Once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat! Below you'll find our most recent Alumni Spotlight interview.
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Alumni Spotlight: Dan Baumiller '97
Dan Baumiller graduated from Pitt-Greensburg in 1997 with a BS in business management.
What brought you to Pitt-Greensburg?
I had just completed my associates degree at Westmoreland County Community College and knew I wanted to get a bachelor's degree and still live at my grandparents in Arona. Pitt-Greensburg was the logical choice as it fit my needs at the time. I also had been a Pitt sports fan.
Were you a commuter or a resident?
Commuter
What activities were you involved with as a student?
I played flag football one year. I was older having completed four years in the US Navy before starting college, and I worked a full-time job while also going to school full-time.
Did you have a favorite professor, staff member, coach, or mentor that really impacted your life?
Well, I would mention two professors, Dr. Lucci, who I had for Calculus, was a great teacher. I met my wife Rebecca (Porada) ’98 in his class. Also, Professor Pratt--he taught all of the major business classes and was very knowledgeable.
Of all the classes you took, what is the one class that most impacted you or was your favorite? Why?
My favorite class was called Consumption with Professor Pratt. The final was a great tradition among his students. It’s one of those “If you know you know things.“
What do you remember most vividly from your time at Pitt-Greensburg?
Pitt-Greensburg is a great campus. You earn a degree from the University of Pittsburgh in a rural setting.
What have you been up to since graduation?
I started my career right after graduation as a manager at Kmart. I went on to be a manager at Office Max, Staples, and then finished my retail career back at Kmart. I now work for UNFI as a retail technology consultant based out of New Stanton.
How did your experiences and education at Pitt-Greensburg prepare you for life after college?
The supportive environment at Pitt-Greensburg allowed me to build meaningful relationships with faculty, staff, and peers. These connections lead to recommendations and lasting professional networks that helped me start in my career. Also, the smaller class sizes gave me strong critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills.
As an alum, how do you stay engaged with Pitt-Greensburg?
I donate to the college as I can, and I am a life alumni member. I wish I could do more, but making time is hard. My oldest daughter started at the Oakland campus last fall, and she is in the business and honors colleges with plans to earn her MBA and a law degree.
What advice do you have for your fellow Bobcats?
Transitioning from the classroom to the "real world" is rough. Networking is very crucial to getting a better job, and when you get that job, bring a good work ethic to everything you do.
For fun:
What is the last book you read? Overcaptain by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
List 3-5 fun facts about yourself that most people probably wouldn’t know.
- I love working on my motorcycles and building them.
- I am avidly into Volkswagens and own a 2001 Cabrio, on which I am working.
- I enjoy science fiction and fantasy books.