The Wehle Wire March 2025

The people, happenings and achievements of The Wehle Business School, Canisius University, Buffalo, New York.

68th ANNUAL ACCOUNTING BANQUET - Thursday, April 24th, Salvatore’s. 5:30 cocktails, 6:30 dinner and program. Sponsors and students contact Kim Walkow. Individual tickets $100. Reserve your spot by emailing Kim at [email protected] or calling 716-888-2160.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Amanda Verrastro, Chief of Staff (northeastern), Citizens Bank

Buffalonian, Amanda Verrastro, brings 20 years of banking and consulting experience to the Dean’s Business Advisory Council (three years). A former GGF’r, she graduated with her finance honors (2008) and MBA (2014). She smiles adding, “I was a cheerleader too!”

As a Senior Delivery Manager at Citizens, she is Chief of Staff for northeastern Commercial Loan Operations (200 colleagues, five states).

“I travel a lot and embrace all the relationships I’ve built along the way. It’s critically important for our students to understand that whether it’s the company president or your dry cleaner, making authentic connections builds a well-rounded network. You need those “soft skills,” the give-and-take…that’s taken me a long time to master.”

She also stresses that self-awareness has been central to advancing her career. “At Deloitte, self-reflection and coaching helped me understand my strengths, weaknesses and what I wanted for myself and my future. Once I knew my brand, once it “clicked”, that’s when my career kicked into high gear. We need to nurture personal branding in the business school.”

At this point, Amanda says her work is less about managing and more about leading the strategy. ‘I understand the importance of surrounding myself with a collaborative team and building connections so that I can give all that I can to help others reach our goals.”

“I’m enjoying stretching myself this way.”

As for our students, she hopes the school continues to grow real-life experiences “beyond the books”. “I have a 10-year-old and she keeps me on my toes. It’s rewarding. I want to foster that same excitement for her and future students. Building a strong network of alumni, employers and students makes all the difference. It’s where leaders are made after all.”

…sounds like cheerleader, for sure.

NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF FINANCE VISIT WEHLE FOR PROFESSIONAL-ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT DAY

Students from eight WNY high school Academies of Finance visited Canisius again this year on Thursday, March 20th. Along with other professional organizations, students experienced Wehle faculty instruction and learning on a variety of subjects and disciplines. Over 200 students benefited from this day of learning about the university experience and academics.

Masters students and graduates “on the move”

LAURA ZAKRZEWSKI

“I love connecting businesses with digital solutions,” says Laura, Master of Business Analytics (MBAN) graduate and Marketing Specialist for Sika Corporation, Infrastructure Group (a global company in specialized chemicals for construction and industrial applications).

“Since joining Sika, I’ve really enjoyed my expanded role, taking on new challenges, and contributing in different ways to the marketing department.”

Laura’s initial goal in the MBAN program was to increase her technical skills. “The Program gave me access to tools and a support network that I didn’t have before. I wanted to expand my analytical skills, and combined with my marketing, the program really helped me do that.”

“The LPD helped me refine myself as a professional, looking at the skills I have and finding the gaps. It’s also helped me feel more confident to reach out to others and grow my network. Advocating for myself wasn’t something I was comfortable doing but I’ve really grown that way because of this experience.”

Laura is not alone in the program as her brother Adam is also a graduate of the MBAN Program. Families learning together is definitely a legacy of The Wehle School.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-z-b0b677b0/

TARYLL SIGLER

A current MBA student, Taryll parlayed his Canisius political science-urban studies undergraduate degree into M&T Bank’s Operations Development Program. With the bank almost four years, he is currently a Business Risk Analyst in retail banking.

“I chose the Canisius MBA because it was an opportunity for me to discover myself personally, understand my skills and develop professionally. I was fortunate because I had the support of M&T’s tuition assistance program.”

“Academically, everything melds together. Whether it’s corporate finance, the legal environment or understanding downstream reporting impacts, it all relates to what I do. I’m definitely seeing strong connections with my studies and work. It’s not just academic.”

As for his professional development, he credits the Leadership & Professional Development Program. “The LPD helped me tremendously. I discovered who I was. The Workplace Big 5 Assessment pointed out the areas I excel in, and am weak at, and what steps I could take to improve. I’m resilient but understanding how this helps me in a professional setting was invaluable.”

Taryll’s advice to incoming students?

“Go into it whole heartedly. Be curious. Work at understanding who you are. Work with your professors and the LPD Director. They’ll get you to where you want and need to be.”

https://www.linkedin.com/in/taryllsigler

TREVOR SIMONICK

“I was very deliberate where I chose to complete my masters,” says Trevor, a current MBA student (in finance) and Senior Business Risk Analyst (Institutional Credit) at Citi.

“I wanted and needed to get those analytical skills but I also wanted to be part of a community. You feel that sense of community, that family feeling, when you go to a Wehle or LPD networking event and there’s all these familiar faces,” he says.

“As I complete the Golden Griffin fund along with my masters, I know these relationships, the network I’m building, will be an important part of my life, long after I’ve graduated.”

