Pulichino Tong Open House Draws More Than 70 Guests for Tours, Networking
Image by Ed Brennen
09/18/2017
By Ed Brennen
Getting his first look inside the new Pulichino Tong Business Center, Bao Tran 鈥�06, 鈥�15 stopped to consider what the technology-rich building means for today鈥檚 Manning School of Business students 鈥� and for alumni such as himself.
鈥淭he Bloomberg terminals and the Trading Room, this is all very relevant,鈥� said Tran, a Lowell native who earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in finance and his MBA from the Manning School and now works as a private equity fund administrator for State Street Corporation in Boston. 鈥淚n today鈥檚 world, in finance and accounting, it鈥檚 all about stocks and trading and private equity.鈥�
When he was a graduate student, Tran said, a professor told him that the new state-of-the-art building would boost the value of his degree.
鈥淎nd he鈥檚 right. A building like this is tremendous. This is awesome,鈥� said Tran, who was one of more than 70 Manning School alumni to attend a recent Pulichino Tong open house, which featured a reception, student networking and r茅sum茅 reviews, as well as building tours led by Manning Student Ambassadors.
Image by Ed Brennen
鈥淎ny time we can bring students and alumni together, it鈥檚 a great event,鈥� said Manning School Dean Sandy Richtermeyer, who used the occasion to introduce guests to faculty and staff, including new Assoc. Dean Jennifer Percival. Richtermeyer also highlighted the school鈥檚 growth, with total enrollment approaching 3,200 students.
As a member of the Manning School鈥檚 Advisory Board, alum Mike Zuccaro 鈥�83 was already familiar with the new building (his signature is on one of the beams). But he used the open house as a chance to show off the building to his fianc茅e, Ellie Carlson.
鈥淭he technology and ability for students to learn in that kind of environment is just spectacular,鈥� said Zuccaro, who earned his degree in business administration and management from the school and is now director of financial planning and analysis at Anika Therapeutics in Bedford. 鈥淎s an alum and contributor to the university, this is something I鈥檓 very proud of 鈥� and it鈥檚 really what compelled me to come back here tonight.鈥�
Image by Ed Brennen
While students hustled to their evening classes below, alum Ron Cannistraro 鈥�72 watched night fall over the UMass Lowell campus from the top floor of the building.
鈥淚 love it. It鈥檚 a beautiful building. And the view is unbelievable,鈥� said Cannistraro, who, along with his wife Carol, was visiting the Manning School鈥檚 new 54,800-square-foot home for the first time.
The Chelmsford native recalled taking night classes in Cumnock and Southwick halls to earn his management degree from Lowell Tech while working at Raytheon.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to see for students,鈥� Cannistraro said, before adding with a chuckle, 鈥淚 wish I could have had something like this.鈥�
