Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career

What if a college class project became the foundation for your future career?

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumnus Paul Parks, owner of Frisbie's Dairy Barn, to discuss his unique path to entrepreneurship. What began as a classroom assignment eventually evolved into a real business opportunity, proving that some of the most impactful career experiences can start right in the classroom.

Paul shares the challenges of moving from academic recommendations to real-world business ownership, the lessons he learned through hands-on experience, and the realities of entrepreneurship that often go unseen. He discusses the importance of adaptability, sales, leadership, customer service, networking, and taking action, even when the path forward isn't perfectly clear.

Whether you're dreaming of starting your own business, exploring entrepreneurship, or simply interested in how ideas become reality, this episode offers valuable insights into building a business and creating opportunities from unexpected places.

What does it take to build a successful career in the highly competitive sports industry and how do you know when it's time to pivot?

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumnus Dan Saucier '12, Director of Enterprise Partnerships at drvn and member of the Nichols Sport Management Advisory Board. Dan reflects on his journey from student-athlete and Sport Management major to building a career focused on partnerships, relationship management, and business development.

Dan shares insights into the realities of working in sports, including the importance of internships, networking, sales, sponsorships, and being willing to start small while building experience. He also discusses a major career transition moving from the sports industry into a new field—and the transferable skills that helped him navigate that change successfully.

Listeners will gain practical advice on building meaningful professional relationships, standing out in competitive industries, handling rejection, and remaining adaptable in today's evolving workforce. Whether you're pursuing a career in sports or exploring a completely different field, Dan's experience offers valuable lessons for professionals at any stage of their career journey.

What can you do with a communications degree? More than you might think.

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumna Hope Rudzinski, Community & School Outreach Coordinator for the Worcester County District Attorney's Office. Hope shares how her background in English and Communications helped shape a career focused on building relationships, engaging communities, and connecting with diverse audiences.

 Hope discusses the wide variety of opportunities available to communication majors and explains why communication skills continue to be among the most sought-after competencies in today's workforce. From public speaking and networking to writing, relationship-building, and professional presence, she shares practical advice for students looking to strengthen these critical skills.

 The conversation also explores how technology and artificial intelligence are influencing communication careers, the skills that are becoming even more valuable in a digital world, and what students can do now to prepare for success in communication-focused professions.

 Whether you're a communications major or simply want to become a stronger communicator, this episode offers valuable insights for any student preparing to enter the workforce.

When most people think of criminal justice careers, they often think of law enforcement, but the field offers far more opportunities than many students realize.

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumna and double Bison Brianna Gill, who earned both her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and her Master's Degree in Counterterrorism before launching a career in security and intelligence. Today, Brianna works in Global Safety & Security Intelligence at Wayfair, where she helps address security challenges on an international scale.

Brianna shares her career journey, discusses how her education prepared her for work in security intelligence, and explains what a typical day looks like in her current role. She also explores the many career paths available to criminal justice majors, the skills employers seek in security and intelligence professionals, and how the field is evolving in response to emerging global threats.

Whether you're interested in criminal justice, intelligence, security, risk management, or simply exploring career options beyond traditional paths, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for students preparing for their future careers.

What does it take to rise from frontline hospitality roles toexecutive leadership?

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumnus Dom Librandi, Executive Director at Christopher Heights, to discuss his career journey and the lessons he's learned along the way. With a background in Hospitality Management, Dom shares how people-focused skills, leadership development, and a commitment to continuous learning helped him advance into senior management.

Dom explores the many career paths available within hospitality, the realities of upper-level management, and why hospitality skills are some of the most transferable competencies in today's workforce. He also discusses the importance of networking, professionalism, problem-solving, and gaining hands-on experience early in your career.

Whether you're interested in hospitality, management, healthcare administration, or leadership in any industry, this episode offers valuable insights into building a career centered on serving others and leading with purpose.

Thinking about graduate school? Interested in psychology, counseling, or helping professions?

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumna Heather Gauvin, who is completing her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Merrimack College. Heather shares her journey from earning a psychology degree at Nichols to pursuing advanced education and a career dedicated to supporting others.

Together they discuss the wide range of careers available in psychology and mental health, the skills needed to succeed in helping professions, and common misconceptions about the field. Heather also offers an inside look at the graduate school application process, including how to prepare strong applications, choosing the right program, and navigating the transition from undergraduate to graduate education.

Whether you're considering graduate school, exploring careers in mental health, or simply curious about what it's like to pursue a counseling degree, this episode provides practical advice and valuable insights from someone currently living the experience.

What happens when you combine a passion for leadership, public service, and lifelong learning?

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumnus Tyler Dunn, a Technical Support Specialist at Kennebec Savings Bank and a Selectman for the Town of Mount Vernon, Maine. Tyler's journey is anything but traditional, from earning three degrees at Nichols to serving in local government while still in college.

Tyler discusses how his experiences in economics, management, political science, leadership studies, and campus involvement helped prepare him for both professional and civic leadership. He shares what it's really like to run for office at a young age, oversee municipal budgeting, and balance multiple responsibilities while building a career.

Listeners will also gain valuable insights into transferable skills, networking, public service, leadership development, and the importance of staying open to unexpected career opportunities. This episode is a great reminder that your degree doesn't define your future, your willingness to learn, lead, and get involved does.

How can students prepare for careers in a world increasingly shaped by data and artificial intelligence

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College toCareer, Beth is joined by Damien Cabral, Co-Founder and President of PrepU, and Dustin Cabral, Senior Practice Director of Data Visualization and Analytics at Cleartelligence. Together, they explore how analytics, data literacy, and AI are transforming business and creating new opportunities for the next generation of professionals.

Damien and Dustin break down complex concepts into practical advice, discussing why analytics is no longer just for technical professionals, how businesses are using data to drive decisions, and what students should understand about AI's growing role in the workplace. They also share insights on the skills employers are seeking, the importance of critical thinking and communication, and how students can stand out in a competitive, technology-driven job market.

Whether you're interested in business, data analytics, technology, or simply want to understand how AI may impact your future career, this episode offers valuable guidance on preparing for the future of work.

Can you turn a creative passion into a successful business? This week on Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumnus Austin DuVarney, founder of DuVarney Film and Photo, to discuss how he transformed his love for photography and videography into a thriving entrepreneurial career.

Austin shares his journey from student to business owner, including the experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, the challenges of building a business from the ground up, and the realities of working for yourself. He also discusses the importance of networking, personal branding, adaptability, and learning to balance creativity with the practical side of running a business.

Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, the creative industries, freelancing, or simply pursuing work you're passionate about, this episode offers valuable insights and encouragement for students and young professionals looking to carve their own path.

In this solo episode, host Beth Gionfriddo, Director of Career Operations at Nichols College, reintroduces the podcast, shares updates from the past year, and talks about the exciting things ahead for the Career and Professional Development Center.

Beth also dives into some of the most important career lessons every college student should know, including:

• Why getting involved on campus matters
• The power of networking before you need it
• How internships and experiential learning can shape your future
• Building a strong personal brand and LinkedIn presence
• Making the most of your college experience

Whether you're a first-year student just starting your journey or a senior preparing for graduation, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you turn your college experience into career success.

 Season 4 will feature alumni stories, employer insights, career advice, leadership lessons, and real-world strategies to help students move confidently from college to career.

 Tune in and let's get started!