Dr. Christopher Duddy, Dentist

Ironically, Dr. Duddy was scared of the dentist as a child.  Perhaps as a way to overcome that fear, he decided while in high school that he wanted to become a dentist.  Dr. Duddy graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry.  He went on to graduate from the prestigious dental program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.  Dr. Duddy takes great pride in his ability to make people smile better, and without pain.

Listen as Dr. Duddy describes a “typical day” for him practicing general dentistry, meaning that every day brings the unexpected.  He shares a Valentine’s Day war story that involves a friend, wisdom teeth, his wife and a Broadway show!  In addition, Dr. Duddy offers tips for those listeners who want to go into the field of dentistry.  We hope this podcast gives you information that you can sink your teeth into about becoming a dentist!

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Mary Dann, Wedding Planner

Mary graduated from Fullerton College in California, a two year junior college, with an Associate in Arts degree in Visual Merchandising.  She went on to study at California State University, Chico (commonly called Chico State), and majored in business administration.  Mary worked as a waitress in order to put herself through both Fullerton College and Chico State.  After working in the hospitality industry and starting her wedding planning business, Mary went to graduate school at Antioch University in Marina del Rey, CA, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology.

In the podcast, Mary explains her path to becoming a wedding planner, which began at the tender age of 5 when she wanted to make something special for her guests!  Mary’s first stop after college was at the Ritz Carlton, where she made wonderful contacts and learned about the wedding business from the perspective of the venue.  She started Mary Dann Wedding & Party Coordinators in 1991, with weddings being her specialty.  In order to be able to give the tools for emotional support to her brides, Mary became a licensed marriage therapist.  She feels that college prepared her well for being an entrepreneur, as she learned skills in multitasking and finance, as well as gained her independence.

Listen as Mary describes a “typical day” for her, balancing her family and work lives.  She shares a war story from her early days as a wedding planner, and another one captured on the television show “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?”  In addition, Mary expresses her surprises in the field and offers tips for budding wedding planners.  We hope this very informative podcast gives you insight into the exciting and fun – but also challenging and stressful – career as a wedding planner.

Mary’s book, “Wedding Wisdom” is available at www.amazon.com.  If you prefer to receive your hardcover book autographed by Mary, go to www.marydann.com/book.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

During the podcast, Mike gives a historical overview of private tutoring as mainly for the affluent members of society.  In today’s world, many students are taking advantage of private tutoring as a way to either help understand topics taught in class, or to stimulate academic challenges, or to help achieving students score even higher on standardized tests ranging from the SAT to the ACT to AP exams.  Having a tutor is seen as a cool, status symbol.

Listen as Mike offers insightful questions that you should ask any prospective tutor before making a hiring decision.  One of the most important questions to ask is the teaching methodology of the tutor, or the tutoring center, you are considering.  Specifically, you will want to know if the private tutoring is curriculum-based or is constructed around your child’s exact needs.  Simply because tutoring is going to be one-on-one does not necessarily mean that the sessions will be tailored to the student’s needs.

Mike provides you with great information when you are starting to search for a tutor.  The benefits of private, non-curriculum based tutoring, such as offered at Top-Tier Tutoring, are well documented and, in many cases, dramatic.  Of course, the tutor cannot do the student’s homework, but working together as a team, superior results can be achieved.

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Abe Kasbo, Marketing & PR Professional

In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are pleased to welcome Abe Kasbo, founder and CEO of the integrated marketing and public relations firm Verasoni Worldwide located in Fairfield, New Jersey.  Verasoni delivers meaningful strategies and campaigns across traditional and new media for its clients located in the United States, Canada and the Middle East.

Abe was born in Syria and emigrated to the United States at the age of 10.  He holds both a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in English, as well as a Masters in Public Administration (health care track), from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.  Abe decided upon his undergraduate major because he was always interested in political discourse to understand why things work as they do in a society.  An undergraduate professor guided him to his post-graduate area of study.  Notably, Abe worked full-time on Wall Street while attending graduate school full-time.

In the podcast, Abe explains his circuitous path to the founding of Verasoni, which included stops at Wall Street, teaching, a technology firm and the marketing departments at a couple of hospitals.  Essentially self-taught in marketing and PR, he approaches each project both as a professional and a student in order to become the best client advocate.  His experience has given him a perspective on how a business ought to communicate with its customers, and Abe builds campaigns based on business objectives.

Listen as Abe describes a “typical day” for him as a marketing and PR professional.  He shares a hair-raising war story about how he turned “get the Hell out!” into a positive experience.  In addition, Abe expresses his surprises in the field and offers tips for those contemplating following in his footsteps, including how his formal education has been brought to bear on his current vocation.  We hope this very informative podcast gives you insight into the dynamic field of marketing and public relations, and perhaps sets you upon a new course for your career.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Mike Rivera, college counselor, with student

You probably have heard the term “college counseling” bandied about in several different contexts.  During this podcast, Mike discusses what is encompassed by this term – guiding high school students through the college application process, understanding the student’s interests, goals and ambitions, recommending classes, extracurricular activities and volunteer work, crafting a college list, counseling about the required essays, obtaining recommendations, coordinating college visits, preparing for the college interview – the list goes on and on!  College counseling also includes managing expectations and setting reasonable goals, both for the student and the parents.  The best part of college counseling, Mike admits, is celebrating acceptances.

