Fisher Students Gain Industry Insights in NYC

This March, a dozen students studying finance, marketing, public relations, and communication at St. John Fisher University traveled to New York City for an immersive look at the headquarters of some of the biggest names in the industry.

The Investment Club at the School of Business toured VisioCap, LLC, a private equity firm for consumer-packaged goods, as well as RDA Ventures, LCC, a family office investment firm. While at VisioCap, the students met with Phillip Brogan ’15, ’16 (MBA), senior associate and CFO of Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals, LLC. The students also toured Goldman Sachs, Key Private Bank’s Family Wealth Division, and Bloomberg.

Christopher F. Liucci, assistant professor of practice and Executive-in-Residence for the Almeter Innovation Fund, accompanied the students on the trip alongside fellow faculty member Dr. Patricia Wollan, associate professor of finance. Liucci underscored the benefits of being able to tour a facility like Bloomberg.

“The life blood of the financial markets is information. We are lucky to be able to provide our students direct experience using Bloomberg terminals on campus at St. John Fisher University and this experience led to great questions on the use of the terminals during the workshop portion of our visit,” he said.

Student Ryan Scheck ’25, a marketing major with a minor in sport management, agreed.

“Taking finance classes at Fisher allows you access to Bloomberg, so being able to see the corporate location was a cool experience,” said Scheck. “The dynamic work environment they have developed makes it a company you’d want to work for. The main thing I took away from the tour was how much they value networking and building relationships.”

The students also had the unique experience of witnessing the NASDAQ Closing Bell in person, with Huachen AI Parking Management Technology Holding Co., Ltd. (HCAI) ringing the bell.

“My favorite part of visiting NASDAQ for the Closing Bell was seeing the excitement as the countdown began. It was amazing to watch the bell ring and know that we were part of such an important moment in the stock market,” said Madeline Denison ’25, who is majoring in accounting and finance.  

The trip also included meetings with Fisher alumni, including Board of Trustee member Marty Keating ’75 and John Capozzola ’18.

One week later, eight students from The PRIMA Group, Fisher’s student-run integrated public relations and marketing firm, spent three days in New York, touring public relations firms and meeting with communications professionals.

“In PRIMA, we are working with real world clients and planning real world events. In New York, we were seeing large scale agencies up close and hearing firsthand from professionals. These are experiences that you don’t get in a classroom and that enhanced my education immensely,” said Meghan Gleason ’25, a public relations major and president of PRIMA.

Isabella Rey ’25, who is a finance and marketing major with a minor in media and communication, agreed. 

“The trip brought everything we’ve learned in class to life. Hearing from professionals about campaign strategies, crisis communication, and client relations made the concepts we’ve studied feel much more tangible. It also reinforced how valuable hands-on experience, like working with real clients in PRIMA, is for preparing us for the industry,” she said.

While in the city, the students met with the founder for Caro PR, a boutique agency that specializes in hospitality, food, fashion, design, and lifestyle brands. The group also toured Edelman, a global communications firm that is among the largest in the world. Finally, they sat down for an in-depth conversation with Maria Kalligeros, owner of Kalligeros Communications, to learn about her career trajectory and experience in the public relations industry.

“The biggest benefit of the trip was the opportunity to connect with professionals in the marketing and PR industry,” Rey added. “Visiting different agencies gave me firsthand insight into the fast-paced environment, the expectations of the field, and the various career paths available. It also emphasizes the importance of networking and making meaningful connections.”