Don Purdy

After 18 years, I've retired as the Director of UAlbany's MBA for Executives Program. I'll keep posting about what interests me. Glad to have you along.

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

New handle, same me: @donaldgpurdy. I'm wrapping up my run with the UAlbany MBA for Executives Program, so this account is now mine personally. I'll keep posting about what interests me and whatever else earns the space. Glad to have you along.

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

@dhairyapujara Thank you very much, @dhairyapujara !

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

New handle, same me: @donaldgpurdy. I'm wrapping up my run with the UAlbany MBA for Executives Program, so this account is now mine personally. I'll keep posting about what interests me and whatever else earns the space. Glad to have you along.

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

@DeniseFHoran It would be quite the trip to get there as we’ve relocated to Palmetto, FL, @DeniseFHoran !

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

@DeniseFHoran Thanks, @DeniseFHoran , and that's my plan!

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

The 2026 @ualbany #MBA for Executives cohort recently welcomed @JahnelGroup President Jon Keller into their Strategic Management class for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, company culture, and the hard-won lessons of building a thriving organization.

Of the many insights Jon shared, one in particular landed:

"Leadership is not other people's experience of you. It's their experience of themselves in your presence."

A powerful reframe, and exactly the kind of perspective that makes real-world voices like Jon's so valuable to the MBA for Executives experience. @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyBusiness @UAlbanyGradSch

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

After class on Friday, May 8, members of the 2027 @ualbany #MBA for Executives cohort traded case studies for spares and strikes at a different kind of MBA, a Maximum Bowling Activity at Kingpin's Alley in Latham.

The evening had two missions: building camaraderie ahead of the group's upcoming international residency in the Moroccan cities of Casablanca and Marrakesh, and celebrating Atom Barnes' birthday.

Human Resources Management instructor Patrick Reuss joined in the fun, fitting for a night focused on team chemistry.

Shared learning is amplified by shared experience, and the bonds formed before a trip like this one carry well beyond the classroom. @UAlbanyBusiness @UAlbanyGradSch @ualbanyalumni

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

Seven years in, and this event keeps getting better.

More than 50 members of the @ualbany #MBA for Executives family gathered at @wolfertsroostcc last week for our 6th Annual Alumni Networking Event, and the energy in that room was electric.

Keynote speaker @djahnel , CEO and Co-Founder of @JahnelGroup and one of the Capital Region's most compelling entrepreneurial voices, brought the house down. Seven consecutive years on the @Inc 5000. A culture-first company of 150 people. A UAlbany basketball career that landed him in the Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame. And a perspective on leadership that was worth every minute.

This is what the MBA for Executives Program is about. Not just the degree, the community. The conversations. The opportunities that it helps create. And the people who show up, year after year.

See you at the 7th! @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyBusiness @UAlbanyGradSch

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

We are proud to celebrate 2019 @ualbany #MBA for Executives graduate @pamelaleefisher on her appointment as Director, Field Marketing and Engagement at @MVPHealthCare ! She oversees sponsorships, partnerships, and brand activations that deepen organizational presence across MVP's footprint, ensuring every initiative aligns with the company's growth priorities and brand vision.

Most recently, she spent over four years at Hudson Headwaters Health Network, rising from Director of Community Relations to Director of External Affairs, leading community, media, and government relations across the region.

Pam credits her MBA experience as central to her leadership approach: "The MBA program reflected the importance of cross-functional collaboration and data-driven insights, tenets I rely upon every day to drive strategic decision-making." @UAlbanyBusiness @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyGradSch

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

@JimPascarell , President and CEO of Pivotal Optics, discusses Organizational Culture and Change with members of the 2027 @ualbany #MBA for Executives cohort in Dr. Lisa Baranik's Organizational Behavior class. @UAlbanyBusiness @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyGradSch

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

Another milestone for the 2026 @ualbany #MBA for Executives cohort: Change Management with Bob Downey is now complete. Over the past several weekends, this outstanding group dug into the dynamics of planned organizational change, examining how leaders recognize the need for change, create vision, navigate stakeholders and organizational politics, mobilize action, and help change take hold for the long term.

Courses like this are a powerful reminder that the MBA for Executives Program is about far more than earning a degree. It is about sharpening the ability to lead through complexity, uncertainty, and transformation.

Congratulations to the cohort on completing another meaningful step in what continues to be an incredible journey. Onward! @UAlbanyBusiness @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyGradSch

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

Marcus Ryan, a 2024 @ualbany Full-Time #MBA alum, has been promoted to Senior Analyst at Publicis Health Media. He had been with Publicis Colab as an Analyst since graduation.

Marcus describes data as a language, and in his role, he serves as the translator. From simplifying complex datasets to identifying meaningful trends tied to brand campaigns, he bridges the gap between analytics, strategy, investment teams, and clients to turn numbers into clear, actionable insights.

He credits the MBA with preparing him for the fast-paced, collaborative nature of his work: "Most classes required group work, which conditioned me for the cross-collaboration that happens on a daily basis." He also points to the importance of using his time in the program to pursue relevant internships, a move that opened the door to the industry he's thriving in today.
@UAlbanyBusiness @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyGradSch @tweetPHM

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

.@ualbany Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Research Dr. Lisa Baranik recently energized her #MBA for Executives' Organizational Behavior class with the iconic #MarshmallowChallenge, a hands-on activity that’s every bit as fun as it is insightful.

