ALUM-TO-ALUM CAREERCENTER EVENTS STAYCONNECTED ALUMNICOUNCIL NEWS MEMBERBENEFITS

Dr. Michael W. Grossi '95, '99 MAT, '01

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Which on-campus activities were involved in as a student? How did those activities assist you in attaining your career goals?

While at JWU, I was involved with various organizations including:

• Delta Epsilon Chi (DECA) from 1991-1995 and serving as Vice President during 1993-1994 in which DECA was named NSO Club of the year
• Society for the Advancement of Management from 1991-1993, serving as Vice President of Membership during 1991-1992 and as President during 1992-1993
• Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity, Omega Alpha Chapter, from 1995-present, Founding Father of the fraternity. 
• Pi Kappa Phi Local Fraternity 1994-1995
• Junior Achievement Volunteer Business Consultant 1994-1995
• Graduate Student Association 1996-1999
• Intramural Sports 1991-1995
• Owned a business- Vice President of Symphony Limousine 1991-2000

Please detail your career accomplishments. How will your career path help you be successful in the position that you are being nominated for?

Since graduation from JWU in 1995: I received my master’s degree, MAT in Business Education, in 1999 and I received a second BS in Financial Services Management in 2001.   In 2006, I completed my Doctorate in Business Administration in Organizational Management from Belford University. I have also completed the following designations in the field of Financial Planning, 2005 Registered Financial Consultant, and in 2007 Certification in Long Term Care. I have also obtained many professional licenses such as, Insurance, Securities, and Teaching Certificates.  Also I have been involved in and served on the boards of many community and professional development organizations such as:  GAMA (General Agents and Managers Association) Rhode Island Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, American Association of Long Term Care Insurance Professionals, International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, United Who’s Who, Million Dollar Round Table, Kiwanis Club of Greater Providence, School Improvement Team, Johnson & Wales Alumni Council, American Health Insurance Association, and many others.

My career accomplishments are wide ranged from being a business owner, to an educator, to building my own Financial Planning Practice and Firm, to moving into firm management with various insurance and Financial Planning Companies, to my current position of Director of Brokerage for John Hancock in RI in which I work with over 500 brokers and provide them with the support, training, and client programs to effectively operate their own Planning Practice.  Also, in all of my positions I have developed various training, networking, employee enrichment, and educational programs to further enrich either the client, student, or broker that I am working with. Also, in my previous positions as a Agency Sales Manager and Associate General Agent along with my current position I have been charged with developing and carrying out recruiting programs for Financial Advisors in which the plans that were developed not only recruited experienced quality advisors but also increased the overall visibility of the firm.  I am also currently certified as a Long Term Care Insurance Partnership Instructor by the National Long Term Care Partnership Educators and American Health Insurance Plans, for which I am charged with teaching the curriculum, helping to create and update the curriculum, designing and promoting Educational Seminars and Programs for Licensed Insurance Agents in RI to become certified to sell Long Term Care Insurance by the Rhode Island Department of Insurance.

I have also served on the J&W Alumni Council from 2003-2007 in the positions of Undergraduate Representative (2003-2004), Vice President (2004-2005), President (2005-2006), and Past President (2006-2007) while on the Alumni Council I was involved with the formation of the Alumni Chapters, the formation of the Alumni Council Endowed Scholarship Fund, along with various other Alumni Programs (i.e. All Class Reunion, Alumni Emerging Leaders Week).  I also have been the President of the Metro Providence Chapter from 2007-present building a solid leadership team and foundation for the chapter.

I feel that my career progression fits the role of Chair of the Programs Committee due to the fact that I have been involved in the planning, development, and building of various industry, educational, and Alumni Programs that benefit the interest of the population that I am working with at the time as a whole.  Also, in being President of the Metro Providence Alumni Chapter and Past President of the Alumni Council I bring the experience necessary at the Alumni Association Level along with my experiences in both industry and education I bring the leadership necessary to this position to work with the Alumni Council to bring our programs to the next level.

Please list what skills and/or qualities you will bring to the council to help take the council to the next level.

The Qualities and Skills that I would bring to the Alumni Council are:

• A Proven Track Record of Leadership and Experience within the J&W Alumni Association and the Metro Providence Chapter
• Motivated and Driven to build successful programs
• Dedication to the Alumni of Johnson & Wales University
• Proven Accountability and Leadership in the Financial Service Industry
• Leadership Experience at all levels of the Alumni Association and Alumni Council
• Goal Setting and Accountability Measures
• Alumni Programs Coordination Experience
• Persistence, Perseverance, and Confidence
• Chapter Leadership and Building Experience
• An independent prospective to Alumni Programming
• Background and Industry Experience in Organizational Leadership and Building Programs
• Volunteer Leadership Experience with Various Civic and Financial Industry Organizations

What are your vision/goals for the council for the next two years?

My Platform statement is to maximize the visibility and to promote the value of the programs offered to the Alumni of the J&W Alumni Association.

• Build chapters in all of the Metro Areas, Campuses, and Internationally both live and virtual via online capabilities to reconnect our great alumni back to their Johnson and Wales Roots.
• Work in concert with the Alumni Council to develop Alumni Programs that synergize all of the committees of the Alumni Council (Annual Fund, Communications, Clubs and Organizations, and Events) to benefit you the alumni
•  Continue to develop programs that benefit our alumni as a whole such as Business to Business Alumni Networking which was started at the Providence Campus in 2006 and is going strong, this program can be extended to each chapter area and developed appropriately. 
• Re-connect our alumni through meaningful alumni programs that benefit them professionally, as well as, personally.
• Continue to help build our Alumni Chapters and promote there visibility through the J&W Alumni Office, as well as, the Programs Committee and also by getting alumni to re-connect by getting involved with an Alumni Chapter in their Geographic Area.
• Utilize my ties to the Greek Population via Tau Epsilon Phi to build a bridge between the Greek Alumni and the undergraduate Greek population through the JWU Alumni Association
• Serve as a voice for the undergraduate population through the Student Alumni Association within the alumni and to minimize and shorten the gap between the time of graduation and the time that graduates become involved in the alumni association.  
• JWU has a very diverse alumni population; keeping this in mind, we should promote the value of membership and identify issues and concerns of this diverse membership we serve.  I also will promote the value of JWU Alumni Chapter format where each region has an alumni chapter to keep in contact with alumni in their area, along with the university wide alumni association.  This will provide a voice for alumni on a regional, national, and international front.
• Additionally, I will work to unify our leadership team to build programs of value, substance, and purpose either by building networking events or industry education related to the professions of our alums.  Again our most important purpose is to build programs that serve YOU the alumni of Johnson & Wales University.

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