Second Annual Pace Pitch Contest
Contestant Bios
CONTESTANTS
Roy Allen
Adele Arkin
Peter Cao and Chandram Mookim
Jimmy Conde
Andrew Isaak
Rachel Klingberg
Raluca Pache
Medaline Philbert
Alex Salzman
Jigar Shah
Alan Siege
Dina C. Tate
ALTERNATES
Wade Cameron
Matthew Schmitt
Michael Staib
Yves Yakoubyan
Roy Allen
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Roy Allen moved to New York in 1992 to attend Pace University. After graduating with a BA in Sociology / Anthropology, Roy went on to pursue a Master's degree in Ethnographic Anthropology at Hunter College while also working at the American Foundation for the Blind.
Roy is also a musician who has been making original music since he was 13, and in recent years he has moved in that direction professionally, acquiring a position as a recording studio sound engineer and occasional remix artist. Roy also plays in two bands currently doing shows around New York City, and is also working with a well-established music producer to launch a new record label.
More recently, Roy has developed an interest in real estate investment and went to school to attain a Real Estate Salesperson license and is also networking with small business owners to learn the ins and outs of starting his own business.
Adele Arkin
Adele is a first generation American and is the first in her family to earn a college degree. She grew up in Brooklyn and went to High School and college in Florida. Adele graduated with her BS in Psychology, with minors in Statistics and Education from the University of Florida in 1997. She spent most of her undergraduate career researching epilepsy and residing in one of the Southern Scholarship Foundation houses. She also spent a year as a Resident Assistant on campus overseeing an apartment complex that housed approximately 60 upper classmen.
After graduating with her BS, she attended NYU and received her MA in Community Counseling in 1999. While going to graduate school full time, she also provided Human Resources support to Student Advantage and Financial Relations Board. Upon graduation, she joined Solomon Smith Barney's HR rotational program. She later joined Lehman Brothers HR supporting the global finance department. While at Lehman Brothers she was promoted to Assistant Vice President, had the opportunity to work in London on assignment, served as a leader of diversity initiatives, and was sponsored to join Pace University's executive MBA program.
After working in HR for 8 years, Adele decided to pursue her passion for real estate and focus on creating the ScholarHouse Foundation. She currently works at Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Long Island as a Licensed Sales Associate and dedicates her free time to develop the ScholarHouse Foundation.
Peter Cao
Chen Hui (Peter) Cao is an International Management Major with a concentration in Asia at Pace University's Lubin School of Business. Chen Hui has over 6 yeas of experience in real estate property management in China and the US; during this time he was also employed as a legal clerk in the Law Firm of Cusack & Stiles LLP for three years, and then had a brief tenure with HSBC Securities Asian Markets. Chen Hui is currently a co-founder of Cao & Mookim LLC.
Jimmy Conde
Born in Peru in 1982, Jimmy has overcome many social injustices. He graduated high school in Westchester County in 2000. Currently, Jimmy is an undergraduate student on the Pleasantville campus of Pace University and will graduate with a BBA degree in Managerial Marketing in May 2006. Professionally, he has a real estate license and works for a marketing firm overseeing national field marketing events.
Andrew Isaak
Andrew Isaak holds a BA in Economics and German from Bucknell University and is currently enrolled in Pace University's MBA program in International Business. He has interned at several German companies including RWE, Bayer, Fujitsu-Siemens, and Schott Glass in information technology, supply chain management, research, and consulting.
Rachel Klingberg
Rachel Klingberg is a native New Yorker and the Webmaster for the Lubin School of Business. She graduated from Pace in 1995 with a BA in English Literature and also attained an MA in English Literature from New York University. Currently she is pursuing an MS in Computer Science at Pace's Seidenberg School of Computer Science. Rachel is a vegetarian who enjoys roasting veggie dogs and marshmallows in her fireplace. She has dreamed of opening a vegetarian hot dog cart for many years. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys volunteering at an animal shelter, martial arts, cooking, computer programming, and writing.
Chandram Mookim
Chandram Mookim is a Finance Major with an Economics Minor at Lubin. Chandram is an eighteenth generation jewelry trader who participated in a combined value of over $50 million wind farm projects in India. Chandram is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Somi Consultants Pvt. Ltd., an Indian consultancy firm that focuses on international financing, marketing, and developing of renewable energy projects. Chandram is also presently a co-founder of Cao & Mookim LLC.
Raluca Pache
I came from Bucharest, Romania almost two years ago to do my MBA in Financial Management at Pace University. Although I chose Finance as my major, my interests are diverse. I obtained my undergraduate degree in International Business and Economics from the Academy of Economics in Bucharest, Romania. To enrich my knowledge in International Business, during my undergraduate studies, I seized the opportunity to study in Spain for one year, as an Erasmus/Socrates scholarship recipient.
My work as a graduate assistant in the Office of Communication and External Relations at Lubin School of Business completed my academic experience with valuable knowledge of PR and communications. However, the interest that I have always cherished has been promoting Romanian values and culture abroad, and raising awareness on the Romanian issues.
Medaline Philbert
Medaline Philbert is the Assistant University Librarian for Distributive Learning at Pace University Library. Initially, she was an Instructional Librarian at the New York City campus. Medaline's attraction to librarianship is as a result of her employment as a college assistant in the library while pursuing her bachelors at Baruch College. Medaline received her B.B.A in Marketing from Baruch College and her MLS (Master's in Library Science) from Queens College. She served as an Adjunct Instructor in the library at Baruch College, and as an Information Specialist at the Science, Industry, and Business Library at the New York Public Library before her employment at Pace. Currently, Medaline is pursuing her MS in Information Systems at Pace University. Medaline enjoys challenges, in particular, the process of getting to an outcome. In her spare time she enjoys socializing with close friends, dancing, singing, and traveling.
Alex Salzman
Alex is currently pursuing a BA degree in Behavioral Economics at Princeton University. He founded the Vancouver to Toronto Ride For Youth, a sponsored charity bike tour, and won national sponsors for a youth marketing company, Sights and Sounds. Alex helped successfully launch New Jersey-based plant food manufacturer TerraCycle, in his capacity as product development executive. His important experiences in the voluntary and private sectors and academic skill set are vital to the research and administrative aspects of BHM's operations.
Jigar Shah
Born and brought up in India, I have flavor of social and business culture of India. I got first experience of Financial Markets through my family's Securities Brokerage Business, when I was in college. I did my most studies from India and after some work experience came to Pace University for my MBA. I had idea of developing Commodities Brokerage House before I came to Pace. After my New York Networking meetings and finance studies, I am currently working more aggressive to get experience of developed commodities markets in US after my MBA. I believe that entrepreneurship is a 24x7 job, and I would like to be boss of my own after some years. My hobbies are reading and swimming.
Alan Siege
Alan Siege is the principal of Small Business Management Consulting, a consulting firm that helps small businesses refine their market niche and non-profit organizations expand their sources of contributed income. Along with an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Pace University, he has a Masters degree in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College. He is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), an instructor of Business Basics for the New York City Department of Small Business Services, and has led workshops on marketing and business development through the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. He is also a professional storyteller, having performed at venues throughout the NYC metropolitan area. For more information, contact him at alan.siege@SBMC.biz or visit his Web site, www.SBMC.biz.
