and 90% of the people here are locals and so for me as somebody that you know me and like the other guys that aren't from around here or even from the northeast in general like it's it's cool to see how different it is and

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to have people take you off campus or like telling you about what's going on in the city or what's going on in these guys' neighborhood and they show you and that's that's that's really cool. Uh I think one thing people should know about Manor is that this is the safest place to fail. like like if you're going to be unsuccessful at something and be successful at something later down the line, like I think this is the place that's going to, you know, kind of gear you up for it. on the field and off the

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field. I've never been the fastest guy here on my soccer team and I've never been the greatest student in the classroom, but I I work a lot harder than everybody, you know. So, I mean, it kind of drove me past all those failures, you know, from a failed class or a loss or, you know, not making a position to work harder. Work harder. Keep working at it no matter how many times like it didn't work out. I'm going to outwork it. I'm going to outwork the loss. So, that's that's definitely the biggest lesson I

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got. >> Today's episode is sponsored by the class of 2026 gift. You voted and the class of 2026 gift campaign blanket sale is there. These are beautiful large minky soft blue jay spirit blankets that we're selling for $30 per blanket. Premium quality large size 50x60 size. Proudly made in the USA. All proceeds go to the class of 2026 gift. Don't miss out on this limited edition keepsake. Grab yours in Manny's Market or by visiting manor.edu/2026gift. Get yours today. Joining us today

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is a woman who perfectly defines the word unstoppable. She is a Philadelphia native, a proud graduate of Northeast High, and a history maker within her own family as a first generation college student. But her journey didn't stop at just getting to campus. She actually conquered it twice. She is a two-time alumni of Manor College, having earned her associates degree in 2022. and now she'll be graduating next Thursday with her bachelor's in healthcare management for the class of 2026. Her leadership

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and academic excellence led her to be selected as the 2026 student commencement speaker. Beyond the classroom, she balances a professional life, currently serving as a patient access representative at Jefferson Health and as secretary three for the school district of Philadelphia. Perhaps most impressively, she has achieved all of this while raising six children, proving that with enough grit and the right community, no goal is out of reach. Please welcome the incredible Wandell Scott. Hi, Well.

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>> Hi. >> Thank you for being with us today. >> Yes. >> So, start us off, Wandell. How did you hear about Manor College and what made you ultimately decide to attend? Well, the first time that I heard about Manor is through my daughter, um, Jakira Williams. She is a college graduate from Manor. She graduated, um, a couple years before I started. Um, and she was had the choice of two schools, which was Cabrini and Manor. Um, she liked it both of them, but then she wound up

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wanting to choose to go to Manor. And I'm told her, you know, go where your heart leads you. And Manor has been very good to her, treated her very good. And I told her once I completed with my high school diploma, which I did, that I wanted to go to college. And because Manor was good to her, I wind up enrolling in Manor. And that's how I became um one of Manor's students. >> Oh wow. I love that. You know, we hear oftentimes stories of like parents telling their kids where to go to

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college, but we don't often hear the reverse, the kids telling the parents, "Mom, go to Manor." >> Yeah. >> Thank you for that endorsement. That's wonderful to hear and I'm so glad that was her experience and that has been your experience as well. >> But, uh, Wandell, you are what I call a double a double blue jay. So, you're going to have two degrees from Manor. >> Yes. What what about um our community really made you want to come back to

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Manor to get your bachelor's after finishing that associates? >> Well, what made me want to come back to Manor and to stay with Manor is because um Manor felt like home to me. Um this the staff was very supportive. My professor, every professor that I had was very beautiful to me. Um, Mary Sims is one of them. Oh, I love her so much. She has been there with me throughout everything. Even um through some of my semesters when she wasn't my professor, I was still able to call her and speak

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with her. Also, Dr. Crosby um she's another one um that was there for me and we talk, you know, on a daily basis even outside of um Manor and things like that. So Manor just made me felt more welcoming, homelike, um, very supportive, very passionate of everything. Even when I had to go out and have my spine surgery, every professor that I had was very supportive of me. They called me, they emailed me, they checked on me, and it didn't stop there. Um, I got myself back to health where I was able to start back on my

