The Rambler Podcast: Recent Episodes
Cathedral Prep
Rosa Agnello ‘11VMA is a proud Villa Maria Academyalumnae and Senior Recruiter at Paramount Global in New York City. In this episode, Rosa shares her journey from Villa to the heart of NYC's recruitment scene, working with iconic brands like CBS News, Nickelodeon, and MTV. Don't miss her insights on her career success, navigating high pressure situations, and advice for progressing in your career.
Were excited to have John Dill '81 as our guest! From his days at Prep to becoming President & CEO of Marquette Savings Bank, John shares his career journey, the key strategies behind Marquette's growth that he has lead, and advice for aspiring leaders. Don’t miss his insights on leadership, overcoming challenges, and maintaining a competitive edge in business by listening to this episode ofthe podcast!
Chet Moffet has been a dedicated faculty/staff member ofCathedral Prep for 23 years and is currently serving as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. From starting as a Track & Field coach to becoming a teacher, Guidance Counselor, Dean of Students, and now the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Chet has worn many hats at Prep. In this episode, he shares with us his journey, the people who impacted his career here, some of his most memorable moments, and his key achievements.
Join us for Episode #54 of The Rambler Podcast for a greatconversation with Cathedral Prep's newest Alumni, Lindsay Armanini ’24 and Luke Costello ‘24! From navigating the historic merger of Prep & Villa to experiencing the transformation of a new co-ed campus, Lindsay and Luke sitdown with Host Jimmy Smith ’11 to share their unique journeys and memories that shaped their high school years. Hear about their reflections on their freshman and sophomore years, the impact of their teachers and coaches, and their experience in the new co-ed Prep for their Junior & Senior years.
Abby is the Director of Sport Performance Quality Control & Internship Director at Yale University. She is also the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Men’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer, Volleyball, and Gymnastics teams as well as assisting with the Football team. On this episode of the podcast Abby talks to us about her memories from her time at Villa Maria Academy, she shares her journey in the sports performance field, and also some of the challenges she has faced and how she has overcome them.
Emily worked at Villa Maria Academy for 10 years prior to coming to Cathedral Prep last school year to be the Campus Minister and Algebra teacher. On this episode of the podcast Emily shares with us what were some of her favorite memories from her time at Villa and what the transition was like for her coming from Villa to Prep. She also goes on to talk about her role as Campus Minister, the impact of Outreach Day, and overseeing the long standing tradition of Mary’s Day.
Jerry Clark ’78 has over 35 years of law enforcement and security experience through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). He currently is the Chair of the Criminal Justice Department atGannon University. On this episode of the podcast, Jerry reflects on his career and provides some of the best leadership lessons that he has learned along the way. Jerry goes on to share some of the key principles of his success such as the importance of integrity, preparation, mentorship, and more.
On this episode of the podcast, Tony shares with us about his time as a student at Prep, what his experience has been like teaching at Prep, and why he is so passionateabout being a teacher here at Prep.
Jake is the Vice President of Sales at Agresti Real Estate and has been the #1 ranked Real Estate Agent in the local industry since 2017 and in 2023 he achieved an all-time high sales goal with over $52 Million in sales volume. On this episode of the podcast, Jake shares with us how he got started in his career and how he was able to work his way up to becoming the top Realtor in our area. He goes on to share with us some of his secrets to success that he has learned as well as reflect on his Prep days, which he credits as being a big part of the success he has achieved today!
Pat Grab ’05 is entering his 15th season as the Head Coach for the Cathedral Prep Boys Tennis Team and during his time as the coach they have produced Four Doubles State Titles, one Doubles State Runner-Up, and one fourth place State Singles medal. On this episode of the podcast Pat reflects on his time as a student at Prep, he discusses how he ended up becoming the Head Coach for the Prep Tennis team in 2010, and he also provides us with some insights for lessons he has learned through his career as a coach of the team.
