St. Petersburg College Alumni Network Celebrates a Decade-Long Partnership with Universal Financial Consultants
6/4/2024
By Theresa McFarland
The St. Petersburg College Alumni Network (SPCAN), in collaboration with St. Petersburg College Workforce, Community, & Corporate Partnerships, recently co-hosted a memorable Community Partnership Appreciation Ceremony. This special event, held on May 7, 2024, celebrated the 10-year partnership between St. Petersburg College (SPC) and Universal Financial Consultants (UFC).
Theresa McFarland, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving Program, and Sara Sabourin, Business Relationship Manager, facilitated the event, showcasing the successful collaboration initiated by Jeff Mowry. Mowry, a double SPC alum (Class of 1998 and 2014) and now UFC's Senior Financial Designer, proposed recruiting students from SPC's capstone projects program. His vision has profoundly impacted both SPC students and UFC's workforce, creating a mutually beneficial relationship. Reflecting on SPC's capstone projects program, Mowry remarked, "My degree from SPC prepared me for the job I have now. The program taught me to think beyond the normal set of circumstances and apply a creative side to number analysis. That's actually what's needed in our field today."
UFC operates as a financial marketing organization, specifically supporting and empowering established financial advisors across the nation. Their focus is on helping advisors achieve their professional goals. The corporation boasts about building strong relationships with their partners, providing top-notch marketing and sales support. Overall, Universal Financial Consultants acts as a behind-the-scenes partner for financial advisors, providing the tools and support they need to be successful.
The SPC capstone projects, which are facilitated by Drs. Robin Wilber, Tom Phillipe, Roni Murphy and Wende Huehn-Brown, have become a critical pipeline for UFC’s talent acquisition. Each semester, UFC awards the winning capstone project with a $1,000 prize through the UFC Analysis Accuracy Award, recognizing outstanding student work and encouraging analytical excellence.
This year's Community Partnership Appreciation ceremony was especially notable as it coincided with UFC’s annual Analysis Accuracy Award ceremony. SPC and UFC shared the festivities under the theme "Building Bridges: Nurturing Alumni Pathways and Workforce Development." The Building Bridges ceremony celebrates the enduring partnership between SPC and local businesses, emphasizing the value of employing SPC graduates. Impressively, nearly two-thirds of UFC’s workforce is comprised of SPC alumni.
During the ceremony, UFC was honored with the SPC Alumni Network Building Bridges Award, acknowledging their exceptional support and collaboration with the college. Melissa Vigil, an SPC alum from the classes of 2014 and 2017, was awarded the SPCAN Outstanding Alumni Employee for a Community Partner Award for her dedication to the capstone program and her exemplary work at UFC as a Financial Designer, Marketing Support & Business Data Analyst.
In a heartfelt tribute to honor Dr. Robin Wilber, a recently retired Professor of Finance from SPC, Jeff Mowry announced the renaming of the UFC Analysis Accuracy Award to the Dr. Robin Wilber Analysis Accuracy Award. This renaming acknowledges Dr. Wilber’s invaluable contributions to the capstone program and her pivotal role in nurturing the talents of countless students.
The event was well-received, featuring special appearances from Vince Munno, UFC President/CEO and Founder, Jorge Villar, UFC Director of Advisor Development and both Alfredo Gonzales and Andrew Wonch, former SPC capstone students who now serve on UFC's Design Team. Each speaker shared inspiring stories about the transformative impact of SPC’s programs and the robust partnership with UFC.
The Community Partnership Appreciation Ceremony underscored the strength of the collaboration between SPC and UFC, highlighting how alumni engagement and corporate partnerships can drive workforce development and create lasting benefits for students and the community.
For more information about the SPC Alumni Network and upcoming events, please visit the SPC Alumni Network stpe.co/AlumniLife or contact the SPC Alumni Network Program Office at (727) 341-3126.
Stay connected as we continue to build bridges and nurture pathways for future generations of SPC graduates.