During the podcast, Mike does offer a word of caution.  No college counselor can offer a guarantee of admission to a particular college or university.  Please keep this fact in mind when looking for a qualified college counselor!

This podcast offers great information about the college counseling experience.  At Top-Tier, we take a holistic view of the student, and our aim is to match the student with the right college for him or her.  College counseling can be started as early as freshman year in high school, as it is never too early to plan ahead.

We welcome you to contact us to set up your complimentary initial meeting in order to take advantage of Top-Tier Tutoring’s college counseling service, either in person at our center in West Orange, NJ, or anywhere in the United States via Skype.  We look forward to going over all of the details and putting your son or daughter on the path to college admissions success!

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Wendy is a graduate of Bowling Green State University in her home state of Ohio.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in interpersonal public communications, with a minor in marketing.  Wendy credits college with bringing her out of her shell and teaching her discipline, as she went full-time while working two jobs.

In the podcast, Wendy explains how she became interested in being a health insurance broker, which entails servicing her clients through education, administration of their plans, claims assistance and renewals as well as being a small business owner and growing her business.  Listen as Wendy discusses her biggest surprises in the field as being the strategy and creativity needed to help her clients navigate the health insurance maze.  She also shares an astounding “war story” and offers tips for people considering a career as a health insurance broker.

In addition, Wendy offers her insights into the changes in the health care system under the recently enacted law.  She notes immediate and welcome changes such as dependents up to 26 years old being covered under their parent’s plan, small employers receiving tax credits and no pre-existing condition limitations.  The changes coming in 2014 are still being hammered out, even though she believes there will be a role for brokers.

We hope this podcast gives you insight into becoming a health insurance broker, an interesting career path especially in today’s changing times.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Listen as Mike explains the logistics of how the service will work.  Using Skype, the popular web-telecommunication free software made popular by Oprah Winfrey, Top-Tier Tutoring’s college counselors will be able to work directly with your son or daughter.  Students will receive the same guidance, only instead of being across the table, your child will be looking at his or her counselor live via webcam.  Of course, you can feel free to sit in on the session as well!

The college counseling service that your student will receive over the internet is identical to that being offered in our office.  Your son to daughter will receive help with creating a college list, generating a schedule for taking standardized tests, developing an academic resume, reviewing summer experiences and opportunities, discussing approaches to the personal essay, obtaining teacher recommendations, preparing for the college interview, coordinating application submissions, and much, much more!  The student will meet with the counselor at the appointed time, over the internet, as well as have access to the counselor via phone and email in between sessions.  We look forward to working with students from Maine to Florida, and Maryland to California!

Please contact us to set up your complimentary initial meeting in order to take advantage of Top-Tier Tutoring’s college new counseling service.  We look forward to going over all of the details and putting your son or daughter on the path to college admissions success!

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Joseph Mitzenmacher, Law Librarian

In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are pleased to welcome Joseph Mitzenmacher, a Reference and Electronic Services Librarian at Loyola University Chicago School of Law in Chicago, Illinois, http://www.luc.edu/law_library/.

Joe holds both a B.A. in Economics and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Upon graduating from law school, he practiced law for a few years but did not find it to be as satisfying as he had hoped.  After doing some research, he found the related field of law librarian and obtained his Master’s Degree in Library Science from Dominican University.

In the podcast, Joe explains that a law librarian assumes an educational role by answering reference questions and teaching legal research classes.  He also acts as a liason with the faculty as well as with electronic service vendors.  Listen as Joe discusses a typical day for him in the library, shares his surprises in the field and offers a “war story” about hunting down a source for a King Henry VIII statute about coining money.  In addition, Joe provides excellent tips and recommendations for those listeners considering a very rewarding career as a law librarian.

We hope this podcast gives you insight into becoming a law librarian, a challenging field that combines a law degree with teaching and research in an academic field.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

When faced with answering the question about where they are going to apply to college, many high school sophomores and juniors feel at a loss.  The process of creating a comprehensive and appropriate list can be daunting.  Crafting a list based upon name recognition or where friends are attending will not yield the best results for the individual student.  The podcast takes aim at this topic and offers concrete guidelines to help you on your quest.

Mike first asks you to look inward.  What are your general areas of interest?  Do you want to be close to home?  Are you interested in a city or a rural setting?  How important are job placement and internships to you?  Mike identifies many more factors in the podcast.  Mike’s advice:  take a self-assessment before jumping into books, the web and college fairs!

Once you have a master list, so to speak, now it’s time to refine it.  In order to narrow your list down to the 8 to 12 colleges to which you will actually apply, you should look for reach, match and safety schools, with the highest number being in the “match” category.  Then, time and budget permitting, try to visit each of these campuses and take great notes – you may need them to help you decide among your acceptances!