Teams raced the clock to engineer the tallest free-standing structure possible using only spaghetti sticks, tape, string, and one marshmallow that had to crown the top.

What looks like playful competition actually delivers powerful lessons in collaboration and communication, rapid prototyping and iterative problem-solving, challenging assumptions, and embracing failure as a stepping stone to growth.

By weaving this classic exercise into the curriculum, Lisa gave her students real-time experience with the dynamics of high-performing teams, the power of rapid experimentation, and the importance of open communication, essential skills that will help them lead confidently through today’s most complex organizational challenges. @UAlbanyBusiness @UAlbanyGradSch @ualbanyalumni

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

We are incredibly proud to celebrate 2025 @ualbany #MBA for Executives grad Tamika Richardson's appointment as Regional Manager, Field Marketing–Radiopharmaceuticals at GE HealthCare, where she is expanding access to advanced cardiac PET imaging and innovative radiopharmaceutical technologies across the Northeast.

"The program strengthened my strategic thinking, business leadership, and commercialization skills. The format made it possible to attend every other weekend while continuing to lead in a demanding role with extensive travel and family commitments," she said. "I would highly recommend this program to working professionals seeking to advance their careers and earn an MBA without stepping away from their professional or family responsibilities."

Tamika also highlighted something we hear again and again from our graduates, the power of the cohort experience. The relationships built through in-person collaboration don't end at graduation. They last a career.

To any working professional wondering whether now is the right time to pursue your MBA, Tamika's story may be your answer. @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyBusiness @UAlbanyGradSch

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

We are thrilled to share that 2021 @ualbany Evening #MBA alum and veteran Tim Williams became the franchise owner of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Greater Albany several months ago, where he has fittingly taken on the title of Chief Illumination Officer.

In this role, Tim is helping homeowners and businesses transform their outdoor spaces through custom architectural and landscape lighting that is both beautiful and energy-efficient, from creating a warm welcome to enhancing security and bringing properties to life after dark.

“The Evening MBA Program helped me develop the strategic vision and operational leadership skills that have been invaluable in navigating the complexities of business and franchise ownership,” he shared. “The program’s focus on real-world problem-solving and collaborative projects directly prepared me for taking on this new challenge.”

Tim's journey reflects the spirit of innovation and community impact that defines @UAlbanyBusiness MBA alumni. His future looks bright! @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyGradSch

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

2020 @ualbany Evening #MBA alum JP Redding has been promoted to Director of Finance & Operations at ADF Solutions, Inc.

JP joined ADF in 2021 as a Revenue Operations Specialist, advanced to Director of Operations in 2022, and now steps into a senior leadership position that combines operational excellence with financial strategy, a role that perfectly blends his professional experience and his MBA concentration in finance.

“In this role, I will utilize more of my financial skills learned during my time in the MBA program," he said. "I am now responsible not only for managing the day-to-day operations at ADF but also for leading all financial strategy and planning for the company's future. This role would not have been possible without the concentration of my MBA degree.”

JP shared that when discussing future career growth with his CEO, he emphasized the value of his MBA in finance, a conversation that helped open the door to this new leadership opportunity. “The UAlbany MBA has not only allowed me to stay competitive in this current job market, but also has opened doors to grow in my current company.”

And that's exactly what the UAlbany MBA is designed to do: give working professionals the skills and confidence to lead at the highest levels. @UAlbanyBusiness @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyGradSch

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

Kudos to 2015 @ualbany #MBA for Executives graduate Patrick Spooner on his new role as Senior Product Manager–Life Sciences at Savillex.

Patrick has built an impressive career in science, innovation, and product leadership. He has helped bring advanced technologies in gene therapy, cell line development, and biotechnology to market, translating complex science into impactful products that support innovation across the life sciences industry.

Now at Savillex, Patrick will lead product strategy for life sciences solutions, continuing his work driving innovation in critical tools and technologies used across biotechnology and research.

We’re proud to see another MBA for Executives alum making an impact in a rapidly evolving industry. @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyBusiness @UAlbanyGradSch

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

Congratulations to 2008 @ualbany #MBA for Executives graduate Dr. Pranabes Pramanik on his new role as Principal Engineer–Innovative & Sustainable Packaging/Materials Engineering at @SabertCorp .

He is leading R&D initiatives to build a more sustainable future for packaging and to create solutions that enhance performance, improve manufacturing efficiency, and reduce environmental impact.

In his MBA journey, Pranabes embraced the intersection of science, business strategy, and leadership, an approach he continues to demonstrate every day. His career reflects the spirit of program alumni: combining technical depth with executive insight to drive meaningful, real‑world impact. @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyBusiness @UAlbanyGradSch @PranabesP

[Don Purdy @donaldgpurdy]

The @ualbany #MBA for Executives Class of 2026 recently wrapped up another milestone on its extraordinary journey, Marketing Management with Ron Ladouceur. Over three intensive weekends, the cohort explored how marketing management is being reshaped by the internet, smartphones, remote work, targetable digital media, and AI, bringing these ideas to life through team projects, case discussions, and visits from six industry guests.​

From podcast ad analyses to full internal sales decks for regional brands, students rolled up their sleeves to practice real-world marketing strategy, creative development, and hands-on tools like desktop design, video production, website development, media buying, and analytics. Their final session and group photo capture not just the completion of a course, but also a community learning to harness the power of marketing to drive meaningful change in their organizations. @ualbanyalumni @UAlbanyBusiness @UAlbanyGradSch