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work. And all I hear is you is strong. Cuz anybody that had surgery the way you did wouldn't have never been able to turn in work and had my work in on time and everything, but the staff here at Manor really made me feel welcome. >> That's awesome. So, it sounds like you had some like faculty champions who were in your corner regardless if you had them that semester or not. And then um obviously that also helps you stay accountable. You know, you know you have people that believe in you. That

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helps you stay motivated like these people believe in me so that I believe in myself and I can do this. Um but let's kind of take it back a minute here. So Wandell, you are an adult student. you are not a traditional college age student and your your path of education has not been traditional in a sense and I think um that's that's something you've talked about in other stories and around the college. Can you kind of take us through like why you know why go to college at this point in

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your life when you you have jobs and careers and you have things established, you have a family. Um, it sounds like a hassle and really inconvenient for someone in that situation, but like why did you choose to pursue higher education later on in your life? >> Because um when I became pregnant in 1992, um it just like I felt like it just hindered me from going on pursuing with my education. I was high risk. Um I was sick a lot. I was taken out of school. So it was like and then once I had my

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son in 93, I never went back. Um and then later on I just was working um I wind up becoming a CNA um through the department of public health and once I became a CNA, I just always worked. So it wasn't in my mind to at that time to go back to get my diploma. Um, as time went on and my kids start I started having kids and they started, you know, growing up and I seeing them going to school. When my first son graduated, I was proud. I was a proud mother cheering him on. Then my second son, then my

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daughter, then my baby boy, and then I was like, you know what? I had four kids that graduated. It's time for me to go back. And I always told my grandma when she before when she left this world that grandma, I'm going to go back and get my high school diploma. And she said, "Baby, that's all I want you to do." >> Oh. >> And it was always in my mind to go to college, but I don't know. It was like I was afraid. So once I got that diploma, it went on from there. I wound up

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enrolling in Manor and from there it was on. >> Wow. That's awesome. So, like your kids were really the ones kind of like they're doing it. >> It's mom's turn, you know, fueling you. >> Yes. >> Have they been every time you've gotten a diploma or a degree and now um at graduation you're going to obviously be be getting another degree, are they are they there cheering you on? Are they loud and proud? >> Yes, my kids are front and center. Um when it was time when I wanted to give

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up at first when I first started um Manor, it was like, "Oh my goodness, am I going to be able to do this?" But I did it and then with the help of my oldest daughter and my son-in-law, they was right there because they both are Manor's alumni and they graduated from Manor. So they knew a lot of the professors. So when it came time of certain things that I didn't understand, they sat with me, they read with me, they helped me, they guided me. So I was I was good from there. Once I got a hang

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of it, I I went on and said, "I got this." And I was just, you know, I didn't care how long nights I was up reading and studying, trying to get my work done. I did it. I did not give up. Even though when I wanted to, I just kept on pushing. I said, I'm not only doing this for me, I'm doing this for my kids. >> Oh, that's that's beautiful. It's so it's so uh touching and something that >> children can understand, parents can understand. I mean, that that connection

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so strong. I just thank you so much for sharing that. So obviously you must be um a person who's really good at time management or like this wouldn't work. What are how do you manage your like 24 hours when you got >> two jobs I believe and you're a mom and you're in school? Like how do you manage that? Do you have any like tricks that you're like this really works well for me? And kind of what does that look like for you? Like a typical day in Wandell's life? Well, because I work

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two jobs. Um, when I'm at the daytime job and I had to do work, um, on my downtime at the first job, I would just, you know, I'm already on a computer. So, um, I would log in and I would start studying, doing my work and stuff. Um, then from that job, I go straight to the second job and I do the same thing. Um, there I work in an ER, so it was like a if, you know, iffy at that time. Um, sometimes I can be able to say, "Okay, it's chill. I can do it." And sometimes it was like, "Uh, nope, can't. Got to