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Amy Gideon, Internet Professional.

Amy discusses how she didn’t really apply herself in high school and, as a result, attended Hofstra University for one year before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business.  Knowing that she wanted to transfer, she worked diligently at Hofstra, achieving a 4.0 GPA.  At the University of Pennsylvania, Amy double majored in Decision Science (now called Information Science) and Finance.  It was at the University of Pennsylvania that she met her future husband and business partner at Tag Online, Andrew.  Both she and Andrew earned their Masters Degrees in Computer Science from New York University.

In the podcast, Amy discusses how she was involved with the internet well before it was available for mass consumption.  She also outlines her progression from programmer to sales and marketing at TAG Online.  In her current role, she also manages client and staff.  Listen as Amy shares her surprises in her industry as well as some potentially horrifying war stories.  Amy offers advice for those thinking about a career as an internet professional:  do what you love and learn it inside and out.

We hope this podcast provides you with food for thought if you are interested in a career as an internet professional – a truly dynamic and evolving field!

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere career day podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Mike Rivera recording this podcast

In this podcast, Mike Rivera – co-founder, tutor and college counselor with Top-Tier Tutoring – responds to a recent article published on SmartMoney.com, which has been picked up and disseminated on the web in various forms.  The article, entitled “10 Things College-Prep Advisors Won’t Tell You” identifies ten allegedly deceptive practices of the college counseling industry.  To read the full article, click here.

In his rebuttal, Mike debunks each of the ten topics brought up in the article.  For example, in responding to the “your high school guidance counselor can do this for free” argument, he references the study by Dr. Patricia McDonough that determined a high school student will spend approximately 38 minutes per year with his or her guidance counselor for college advising.  Click here to read Dr. McDonough’s comprehensive study.  He also points to the recent Public Agenda report, “Can I Get A Little Advice Here?”  This report finds that six in ten young adults who had gone on to further education gave their high school counseling poor grades for college advice.  To go to the Public Agenda report, click here.  Clearly, you get what you pay for.

This podcast is not a rant, but rather a thoughtful reply to a superficial article.  Mike points out when the article is correct, but wants our listeners to understand the limitations of the guidance department – and those of independent counselors as well.

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Corinna was born in Hamburg, Germany, and studied at the Villa Pierrefeu near Montreux, Switzerland and at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.  She earned a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts (“BFA”) in Theater and Communications from the University of Miami.  She feels that her BFA prepared her well for the corporate world because it gave her a broad education in areas of study like communications, English literature, etc.  She also received a great introduction to the theater by building sets and creating costumes; she learned how to make it “magic.”

In the podcast, Corinna explains the different roles that a producer and a director perform for a project.  Listen as Corinna discusses her surprises in the field, including how new technology impacts production and the importance of continuing to learn.  Being from Europe, Corinna is multilingual, and she stresses the importance of being able to communicate with people around the world, and to have an insight into their culture.  Nominated for an Academy Award® for her role as a producer of the documentary “Ferry Tales,” Corinna shares her exciting Oscar-night stories with our listeners.  Finally, Corinna offers tips to aspiring directors and producers:  the business is very difficult to break in to, so volunteer and learn by doing, in addition to getting a broad education at a college that expands your horizons.

Corinna has won Film Festival Awards in both the United States and internationally for her PR video “Container Shipping – A Revolution for World Trade” and her documentary “Women – Our Century” which toured the United States with Billy Jean King and Star Jones.  In addition to the Academy Award® nominated “Ferry Tales,” she served as Executive Producer for “Vertical Traveler,” seen on PBS and the Franco/German TV channel, Arte.  Corinna also is President of the Media-Communication Association-International, and is listed in the Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals.

We hope this podcast gives you insight into becoming a film director and/or producer, and offers alternative routes than simply television or movies for you to consider.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere career day podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Mike discusses that an admissions officer seeks to round out the college class with students who will make a meaningful contribution.  Consequently, high school students who exhibit leadership and dedication – and therefore good time management skills – are looked upon favorably.  In addition, meaningful participation in activities outside of school such as community, church or travel, are similarly viewed with favor.

Depth of involvement in one or two activities is viewed as an asset, while an academic resume that reads more like the high school’s roster of clubs is not necessarily a good thing.  The reason?  Mike explains that admissions officers look for students who finish what they start.  By joining every club under the sun but not really “sinking your teeth” into any of them, a student gives the impression that s/he is unfocussed, has a short attention span, or worse, simply looking for resume fodder.  So, look for ways to participate and admissions officers will remember you!

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Dr. Marco Ferrucci, Chiropractor

In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are pleased to welcome Dr. Marco Ferrucci, the founding chiropractor at The Chiropractic Source in Caldwell, New Jersey, www.thechiropracticsource.com.

