Meet the Inaugural Alumni Under 40 Class at Daemen
In this special issue of Daemen Today, we introduce you to our inaugural Daemen College Under 40 Class. These honorees are some of our most inspiring, promising, accomplished, ambitious, and creative young alumni, who truly personify the excellence of a Daemen education.
While their individual journeys all started at Daemen, these graduates are forging their own distinctive paths and pursuing endeavors that make them stand out. Here, we celebrate this group of young alumni who have made a great impact in their respective fields and in their professional roles — robotic surgery, professional basketball, Grammy-nominated design, cancer patient care, innovative education, physical therapy, and critically-acclaimed films, to name a few. They are the inaugural Daemen Under 40 Class.
Anthony Jones ’01, Esq.
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Sport Management
Founder and Partner | The Jones Firm LLP | New York, N.Y.
His entrepreneurial endeavors started while still a Williamsville South High School student when he started working with local DJs in the music business. Later recruited for the basketball team at Daemen College, Jones earned a full scholarship and played as a shooting guard during several winning seasons, including a national tournament appearance. Continue Reading »
Chadwick Hopson ’10
Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Administration and Sport Management (Minor in Theater Arts)
Writer, Producer, Director | The Knights Young Production Company | Sherman Oaks, Calif.
To see how far Hopson has come since that acting debut, fast forward to last fall when he was named Best Leading Actor in a Feature Film at the Utah Film Awards—and he is continuing to draw attention. Continue Reading »
Tiffany Goldwire ’08
Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Studies — Community Health Specialization
Clinical Sessions Coordinator | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | New York City, N.Y.
While her position as a clinical sessions coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center involves mainly computer work and administration, she notes her role is critical to ensuring a good patient experience. And she cares deeply about that. Continue Reading »
Dr. Geoffrey Abraskin ’02, ’05
Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Sciences and Doctor of Physical Therapy
For Dr. Geoffrey Abraskin it is all about relationships.
Whether it’s the connections he made as a student at Daemen College, the bonds between him and his physical therapy patients, or the interactions with the personnel he supervises in his current position, Abraskin believes relationships are keys to success in life. Continue Reading »
Dr. Joseph Gravino ’13,’15
Co-Owner | Elite Spine and Extremity Physical Therapy | Buffalo, N.Y.
Dr. Joseph Gravino is focused on providing value-based health care.
Co-owner of Elite Spine and Extremity Physical Therapy in Amherst, Gravino founded the practice with Dr. Michael Brown, assistant professor of physical therapy at Daemen College. Striving to provide health care that is measured by the value provided to the patient, their practice focuses on individualized, tailored care provided in a one-on-one setting. This unique approach of assessment and treatment allows Gravino to assess the entire patient rather than one particular injury. Continue Reading »
Tara Schafer ’05
Executive Director | Literacy New York Buffalo-Niagara, Inc. | Buffalo, N.Y.
Tara Schafer explains that there are more than 90,000 adults in the Buffalo Niagara region who have trouble with reading and writing.
This includes recently relocated refugees and immigrants in the area who may not speak or read English. Schafer is working to close the book on that number. Continue Reading »
Gerald Beverly ’15
Professional Basketball Player | Canton Charge (G league team of Cleveland Cavaliers) | Canton, Ohio
Gerald Beverly plays basketball for the same organization as LeBron James.
While Beverly has met James, he has not played hoops with him, at least not yet. That’s because Beverly, the former star of Daemen College’s men’s basketball team, is working toward playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) one day. Continue Reading »
Amie Peterson Caster ’03,’04,’05
Co-Founder and Director of Operations | REACH Academy Charter School | Buffalo, N.Y.
Amie Peterson Caster is surrounded by scholars.
That’s what the faculty and staff call the students at REACH Academy Charter School in Buffalo, a school co-founded by Peterson Caster. Located near downtown on the city’s East Side, REACH Academy gives families another choice for their child’s education. Continue Reading »
Annie Stoll ’08
Art Director | Sony Music Entertainment/Arcade Creative | New York City, N.Y.
When Annie Stoll was highlighted in DaemenToday in 2014, she had just been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best CD Recording Package.
Stoll was the youngest graphic designer in more than 20 years to be nominated for a Grammy and the recognition came for work she did for the group Geneseo. Today, the recognition keeps coming. Continue Reading »
Dr. Megan Herr ’09
Assistant Professor of Oncology | Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center | Buffalo, N.Y.
Dr. Megan Herr doesn’t like mice.
However, it was those small creatures that actually pointed her on the career path that would ultimately lead to her current work in cancer research. Continue Reading »
Michael Patane ’05
Physician Assistant Coordinator, Robotic Surgery | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | New York City, N.Y.
Michael Patane jokes that all his years of playing video games have paid off.
That’s because today he works with consoles and computers of a different kind, in the field of robotic surgery. Patane is physician assistant coordinator for Minimal Access and Robotic Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Continue Reading »
Sara Vescio ’03
Executive Director | Women’s Business Center at Canisius College | Buffalo, N.Y.
Sara Vescio leads the way for women entrepreneurs.
As executive director of the Women’s Business Center (WBC) at Canisius College, she and her team work with local women entrepreneurs to help them learn to grow their small businesses into strong, thriving ventures, while connecting them with resources that will further promote success. Continue Reading »
Stephanie Foreman ’07
Insurance Representative | AAA Western and Central New York | Williamsville, N.Y.
Stephanie Foreman assists clients with an array of insurance needs as a representative at AAA Western and Central New York.
She has also helped hundreds with their career futures as founder of the Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals. Continue Reading »
Ashley Curry Keppel ’10,’13
Clinical Nurse Manager | Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center | Buffalo, N.Y.
For Ashley Curry Keppel, it was 1+2+1 that equaled an opportunity to accelerate her nursing education and start doing what she loves best — caring for people.
Growing up in the small town of Ransomville, N.Y., Keppel attended Wilson High School where she first participated in an allied health program. The students visited area hospitals as part of the program, sparking her early interest in the medical field. Continue Reading »