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wait till I get home." Um, because, you know, with working in the ER, it get very busy and sometimes it get overwhelming. >> And managing with the kids is I have older ones, so they always help me out and very supportive. My two youngest is 17 and 12. Um, so, um, I wasn't even seeing my kids. I don't even get to see them like that because I leave from one job, go to the next, and by the time I get home, they in the bed. Um, the weekends I'm off, so that's when I spend

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a lot of times with my kids and turning in work assignments and things like that. >> Yeah. So, like every every hour you're like, I got to get stuff done, whether it's for work, for school, >> and obviously having older kids certainly helps, but you know, you're still the older kids need mom, too. you know, they they need mom as well. So, I'm sure I'm sure weekends are really precious for you in that for family time and just trying to >> and also a little bit of like hopefully

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self-care and a little bit of like your own rest if if and when that happens. >> Yes. >> Um, so you're earning a BBA in healthcare management. >> Yes. >> What are you hoping to do with that or how are you hoping that that degree is going to translate maybe into one of your current roles at Thomas Jefferson? >> Yes. Well, I'm hoping that um I will be able to start working and at least um a management position at Jefferson. Um, I have started applying and I started

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applying outside of Jefferson um with um some of the positions um in manage in a management role and um I had interviewed for a couple of them but you know a lot of them are saying they want me to have my bachelor's degree. So they you know they know I'm graduating so they told me once I have it in hand to contact get back with them and things like that. And also I also was um accepted to La Salle College because I'm going for my um MBA um you know I'm in a program so I will be still working and still going to

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school at the same time. So I didn't just want to stop there. Um I wanted to keep going until I get um a higher degree that I know that I can work anywhere that I want to work. >> Wow. you you are like super superwoman. I don't of course you're going for a masters. Of course it doesn't stop there, you know. >> Yes. >> Just that's awesome. What do you feel like some of the foundational things that Manor prepared you for to then go get a master's? Like what are some of

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the lessons you feel like you're going to take with you um as you go for an MBA? like my businesses um lectures that I had, the apprenticeship, um the internship, um the occupational health safety um classes that I had um it was a lot of classes that I had, the capstone um that I had to do. um you know so a lot of my classes that I'm going that I have that I'm going to take with me and remember a lot of the work that I did through those classes I'm going to also um fit that into what I'm going to going

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for at um in La Salle and there is um their business administration but it's a MBA. >> Yeah. Yeah. That that's great. That's a great degree to have that's really versatile that can really go in in many different ways and I feel like if you want to work in management that's certainly you can't go wrong with an MBA. That that's awesome. I'm so happy to hear that for you. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> So >> So this episode's coming out the day

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before our commencement. So it's coming out um right before the commencement. This is our special commencement episode. What is I know you're going to be our commencement speaker tomorrow for our we have two student speakers you and another student named Merritt. What's something that you're really hoping that without giving away any too many, you know, surprises, what's something though that like you want the class of 2026 to really take away from your remarks? >> Never give up on your dream. Do not

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stop. Keep on going. Don't let nothing hold you back from doing what you really want to do. and you're never too young, you're never too old to not go back and, you know, um, chase your dreams. >> That's wonderful. Well, thank you so much, Wendell. And then last kind of last question for you here. What's, um, some advice that you have for Manor students who are not quite at graduation yet, but they're hoping to get there one day. Some advice that you would give them?

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>> I would want them to know is keep on doing, keep on doing everything that they can do. Do not give up. Turn in all your work on time. Get your assignments in. Make sure you studying because once you study and you do the work, then you don't have nothing to worry about. And that way you can have your free time and everything. But always stay focused. Always um read everything. Read every assignment. This way you can get your grades in. Um, just keep the communication really well with your

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professors. Keep the communication with your classmates. You know, you have classmates you could talk to. If you can't get in touch with your professors at time, you know, just keep doing what you supposed to do. Don't never give up. Don't let nothing discourage you from doing anything that you want to do and go out there and be all you can be. >> Well, well said, Wandell. Well said. It's been such a joy to get to know you and hear your story. I had the pleasure of having you in my one of my classes

