“Our 90-Wide Mentoring Program includes Holy Cross alumni from all around
the country who serve as mentors to our team!” #SADERSRIS1N9
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LET’S WIN!!
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Best in Class
- Friends of
Crusader Football Mission:
A commitment to excellence in helping our Crusaders win on and off the field.
The 90-Wide
was launched during my senior year at Holy Cross, and it couldn’t have come at
a better time. I spoke to dozens of football alumni and found the advice,
connections and relationships to be incredibly valuable. Specifically, Mike
Guilfoile took an interest in me and introduced me to his friend who had
recently invested in an interesting tech startup in NYC and was in need of an
accountant and operations manager. While I was totally unqualified for this
role on paper, Mike felt comfortable making the introduction because he
believed that the skills and character that I developed as a student-athlete at
Holy Cross would help me quickly adapt to challenges in the working world. I
got the job and had an incredible experience that culminated in a top-tier
public technology company, Autodesk, acquiring our start-up. That first
job eventually set me up for, and inspired me to seek out, my current career in
technology-focused private equity.
Starting a job search as a college
student can be a really lonely endeavor. I felt so much pressure to find an
opportunity that adequately reflected my hard work and the quality of my
education. I can’t stress enough how important it was for me to have so many
successful businesspeople teach me, believe in me, make connections for me, and
take chances on me. The Holy Cross football family is full of hundreds of men
who are willing to do that for one another. The best part about the 90-wide
program is that it’s a lifelong asset – I still seek advice from some of my mentors
(e.g. Terry Waters, Craig Cerretani, Larry Doyle, Mike Guilfoile, among
others), and meet with younger Crusaders to give them advice. I not only feel
obligated to pay it forward, but I also love still being connected to current
players and the football program overall.
Andrew Cialino ‘10
New York, NY
Vice President & Head of Business Development
SFW Capital Partners
Two years after
having graduated from Holy Cross, I was working at Putnam Investments as an
Internal Wholesaler outside of Boston when I decided I wanted pursue a career
in private wealth management in New York City. As a 24 year old looking to make
a career transition in a totally different city with no family/friend
connections in the world of New York finance, leveraging the Holy Cross network
and the 90-Wide Program in particular was critical to my success. The willingness
to help from those Crusaders to whom I reached out was remarkable. On one visit,
I had lunch with a Crusader alum who subsequently introduced me to my future
boss at Citi Private Bank which is where I have been ever since. I am now an
Investment Counselor managing investment portfolios for high net worth
individuals and institutions.
There are a
number of fellow Holy Cross football alumni and members of the 90-Wide program
who were instrumental in guiding me throughout the process including Ed Doyle,
Craig Cerretani, Bill Maloney, Ron Hooey, John Hackney, Mark Roman, Andrew
Simons, and Art Grutt. While there is a unique bond shared amongst those of us lucky enough to have played at Fitton Field, the
selflessness of the Holy Cross alumni base transcends a specific sports team. I
came across a number of alumni not directly tied to the football program who
were equally as impactful on my journey. I could not have gotten to where I am
today without the help of the 90-Wide program and the Crusaders that were so
giving of their time and advice!
Brian Mauthe ‘11
New York, NY
Brian Mauthe ‘11
New York, NY
"The 90 Wide program experience has been everything to me while pursuing my career goals and ambitions. I was blessed to be paired with Craig Cerretani and from the very beginning he was truly passionate about helping me achieve my goals. I had no idea what I wanted to do after college and with Craig's help I was able to connect with professionals in many industries and various stages of their careers. It was an amazing experience that opened my eyes up to the many opportunities and possible career paths following my time at Holy Cross. However, it was Craig's guidance and successes in the insurance business that steered me to look at the insurance industry as a career. I later accepted my first career position with Unum, an insurance carrier, in Washington DC.