Dr. Ferrucci attended William Paterson University, and graduated with a degree in exercise physiology.  During undergrad, he was able to obtain a chiropractic internship, which cemented his desire to practice this healing art.  He then went to Life University in Georgia to obtain his chiropractic degree, which was a 3 ½ year course of study.

In the podcast, Dr. Ferrucci explains why a chiropractor looks at your spinal alignment, and how this practice is proactive rather than reactive.  Listen as he discusses his biggest surprise in working as a chiropractor as it relates to health care coverage.  Listen as Dr. Ferrucci offers advice to students considering embarking upon the field of chiropractic medicine.  Dr. Ferrucci also shares his most transformative patient, who literally walked into his office using a cane and left it on her own power!

We hope this podcast gives you insight into becoming a chiropractor, a relatively new field of medicine that teaches how to live a healthier, more vibrant lifestyle through natural, preventative health care.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Mike’s advice for students contemplating applying to a Rolling Admissions college?  Don’t wait!  Given these economic times and the fact that more people than ever are applying to colleges, all universities are more selective than ever.  The earlier you apply, the better your chances will be for being accepted.  In addition, scholarship opportunities, financial aid offers and housing are more readily available the earlier you apply and are accepted.

The benefits of applying to a Rolling Admissions college are twofold.  First, you will receive a quick decision on your application thereby eliminating the stress of waiting to hear from colleges.  Second, in case you are rejected from other colleges, a Rolling Admissions college may be an excellent alternative.

One word of caution.  If you intend to apply to both Rolling Admissions and traditional admissions colleges, check to see when your decision needs to be made to the Rolling Admissions college.  If you apply by early December to both types of institutions, and receive your acceptance from the Rolling Admissions college by the end of the year, will your decision be required prior to hearing back from the other schools to which you have applied?  Make sure to check those requirements before submitting your applications.

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Jerry Frungillo, Caterer

In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are pleased to welcome Jerry Frungillo, co-owner of Frungillo Caterers, www.frungillo.com.

Frungillo Caterers is a family-owned business, started by Jerry’s parents in 1973.  Knowing that he was going to go into the family business, Jerry opted for a business major as his undergraduate degree from William Paterson University.  He feels that is formal education provided a solid background into running a business, which complemented his previous life experiences, and offered much insight as he grew the business.  Under Jerry’s stewardship with his brother Robert, Frungillo Caterers has grown from a single catering location to four banquet halls plus off-premise catering capabilities.

Jerry views his career as a caterer as a way to make people’s dreams come true.  His job is not limited to the four or five hours that the event is taking place, but rather encompasses many hours prior to the event in planning with the client.  “Holding hands” with the client, as Jerry says, making sure their vision comes to fruition seamlessly.

In the podcast, Jerry shares a harrowing “war story” about a tent that literally blew away!  Listen as Jerry explains how he was able to save the day, and how guests were totally unaware of the last minute changes due to his professionalism, the mark of a superb caterer.

Jerry offers great advice for students considering becoming a caterer.  The first piece of advice that he shares is to know yourself and your limitations, as being a caterer you will work 90 hours per week.  Next, shadow a professional for a week to walk in a caterers’ shoes to make sure you like it.  Third, start at the bottom as a dishwasher and move up the ranks, so that you thoroughly understand each position and how it fits into the whole organization.

On April 16, 2010, Jerry is being honored by William Paterson University with a Distinguished Alumni Award at the school’s Legacy Award Gala.  Jerry co-stars in the TLC television series, Masters of Reception, with his brother Robert.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Is 38 Minutes Enough?

In this podcast, Mike Rivera poses the question:  “Is 38 minutes enough?”  This question derives from a study by Dr. Patricia McDonough that found that an average student will spend only 38 minutes per year with his or her high school guidance counselor discussing college counseling and/or career counseling.

Now, this fact is through no fault of the high school guidance counselors themselves.  It is based upon the realities of numbers.  While the American School Counselor Association recommends 1 guidance counselor per 100 students, the national average is 1:315 (or much more) in public high schools and 1:241 in private schools.

During the podcast, Mike offers questions for parents to ask the high school office regarding this issue.  He also recommends seeking external college counseling to best position the high school student for success in college and beyond.

Source:  Sanders, B. (2008, January 18). Parents – Guidance at School May Not be Enough. Retrieved January 18, 2010, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Parents-­-­-­Guidance-­at-­School-­May-­Not-­be-­Enough&id=935539

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Kevin Slavin, Hospital President

In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are pleased to welcome Kevin Slavin, the President and Chief Executive Officer of East Orange General Hospital, www.evh.org.

Like so many people we’ve interviewed for this Ear on Careers series, Kevin does not work in the field of his undergraduate major:  engineering from Rutgers University.  In the podcast, Kevin explains how he first became interested in healthcare administration during his initial job search.  This interest led him to the University of Colorado, where he did his graduate studies.  Kevin first worked as an orderly/nurses aid and saw the hospital organization from the ground up.