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this semester and you know in the class. It's an apprenticeship class so students really just work and then they reflect on the work that they're doing for the class. And obviously Wandell is has no shortage of work experience. So getting to read your journals weekly, I felt like I got a sense of like who you are and the kind of person you are. And the words that come to my mind just thinking about all of your journals, like you are caring, you are thoughtful, you are thorough. Um I feel like you

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know details about patients, about students, about whoever you're serving. You are on those details. And um I can't I can't thank you enough for sharing those with me. and it's been really an honor to get to know you and best of luck with everything you got going on. We're always cheering for you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram,

00:20:45
Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest, stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always. And a special congratulations to the class of 2026.

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with me and my brothers, we really wanted to um make our parents proud. Hello Blue Jays, and welcome to the nest, stories about life after Manor College. I'm your host, Kelly Peiffer, a vice president of marketing communications, and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for to make a special announcement. Each year, we have a special alumni

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speaker at our commencement. This year, our alumni speaker will be delivered by Manor College alumni, John Dempster. As many of you know John, or JD. He is the beloved athletic director at Manor College. He graduated from Manor in 1999 with a degree in liberal arts. In that time, he has led the Blue Jays on and off the field. This year alone, he has overseen the success of two conference championships, one in men's soccer and one in men's basketball, while also guiding the introduction of two new

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sports at Manor College, men's volleyball and women's flag football. JD is a graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School, Go Rail Splitters, and resides in the city with his wife Christine and daughters, Llaya and Kina. JD will speak from the podium to the class of 2026 during Manor's commencement on Thursday, May 14th at 1 p.m. Today's episode is sponsored by Manor College. We believe you deserve an education that feels like home. We offer associate and bachelor degrees in high demand fields like

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business, psychology, and practical nursing. Our small class sizes mean that your professors know more than just your name and you get personalized attention that you need to truly thrive. Discover a supportive environment just outside of Philadelphia where success is built one student at a time. It's more than a college, it's a community. If you're ready to find your place, visit manor.edu today to explore your options and see why you belong here. That's manor.edu. You belong here. Our next guest today is

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a true local success story who bridges the gap between New York and Pennsylvania. A proud graduate of Abington Senior High, he came to Manor College with a clear mission and the drive to succeed as a first generation college student. During his time on campus, you could often find him right in the heart of the community, participating in a lot of student activities. But when he wasn't engaging with the Manor life, he was diving deep into the technological world of computer information systems. Guided by the

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mentorship of faculty, he stayed the course to reach a major milestone, earning his bachelor's degree in 2023. Today, he has taken those skills directly into the field, providing essential tech solutions as an IT help desk support applied sciences corporation in Warminster. Please welcome from the class of 2023, Manor College alumni, Ledny Joseph. Hi, Ledny. >> Hello. Thanks for being with us today. >> Yes, thanks for having me. >> So, start us off. How did you hear about Manor College and what made you decide

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to attend? >> Um, so I heard about Manor College be before I um mentioned that. Um, so with my work, they were really um encouraging me to finish my bachelor's degree. Um that way I I'd be able to move up in position at my job. Um I was really looking for a uh software development role um a data administration role. Um so they really encouraged me to look to finish my bachelor so I could move up in position. Um so Manor's actually down the road from uh where I grew up. So all the time

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I would go to Alverthorpe Park. Um I would see Manor College uh there right across the road. Um so it would have been a very easy commute for me uh to go across just right down the road there. >> Hey, nothing's wrong with convenience. That's fine. That's awesome. >> Yes. Yes. So I that was the first college that I looked at. Um and I looked at the different programs they had there. Saw if that was an opportunity for me. Um, and I I saw they did have the programs that I was looking

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for. So, I took I saw the chance and I took it. >> That's awesome. Cool. I love that. Sometimes it's just as simple as like what's around me? What's What am I familiar with? They have the right program. I don't need to think any more than that. So, that that's so cool. So, did you already have an associates degree from somewhere else or? >> Yes. So, originally I went to Montco. I had an associates in uh liberal studies and associates in engineering. Um so I transferred uh to a couple colleges

