Upcoming Speakers
If you are interested in attending a Speaking from Experience event, please contact Maren Welch, Director of Admissions & Financial Assistance, at mwelch@golisanoinstitute.org.
Wednesday, June 4th
Shaina Zazzaro
Founder & CEO
Effortlessly Healthy
Wednesday, June 11th
Mark Ippolito
Founder
Comedy Club at the Carlson
Wednesday, June 18th
Lindy Ruff
Head Coach
Buffalo Sabres
Adrian Wojnarowski
General Manager
St. Bonaventure University Men’s Basketball
Program and Former ESPN NBA Insider and Reporter
Chuck Mauro
Senior Global Director, Brand Strategy & Creative
New Balance
Wednesday, June 25th
Kevin Surace
Futurist, Keynote Speaker, Inventor, TED Speaker, "Father" of the AI Virtual Assistant
Wednesday, July 2nd
Anthony Scaramucci
Founder & Managing Partner
Skybridge Capital
Founder & Chairman
SALT
Wednesday, July 9th
Michael Colyer
Founder & CEO
Foundry, A Digital Currency Group Company
Wednesday, July 30th
Bill Gisel
Executive Vice Chairman
Rich's Products Corporation
Wednesday, August 6th
Beau Gringer
President
Diamond Shield
Wednesday, September 17th
Tom Golisano
Founder
Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship
Wednesday, September 24th
Rodney Reisdorf
Co-Founder & CEO
Verivend
"Seeking out a good mentor early on will pay dividends in the long run."
Steve McDonnell
CEO, Wilmac Technologies
Previous Speakers
Spring Quarter 2025
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Kristy Gonzalez
Founder
IntegrateXpress
Flossie Hall
CEO
Stella Foundation
Danielle Raymo
Founder & Owner
Rochester Brainery
Toi Sweeney
Founder & CEO
The Well Dressed Brand
Julia Tedesco
President & CEO
Foodlink
Ziba Lennox
Co-owner
MaZi Dance Fitness Centre
Chief Creative Officer
Dancing Mama Style
Co-host
Share the Wellth Podcast
Mike DiGiacomo
Chief Operating Officer
United Group
Peter Parts
Former Founder, Owner, & CEO
Peter Parts Electronics Inc.
Nate Gibbons
Founder & Chief Experience Officer
QuickFi
David Beaton
Founder & CEO
Kelton Enterprises, USA Multi Unit Tim Hortons Franchisee
Van Stanley
Owner
People's Choice Kitchen
Lauren Dixon
Founder & Current Board Chair
Dixon Schwabl + Company
Mike Schwabl
Founder & Vice Chair
Dixon Schwabl + Company
Dan Mason
General Manager
Rochester Red Wings
Winter Quarter 2024-2025
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Erin Tolefree
President & CEO
Baldwin Richardson Foods
Chris Hagstrom
CEO
Kayenta Ltd
Susan Ippoliti Kavanagh
Sr. Director, Client Experience
KLDiscovery
President
TechRochester
Marty Birmingham
CEO
Five Star Bank
Tom Bonadio
General Partner of Impact Capital, Chairman of Board of Directors
The Bonadio Group
Kip Palmer
CEO
Palmer Foods
Marisa Geitner
President & CEO
Heritage Christian Services
Fall Quarter 2024
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John Gibson
President & CEO
Paychex
Paul Guglielmo
Founder
Guglielmo's Sauce
Steve McDonnell
CEO
Wilmac Technologies
Quincy Allen
CMO
IBM
Current Board Member
Office Depot & Lumen Technologies
Jim Continenza
Executive Chairman & CEO
Eastman Kodak
Dr. Rupert Hayles Jr.
President
Roberts Wesleyan University
Naomi Whittel
Founder & CEO and New York Times Best Selling Author
Naomi Whittel Brands
Jim Boeheim
Former Men’s Head Basketball Coach and current Special Assistant to the Athletic Director
Syracuse University
Abby Reinhard
President & CEO
GP Flooring Solutions