Libby Waltman ‘03VMA is the CFO of the Pittsburgh Pirates and on this episode of the podcast Libby talks to us about her career journey starting off as a Staff Accountant for the Pirates in 2008and working her way up the organization to become the CFO starting in the 2023 season. Libby goes on to share with us some key lessons she has learned working in Finance for the Pittsburgh Pirates as well as leadership advice for aspiring leaders.
Brian Markley ’89 is the Science Department Chair and teaches AP Chemistry, Freshman Seminar, and The Universe. On this episode of the podcast Brian talks to us about how he began his career as ateacher at Prep, his experiences as the Assistant Wrestling Coach from 2000-2019, and what he enjoys most about teaching at Prep nowadays.
Episode #45 of The Rambler Podcast is now available and features Jeremy Young ’94! Jeremy is the CEO of Federal Resources Corporation (FRC), which was just recently ranked #710 in the Inc. 5000 list of the top 5,000 Fastest growing privately held companies in America. On this episode of the podcast Jeremy talks to us about how he founded FRC, strategies he has implemented for their company growth and success, as well as advice he would give to aspiring leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Meghan Fuhrman '99VMA is the MedPath Coordinator here at Cathedral Prep and on this episode of the podcast Meghan talks to us her role as the MedPath Coordinator and provides us with information on all of the amazing opportunities that our students have today by being apart of the MedPath program. She also reflects on her time as a student at Villa and why she is excited about teaching here at Cathedral Prep!
This is another installment of our Info. Sessions Series as we highlight the HagertynFamily Events Center! Our guest for this episode is Mark Jeanneret, the Executive Director of the Erie Sports Commission. On this episode of the podcast, host Jimmy Smith ’11 and Mark share with us the history of the EventsCenter, key aspects of the facility, and what makes the Events Center such a great facility for our student-athletes at Cathedral Prep and the Erie Community.
Jim graduated from Cathedral Prep in 1979 and is the General Manager, Vice President of Operations, and Treasurer of Industrial Sales and Manufacturing Inc. (ISM) here in Erie PA. On this episode of the podcast, Jim provides us with some great wisdom on the power of having habits that produce desired outcomes, how to have a positive workforce development program, and he also gives us tips & advice on how to succeed in the sales field
Fr. Jason Feigh, the Chaplain here at Cathedral Prep, provides us with some of his stories and experiences throughout his time at Prep which began as the Campus Minister in 2013. Fr. Jason then discusses with us how in his role he is able to helpvdevelop the faith life of our students, how he collaborates with thefaculty/staff for our students spiritual growth, and what this work means to him here at Prep and the joys it brings him. Also, with 1 week until Christmas, Fr. Jason shares with us a special message for the Christmas season!
Bridget is the Vice President of External Affairs & Strategic Initiatives at the Barber National Institute and she is being inducted into the President’s Hall of Fame at our Legacy Gala event in March. On this episode of the podcast, Bridget shares with us why she is passionate about catholic education, why she is someone who is an advocate for being involved in the community, and she shares with us about the work they do to serve their mission at the Barber National Institute.
Coach Hahesy is entering his 14th season with the Rambler Wrestling team and 35th year overall coaching. He has coached 20 North West Regional Champions, 50 District 10 Champions, and 4 wrestlers to 5 State Championships! On this episode of the podcast, Coach Hahesy shares with us what lead him into the sport of wrestling and how he began coaching, he talks about what has lead to his success as a coach & his coaching philosophy, and Coach Hahesy also provides us with a preview of their upcoming season.
With TOMORROW being Giving Day, this episode of the podcast is all about Giving Day! Joining us as a guest for the podcast is Jayson Nickson, Annual Fund Manager. On this episode, Jimmy Smith ’11 and Jayson talk about what Giving Day is, how Giving Day got started, and how your support on Giving Day impacts our students!
After his graduation from Prep, Les went on to West Point Military Academy andthen served 30 months deployed post 9/11. Post his military commitment, he then served many years working in the CIA and later went on to co-found two companies, The Twenty and RedOwl Analytics. Nowadays, he is a Partner at Next Frontier Capital where he has led 12 direct investments and serves on the board of 7 portfolio companies. Our host, Jimmy Smith, and Les have a great conversation on this episode of the podcast as Les shares stories from his military experiences and business career to provide us with the lessons he has learned in leadership and what it takes to become successful in your personal life and professional career.