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before Manor. Um I went to tech school uh for a year at Lincoln Tech. Um that's how I landed my job originally. Um so I was working before I ended up going to Manor. >> Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay. Okay. So, you've had some other higher education experiences before Manor. Um, but definitely, you know, being a Manor student, it's a little different than going to Montco or going to Lincoln Tech. And you told me before that you were involved in some like campus activities. You like to

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go to the different events that they had. Um, how did Manor compare to your other higher ed experiences? What were some things that you got involved with and you kind of enjoyed like the campus life? Um, I liked uh that the college was a lot more uh closer of a community. Um, most of the events that I went to, it was either a couple of the soccer games. I had a couple friends that were on the soccer team would go to the some of the soccer games or in the cafeteria. Um, so a little background about that is as I

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was going to school, I was also working at the same time. So, uh, full-time schooling and full-time employment. Um, so I was actually working remote, so a good place to do that was the cafeteria, and they had a lot of events there. So, they had like bingo. Um, a table stands for um a a health organization. They came by and sampled out some uh healthy brownies. Um, so that was fun. We had a whole bunch of uh coloring activities. I didn't know I I liked coloring activities until I did a a coloring

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activity in the cafeteria there. And then you would see like all the nursing students, a couple more um IT students in the cafeteria. So um the all the people that were there, they all seemed to be friendly and we all got along. So um it was a very fun time. >> Oh, that's cool. And you're doing this all while you're remote working. So really multitasking right there. That's impressive. Um, it's always amazing to me, Ledny, when I see students who are working part-time,

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full-time, and going to school. I think that's so common for so many of our students to um to work while attending Manor and they find ways to do it. It's really, it shows such grit and resilience, but it's really impressive as well. So, major kudos to you for balancing that and just finding a way to get all that done because it's certainly not easy. Um, I want to talk a little bit about being a first generation college student and and what that what that was like for you to

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navigate um higher education and being the first in your family um first, you know, first-gen college student to earn earn a bachelor's degree and what does that mean for you and your whole family? Um, it means a whole lot. Um, my parents, they came from Haiti. Um, so of course they went through the high school system there. Um, but as they moved to America, they really, um, just wanted to hit the ground running working. Um, so they didn't really take the time to um, pursue a higher education. Um, so with

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me and my brothers, we really wanted to um make our parents proud proud for lack of better terms. So they were always high on education. Um, and I'm sure if they had the opportunity, they would have uh chose to excel as far as they wanted. So, um just really following the footsteps of my parents, um following their guidelines, uh it just gave me an opportunity to um really really work hard. Um cuz they also they import like what's the word that I'm trying to use here? >> Like imprinted on you.

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>> Yes. Those values. >> Yes. So they really imprinted on me uh the values of working hard and getting a higher education. Yeah. Oh, that's great. Well, they'll definitely have to take a listen to this episode with you and um be proud parents because obviously they did a great job. That's really special to hear and I think I think that really resonates with a lot of our students and alumni, you know. Um so many of our students, the stat in the last few years has been

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around 65% of Manor College students are first-gen college students. So, um, that's definitely a demographic that we see coming >> to study at Manor, um, who have very similar stories. So, I think that's going to really hit home and resonate with a lot of our students today. And it's just so so cool to hear that students are not shying away from higher ed. They're they want to um get the skills, get the education to then go do something in the world with that while also making their their families so

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proud. Um, that's really neat to hear. So, let's talk about it a little bit. Um, what made you want to study computer and information systems? What about it, um, gets you passionate and excited and what kind of about this industry, um, makes you want to, you know, have a job in it? >> Yeah. So um starting out um go going into my career um I always loved mathematics. Even in high school I I loved mathematics. Um I uh growing up I always wanted to create. I always wanted to um build something. Um I had I

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did play a lot of video games growing up. So, of course, like setting up uh the different systems you have to connect it to the TV. Um use I used the computer like pretty much all day growing up uh going through high school. Uh computers was just a big part of my life. Uh so I thought it was only fitting for me to pursue something that had to do with computers. Um, and then as I was getting into college, um, I learned a lot of programming. Um, which also helped me with the Manor classes. Um, learned a lot of programming. I got into

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game development a lot. Um, I actually, uh, had an opportunity to place an app on the app store. Um, so that came out of that, I guess. Um, so it's, yeah, um, >> felt like a natural fit. It sounds like it was just kind of always a passion of yours, always something that you were doing like recreationally and now you get to do it professionally. So, let's hear about more about this app. What is the app still in the app store? What app did you did you create it? Tell me more about that.

