The power of networking: Successful alumnae connect in the media During her sophomore year, Sarah Compo ‘08 took a trip to New York City and a tour of “The Today Show.” With aspirations of becoming an on-air broadcaster, she made a few contacts before she bid farewell to staff. She wanted an internship and the effort could bring rewards.  Compo did land that internship at “Today” during her senior year at Geneseo and spent the fall semester helping with production, running errands and even pinch hitting as a Pop Tart on the Halloween costume show. That effort — and a contact she made while there — positioned Compo for a plum first job months after graduation. She is now the assistant for Jean Chatzky, financial journalist and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. “The more connected you are, the more likely you are going to find a job right out of college,” says Compo, who isn’t shy about making contacts and using them. “ … If you don’t take these chances and throw your hat in the ring, nothing is going to happen.” It’s a philosophy that fellow Geneseo alumna Pamela York Klainer ‘71 would approve. In fact, Klainer, a revered financial consultant, author and philanthropist who was dubbed the “money shrink” by Money magazine, started the Klainer Center for Women and Business at SUNY Geneseo in 2004 to school aspiring students, especially women, in the real-world ways of business. She is the founder of Klainer Consulting, LLC. Compo recently connected with Klainer when she booked her as a guest on Chatzky’s XM satellite radio show. She also reached out to Klainer as an alumna and to say thanks. Compo said she attended the Klainer Center speaker series, which brings successful female businesswomen to campus. An unplanned encounter, theirs is the ultimate networking story. Now that they’ve hooked up, each would not hesitate to reach out. Each one’s success led them to their current positions, allowing them to meet. “Part of it is kind of fate that these things happen, but it does have a lot to do with hard work,” says Compo. “None of this would have happened if I didn’t intern at ‘The Today Show.’ I think that was a catalyst for everything.” They hope to return to campus this spring to host a learning event through the Klainer Center, possibly on the importance of networking for those established in their careers or just starting out. It’s the type of support Klainer wishes to see more of among Geneseo alumni. She envisions a network of graduates in all stages of their careers who are willing to lend insight, be a mentor to students or alumni, or offer other support. “There are a lot of people out there who have had a connection to Geneseo and we can help each other,” says Klainer. Stay tuned for the announcement of when Pam Klainer’s interview will air. For more information on Jean Chatzky, visit www.jeanchatzky.com.
Klainer Center is an insider’s guide to business success As the founder of Klainer Consulting, LLC, Pamela York Klainer ’71 was the minority among business owners. “I’m often the only woman in the room,” she says. There weren’t that many female business owners when she started out and men still outnumber women. Klainer says she learned through trial and error how to assert herself as an executive without being overbearing. She also forced herself to be more of an extrovert and network when needed, based on expert advice. These are the nuances of succeeding in the business world that Klainer imparts to Geneseo students through the Klainer Center for Women and Business, which she founded in the School of Business in 2004. As a renowned financial consultant, author, entrepreneur, philanthropist and source for international and national media, Klainer says people helped her in her career, so she wants to help others reach their goals. The center hosts a speaker and workshop series, which kicks off this semester Feb. 23 at 1:30 p.m. with a workshop with Kara Noto ‘04, a management trainer with the Bureau of Architecture & Engineering for the city of Rochester. “What we’re really trying to do with these speakers is to provide role models,” says Mary Ellen Zuckerman, professor in the School of Business and the faculty adviser for the Klainer center. The center also researches gender-related work issues and imparts real-life wisdom about getting ahead, like networking, office politics and lessons not necessarily laid out in text-book print. Don’t want to gather with the gang at 5 for a quick cocktail? It’s smart to know how that affects co-workers’ perspectives. Resources are for men and women. The center also encourages men to discuss gender-related issues as well because they affect everyone. The focus, says Klainer, is “to make those implicit lessons more explicit … We’re looking for all the teachable points.” Two student coordinators run the center. Megan Anderson ‘09 is an accounting major and Rebecca Schwartz ‘10 is a junior business administration major. • For more on the Klainer Center, click • To learn more about Pam Klainer, visit her Web site.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Geneseo player’s winning shot seen all over America It was a one-point basketball game against SUNY Oswego when time ran out for the Geneseo Knights. At the buzzer,Scott Morton ‘09 made a diving save off of a rebound and scored the winning basket Dec. 2 with a miraculous “over the shoulder, behind the back” shot. It gave the Blue Knights a tight 85-84 win and made the #1 Play of the Day on ESPN’s “Sports Center” program the next day. Morton’s efforts — which many are calling one of the best displays of second effort in sports history — were replayed on ESPN and on national sports broadcasts across the nation. Sports Illustrated has also called. Morton was a soccer goaltender in high school and his skills from the field shine on the video as he takes his long sideways dive. His teammates run to congratulate him after the point; Morton has his hands on his head, in shock. Morton was bombarded with calls and e-mail messages Wednesday after word spread of his miracle shot. ESPN2 interviewed him on its “First Take” program, which includes video of the shot and is available for viewing here. He also was interviewed on numerous local television and radio stations. On Thursday, Morton’s “Spectacular Winning Shot” was featured on the Yahoo home page, too, with the world’s biggest news.