Currently, as the President of a non-profit community hospital, Kevin has a two-fold job.  First, is staff management, where he recruits and maintains the best doctors, nurses and staff, and then oversees the operations of the hospital.  Second, he develops a strategic plan for the hospital, which includes working with advocates in Trenton and Washington, D.C. as well as the Board of Trustees who oversee the hospital.

Kevin says that college prepared him by teaching him good communication skills, both verbal and written.  In addition, it provided him a solid analytical foundation and introduced him to the world of finance.  His advice to students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare administration?  Seek a psychology undergraduate degree.  Listen to Kevin as he explains what has surprised him the most as a hospital president and as he shares a very interesting “war story.”

Kevin offers many tips and ideas for you to digest in deciding whether a career in healthcare administration is for you.  Among them are to be prepared to work long hours interacting with people on many different levels, to hone your financial skills, to seek balance and to love what you do.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Ryan Dorchak, Restaurateur

Ryan grew up at the Cloverleaf Tavern, originally founded as a “man’s bar” by his grandfather in 1933.  Knowing that he would enter the family business, Ryan graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey, with a degree in marketing and a minor in finance.  Both his major and minor contribute to the continuing success of the Cloverleaf Tavern, as Ryan employs “4-walls marketing” and keeps an eye on the finances to increase the restaurant’s profits even in these uncertain times.

Listen as Ryan explains the delicate balancing act he oversees as a restaurateur.  Believe it or not, restaurants have the number 1 failure rate in the United States.  While the restaurant opens for lunch at 11 am, Ryan’s day begins at 7 am attending to staff operations, finances and marketing, allowing him to be on the floor during the lunch and dinner rush.

In the podcast, Ryan shares the surprises of being a restaurateur as well as a very important war story.  For those considering a career as a restaurateur, Ryan offers his advice:  do your homework and be a cook and manager while honing your people skills.  Most of all, maintain high standards!

Ryan sits on the Board of Directors for the North Essex Chamber of Commerce.  His father, Richard Dorchak, was named Restaurateur of the Year for 2009 by the New Jersey Restaurant Assocation.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.”  This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Meghan, Spanish Tutor, with Mike recording this podcast

In this podcast, Mike Rivera introduces our listeners to Meghan McGeehan.  Meghan is a Spanish language arts tutor with Top-Tier Tutoring, who has developed an affinity for Spain and its culture, and imparts her enthusiasm for all things Spanish on to her students.

Meghan holds a B.S. in Spanish and Criminal Justice from Penn State University.  She has her Master’s Degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Middlebury College.  Her studies have taken her to Sevilla and Madrid, and she has taught in Madrid for two years.  Meghan also is a Spanish teacher at Morristown-Beard High School in Morristown, NJ.

During the podcast, Meghan explains her philosophy about tutoring – in both English and Spanish! - which is to take the Spanish language seriously but have fun in the process.  Judging from her students’ tutoring sessions and successes in the classroom, we think that she is executing on her philosophy seamlessly!  To schedule an appointment with Meghan, contact Rhonda at Top-Tier Tutoring today.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

T. Jens Feeley, Ph.D., NASA

At the tender age of 6, Jens witnessed Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon, and his fate was sealed. Politics were always hotly debated in the Feeley household growing up. So, space exploration, politics and political science are truly in Jens’s blood.

Jens earned his B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University in New Jersey, followed by an M.A. in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame. Jens was awarded his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Washington. His publications span a broad range of topics, including space policy, earthquake policy, the history of science policy, and science communications. He is also the author of a congressional study on Foreign-Trade Zones. His dissertation research explored partisan politics in the modern Congress, and documented the limitations on partisan ambition that result from the governing responsibilities of the majority. In addition, Jens worked as an intern in the Pentagon’s Office of International Security Affairs and was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow (Class of 1987). He has received numerous merit awards, including the NASA Exceptional Performance Award.

Jens has spent 16 of the past 23 years of his life working at NASA. In his current position as a Senior Policy Analyst, Jens prepares senior managers and scientists at NASA on how to best handle issues, testimony and presentations. Jens truly enjoys blending his writing skills with science, making even the most complex scientific hypotheses and discoveries accessible to everyone.

What has surprised Jens the most about working at NASA? His ability to interact with literally the smartest people in the world, who can break down extremely intricate concepts so that he is able to communicate them effectively to Congress and other interested parties. He enjoys learning about science and technology, two things that change on practically a daily basis at NASA. In addition, Jens derives satisfaction from the culture of interaction between people and ideas at NASA.

If you are considering a career at NASA, Jens recommends “preparing to be the best.” Such preparation should include internships that are available at such websites as http://university.gsfc.nasa.gov/programs/ (for NASA internships (paid & unpaid)) and http://www.studentjobs.gov/ (for summer jobs/student jobs – Government wide).

We hope that Jens’s story will inspire you to consider a career at NASA, even if you do not want to be a rocket scientist!

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Steven Janett, Real Estate Broker

In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are pleased to welcome Steven Janett, a real estate broker. Steve currently is the Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of Prudential New Jersey Properties, www.prudentialnewjersey.com. Steve has won many awards, including “REALTOR of the Year” from both the New Jersey Association of Realtors and the West Essex Board of Realtors.