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>> Um, so the app is no longer on the app store, unfortunately. Um, it was just a little 2D runner uh Mario type game. Um, I I still have it on my um gaming website. Um, so it is it's called JB Nimble. If you Google it, you might be able to see my uh gaming website. Um, it's just a little guy. His name's Jason. He runs around um going from world to world. Uh jumping from world to world. Um, and then he's an explorer. He travels. Um, so you just become Jason and you take on his

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adventure as he goes on his way. Um, that's a very Mario-like platformer type game. >> Cool. That sounds really neat. Wow. Um, well, that that sounds like a cool thing to just put together even if it's not on the app store anymore. That's really neat. Um, that's awesome. So, let's talk a little bit about Manor College faculty. Were there any faculty or staff who you felt like really um gave you great advice or taught you good lessons that you can still carry with you? I mean, you're a young alum. You

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just graduated three years ago, but anything that really stands out in your mind that um you want to kind of give a shout out to? >> Yes. Um I would like to give a shout out to Professor Landis. Um he had uh he taught my English class here at Manor. Um he just really inspired me to um be creative. He really inspired me to um to basically go on adventures. I know he likes to uh hike and walk around a lot. Um and on top of that, it made me excited to read books. Um, I wasn't besides like anything

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besides the Bible, besides like computer books. I didn't really read a lot of um novels or anything like that or um self-improvement books. Um so he really inspired me to um just continue reading um as life goes like no matter how old you are, you could still read. So um just a big inspiration there. Um, Professor Sweeney, of course, she pretty much taught like the majority of my computer classes. Um, her instructions were very um straightforward. Um, very very clear instructions on um how to perform

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different programs. Um, so of course even um though I had a background in programming um I was still able to learn more. So, um she just really inspired me to gain more experience um to be more proficient in u whether it's programming or um troubleshooting anything. She just really made me challenged me to be more efficient in what I was doing which translated to me um performing better at my job. Um it also provided me the opportunity at my job to um to get in a position to do some software

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development within the company. Um so I was actually able to um create some forms within our um our program and uh it was just an exciting opportunity that wouldn't have happened if that was the case. Um >> that's great. >> So >> that's awesome. And I I'd also you know talk about you know so you work in IT help desk support. So can you kind of share with us like what does a day in the life look like for you and then also what is the most common um support

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ticket that you are you are answering. >> I always say the first thing is to tell people to restart their computers. It's always helpful to get those updates out there. >> Such a classic IT move right there. >> Yes. Yes. >> As a as a nonIT person. Yes. Okay. >> It's interesting that always goes a long way. Um just understanding the simple things that people just might miss. Um starting there. Um I always say with a help that support, it's almost like finding clues

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to to solve the the puzzle. Um the a day in the life um as a help that support technician. Um, I'm either setting up computers for new employees. Um, or I'm troubleshooting some software or uh hardware um problems. Maybe there's a networking problem that comes up. Um, troubleshooting that problem. So, a lot of troubleshooting. Um, and then if >> Yeah, go ahead. I have another good question though. Go ahead. If that doesn't work, then we raise it to the next tier to to find the proper solution

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in a proper timing for um for our employees. >> Yeah, we had another young alumni on the show. His name is Kareem Haynes um last season and I asked him this question. I'm going to ask you the same question. Um, and I'm curious how your answers will compare, but what's like a myth or something that people assume about IT folks and help desk support people, but it's really not true. Um I think well I don't know if this is the case but um I think they might think that we're not