“It’s still soaking in,” said Morton, a business administration major from Syracuse. “I didn’t get much sleep after the game because I heard ESPN was interested in broadcasting the video. I was in the right place at exactly the right time and I couldn’t believe it went in.” Morton was juggernaut for the entire game. With 10 seconds left, he made a three-point shot to put Geneseo in the lead, but Oswego quickly drove back and scored to take a one-point lead. With three seconds left, Geneseo inbounded to Morton’s fast-breaking teammate, whose missed layup was lifted in by Morton for the win, with a fraction of second showing on the clock. “We all were shocked but thrilled when he sunk the shot,” says Geneseo Athletic Director Marilyn Moore. “Scott is an exceptional student-athlete who represents the academic and athletic excellence associated with Geneseo. He deserves all the attention he is getting for his amazing effort.”
Geneseo loses retired history professor
The College community loses an honored emeritus
He was a legendary figure in the recent history of the College and much beloved by students, colleagues, alumni and friends. He began his Geneseo career in 1966. Most recently, he and four other emeriti spent four years writing a history of the College, due out before the end of the year. “He was always a gentle, thoughtful man and always pleasant,” said Wayne Mahood, professor emeritus of history. Mahood came to know Mr. Bright during his own 25-year career at Geneseo and as his longtime neighbor. “Among other things, I think he brought out the best in every day and he could build a team spirit among anybody with whom he worked,” Mahood said.
 Click here to view the entire all-staff memo from the President’s Office.
Staff photo of the week
Note: Faculty, staff, students and alumni are encouraged to send Geneseo-related photos toencompass@geneseo.edu for consideration.
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December 11, 2008 FEATURES: IN OTHER NEWS:
About ENCompass: ENCompass Weekly is designed to keep faculty, staff, students and friends in touch with what’s happening at the College. Please submit story ideas, news briefs and comments or suggestions toencompass@geneseo.edu. Deadline to submit information is Wednesday by noon. If you are having trouble viewing this page, we recommend that you use Firefox, Safari (Mac) or the most recent version of Internet Explorer. If you're still experiencing problems, please send us an email.
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Colleagues and friends are remembering Valentin H. Rabe, professor emeritus of history, who died on Nov. 28. He was an esteemed historian who served the College from 1967 to 1991. A teacher and scholar, he was also an active member of the United University Professions and was active in the community.
The Geneseo community lost a valued member Nov. 18 with the death ofFrederick Bright, coach, teacher, department chair, sports information director, historian and college ambassador.
Robert Goeckel, professor of political science and international relations, recently participated in the conference "Reading the Traces: the Impact of the Reformation" in Wittenberg, Germany. Sponsored by the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, the conference was devoted to the discussion of the meaning of Protestantism and culture since Martin Luther and was in preparation for the Luther Decade, which culminates in to the 500th anniversary of Luther's theses in 2017. Goeckel presented on the panel, Protestantism between Accommodation and Protest; his paper dealt with the legacy of Luther for the church in the former German Democratic Republic.
Robert Bonfiglio, vice president for student and campus life, wrote an article, "Shorthand or Shortsightedness: The Downside of Generational Labeling," that was published in the July-August 2008 edition of About Campus (Volume 13, Number 3.)