Craig's mentorship and guidance did not
stop there. More than five years had passed and I was back to the drawing board
as my wife and I were looking to relocate as we began to grow
our family. Unfortunately, that prevented me from continuing
my career at Unum. Craig was one of the first emails that I sent as I
approached the process of moving to a new city and looking for another company
to continue my career with. It was the impact and reach of the 90 Wide
program along with Craig's passion that allowed me to feel at
ease when going through this transition process that many would deem
impossible. In less than 5 weeks, I was able to accept an offer with my current
employer Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in Charleston, SC. This would
not have been achievable without the Holy Cross community and Craig's passion
to help fellow Crusaders. I will forever be grateful for everything the 90 Wide
program has provided me and my family."
Perry Townsend ‘11
Charleston, SC
Perry Townsend ‘11
Charleston, SC
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Think
Big
"The 90-Wide Mentoring Program has
had the greatest impact on shaping my life in the real world. As a player, the
90-Wide Program paired me with Tom O'Brien who provided much more than job
experience. Tom taught me life lessons on professionalism, networking, and
business acumen that I still use on a daily basis today. The 90-Wide Program
also connected me with Jim O'Gara, a Chicago football alum, who allowed me to
intern with him at the Chicago Board of Trade. Through my friendships with Tom
and Jim, I was introduced to Mark Cannon, another Chicago alum, who connected
me with contacts at Oracle which landed me a sales position with Oracle in
California upon graduation. As I looked for a change in employer and an
opportunity to move back to Chicago, Brendan Sullivan, a mentor within the
90-Wide Program, helped me land a job with ServiceNow (recently named Forbes
Most Innovative Company in the World) back in my hometown of Chicago.
I attribute the successes I've had in
my life and the quality of life I enjoy today to the 90-Wide Mentoring program.
As a former Holy Cross Football player, I now take pride in giving back as a
mentor to football players who once stood in my shoes trying to figure out what
to do post-graduation. I am positive that the 90-Wide Program will again be
fruitful to me through career changes that are bound to come. The 90-Wide
Mentoring Program is the best representation of Holy Cross and what it means to
be men and women for others."
Mark Tolzien ‘12
2011 Team Captain
Account Executive, ServiceNow - Chicago, IL
Mark Tolzien ‘12
2011 Team Captain
Account Executive, ServiceNow - Chicago, IL
Great to be a Crusader
During my freshman year at Holy Cross, I was paired
with alumnus Chris Hilson through the 90-Wide Mentoring program.
Immediately, Chris reached out to me and offered to drive to Worcester (from
New Hampshire!!!) and take me to an introductory dinner at the nicest
restaurant in town. At that meeting, I expressed my interest in
becoming a lawyer. Chris was the perfect mentor because he had recently
gone through the law school process and was a lawyer at a prominent boutique
law firm in NH at the time. From that first meeting, and all the way
through my senior year, Chris offered me insights and advice that greatly
prepared me for the next phase of my life. I am forever beholden to Chris
for his mentorship. Upon graduating from Holy Cross in 2013 with a B.A. in
political science, I went on to graduate from Georgetown Law in 2016 with a
J.D. Currently, I am a restructuring lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis LLP
in Chicago.
While I was living in D.C. for law school, and through my Holy Cross roots alone, I was able to meet with some of the most powerful lawyers in the country, including: Justice Clarence Thomas, Hon. Richard Leon, and Steve Urbanczyk (all of whom are HC graduates and cherished mentors of mine). From D.C., I moved to Chicago where I was introduced to fellow Crusaders like Steve Lovelette, Fred O'Connor and Kevin Golden--each of whom I meet with regularly. No matter where I have lived over the past decade, one common denominator remains--I can always rely upon Holy Cross alumni for guidance and support. As I get older, I look forward to assuming this important duty of mentoring the next generation of Crusaders.
Fred Hilow ‘13
Chicago, IL
While I was living in D.C. for law school, and through my Holy Cross roots alone, I was able to meet with some of the most powerful lawyers in the country, including: Justice Clarence Thomas, Hon. Richard Leon, and Steve Urbanczyk (all of whom are HC graduates and cherished mentors of mine). From D.C., I moved to Chicago where I was introduced to fellow Crusaders like Steve Lovelette, Fred O'Connor and Kevin Golden--each of whom I meet with regularly. No matter where I have lived over the past decade, one common denominator remains--I can always rely upon Holy Cross alumni for guidance and support. As I get older, I look forward to assuming this important duty of mentoring the next generation of Crusaders.