Mia is a Guidance Counselor and the Guidance Department Chair here at Cathedral Prep. Earlier this month was Mental Illness Awareness week, and on this episode of the podcast Mia provides us with some great information on the signs to be aware of for someone going through a Mental Illness and advice for us on how to best help family members or friends through those situations. In addition to this topic, Mia also shares with us her background and why she decided to pursue a career in counseling services andmore information on the resources available through the Guidance Department for students and families at Prep.
Sara is the Chief Operating Officer at Smith’s Provision and serves as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for Cathedral Prep & Mother Teresa Academy. On this podcast episode, Sara talks to us about her time as a student at Villa Maria Academy, she talks about how she became a member of the Board of Directors and her role as Chairwoman, and she also provides us with very valuable leadership lessons she has learned through her career at Smith’s Provision and in leading the Board of Directors.
Rolf taught at Prep for 50 years from 1968-2018 and continues to substitute teach at Prep to this day. On this episode of the podcast, Rolf reflects back with us on his years teaching at Prep sharing some of his best memories, he discusses his relationships with the faculty/staff members he worked with during the years, and he also talks about his perspective on change as he has seen it through his time at Prep.
John is the Co-Founder & CEO of Epistemix, a software company that uses synthetic populations to simulate how behaviors, ideas, products, and information spread among populations. On this episode of the podcast, John shares with us about how important the influences from his Prep days laid the foundation for his future success, the motivational principles he applies to his daily life, and through his entrepreneurial journey, learning what it takes to start and grow a company.
Therese is a four time State Champion coach as she is the Head Coach for the girls Cross Country teams as well as the boys & girls Track & Field teams. On this episode of the podcast, she shares her background with us for how she became a high school state champion runner herself and how she began coaching with Villa Maria Academy in 2010. Therese then shares with us some of the key elements that lead to her creating a team with a winning culture and standard of excellence!
We are beyond thrilled to share with you that thanks to a new Corporate Partnership with Joe Bizzarro and Interstate Mitsubishi-Nissan, Dollinger Field at the Hagerty Family Events Center is receiving a brand new, digital display, scoreboard! We make the announcement for this new scoreboard with you on Episode #31 of The Rambler Podcast which is now available! On this episode of the podcast, host Jimmy Smith ‘11, AVP of Development & Strategic Initiatives, and Joe Bizzarro share the exciting news for the brand new scoreboard. They also talk about how they formed this new Corporate Partnership to fund the board as well as to why Joe wanted to sponsor this project for the community.
Bill is a Partner at McDonald Illig and also serves as Solicitor for Erie County. On this episode of the podcast, Bill shares some truly amazing leadership wisdom for us which includes leadership lessons he learned while an Officer in the US Air Force, how to lead & direct your team to high levels of achievement, as well as the habits for productivity to create success for yourself.
Mike Mischler '87 is currently the VP of Operations here at Cathedral Prep and has been employed through various positions by the school for over 20 years. He also recently retired from being the Head Football Coach, where he lead the Rambler Football team for 20 years. On this episode of the podcast, Mike shares with us his back story for how he began coaching football for Prep and also how he began his professional career working for Prep. He talks more about his career coaching football and what key elements lead to his teams great success that they achieved. Mike then wraps up the podcast by talking about his current role for Prep and what he and his team do for the school.