Steve graduated from Stockton State College, with a major in business and minors in finance and real estate. His late father had started a real estate office in 1954 and, after graduating, Steve soon joined the family business. He really enjoys the fact that real estate is not a 9 to 5 business, but rather is very flexible according to the client’s needs. Steve started as a sales representative in his father’s office, became a broker within two years and sales manager three years later. Today, in his role as Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, Steve oversees many offices in the Prudential New Jersey real estate corporate structure. He supports managers and sales people in their efforts to provide the best real estate experience for their clients.

When asked about the biggest surprises in real estate, Steve noted the legal complexities involved with riders and inspections. His advice to aspiring real estate specialists is to get a solid educational background, join a good broker that has a training program and to remember that real estate is all about relationship building. Steve notes the impact that technology is having on real estate agents and how real estate is marketed and sold. Even in this economy, the second half of 2009 has been a great time in real estate for Steve!

We hope that Steve’s story will inspire you to consider a career in real estate, a challenging field that combines relationship building, legal knowledge and technology with the possibility of great rewards.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

James Nachbaur, Federal Agent

James was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and graduated from Passaic County Community College (“PCCC”) and William Paterson University. After graduating with a degree in Communications in 1995, James entered the financial industry, where he worked until after the attacks of September 11^th. He, like many, decided that he wanted to make a difference in the world and – after a brief time as the owner of an Applegate Farms franchise – was accepted into the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) in 2006. James was drawn to the DHS because of its opportunities to transfer within the department and thereby gain experience with a variety of different agencies.

James notes that PCCC was a great experience because the value was extremely high, he had great professors, and it allowed him to gain the maturity needed to continue for a four-year degree. At PCCC he majored in Criminal Justice but does not recommend that major for anyone considering a career in law enforcement because the Academy will teach you everything you need to know.

In order to be eligible for a career in law enforcement, a 4-year college degree is a requirement; a graduate degree can only help your chances of securing a position. Given a federal agent’s rigors, being in good physical shape is also nearly a requirement. In addition, being a volunteer with an organization such as being an EMT, as well as participating in martial arts, is viewed favorably. James is most surprised about the dedication of his fellow teammates, as a federal agent’s job is extremely important but, being a federal position, does not pay like in the private sector.

When asked for tips about becoming a federal agent, James stresses the importance of reading the paper and keeping up with current events, as you may be called upon to speak with dignitaries and politicians. He also emphasizes staying out of situations that can get you into trouble and staying hyper-aware; volunteering; getting a skill set such as a foreign language, staying in shape; and developing a good character and abiding by a high standard of ethics. James also notes that when you are applying, a thick skin will help you get through the “hurry up and wait” process.

We hope that James’s story will inspire you to consider a career federal law enforcement, a challenging field that allows you to both protect and give back to the community.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Cindy Salvo, Attorney

In this episode of “Ear on Careers”, we are pleased to welcome Cindy Salvo, a civil litigation attorney and founder of The Salvo Law Firm in Fairfield, New Jersey, www.salvolawfirm.com.

Cindy’s path to becoming an attorney was anything but straight. After several detours, she obtained both an undergraduate and graduate degree in psychology, and founded the Miss American Petite Pageant. While running the Pageant, she had a lawyer on retainer to assist her with various legal issues. Seeing the value of the attorney’s skill, Cindy went to law school in order to better run her Pageant business. However, after spending her summer between her second and third years at law school with a large New York City law firm, she decided that the legal profession was right for her, and closed down the Pageant shortly thereafter.

Cindy does not regret her previous educational and life experiences, as they have shaped the type of lawyer that she is. Her psychology degree taught her compassion, while her experience as a businesswoman brought her understanding for clients. Her advice to aspiring lawyers is to study really hard and make sure your first year law school grades are very good. She finds being an attorney to be very rewarding and she very much enjoys the field, especially when she obtains a good result for her clients.

We hope that Cindy’s story will inspire you to consider a career in the law. If you like to write, argue and think on your feet, the law may be a perfect fit for you!

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

In this twist on the traditional job resume, your academic resume markets you to colleges. It focuses on your strengths and shows how you will make the most out of what the university has to offer. Your academic resume lists your interests and identifies what you intend to do after college.

Also, do not shy away from your weaknesses; your academic resume is your opportunity to show how you are working to rectify a possible perceived flaw. For example, if you have a low GPA or SAT/ACT scores, indicate that you are taking summer courses or tutoring to improve your results. Have historically few volunteer experiences? Create a solution by listing a new volunteer position you have just begun.

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Sarah Ober, Accountant

In this episode of “Ear on Careers”, we are pleased to welcome Sarah Ober, an accountant with Tobia & Hillyer in Fairfield, New Jersey, www.tobiahillyer.com.