Fred Hilow ‘13
Chicago, IL
My experience with 90-Wide has been tremendous. My direct mentor in DC, Blake Potolicchio, provided great guidance and insights on the commercial real estate industry. As I pursued interviews and interest from prospective employers without success, Blake worked with me to develop and utilize techniques and the use of my social media network to expand my scope of potential employers. I NEVER would have done that on my own had it not been for Blake saying, “Hey man, the most confident individuals always ask for help.” The Alpha Male, type A personality that got me to Holy Cross Football was actually hindering my ability to land a job. Through 90-Wide, I was able to implement a process for my job search. Two days after my expanded pursuit, fellow Crusader Ricky Otis ‘12 reached out for an intro level job with Putnam Investments in Boston, MA. I continued to use this process to market myself with other employers and I now work for Columbia Threadneedle Investments as a Regional Sales Director in downtown Boston, MA. Blake and other mentors involved in the 90-Wide instilled in me a level of confidence that I carry today and look to grow going forward. “LET’S WIN!!”
Kyle Toulouse ‘13
Arlington, VA/Boston, MA
Chu Chu rah rah . . .
"While a student-athlete at the College of the Holy Cross, I
had the privilege of participating in the 90 Wide Mentoring Program. This has
truly been a life-changing experience; even now, several years after
graduation, I continue to work with many mentors, all of whom I have found
to be extremely knowledgeable, skilled, committed and generous. Many of my
mentors and I still engage almost weekly! This has, in turn, had a huge impact
on my professional and personal pursuits. I have specifically worked closely
with Mr. Larry Doyle, Mr. Craig Cerretani, and Mr. Mark Cannon.
I was fortunate to
first have Mr. Larry Doyle as a strategic guide in my résumé building and
networking efforts since my freshman year, beginning with a premiere internship
with Walt Disney - ESPN in 2013, where I worked in Human Resources and
Sales/Marketing. This experience opened many doors when it came time to apply
to and select my first full-time job. I was next introduced to Mr. Mark Cannon,
a fellow Holy Cross alumnus, through Mr. Doyle; after hearing more about my
background and body of experience, Mr. Cannon had the confidence in me to make
an introduction to a University Recruiter at Oracle Corporation, another
Fortune 500 Company, where I was offered a job in Sales and Marketing for their
Financial Software and Healthcare division. This opportunity - made possible by
both Mr. Cannon and Mr. Doyle -absolutely expedited my sales career in the
healthcare space, subsequently enabling my transition to my current role at a
3rd Fortune 500 company, Danaher - Beckman Coulter, selling medical technology
to hospitals on the East Coast, something I have always wanted to do. I
never would have thought that I would be offered positions at multiple Fortune
500 companies coming out of Holy Cross, but with the help and guidance of my
three mentors, I was able to jumpstart my career immediately following college.
As mentioned above, my 90-Wide mentors have impacted my personal pursuits as well, and that is just what Mr. Craig Cerretani has done. Through Mr. Cerretani's strategic coaching over the last seven years, I have been able to invest in real estate, now owning two houses in Boston, MA. Again, this is something I would have never dreamed of without the help of my mentors, and the profound expertise that they so willingly imparted on me. The 90-Wide Mentoring Program has helped me start a story I could have never written on my own, thanks to the energy, passion, and commitment I have received from my mentors. I believe the best is yet to come, and thank my mentors for putting me in a position to be successful through hard work. I believe so much in the program that I am paying it forward now as a mentor myself."
Gary Acquah ‘14
Bronx, NY/Boston, MA
My time on the field, in the classrooms, and socializing at Holy Cross were all outstanding but they were augmented considerably by the impact of the 90-Wide. I have three mentors, Larry Doyle, Craig Cerretani, and Peter Mondani, who have helped me launch and navigate my career.