Trevor has been with Citi since January 2020. In his current role, he summarizes data and completes analysis to support Citi’s Global Insights and Analytics Team as the work to mitigate risk to the Bank.

“What I do is kind of like what the Leadership & Professional Development Program did for me. I have to bridge data so it tells a story. The LPD helped me bridge the classroom to the real-world, especially how to communicate and present myself to employers.”

“That really helped me and I think it’s critical for graduate students to embrace that. I know it’s made all the difference in how I see myself and what I can achieve in my career.”

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsimonick94

Faculty Feature

Dr. Girish Shambu, Professor of Management

Thirty-six years’ strong, Dr. Girish Shambu has been shaping young minds here at The Wehle School. With a chemical engineering degree from Indian Institute of Technology, the country’s leading engineering university, Girish made his way to Buffalo where he completed his PhD in operations management at UB.

When asked, “Why teaching?”, Girish responds without hesitation. “I was passionate about working with young people. I find them often eager and receptive learners, provided we as teachers find the right approaches to awaken that learning impulse. This challenge was key to my choice of vocation—it’s remained a constant over the decades.”

Girish teaches management, focusing on sustainability and how business decisions impact the environment, society and people. “When I started at Canisius, supply chain management and global outsourcing were in their infancy. Since then we’ve seen an explosion of both.”

Much of his work focuses on industries that are not supply chain-sustainable, like fast fashion and fast food. “These industries have large negative impacts on the environment and society. We should be attentive to these impacts—beyond simply being consumers who enjoy inexpensive goods. In my courses, we analyze the dark side of low prices.”

He believes too there is a way to teach supply chain management while aligning with our Jesuit values.

“I can’t emphasize enough how much my work and interactions with my students have been marked by Jesuit values. Pope Francis’s critical writings, for example, on the environment, poverty, and justice have deeply influenced my work as a teacher and scholar. With each passing year, the Jesuit mission feels more urgently relevant to what we do at Canisius in trying to build a better world.”

Over the years, Girish shares that his work has only become more rewarding. “I find today’s students are more conscious and sensitive to sustainability, social and environmental issues. They’re willing to have difficult conversations and be a catalyst for change.”

He smiles, adding, “and that’s very Jesuit.”

Girish will be leaving Canisius at the end of May to begin the next chapter of his life. He is authoring a book combining his life-long passion for film and teaching. “I’ve always loved how the best teen movies depict young people in a period of flux and openness which is also a time of intense learning about themselves and the world…which is why I’ve always treasured the classroom.”

Girish will be missed by his Wehle colleagues. We wish him well and thank him for his many contributions to our students as they pursue a meaningful life of leadership and service.

[email protected]

Undergraduate Pursuits

QIN LI

Finance-accounting major, MBA accounting program. President Asian Students Assoc., Real Estate Tax Intern, Cohen & Company.

My goal is to complete my MBA in accounting and become a CPA.

[email protected]

KEEGAN LANGEFELS

Accounting BS/MBA Accounting, senior. NCAA DI hockey (4 years). Accounting Intern since the summer of 2024, Buffalo Sabres.

My goal is to become a CPA and start my career in public accounting.

[email protected]

GABRIELLE STAWICKI

Marketing major, Marketing Assistant (former intern), West Herr Automotive Group.

My goal is to build a career in marketing and sales.

[email protected]

Career readiness that makes a difference.

Brooke Tinaglia, Contract Price-Cost Analyst, DOD, Contract Management Agency

A six-year US Navy veteran, Brooke Tinaglia specialized as an Electronic Warfare Operator onboard the P-3C Orion Naval Aircraft. “Learning new things while serving and challenging myself the way that I did was very empowering. It built my confidence and convinced me that I was ready to get an MBA.”

Brooke speaks to the strength of her Wehle experience. “It gave me better business sense and how to go about things professionally…whether it’s writing emails, reports or analyzing data. Making sure things are professional. I have a lot of pride in my work. Canisius instilled those values.”

Currently, Brooke works as a Contract Price-Cost Analyst for the Defense Contract Management Agency of the Department of Defense. Analyzing contractor proposals and ensuring both pricing and federal regulatory compliance are met are her chief responsibilities. “I work a lot too with auditors to ensure that final cost submissions are accurate.”

As for the LPD, Brooke is quick to point out how it helped her navigate her job professionally.

“Going for a promotion, networking, seeking out other opportunities. I learned to be more open in getting other people’s advice and feedback on how to achieve my professional goals. I never would have done that before the LPD and now it’s an important part of how I’m building my career.”

“Remember, the world is really very small. You never know when you’ll see a classmate or former colleague again. I’ve never forgotten that. As a Wehle alum, that carries a lot of pride. So hold yourself to that higher standard.”

Connect on LinkedIn

The Wehle Business School is AACSB accredited, a gold standard achieved by fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide.

Dr. Shawn O’Rourke, Dean

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Questions or Comments?

Contact Jennifer Patrick (MBA 2000), Wehle Director of Executive Education & Leadership and the LPDP ([email protected], 716-888-8494).