Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society Blog

On Wednesday, November 12th, Holy Cross students gathered in Hogan for the 2025 Innovation Challenge, an annual event spotlighting student entrepreneurship and creative problem-solving. Hosted by the HC Launch Club with Andrew Trachimowicz ’27 as the emcee, this year’s challenge centered on WiseDine, a new meal plan generator that syncs students’ dietary needs directly with campus dining data to provide personalized recommendations. With WiseDine targeting a 2026 launch, the event provided students an opportunity to share their ideas surrounding Nico’s project. 

Teams were challenged to address one of the three core areas: driving student engagement, monetization strategy, and marketing and expansion. 

Judges looked for creativity, realistic solutions, and clear presentations as each team pitched with three minutes on the clock, followed by a two-minute Q&A. Thank you to this year’s judging panel, including WiseDine founder Nico Corporon ’26, a current senior at Holy Cross, along with Brendan Candon ’10, CEO of SidelineSwap whose company was featured in the last Innovation Challenge, and Nick Lazarro ’23, founder of Nick’s On-Site Detailing.

• • First Place: $1,000 – Ella Grainger ’26, Maeley Nakamura ’26, Bridget Sachs ’27
  • Second Place: $500 – Julian Beban ’26 and Ryan Donavan ’26
  • Third Place: $250 – Gavin Kempskie ’27 and Bill Wang ’27 
  • Audience Favorite Award: $50 – Emile Keza ’29 and Lani Lopez ’29 

We also congratulate all of the participants who shared their innovative solutions, including Ben Berger ’26, Billy Black ’26, Cayla Friedman ’26, TJ Haigh ’26, and Jack Murphy ’27. The event showed the strong creativity of Holy Cross students and gave WiseDine helpful ideas as it prepares for a wider launch. Thank you to everyone who made the evening possible and showed up to support WiseDine!

Update: Just six days later on November 18th, Nico went on to pitch WiseDine at the annual 5 Minute Pitch (5MP) event hosted by Venture Forum where he took home the second place prize of $2000 in non-dilutive funding!

Written by Kevin Birenbaum ‘26 and Maeley Nakamura ‘26

The Ciocca Center’s third CrossTalks event took place in Seelos Theater on November 1st during Family Weekend, bringing students, families, and alumni together. Cassie Gevry, associate director of the Ciocca Center, welcomed the audience to hear from three distinguished alumni who continue to apply their Jesuit liberal arts education as leaders across diverse industries. This event featured Jonathan White ’96, Eileen Hornor ’89, and Kurt Sanger ’93 discussing how technology, entrepreneurship, and cura personalis shape the manner in which they work and interact with the world.

Jonathan White ’96, Classics and History double major, is an estate planning attorney with over 25 years of experience and a Boston Magazine Top Lawyer for Trusts and Estates. Jonathan spoke candidly about his transformation from a controlling boss who lost five great employees, to a servant leader whose focus is on empowering his team. The shift in his mentality came when he stopped asking, “How can I get more out of my people?” and started asking, “How can I give more to them?” His shift from control to care led to a 63% increase in revenue, while also building a culture of investment in each other’s growth.

Eileen Hornor ’89, an English major, is an entrepreneur and hospitality consultant and owner of OneSixtyFive, an award-winning historic inn and restaurant in Maine. Her non-linear path included teaching, training at The Greenbrier Resort, catering, and finally to owning an inn. When she discovered the Brunswick Inn, the advice she received was that it might be a risky investment. But Holy Cross taught her to move through uncertainty with discernment, to ask deeper questions of herself than simple yes/no ones. Throughout her journey she dug deep into the resilience her education fostered and found opportunity for growth. 

Kurt Sanger ’93, a political science major, is a cybersecurity attorney and retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel who served at U.S. Cyber Command. Kurt challenged assumptions about liberal arts graduates in technology fields, arguing they’re essential to tech’s future. Drawing from his experience handling ransomware incidents, Kurt revealed that beyond technical expertise, what cyber attack victims need most is someone to help them through the devastating human impact of these crises. His Holy Cross education taught him to see that “these are not solely technical events. They are human events.”

Each of the speakers showed how a Holy Cross education equipped them to engage not just in careers but in leadership for service. Whether it was transforming law firms through servant leadership, building community through hospitality, or humanizing technology with compassion, all three epitomized the Holy Cross mission in developing leaders who measure success by their impact on others. “I felt connected to each speaker’s story and meaningful journey,” shares attendee Blair Micthell ‘29, “ as if I were part of it. I gained valuable insights into both their professional and personal lessons. By the end, I realized how Holy Cross truly cultivates leaders and people of service across all fields and walks of life.”

Watch CrossTalks episodes on the College’s YouTube channel. If you’re interested or know someone who might be great at sharing their story, we encourage alumni to apply to be a CrossTalks speaker and inspire others with the connections you have made between your studies and the value you bring to the business world.

The 20th annual Women in Business Conference held this past Saturday, November 8th was a great success. The event was filled with an engaging keynote discussion, several insightful alumnae breakout sessions, and meaningful networking conversations. With registration nearing 300, the conference created a vibrant atmosphere for learning and celebrating the achievements of Holy Cross women across the industry. We are thrilled that so many participants joined us to share in this empowering experience!

To kick off the conference, Catherine Cote ‘18 guided attendees through a session focused on Activating Empathy: Human Connection for Career Success. She described how empathy is a critical factor in leadership success, strong team and company culture, and workplace wellbeing. Her statistics gave validation that empathy is a competitive edge.