I am currently the Director of Finance and Capital Markets
at Nickson, an award-winning startup in Dallas, TX. I work directly alongside
the founders, who both graduated from Harvard Business School, and we recently
received an investment from a fund led by the founder of AOL. Prior to Nickson,
I was an associate at Goldman Sachs, where I structured and originated asset
backed facilities. I began my career at GE Capital in the Financial Management
Program—this was my first introduction to Wall St. and my offer came directly from an
HC 90-Wide mentor.
To prospective Crusaders, I know you have a lot to
consider as you decide where to take your talents, so I’ll leave you with this.
I cannot speak to how much playing time you will get or how you will deal the
weather in Worcester, but I can tell you that if you put in the time and make
the effort that Holy Cross and the 90-Wide will impact your life more than you
might ever imagine. I know because the college and the 90-Wide not only
prepared me for life beyond Mt. St. James but continue to positively impact my life both
professionally and personally.
Jon H. Smith ‘14
Dallas, TX
Jon H. Smith ‘14
Dallas, TX
The
90-Wide program was a major factor in my decision to attend Holy Cross. No
other college which recruited me had a formal mentoring program as well
developed and filled with passionate alumni as Holy Cross and the 90-Wide. It
gave me the promise of mentorship from those who experienced being a
student-athlete in a D1 program at a prestigious institution. The 90-Wide also
provided me the opportunity to witness successful careers from active alumni
who are willing to pay it forward to student-athletes coming behind them. Last
but not least, I have had the opportunity to become a mentor and develop
lasting relationships with other Crusader alumni and future alumni alike. I
have benefited enormously both personally and professionally from the 90-wide
mentoring program and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to participate
both as a mentee and mentor.
Reggie Woods ‘14
Bowie, MD/Boston, MA
Reggie Woods ‘14
Bowie, MD/Boston, MA
Playing to Win
There is no doubt in my mind that playing football at the College of the Holy Cross was the most important decision I made in regards to my future in medicine. Playing Division 1-AA football at an institution that not only bolsters an outstanding pre-medical program, but also emphasizes the Jesuit principles of men and women for others, was key in setting myself apart as an applicant to medical school. That being said, it was the unique nature of the 90-Wide mentoring program that provided me with a foundation for building relationships with fellow Crusaders in the medical field. This allowed me the opportunity to gain vital shadowing experience, medical school application insight, and mentorship.
There is no doubt in my mind that playing football at the College of the Holy Cross was the most important decision I made in regards to my future in medicine. Playing Division 1-AA football at an institution that not only bolsters an outstanding pre-medical program, but also emphasizes the Jesuit principles of men and women for others, was key in setting myself apart as an applicant to medical school. That being said, it was the unique nature of the 90-Wide mentoring program that provided me with a foundation for building relationships with fellow Crusaders in the medical field. This allowed me the opportunity to gain vital shadowing experience, medical school application insight, and mentorship.
I
had the privilege of working with two of the greatest Crusaders I know, whom I
am grateful to now be able to call colleagues in the field of medicine. I am
forever indebted for their continued investment in my journey into the medical
profession: Dr.Joe Ciccone, a former fullback turned Urologist, and Dr. Steven Fox,
a former running-back turned Orthopaedic Surgeon. They both completely opened
their doors to me, inviting me into their lives without hesitation, and
allowing me to see behind the scenes of the operating room. Furthermore, they
provided priceless insight and career guidance, and would even take the time to
proof-read applications. These mentors did everything in their power to
facilitate my progress.
My
first stethoscope was given to me by Dr. Ciccone while I was still a pre-med
student unsure of what lies ahead. Today I use that same stethoscope on
patients in the New Orleans free health clinics where I volunteer, keeping in
mind mentors like Dr. Ciccone and Dr. Fox, who have supported and motivated me
along my journey. The 90-Wide mentoring program and Crusaders like Dr. Fox and
Dr. Ciccone set Holy Cross football apart. HCFB will continue to produce future
physicians, and I am honored to now be a part of this storied tradition.
Tyler Zeoli ‘15
Tulane University Medical School
New Orleans, LA
Tyler Zeoli ‘15
Tulane University Medical School
New Orleans, LA
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We take a back seat to nobody . . .