Sarah’s path to becoming an accountant is not at all what you would imagine. She never even took one accounting class in college! She graduated from Seton Hall with a degree in International Relations and a minor in business, and planned to work at the World Bank. A requirement before applying there, however, was having experience in the working world. It so happened that Sarah was hired by the accounting firm of Tobia & Hillyer as an Office Manager, and simply fell in love with tax returns!

Sarah has now worked at Tobia & Hillyer for seven years, and has earned two Master’s Degrees in Tax. In her position, she reviews bookkeeping and tax returns for small companies and individuals and says that there is no typical day. In fact, during tax season, Sarah logs 12 hour days, 7 days a week, and loves every minute of it. Sarah is very proud of her recent IRS win in tax court, as she is an enrolled agent with the IRS and was able to secure a sizeable victory for her client who had lost all receipts in a fire. She credits her win to her knowledge of tax law and her people skills, obviously an unstoppable combination.

Sarah offers the following advice for aspiring accountants – take advantage of any internships offered at your college. She also suggests taking accounting classes and learning how to multitask. We hope that Sarah’s story will inspire you to consider a career in accounting, a complex field that challenges you to provide answers to clients in all types of situations.

Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s first “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Mike then goes on to go over the differences between Early Decision and Early Action programs. For Early Decision, your application, once accepted, is binding. This means that you can only apply to one college using the Early Decision mechanism and upon acceptance, you must withdraw any other outstanding applications. Moreover, an early deposit will be due and you must attend this college. Some schools, such as Princeton and Harvard have stopped using the Early Decision process.

On the other hand, Early Action is not binding. You may apply to as many colleges as you want using the Early Action procedure and, when you are accepted, you are under no obligation to attend. Your decision will be required in the Spring, when regular acceptances and deposits are due. Mike prefers applying Early Action, if you are inclined toward early application.

A hybrid of these two is called the Single Choice Early Action plan. This plan is not binding like Early Action; however, you can only apply to one school using this process like Early Decision. The hybrid is less common than Early Decision and Early Action plans.

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Marlene Waldock, Communications Specialist

In this episode of “Ear on Careers”, we are pleased to welcome Marlene Waldock, a communications specialist based out of Verona, New Jersey, www.becausewearewomen.com. Among other things, Marlene is the founder of 1^st Impression Communications and of Because We Are Women, a teen counselor at the Rothman Institute and the immediate past president of the North Essex Chamber of Commerce.

Marlene received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Adolescent Psychology, with the goal of helping teens transition to young adults. However, early in her working life, she went into sales and eventually became a Regional Training Consultant. In the mid-1990’s, Marlene turned to communications and public speaking Throughout her career, Marlene has constantly doing public speaking in front of groups, either while training or as a television host on NJ Channel 12. In-between, she obtained a management degree from Georgia State.

In her role as a Communications Specialist, her typical day consists of prioritizing activities based upon what is important rather than what’s urgent. With regard to public speaking, she encourages young people to “go through” their fears; anxiety before public speaking is actually a good thing. Marlene notes that communications and psychology are about changing behaviors, and encourages young people to believe in themselves and reach for your dreams.

We hope that Marlene’s story will inspire you to consider a career in communications, a challenging field that constantly prompts professionals to reinvent themselves and stay ahead of the curve.

We are very excited to bring to you another episode in the series we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more. Consider this your podcast “career day”!

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Bernard O'Rourke, College Professor

In this episode of “Ear on Careers”, we are pleased to welcome Bernard O’Rourke, an associate College Professor in International Business at Caldwell College in Caldwell, New Jersey. Caldwell College can be found on the web at www.caldwell.edu.

Bernie hails from Ireland, where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees. After college, Bernie was sent by the Irish Government Development Office to the United States to promote inward investment to Ireland. While here, he met his wife, got his M.B.A. at Fordham University and held positions within various corporations.

In this podcast, Bernie discusses the different types of professorships. He shares his love of college campus life with our listeners, finding his role as Professor never tedious. Bernie genuinely enjoys teaching (and learning from) his students, and is extremely fulfilled in his chosen occupation.

His tip for aspiring college professors? Secure the best credentials by way of degrees. Experience counts, but credentials are key. We hope that Bernie’s story will inspire you to consider a career in academia!

We are very excited to bring to you another episode in the series we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more. Consider this your podcast “career day”!

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

The SAT is designed to test a student’s test taking skills and innate ability, as it was designed based upon the IQ test. It runs three hours and forty-five minutes, has 140 questions and tests critical readying, writing and math. The perfect score is 2400; 1/4 point is deducted for each incorrect answer.

On the other hand, the ACT tests scholastic achievement, and it was designed based upon the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. The ACT is three hours and twenty-five minutes long, has 215 questions and tests math, English, reading, science and writing. The perfect score is a 36. No points are deducted for a wrong answer.

Both the SAT and the ACT are accepted at virtually every college. Starting with the class of 2010, the SAT joins the ACT in allowing you to select which scores (entire test) to send to the colleges. The bottom line: take practice exams for both exams to determine with which test you’re most comfortable. Then, study for that one, and get the best score possible!