Dina C. Tate
Dina C. Tate is the Founder and President of blackbridalguide.com LLC. The goal of the website is to provide a resource for African-American engaged couples who want to plan and create an African-themed wedding. Ms. Tate's eCommerce background began while working as a Website Supervisor for ESSENCE By Mail (EBM). EBM was the parent company of ESSENCE Magazine. From her first day on the job she became an eCommerce Tour de Force. With her tremendous effort, Ms. Tate doubled web sales in less than a year. As EBM doors closed, Ms. Tate then went on to become eCommerce Manager at the New York CityStore, the official website of the City of New York. Today she is an IT Business Consultant at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
ALTERNATES
Wade Cameron
Born in Jamaica, I migrated to the United States at the age of 10. I moved around various parts of Westchester before settling in Ossining at the age of 15. In High School I was on the basketball team and also the track team. I won award o distinctions and participated in Church related groups. I gradated High School in 2000 and went on College. In College I excel on the same level receiving the most improved student award, and making the honor role in 2002-2003. I discovered my ability to create during my junior year of College. Then I decided to major in Journalism/ Media and took it upon myself to get the experience. I wrote subject matters pertaining to the mercy college related activities. That was my greatest accomplishment up to this day because I worked long and hard to create something I believed was dear to my soul, and that was my creativeness. I went on to do an Internship at ABC which taught me a lot about the business and how it was conducted on a daily basis. I got the opportunity to speak with writers and producers and editors of the company and they instilled a lot of their work ethic, and values upon me. From that time I decided that I was going to built something I believe can get a lot out of and that is music. On that being said my ability to create and the love and compassion I have for my culture enable me to combine the two to come out with a concept that will benefit everyone on a global level. Reggae Music the brother of Hip Hop has reached everyone on a global widespread and it seems flourishing as we speak. I believe in the next five years on it's going to become a force to be reckon with socially, and economically.
Matthew Schmitt
As long as I can remember my desire has always been to work in the agricultural industry. I was born and raised on a farm on Long Island, New York my passion for this has grown deeper over the years. My family farms about 275 acres and specializes in spinach, cabbage, and many varieties of lettuce. I have noticed many changes in the industry through the years; farms seem to be disappearing left and right. Due to my life-long involvement in our farm and my love for agriculture, I want to use my education to contribute to the survival of my family's farm and to the agricultural industry in general.
Michael Staib
Michael Staib, a history major and sophomore student enrolled at Pace University in Pleasantville, presently serves as Vice President of Recruiting for P.A.C.E. (Pace's Association for Collegiate Entrepreneurs). A member since last April, where he collaborated alongside 5 other P.A.C.E. constituents in earning Rookie of the Year at the S.I.F.E. (Students In Free Enterprise) conference, P.A.C.E. now comprises 30 confirmed leaders, and flourishing, resulting from his contribution. Currently enrolled in the Pforzheimer's Honors College and Project Pericles Programs, Michael demonstrates an insatiable lust for learning. With his education, he intends to pursue a career in corporate law. As a legacy, Michael strives to revitalize the social and academic institutions of Pace University. His enthusiasm and passionate commitment to P.A.C.E. proves contagious, as its dissemination encourages student involvement throughout the campus. Michael expresses his sincere gratitude to presidential founder Dane Disimino, and executive advisor Bruce Bachenheimer, for their inspiration. He adamantly believes an entrepreneur not only refers to someone who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of his or her enterprise, but rather connotes societal leadership, as it empowers American culture, and embodies democracy in its most quintessential form. Synonymous with innovation, it reflects a mindset. Rather, entrepreneurship epitomizes a way of life.
Yves Yakoubyan
Mr. Yves Yakoubyan is a graduate student originally from Paris, France, studying for an MBA in Finance at Pace University – Lubin School of Business. Currently, he is also a graduate assistant at the Office of Communications and External Relations at the Lubin School of Business. He works on planning and setting up events such as the Alumni Achievement Award Luncheon, the Golf Outing, Executive in Residence and also on the marketing aspects of various publications and the Lubin Web site.
His studies have taken him around the world starting from France, were he grew up to first Lubbock, Texas for a year as an International Business undergraduate, then for a year in Shanghai, China as an intern and now in the capital of the World; New York City for his MBA. He is very thankful to have had the opportunities to live in such diverse places around the globe. "I have grown a lot through these experiences, you learn things just by living your everyday life in such foreign environments, things you could never learn from books," explains Yves.
He enjoys finance a lot because it reminds him of mathematics, which is the kind of logic he responds to a lot. Yves will be graduating in May 2005, and just can not wait to be a part of the business world he has been observing from up close for many years. His hobbies and interests are reading, graphic designs, and the television production industry.