It is incredible how tight a bond can be between teammates.
The bond forms by pushing each other in practice and workouts, trusting each
other to do their job, and ultimately playing together on game day. The
90 Wide Mentoring Program is an extension of that bond after each player hangs
up the cleats and enters the professional arena. My original mentor
helped me pursue a passion of mine off the field, law enforcement.
Through his connections with fellow Crusader John Moynihan ’83, I was able to
earn an internship with the Drug Enforcement Agency during the summer going
into my senior year. The DEA internship was in Worcester, so I was able
to participate in summer workouts with the team and pursue a career.
After my senior season, my mentor helped
me get my foot in the door with a number of interviews with companies ranging
from Fortune 500 to start ups. These interviews were all through
different Holy Cross football alumni and the 90 Wide program. Ultimately,
after a number of job offers, I chose to work for Oracle in a sales role.
Sean Whited, a 2013 graduate and football captain, is the recruiter for Oracle
that helped me land the position. Needless to say, I am incredibly
indebted to the 90 Wide program for all the opportunities it has provided for
me. Professionally, I am the product of the bond between the great men of the
Holy Cross football team that make up the 90 Wide Mentoring Program. As a
result, I would like to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to LD, Sean, and all the
other members of the 90 Wide that have helped me along the way. I cannot
wait to return the favor with the next generation of HC alums.
Matt Bhaya '16
Boston, MA
Boston, MA
I realized just how valuable the 90-Wide program was when I was a sophomore at HC. I wanted a summer internship that would allow me to stay in Worcester and workout at HC with my teammates. I reached out to LD (Chair/90-Wide), expressed my interests, and he put me in touch with a local HC alum named John Moynihan. After two great summers interning for John, he put me in touch with another HC alum named Lawrence Dixon, who works at Dell EMC. Around that same time, I decided to reach out to Chris Riley, President of Enterprise Sales at Dell EMC and the father of one of my teammates. Lawrence and Chris were both willing to help prepare me for my job interview at Dell EMC and they continue to be valuable mentors to me now, almost two years later.
Just like on the football field, the
business world is very competitive. A lot of college students have a hard time
getting a job at a great company right after graduation. The 90-Wide program
puts Holy Cross Football players at a HUGE
advantage when going after those roles. I feel extremely fortunate to be a part
of the HC Football family, as it has allowed me to make long lasting
relationships with mentors who gave me the opportunity to succeed on and off
the field. I went through the inside sales training program at Dell EMC right
after graduation and have recently been promoted to an Enterprise Account
Manager at Dell EMC, covering Berkshire Hathaway. I could not be happier with
my career and can’t wait to see what the future holds! I would not be where I
am today without Holy Cross and the 90-Wide.
Ryan Smith ‘16
Boston, MA
Boston, MA
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A commitment to excellence . . .
The impact the 90W Program has had on my professional career is quite literally immeasurable and, to that effect, still growing. When I first considered Holy Cross, I had heard a lot about the tremendous alumni network and ability to place graduates in positions that set them up for long-term success. This was a big plus for me in my decision to commit because unlike my high school and Holy Cross teammates, James Murray and Peter Pujals, I knew I would be going pro in something other than sports (that said, there is an HC network out there to help you with a transition into the NFL, too).
Keeping that in mind, all of my
professional experience thus far has spawned from relationships built through
the 90W. My first internship with Havas Impact Group was secured by my mentor,
Bill Meyer '88. Bill had been the CEO of Impact Group since its acquisition by
Havas and he did not hesitate to set me up with an opportunity for an
internship there. It should be noted that Bill was a basketball player at HC
but lends his time and resources to helping out football players and to my
knowledge he is not the only case of this. So it should not be overlooked that
this program extends beyond former football players to include other athletes
as well as non-athletes.
My next internship was a position at
Dell Technologies (then EMC) in the revenue recognition department. Chris
Riley, father of current Crusader safety and my former teammate Chris Riley,
helped me land this spot. To my knowledge he has helped at least a dozen football
players find internships or full-time positions within Dell in just 2-3 years
of being a friend of the program. Another sidenote: Chris did not attend Holy
Cross but instantly proved to be an outstanding addition to the community as I
expect he will continue to be (though he was decked out in UConn gear for his
alma mater at the season opener last year, so his motives are suspect).
