Kari Johnson ’10
Assistant Director of Human Resources at Northeast College of Health Sciences
Kari Johnson solidified her goals for her career path during a shadowing opportunity. She experienced a day in the life of a human resource professional at a learning organization. “The organization truly cared for their employees and they were passionate about their development,” she explained.
Now, she carries that same commitment to serve others in her role as assistant director of human resources at Northeast College of Health Sciences. She attributes her success and preparedness for this role to her time at Fisher. “The program at Fisher was amazing and thoroughly covered all aspects that I would eventually be using in my day-to-day work.”
Johnson believes that her experiences at Fisher promoted confidence to “hit the ground running.” In her current role, she evaluates processes and policies to inform important human capital management decisions for the organization. “The knowledge I gained during my time at Fisher allowed me to be a better strategic partner when making key business decisions that impact the organization's ability to innovate in an ever-changing market.”
She tells students to “be bold” as she encourages them to explore all that Fisher offers. “The resources on campus are incredible, and I can't stress how much it made a difference in learning about who I am and what I wanted to become.”
Jack Lewandowski ’20, ’22
Brand Product Manager at Wegmans
After his years of hard work at Fisher, Jack Lewandowski is thrilled that his new job entails trying a lot of food samples and talking with suppliers about new products. “It’s really fun to work in a role that includes ice cream and pizza.”
Lewandowski is a Wegmans brand product manager where he is building upon the foundation he gained in Fisher’s Bachelor of Science in Management and Master of Business Administration programs.
When he’s not sampling the latest Crème Brûlée Premium Ice Cream, Lewandowski develops and manages private label items for frozen foods.
His studies at Fisher prepared him to skillfully respond to and manage the supply chain challenges of our day: “Being quick to identify problems and understand them before coming up with solutions is a fundamental skill in today’s business environment,” explained Lewandowski.
He believes his career preparation and current success are tied to encouragement from his supportive professors: “All of the faculty were helpful to me through my undergraduate and graduate studies at Fisher.”
During his time at Fisher, he received the Distinguished Student Award for achieving excellence in academic studies and co-curricular pursuits. Now, outside of work and ice cream tastings, Lewandowski is training for the Lake Placid IRONMAN. He described it all as “an amazing journey,” and he encourages others to explore how Fisher prepares students for the next stages of their journeys.
Mike Rizzo ’21
Senior Branch Manager, M&T Bank
After graduating from Fisher, Mike Rizzo was accepted into a management development program at M&T that launched him on his professional journey.
Rizzo attributes his success in part to the professors at Fisher who inspired and challenged him to make a difference in the lives of others through his work. “Fisher influenced me to make a difference in whatever industry I ended up in,” he said. Within the School of Business, Rizzo took courses directly tied to his current role. “I believe some of the courses like strategic marketing and professional sales really prepared me for a real-world position.”
Rizzo encourages others to explore the program because he believes it has given him the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the real world. “I would tell folks who are considering the program to be patient and enjoy it, as you will look back on the program and see how truly beneficial it is.”