In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, I’m joined by Billy O’Malley, a 2011 Nichols College graduate who now serves as the Regional Director of Marketing at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Nevada.

Billy walks us through his career journey after graduation, sharing how his path evolved from early professional roles into leadership in sports, events, and venue marketing. We discuss what his current role looks like day to day, how his background in Sport Management and sponsorship activation translated into event marketing and venue operations, and the lessons he learned by growing into each role along the way.

We also explore talk about Internships, campus experiences, and early roles he has had as well as the skills that are most critical for success in sports and entertainment marketing.

Bill shares thoughtful, practical advice for students and emerging professionals interested in sports marketing, event marketing, sponsorship, and venue operations, along with actionable steps students can take now to move closer to their goals.

In this episode I’m joined by Marissa Bastian, who works in the education sector and previously served as the Director of Tutoring at Nichols College.

Marissa shares her career path and offers a candid look at her recent experience going through a layoff and job search. We spend time discussing practical, real-world advice for navigating uncertainty, staying organized during a job search, and approaching the process with intention and resilience.

This episode is especially valuable for students and early career professionals interested in education, ed tech, student support roles, or anyone who wants honest insight into the job search process.

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, I’m joined by Oscar Chavez, a Career and Transfer Counselor, for an engaging and insightful conversation about careers in higher education, student support, and practical career development advice.

Oscar shares his career path across multiple areas of higher education—including admissions, advising, and career services—and explains how those experiences shape the way he supports students navigating academic decisions, transfer pathways, and career exploration. We discuss what his dayto- day work looks like, the skills that matter most in student facing roles, and how professionals continue to grow in an evolving career landscape.

Oscar also shares the value of mentorship, reflects on influential people in his own career journey, and offers encouragement for students who may feel behind oruncertain about their future.

This episode is especially valuable for students who are exploring majors or are looking for realistic, supportive guidance as they plan their next steps.

In this episode of Season Three, I’m joined by Dom Coppola, an alum who earned both his undergraduate and master’s degree from Nichols College. After completing his graduate program, Dom worked as a Graduate Assistant in Admissions before transitioning into risk management at an insurance firm.

Dom shares his career journey, what risk management work looks like on a day-to-day basis, and how his graduate school and campus employment experiences helped prepare him for the professional world. We also discuss practical advice for students considering graduate school, campus roles, or careers in insurance and risk management.

Topics include:

• Leveraging graduate school and the GA experience for career growth
• Transitioning from higher education to industry
• What risk management professionals do in insurance firms
• Career advice for students exploring business, insurance, or risk-related fields

In this episode, I’m joined by Amber Basso, an alum who works in recruiting to talk about what the recruiting profession looks like day to day—and what students should know if they want to stand out as candidates.

We discuss her daily responsibilities as a recruiter, common mistakes she sees students make, and best practices for resumes, interviews, and professional communication. We also spend time focused on career fair preparation, sharing timely advice for students as an upcoming Career Fair approaches.

Topics include:

• What recruiters do on a day to day basis
• How recruiters evaluate candidates
• Resume, Interview and follow up best practices
• Practacle tips for attending and navigating career Fairs

This episode is especially helpful for students who are preparing for a career fair, actively job searching, or simply want to better understand the recruiting process from the employer’s perspective.

In this episode of Season Three, I’m joined by two Criminal Justice alumni who have taken very different career paths—one now works as a lawyer, and the other works in Intelligence.

Together, they share insights into their respective industries, what their day-to-day work looks like, and how their Criminal Justice background helped prepare them for careers outside of traditional law enforcement roles. We also discuss the education, skills, and experiences that helped them get where they are today, along with practical career advice for students exploring options within (and beyond) Criminal Justice.

This episode is especially valuable for students interested in law, Intelligence, criminal justice, public safety, or alternative career pathways.

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough, I’m joined by an alum John Thomasina who began his career working in the finance field before transitioning into banking. Today, he serves as the President of a bank.

We talk through his career progression, how he made strategic moves within the financial services industry, and the experiences that helped position him for leadership. He also shares practical advice for students who are interested in finance, banking, and long-term career growth in this field.

This episode is especially valuable for students interested in finance, banking, accounting, economics, or business leadership, and for those who want to understand what long-term career growth can look like in financial services.

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough, I’m joined by Janina Messerlian, who works in her family-owned jewelry business, focusing on marketing, boutique events, and business operations.

Janina shares her experience on the Hill, her background in business, and how those experiences shaped her current role. We talk about what it’s really like to work in a family business, how marketing and events drive brand engagement, and the skills students should focus on if they’re interested in entrepreneurship, marketing, retail, or event-based roles.

This episode is a great fit for students who are curious about business ownership, marketing, event planning, and non-traditional career paths.

In the first episode of Season Three, I sit down with Devin Bailey, a professional working at the intersection of marketing and real estate. Devin shares her career journey, how she navigated transitions between industries, and the role transferable skills played in shaping her path.

This episode is especially helpful for students who are interested in marketing, real estate, sales, or business-related careers, and for anyone trying to figure out how to turn academic experiences into real-world opportunities.

In the final episode of Season 2, I sit down with Nichols alum Robby Binnall, who works in the Career Office at a State University in New York—helping students navigate the job search every day.

Robbyshares his own career journey and offers practical,proven strategies for students about to start applying forinternships, jobs, and post-grad opportunities. 

In this episode, we cover:

• Job search dos and don’ts from someone who reads student resumes daily
• How to approach networking, interviews, and follow-up
• Tips to stand out in a competitive job market
• Encouragement for students feeling overwhelmed by the process

This episode is the perfect sendoff to Season 2—full of smart advice, career coaching energy, and helpful reminders that you don’t have to go it alone. We hope you learn a little something – we will see you in Spring 2026 for Season 3 of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career.