Finally, upon graduating I connected with
Sean Whited '12 about a potential opportunity at Oracle in their Sales
Development program. Sean and Mark Cannon ’77 were extremely helpful in getting
my foot in the door as well as walking me through the interview and on-boarding
process. Again, as with Bill and Chris, Sean and Mark have placed a few dozen
Crusaders into this program, including two that have mentored me throughout the
year I have been in this position, Alex Waked '16 and Matthew Bhaya '16.
So, in summary, I owe all of my career
successes to the 90W and the kindness of its members. Until I can quit the
corporate world to become Jimmy's or Peter's personal assistant, I will
continue to take advantage of its offerings. Its value cannot be understated in
my eyes, which is why I plan to pay it forward in the years ahead.
Luke Ford ‘17
Chicago, IL/Boston, MA
Chicago, IL/Boston, MA
The 90-Wide Mentoring program has meant a great deal to me, and was integral in setting me up for success after football and graduation. The opportunity to talk to successful individuals in their respective fields is a special one, especially when they know the amount of time and effort we as student athletes put into perfecting our craft. The willingness of the mentors to help out in a job search, contact someone for you, or just have a conversation is extremely generous. One person in particular, Dave Mitchell from the class of '05, helped me out a ton. He would text me after games, offer advice, and was a great sounding board when I was deciding what major to pursue in order to get into the financial industry after graduation.
As someone who has experienced an NFL mini-camp,
I'll be the first to tell you football is only temporary. Knowing that I had a
network of alumni to help me in my transition to my career after football made the
transition simple and seamless. Just having conversations with these guys made
it easy for me to go into interviews with great confidence. I was able to
secure a job as a Financial Advisor with Krilogy Financial in St. Louis, MO., founded
by a former Mizzou Quarterback who appreciates the principles of teamwork,
relationships and competitiveness encompassed within the 90-Wide. I owe a great
deal to the 90-Wide Program for helping put me into a position to succeed. Holy
Cross Football is one big family, and that is evident through this program.
Lucas Nikolaisen ‘17
St. Louis, MO
Lucas Nikolaisen ‘17
St. Louis, MO
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η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ
The 90-Wide for the Holy
Cross Football team is extremely special in that there is a unique bond among
Crusaders that can't be replicated or simply copied. While the overall HC
Alumni are fantastic and go above and beyond for each other, the football
alumni really go even beyond that. Our Crusader alumni involved in the 90-Wide
really want you to have a great career and will do anything to help you achieve
that, but they also really want you to be a great man and live your best life
possible.
Mike Dooley and James
O'Gara played a crucial role in my development as a person along with helping
in the job search process. They got me in contact with 10 other people in the
Chicago area, some HC people and some not. These conversations were invaluable
in making up my mind to become a trader as well as how to have great balance in
life as a man. Mr. Dooley got me in the door at Alphabit Trading at the Chicago
Board of Trade for an interview back in January. I ended up getting an offer
and accepting a position with them as an assistant trader. I love it and can't
thank Mr. Dooley enough for his guidance and support. My family and friends
tell me all the time how jealous they are of our alumni network. They went to
all types of schools and unwillingly admit that we have such a unique bond and
brotherhood. I just nod and agree. Thank you Holy Cross and thank you 90-Wide!!
Brett Laurie ‘18
Chicago, IL
Brett Laurie ‘18
Chicago, IL
Coming to Holy Cross by way of
Atlanta Georgia, I had no idea of the alumni network, specifically the
90-Wide Mentoring program, that I was stepping into. Personally, the best way
to describe the impact of the 90-Wide Program on myself was when I was looking
for an internship the summer between my junior and senior year.
During my search I engaged my mentor Craig Cerretani ’79, who set me up
with an interview with his current company’s branch in my hometown of Atlanta. With
Craig’s guidance and direction, I received the internship offer but later had
to turn down the opportunity due to an injury suffered during spring practice.
