ADRIANNE CALVO ’04
Carving out a multidimensional career Adrianne Calvo ’04 is chef-owner of Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard and Wine Bar, in Miami, Fla. She is author of two cookbooks, has been a guest on television programs throughout the country and is the youngest chef ever to cook at the United Nations, for ambassadors. She was named one of the 50 Best Chefs in the World by Chef Report.

lessons from jwu Mise en place — the French term for everything in its place. I have a very busy life, so if I am not organized, things would be chaotic.

role jwu played in your career JWU taught me the essential skills to become a good chef and to be competitive with the best that are out there.

defining moment JWU’s Taste Down Under competition; as a finalist, I had the opportunity to meet magazine editors, television stars and celebrity chefs.

career advice for new alumni Work hard for your dreams. The sky is the limit. Focus and dedicate yourself to accomplishing them and you will be successful.

personal opportunities amidst challenges I see opportunities amidst challenges in my personal life the same way I see them in my career. Like Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”

JEFF JORDAN ’05
Empowering the youth of tomorrow Jeff Jordan ’05 is president of Rescue Social Change Group (RSCG) based in San Diego, Calif. A pioneer in social branding, the marketing company uses progressive marketing strategies to positively change youth culture. Jordan was named 2005 Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Rhode Island division of the Small Business Administration for his accomplishments.

lessons from jwu The entrepreneurship courses were very helpful. Having a foundation in finance and management has helped me run my company and been a critical part of my entrepreneurial growth.

role jwu played in your career What I learned at JWU was practical and applicable to the real world. I have truly applied my business education in every aspect of my career thus far.

best advice “You are not good at everything.” The more that I embrace this concept by understanding my strengths and weaknesses, the more successful my company will be.

quality admired in others I admire anyone that is accountable for their actions, taking both the good and the bad side of responsibility. There is always an opportunity to learn from your mistakes.

most important ingredient in life Passion. Without it, everything is mundane and we rarely challenge ourselves to grow.

WILL GILSON ’04
Bringing inspiration to ‘farm fresh’ food Will Gilson ’04 is chef-owner of Garden at the Cellar, a gastropub in Cambridge, Mass. He is consulting chef at The Herb Lyceum in Groton, Mass., where he opened his first restaurant at 15. His menus celebrate the seasonal bounties of local farms and purveyors. He is a recent nominee for the James Beard Award.

lessons from jwu Using the resources that the school provided would be my ticket to advancing my career and personal education.

outsider, rebel, entrepreneur or team player All the above.

defining moment Traveling to the wine countries of California, Italy and France representing JWU as one of six U.S. students to receive an R.C. Kopf Student Achievement Scholarship.

qualities admired in others Honesty, hard work ethic and the ability to take risks.

favorite quote “There is a point at which the pleasure of what you put yourself through outweighs the pain you endure. When that point switches then it is time to change your life.” — George Carlin

TIFFANY SY, C.P.A., ’01
Blazing her trail in banking Tiffany Sy, C.P.A., ’01 is senior vice president and controller of BankRI, handling Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) reporting and accounting. As a former audit manager at Ernst & Young, her clients included Fortune 500 and mid-market companies.

role jwu played in your career The programs and courses offered at JWU focus on preparing students to be successful. That gave me an advantage stepping into my career.

vision for your industry’s future Moves in the right direction to restore confidence in the banking industry, including the additional reporting requirements of Sarbanes Oxley and the upcoming convergence with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

highest priority Being happy with who I am. If I’m happy with who I am, then everything else falls into place.

books on your nightstand I started reading the “Twilight” series and I couldn’t get enough. Now I’m reading “The Host” by Stephenie Meyer.

qualities admired in others Patience and honesty. Patience is a quality that I don’t quite have yet, but hope to develop as I get older. Honesty, to me, is the most important trait that a person can have.