Career Day at Bethlehem Central Middle School allows seventh graders to explore various professions and gain insight into different paths they can pursue in the future.
Business owners, health care professionals, police officers, engineers, attorneys, researchers, bus drivers, artists and environmentalists were among the presenters who filled this year’s classrooms with conversations, questions and answers about their day-to-day activities and their individual career journeys.
Students heard from individuals representing a wide spectrum of careers. All were enthusiastic about their career choices and the paths that took them to where they are today.
Career Day at BCMS has grown over the last few years with 50-60 guest speakers each year, many of whom are community members and parents of students at the school. The annual event is coordinated by Family and Consumer Science teachers Maria Hayes and Lindsey Bradt. Their success has become a model for other middle schools across the region.
The teachers created a welcoming “break room” for the guest speakers, where they all had an opportunity to get to know one another and share some delicious snacks. The light fare was donated by Career Day sponsors Emma Cleary’s Cafe, Dunkin’ Donuts, Stewart’s Shops, Schuyler Bakery and Hannaford.
Thank you to Ms. Hayes and Ms. Bradt and a special shout-out to the outstanding Career Day guests who inspired students this year. They are:
- Rich “Ace” Akullian – Entrepreneur, Akullian Creative Enterprises
- Alastair Aitchison – Architect
- Albany Firebirds – Zach Soden, Ben Nelson and Anthony Bisner
- Andrew Arbeit – Attorney specializing in NY workers’ compensation defense
- Lisa Baranik- Associate Professor in the Management Department in the School of Business and Associate Dean for Research
- Jason Bradt – Town of Bethlehem Highway Dept. Equipment Operator II
- Alaina Brophy – Corporate Bankruptcy Attorney (NYC)
- Chris Carr – Engineer
- James Cascione – Process Safety Engineer
- Chris Coleman – FAA Aviation Safety Inspector
- Andrew Deroo – Trauma Surgeon and Surgical Intensive Care Physician
- Leslie Deroo – Refugee Case Manager
- Francesca DiMola – Human Resources Specialist
- Gina Ellis – Physical Therapist
- Sherry Faye – Research Scientist
- Michael Giacoma- Aerospace Engineer
- Samuel Gonzalez – Retired Police Detective & Criminal Justice Instructor @ FMCC
- Jennifer Hayes – Anesthesiologist
- Nicholas Hesel – Fire Protecting Engineer
- Lucas Holmquist – Senior Software Engineer
- Susumu Iida – Semiconductor Researcher
- Erik LaChance – State Farm Agent
- Christopher Meislahn – Taxpayer Rights Advocate (NYS)
- Molly Michalek – Auto Insurance Claims Team Manager
- Jill Monticello – Medical Device Sales
- Isabel Morgan – Therapist & Owner, Walk It Out Now
- Kevin Nasadoski – Business Owner, Landscape for Less
- Resa Ostrander – Training Director (NYS Executive Chamber)
- Blakeny Peschel – Strategic Portfolio Management
- Adam Prusik – Supervisor of Forensic Services
- Nicole Privitera – Early Childhood Educator
- Brian Reilly – Cybersecurity
- Joe Robichaud – Terracon Operations Manager
- Tracey Semeiks – Supervising Judge
- Andrew Sheehan – Hoosic Valley Jr. Sr. High Principal
- Erin Sheevers- Chief Technology Officer, BCSD
- Lauren Spector – Public Information Officer (NYS DHCR)
- Krista Spohr – Environmental Program Specialist (NYS DEC)
- Jomol Turinksy – Diagnostic Radiologist
- Ethan Wells – Civil/Structural Engineer
- Yvonne White – Sports Medicine Doctor
- Marisa Whitelaw – Certified Nurse Midwife, Women’s Health NP
- Maggie Wood – Attorney
- Stacy Wozniak – Speech Language Pathologist
- Qiang (Steven) Wu – Ph.D. Candidate /Adjunct Lecturer in Political Science
- Brian Rhatigan- Arena Sporting Host
- Trooper Bowers – NYS Police Troop G Recruiter
- Robert Tanner & Nico (therapy dog) – Retired Chief Petty Officer, Navy SeaBees & Retired Highway Foreman
- Lisa McAndrew – Research Clinical Psychologist
- Patrick Woods – Appellate Attorney (NYS Attorney General)
- Ava Schlesinger – Construction Project Manager
- Matt Callahan – Tri City Valley Cats