From their time together on campus in the early ’80s to the golf links where they gather today, Drew Blum, Jim Canty, Jack Gulbin and Jim Skrip have worked hard to forge successful careers and make the most of the foundational strengths they learned while at St. Bonaventure.
Now they want to make certain that today’s students have the resources and technology to become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators.
The four friends have joined together to fund the Center for Entrepreneurship in the new School of Business building, which is slated to open in fall of 2013.
The state-of-the-art, 26,000-square-foot building will provide an environment of excellence for the research, collaboration and innovation of our faculty and students, and will be home to the school’s vibrant entrepreneurship and service learning programs.
Spurring student success is important to the foursome — and mirrors what they found when they attended St. Bonaventure. Their reflections about supporting the School of Business Campaign sum it up best:
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When I first saw the plans for the new building, I was gratified to see a vision that would appeal to today's business students--a centralized place for classes, labs and other activities, in a modern building with current technologies. It was something that I would have enjoyed when I was a student, so I knew immediately that I wanted to help out in some small way toward making that vision a reality. >>Read more from Jim Skrip, '84
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| Jim Skrip BBA Accounting, 1984
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I truly believe that the combined liberal arts and business education I received contributed to my success in business and allowed me to navigate today's global marketplace with confidence. I envision this new building as a hub of collaboration, technology and knowledge where tomorrow's business leaders will receive the tools and foundational skills to excel in our complex world. I believe today's students need to maintain a balance between academics and social interaction backed by a strong support network. At Bona's, I always cherished my time with quality friends and professors who shared their viewpoints and core values in an overall caring environment. As students, we worked hard and played hard, which was the ultimate learning experience for me. My college memories and friendships are still vivid and current after 27 years. I want today's students to experience what I experienced so I decided to get involved.
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John G. "Jack" Gulbin BBA Accounting, 1984
Chief Financial Officer
Orion Air Group Holdings, LLC |
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The School of Business has an excellent reputation and should not be limited by lack of space, amenities and technologies. A state-of-the-art business school building will give our students the opportunities to learn in an environment that contains all of the innovations available in top-notch companies and firms around the country. St. Bonaventure has given a lot to me in terms of education, personal relationships and life lessons. I think that it is my turn to give back to my alma mater so that future students at SBU can have the same opportunities and competitive edge that I had. Things like this don't happen on their own. They can happen only if a large group of alumni, parents, friends and neighbors come together and provide generous support for this endeavor.
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| Jim Canty BBA Accounting, 1984
University Trustee
Partner, Clough Capital Partners L.P.
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My fellow alumni and I have a sincere appreciation for what St. Bonaventure gave us, not only in the form of business education but in the form of lifelong lessons as well. Contributing to the School of Business Center couldn't be a more fitting way for us to express our thanks and hopefully encourage others to do the same. I think it's important to never forget your roots; especially those that had a positive influence on your life. So if your experience at SBU was a positive one (as it was for me), then be an ambassador. Whether it's simply referring young people to attend, volunteering or donating, it all adds up to ensure the longevity of the school.
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Drew Blum
BBA Finance, 1984
President & CEO, Allied Frozen Storage, Inc.
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