The East Amherst native came to the UB School of Management as a transfer student and in 2015 earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting. He now works as an audit intern in KPMG’s Buffalo office and will complete his Master of Science in accounting at the School of Management in 2016.

I transferred to UB during my junior year and learned it’s very important to get involved as early as possible. By getting to know your professors and participating in clubs, business fraternities, networking events and other activities, you will open up more opportunities and help maximize your experience at UB.

I joined the UB Accounting Association (UBAA) in the fall of 2013, my first semester at UB, and was the vice president of finance from 2014-15. I knew very little about opportunities in accounting before joining the club, so UBAA was extremely helpful in seeing the different kinds of careers and firms in the field. As a transfer student, it was also an excellent way to meet other students in the program and network with accounting professionals.

I enlisted in the Marine Corps right after high school, in July 2009. I was in the infantry as a reservist stationed in Buffalo with Company Charlie, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. I was activated in 2010, deploying to Afghanistan, and I’ve also trained in 29 Palms, California, Canada and Morocco. My contract was for six years and ended this July.

The Marines focus heavily on small-unit leadership, so communication and team skills are essential. These skills are imperative for any business or education setting.