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

J.P. Hamel

In this episode of “Ear on Careers”, we are pleased to welcome J.P. Hamel, the publisher of The Essex Fells Magazine. J.P. grew up in Rahway, New Jersey, and attended Albright College in Pennsylvania. In college, J.P. majored in biology and math, intending to enter the biotech/research field. However, his first job took him into the marketing and recruiting field and in January 2009 – the same time that Top-Tier Tutoring was launched! – J.P. started his franchise business with N2 Publishing, www.n2pub.com.

Publishing, according to J.P., requires him to coordinate material for the monthly publication. He is always seeking relevant and creative content of interest to the readership. In addition, a publisher functions in a business development capacity, as advertising provides necessary funding. Accordingly, J.P. has to both find advertisers and maintain good relationships with them.

J.P. says that no one type of major is required to enter the publishing field. His degree in math and biology provided him with a solid foundation, as the scientific/analytic approach he learned in college enables him offer his publication to advertisers as a logical business decision. J.P. notes that his career in sales also has benefitted him tremendously in his role as publisher, especially when dealing with business development. We hope that J.P.’s story will inspire you to consider a career in the publishing industry, an exciting field that brings much needed information to the people!

We are very excited to bring to you another episode in the series we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more. Consider this your podcast “career day”!

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Marie holds a degree in accounting, and is a College Financial Aid Counselor with Garretson Financial, located in Cranford, New Jersey – www.garretsonfinancial.com. Marie’s interest in the field stemmed from very personal reasons – her children were of college age! Now she helps parents understand the process and receive the most aid for which they are eligible – and even illustrate how a private school could be less expensive than a public institution!

During the podcast, Marie discusses the FAFSA form – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is through this application that the “expected family contribution,” or the minimum amount a family can pay, is calculated. All colleges receive this report and some also have their own separate supplements, which Marie also touches upon.

Marie’s advice is to plan early. The best time to meet with a financial aid counselor is when your child is in freshman or sophomore year; no later than junior year. Marie stresses the importance of the deadlines, noting that the system is based upon a first come, first served model. So, be quick to download this podcast and get all the information about this very important aspect of college selection!

Pat Nocito, Banker

We are very excited to bring to you our first episode in what is hoped to be a very long series of podcasts: “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more. Consider this your podcast “career day”!

For our first episode, we are pleased to welcome Pat Nocito, a Vice President and Branch Manager at Capital One Bank in West Caldwell, New Jersey. Pat’s route to banking was certainly anything but direct but, in hindsight, his undergraduate degree in psychology (with a minor in finance) prepared him well for the tasks he faces daily. He explains that banking is not just crunching numbers, but really is all about people – connecting businesses to other businesses to develop relationships, and enhance everyone’s bottom line. A “typical” day for Pat consists of multitasking; dealing with the finance side of the business as well as the various people, from bosses and mentors to staff and business and consumer clients. For those considering entering the field of banking, Pat recommends becoming a teller, taking advantage of local college programs as well as applying for paid internships.

Pat stresses the importance of his college education. College taught him life lessons, brought him out of his shell and expanded his horizons, all of which serve him well as a banker. A native of Vineland, New Jersey, Pat attended St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania on a full scholarship. We hope that Pat’s story will inspire you to consider a career in the banking industry, as it’s not just about making deposits anymore!

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212

Jeff holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Secondary Education from the University of Scranton. While there, he also was enrolled in pre-med courses. At the present time, he is going for two masters degrees – one in Mathematics from Montclair State University and another in Administration and Curriculum from the University of Scranton. Jeff is a math teacher at Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls, NJ. Ironically, Jeff says that it was tutoring that got him into teaching!

During the podcast, Jeff explains his philosophy about tutoring, and how he makes students feel “safe” with the subject matter, which leads to their success. We were skeptical at first of how such a math whiz could really connect with students (or anyone for that matter!), but once you listen to this podcast, we’re confident that you will agree that our skepticism was unfounded.

We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212

During July and August, Mike discusses how Top-Tier Tutoring is challenging all students to Seize the Summer by enrolling in its College Prep Boot Camp. This series of 8, 1-hour workshops will address a variety of topics related to college planning, such as selecting the right schools, creating your academic resume and writing your essays and short answers. One lucky listener to the Top-Tier Tutoring Podcast will be selected at random to win free admission into the College Prep Boot Camp (a $300 value). To enter this contest, please send an email to info@top-tiertutoring.com with “Free Boot Camp” in the subject line.

Mike has been a tutor and college counselor for over 3 ½ years as well as in the financial industry for over 16 ½ years. Mike holds a BA from Seton Hall University, an MA from Kean University and a JD from Fordham University School of Law. He applies humor and a dose of reality into his tutoring sessions, to help his students see the big picture. Rhonda, who does sales and marketing for Top-Tier Tutoring, earned her BA from Bucknell University and a JD from New York Law School. Both have seen the value of education as providing a firm foundation in today’s changing world.