At a glance
A recent survey of Alfred State graduates revealed 1,585 are leaders of their companies, located across the U.S.
With a new school year getting underway, Alfred State students will soon become involved in activities, further their hands-on education, and find opportunities to hone leadership skills that prove valuable later in life. These type of experiences can have a profound impact on students, as thousands of the college’s graduates have risen to the top of their company, as owner, president, director, CEO, or a similar position.
These alums’ businesses are spread out all over the country, from Massachusetts, to Florida, and as far west as Hawaii. Their concentrations range from auto parts and service, to auctioneering, to carpentry, to court reporting, and much, much more.
Nearly 1,600 alums who are business chiefs have stayed in constant contact with Alfred State’s Alumni Relations Office. Out of those:
- 81 percent are men
- 19 percent are women
- 42 percent have donated to the college at some point
- 10 percent are married to other Alfred State alums
- 73 percent are living in New York.
The college has been honored to host many of these civic leaders on campus to award them with honorary degrees, including:
- Founder and Chairman of Paychex Tom Golisano in 2009 (general business management, 1962)
- LeChase Construction President and CEO Bill Goodrich in 2014 (construction engineering technology, 1984)
- Retired President and CEO of H.F. Industries Henry “Hank” Henderson in 1995 (mechanical engineering technology: product and machine design, 1950)
- Retired Chairman/CEO of Fleet National Bank Erland Kailbourne in 1987 (business administration, 1961)
- Vice President of Green Acres, Inc. and former President and CEO of Sorrento Cheese Joseph L. Russo in 1999 (business administration, 1966)
- Retired President and CEO of Birkett Mills Wayne W. Wagner in 2007 (business administration, 1960).
John Coughlin, a 1978 graduate of the heavy equipment maintenance technology/ technician program, is now the president and CEO of the Linder Industrial Machinery Company based out of Plant City, FL. Coughlin remembers fondly how his professors prepared him.
“They helped you identify your strengths, insisted that you talk to the class about what you had discovered, and prepared you for public speaking and things that you don’t recognize the importance of when they’re putting you through it,” he said.
Long before they became heads of their own companies, however, these alums and many others started out as first-year Pioneers. Though these graduates may have taken different paths, the common thread that ties all these stories together is Alfred State.
“These alums who have risen to the top of their profession are not only an inspiration, but are also an example of the high quality of education and experiences that all Pioneers receive,” said President Dr. Skip Sullivan. “Many of our graduates say Alfred State helped provide a solid base for their future and played a key role in getting them to where they are today. I am extremely proud of all our alumni, students, faculty, and staff, and tremendously gratified to know that our college is making a difference in so many lives and in the world we live in.”
Alums are always encouraged to let the college know about their careers and to keep in communication with Alumni Relations. To contact the office, call 607-587-3930 or email alumni@alfredstate.edu.