During the keynote discussion, former classmates Kerry Ann Sullivan ‘95, Real Estate Agent at Pardee Properties, and Carol Donovan Juel ‘95, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Operating Officer of Synchrony, recalled their experiences as students. They explained how their liberal arts education applies in highly technical, rigorous, and leadership-oriented business careers. Carol offered valuable stories about pivotal moments in her career, and how transitioning between roles often offers a fulfilling risk-reward experience. Throughout the hour-long interview, both emphasized the importance of being curious, resilient, and brave over perfection throughout career opportunities, especially as women in business.

The conference featured five diverse breakout sessions that catered to the career interests and goals of our attendees.

• • The Psychology of Success: Utilizing EQ within Business – Speakers Michele Gasiewski ’02 and Katharine Quigley ’13 discussed the four foundational pillars of emotional intelligence and shared how their transitions from teaching roles to business-oriented positions reemphasized the importance of EQ in business. Their experiences highlight how emotional intelligence serves as a transferable skillset that transcends industry boundaries, making it essential for professional development regardless of career trajectory.
    
    
  • Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset for Career Flexibility – Alumnae Julie Halpin Anderson ’84 and Samantha Sweet ’21 shared how both success and failures have allowed them to create a mindset of curiosity and resilience, especially in an environment of so much uncertainty. Although they are from different generations, the two shared a way of viewing setbacks as learning opportunities, thus outlining how important this is to success no matter the economic or professional climate.  
    
    
  • Accounting for Growth: Expanding Horizons for Women in Accounting – Panelists Kathleen Brekenfeld ’06, Ashley Ayers ’17, and Meaghan Switzer ’09 shared how they overcame field-specific challenges to find positions that aligned with their interests. Their collective experience demonstrates that persistence and strategic positioning can help women navigate and reshape traditionally male-dominated fields.
    
    
  • Women Leaders in Retail & Consumer Goods – Katie Bullek ’14, Doreen Bucher ’19, Mallory Good ’09, and Kristen Buonassisi Mauthe ’12 highlighted the value of liberal arts skills in brand strategy and consumer engagement. The panelists discussed how by leveraging transferable skills, campus experiences, and strong alumni connections, they were able to break into an industry that they did not take courses on.
    
    
  • Communicating Complex Financial Topics in Uncertain Times –  Elizabeth Sundheim ’13, Elizabeth Randall ’82, Ann Hackney ’86, and Maura Murphy ’03 spoke about how they focus on building trust and developing strong relationships within their teams. With majors spanning from mathematics to Spanish, the speakers shared how the skills they gained in communication and critical thinking have been instrumental in their career growth. Further, it continues to shape their approaches to delivering messages, particularly about challenging financial topics.

Thank you to all of our amazing alumnae speakers, the student organizing committee, and the Holy Cross Women in Business network at large for contributing to an amazing day filled with learning opportunities, engaging conversations, and interactive experiences. With our alumnae participants representing 100+ organizations, including prestigious names such as JP Morgan and Boston Children’s Hospital, alongside theater, education and nonprofit professionals, the conference was filled with meaningful conversations throughout the day. The enthusiastic participation of all attendees and the positive feedback received reaffirm our commitment to creating spaces for growth, connection, and empowerment in the business community. We are already looking forward to next year’s event and the possibilities it will bring!

Stay connected via socials (@holycrosswib) and our LinkedIn group discussion. Learn more on wib.holycross.edu

Written by Lindsay Julia King ‘27

My name is Kevin Birenbaum and I am a senior at the College of the Holy Cross, majoring in International Studies. I first became interested in commercial real estate during my freshman year through the Real Estate Club where I also had the chance to connect with many of our incredible alumni in real estate. I interned at a boutique real estate investment shop called The Revival Companies after my sophomore year, and had the chance to intern at Taurus Investment Holdings, as an Industrial Acquisitions intern, after my junior year. As Co-Chair of the Real Estate Club, I’ve helped strengthen the student-alumni connection and deepen our campus engagement. Attending the 2025 Worcester State of the Market was the perfect opportunity to learn more about the city’s growing real estate landscape and see its exciting momentum firsthand. On October 30, 2025, Bisnow hosted a Worcester State of the Market event, bringing together developers, investors, and public officials to explore how Central Massachusetts, and Worcester in particular, is evolving into a hub of housing, innovation, and economic growth. The event showcased a shared sense of optimism, as speakers underscored Worcester’s transformation from a secondary market into one of the most dynamic real estate environments in New England.

Key Takeaways

Collaboration Drives Success: City officials and developers praised Worcester’s housing and development teams for being proactive, accessible, and solution-oriented.

Affordability Advantage: Worcester’s cost advantage over Boston continues to attract renters, investors, and developers alike.

Policy Support Matters: Incentives, flexible zoning, and streamlined permitting are critical to offset high construction costs and limited supply.

Adaptive & Mixed-Use Development: The city encourages transit-oriented and adaptive reuse projects to meet both market-rate and affordable housing needs.

Institutional Confidence: The entry of major investors signals growing confidence in Worcester’s long-term potential.

Zoning Reform: Higher-density zoning changes are unlocking new opportunities across corridors and neighborhoods.

Public-Private Partnerships: Continued collaboration between government and private stakeholders will be key to sustainable growth.

Worcester’s evolution is more than a ripple effect from Boston, it’s a reflection of strategic growth, civic collaboration, and economic maturity. With rising institutional interest, strong development fundamentals, and a clear municipal vision, Worcester is emerging as a self-sustaining destination for business, development, and community building. As new projects continue to reshape the skyline, the city’s momentum shows no signs of slowing, and I’m personally excited to see how this market evolves in the years ahead.

Written by Kevin Birenbaum ’26