During a very tough time, I spoke with another one of my mentors LD who took on
the task of finding me an internship in Worcester so that I could rehab my
injury with the team medical staff. Within a couple of weeks, I received an
internship with Marsh and McLennan Agency.
Going into my senior year, I leaned on my
mentors for guidance into my post graduate venture. After interviewing
with multiple companies, I accepted a Management Trainee position with Cintas.
In this role I will rotate across divisions of the company for two years in
preparation to take on a leadership role upon completion. This result was
largely due to the guidance I received from former teammate and mentor Connor
Fitzgerald ’16. I start in a couple of weeks and could not be more excited
to begin my professional career! The 90-Wide delivered in ways I never could
have imagined.
Chase Stratton ‘18
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam
************************************************************
Message sent to 90-Wide Mentors in May
2018 regarding a revised format to the newly designated 90-Wide 2.0
As we embark on the 9th year of our
90-Wide, we are making a revision to our program in the belief it will create a
force multiplier effect and stimulate the growth of countless quality
relationships. How so and why so? First a little background:
The 90-Wide currently has 135 active
mentors. These mentors cover 30 states and approximately 30 separate
industries. The updated Excel file that will go out next week collates all
the contact info on our Crusaders and alumni involved in this effort. That file
has data on the following numbers of individuals:
- 61 current Crusaders (we have 30
incoming freshmen this year who will get involved in 2019)
- 135 alumni mentors
- 189 other Crusaders who have
graduated from HC since we first launched the 90-Wide back in the fall of 2009.
This includes the Crusaders in the Class of 2018.
Total of 385 Crusaders
If we were to simply pair our current
Crusaders with an individual mentor or two, we would be generating on average
90-100 relationships on an ongoing basis. In the process, we would be leaving
a LOT OF POINTS on the field and we certainly don't want to do
that. On that note, we are going to make the following revision to our newly
designated 90-Wide 2.0:
- Create 28 groups of 4-5 alumni
mentors and match these groups with on average 3-4 Crusaders. As you can see
from simple math, often a Crusader will be assigned to more than one group
typically based on geography and/or career interests. We envision that instead
of merely the 80-100 relationships, under this exponential construct the
90-Wide will generate many hundreds of relationships between undergrads
and alums and among the alumni as well.
We believe that the assignments
and pairings are based on sufficiently small numbers so as to make sure that
relationships are personal while also trying to cross pollinate relationships
among all involved so we generate maximum impact/benefits. We envision that we
will see many younger alumni benefiting from developing quality relationships
not only with our current Crusaders but also with older alums who are in their
respective groups and are more advanced in their careers.
As with any relationship, typically you
get out of it what you put into it but the 90-Wide 2.0 will help initiate
relationships and open doors. The file can be and is often used by many other recent
Crusader grads (not necessarily mentors) as they launch or transition their
careers. Some of you have likely heard Coach Chesney talk about how
recruits don't come to Holy Cross for 4 years but rather 4 for 40. He's right.
So if we were to combine Coach Chesney's message with the delivery made here,
we get the following upper level mathematics formula: 4 + 40 = 90W
(2.0)
What are the risks? That people do not
display leadership and take ownership within their groups to make sure that
relationships develop in the manner that we hope. I view this risk as minimal
based on the countless number of Type A personalities and natural leaders among
the Crusaders involved in the 90-Wide. The doctors in the program know all too
well that Purple blood is typically Type A and embodies similarly defined
genetic characteristics.
I also envision that we will see an
increased sharing of information among our current Crusaders as more quality
relationships develop again to the benefit of all involved.
With this revision to an already
successful undertaking, we are confident that we will further elevate the
90-Wide 2.0 as:
1. Best in Class
2. Committed to Excellence
3. Transformative in taking the
Crusaders to ever greater heights.
Look for the rollout of the 2018
90 Wide 2.0 next week after we put the finishing touches and a spit
shine on the wheels this week.
Great to be a Crusader.
AMDG
Let's Win!!
Larry Doyle '83
Chair/90-Wide
Spenser Huston '83
Chair/Friends of Crusader
Football
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