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like since their particular issue um is out. So like let's say if someone has a computer issue and it's taking a long time for the issue to come up. For example, I I literally I just had someone um whose docking station was not working. Um it was a port issue this morning. Um, so >> but their issue is not the only issue that's going on. So I I also have other issues on top of that that I have to handle. A Outlook uh email issue that I have to handle as well. Um so all those things they just take a lot of time

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because my favorite question is oh how long is this going to take to fix? >> Right? So people assume that you are single, you know, single-mindedly focusing on one thing and really you're back there juggling, you know, all these different things. >> Absolutely. >> You're you're out there juggling uh multiple issues, which is fine. Um as long as you tackle each one at a time, but at the same time, you still have those is new issues always come up every day. So >> absolutely.

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You know, I often think about it people and I think like it they fix computers, but really it is what kind of um our other alumni Kareem who works who works in IT and actually he's an alum and he works here at the college but he he said it's more about helping people and that it you need to be prepared for customer service. Um because it's not just like I'm talking IT lingo all day. you're helping people and you're oftentimes teaching >> nonIT people things. Um, how do you how

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did you feel that you were prepared for like the customer service side and like the people skills of your role? >> Yes, absolutely. In a health that support um position um sometimes the issue doesn't um get fixed right away. So, um, in order for, uh, temperaments to not go up, you really have to have, uh, people skills, great communication skills, um, just to appease the situation. Cuz, of course, if you're not call you're not calling it just to say, "Oh, hey, how's it going?" You you're calling

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it cuz you have a problem. >> So, um, you really have to be able to communicate the situation. Um, I've pretty much built a relationship since I I've been at my company for a while. I uh built a relationship with the employees there. Um, which really relationships is a big part of the IT department, but just a big part of um your career in general. Um, so even um I just started an e-commerce business. Um, even with that, the big a huge thing is your network. um being connected with

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someone, communication, um and really building relationships is very very huge. Um even when I first found my job, um I ended up finding my job at Navmar because someone that I was connected with already had a position there. Um, so it was just of course I had to understand the skills, I had to know the skills, but it was very helpful to be connected with uh someone that was already at the company. Um, so it's just very beneficial. >> Oh yeah, relationships are are huge obviously and relationships are a great

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place for to start building them when you're in college. You know, start with your professors, start with your students who um you know, your friends and your classmates. another huge, you know, friend them on LinkedIn. Follow their careers because you just never know where paths might cross or align. Um, that's really good advice. All right, Lenny. So, final question here. Um, what advice would you give um Manor College students who maybe they're in a CIS program and they're

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they're looking to to maybe be where you are soon? um what advice would you share with them kind of being a person who's been there, done that, and now kind of on the other side of things? Yeah. So, uh my advice, uh being a student, um really learn as much as you can, of course, um making sure you're organized, prioritizing, um prioritizing correctly, making sure you have the most important things um handled um that you need cuz life's just going to get busy. Um especially if if

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you're trying to uh handle multiple things at once. um me being a student and a and a worker at the same time, uh trying to juggle that. It's tricky if you're not um organizing yourself. Um making sure you're prioritizing things. Um and as we mentioned before, uh really really building up your communication skills. Um building your uh relationships uh cuz it just goes a long way. um being connected um really being involved. Uh it'll help you be productive uh the more involved you you

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get. Um cuz if there's no activity in what you're doing, um you're you might digress really, but you always want to be constantly growing. You always want to be constantly progressing um whether it's your career or in life. Um, so >> yeah, no, definitely that's great. Be involved, always keep learning. Um, and kind of use your college days to enjoy yourself, but also like start, you know, being proactive in your career because it starts then. These aren't just, you know, free kind of free past

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years for you just to kind of goof off. Take it seriously because it's only going to pay off in the end. That's great advice. Thank you so much. Thank you, Lenny, for being with us today. It's been really a pleasure and joy to talk to you and um we hope our Blue Jays listening found it encouraging and informing as well. So, wishing you all the best. >> All right. Thank you very much. Thanks for having me. >> Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and

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subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram, Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest Stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always.