It was one year ago this month that we started The Rambler Podcast featuring host Jimmy Smith ’11, with a mission to promote why Cathedral Prep is the standard of excellence! To celebrate one year of the podcast, today we release a special episode in which we have a compilation of clips from all of our Alumni guests on the podcast. At the end of each Alumni episode, Jimmy asks them the question- “If you could go back in time and speak at your Prep/Villa graduation, knowing what you know now, what would you say?”. Episode 28 of the podcast features the answers to that question from:
Dr. Chris Clark ’87, Mike McCoy ’66, Kayla McBride ’10VMA, Sr. Mary Drexler ‘63VMA, The Honorable John Trucilla ’78, Charles Rush ’01, Tim NeCastro ’78, Debbie Uht ‘82VMA, Jim Stevenson ’84, Maria Sansone ‘99VMA, John Zack ’82, and Almi Clerkin ‘81VMA!
Almi is the Executive Director for the Sister’s of St. Joseph Mission & Ministries Foundation and has a long history with the Sister’s of St. Joseph and Villa Maria Academy. First as a graduated in 1981, then as the Director of Development, Arts Faculty Member, and she has Directed over 30 musicals and plays from 1985 – 2005. On this episode of the podcast, Almi shares with us some of the key principles that has lead to her success in the arts and in her career such as effective communication within your team and practical short-term and long-term goal setting. She also shares a message for aspiring leaders on what they can do to advance themselves in their careers.
As we close out this fiscal year, listen to hear an important message from interim Vice President of Advancement Mike Krahe '00 and Chairwoman of the Board Sara (Weber) Kallner '93VMA.
There are only three days left to participate in our 30-Day Challenge: Igniting Excellence! Help us support the next generation of Ramblers!
Our final episode of The Rambler Podcast for the 2022-2023 school year features Cathedral Prep President, Kevin Smith! On this episode of the podcast, Kevin shares with us his background and the story on what ultimately lead to him coming to Cathedral Prep. Kevin also takes some time to reflect on this past school year for his first year with the school and then provides us with a look into the future of the school!
Episode 25 of The Rambler Podcast is our 3rd edition of our Info. Session Series as it features Alexa Tojaga ’23 & Hayden Hutchinson ’23. Before Alexa & Hayden had their final days here at Cathedral Prep, Jimmy Smith ’11 sat down with them to have a conversation on their experiences at both Prep & Villa as well as how this Senior Year went for them with the new co-ed Cathedral Prep. Alexa & Hayden share some great stories with us based on their time at the school and also a great perspective for us on how this year went for them.
John is the Regional Manager for CT Consultants and most recently has been working with us at Prep as the Owners Rep. through the construction project of the Salata Technology & Innovation Center as well as the renovations to the existing building. On this episode of the project, John shares with us all the behind the scenes workings of this major project and lets us know about the contractors, architects, and people involved on making this project come together. John also shares with us suggestions on how to be successful in project management as well as his experiences & tips with business ownership.
Sergeant Sambuchino has been the Air Force Junior ROTC Instructor here at Cathedral Prep for 18 years andhas had over 800 students come through the JROTC program since he has became involved. On this episode of the podcast, Sergeant Sambuchino shares with us stories from his 20 year Air Force career, his experiences leading the JROTC program here at Prep, and with Memorial Day coming up soon, he shares a special message for why that day means so much to him.
Maria is an Emmy Award-winning television host, social media personality, lifestyle expert, cookbook author, brand ambassador and mom of two. On this episode of the podcast, Jimmy & Maria talk about the early years of her career getting started in her industry and the lessons she learned in achieving success along the way. They also talk about Maria’ NEW cookbook! Her book is available for Pre-Order today (May 1st) but will begin shipping tomorrow, May 2nd! Maria shares 65 of her go-to, no-fuss weeknight recipes for real life. Quick and easy entrees paired with some tried-and-true sides designed to help you through meal time, in no time.
On this episode of the podcast, Fr. Mike shares many great things with us including when he knew he was called to the priesthood, where his love for the theatre came from & how he launched the program at Prep in 2005, as well as fun stories he has had through his years of serving in various roles between Prep & Villa. Fr. Mike also is responsible for running the Mission Club and talks to us about the great work he and the students have done on various mission trips through the years.
On this episode, we highlight the Academic Pathway Program initiative. Host Jimmy Smith ’11 & Will Pituch ‘01VMA, VP of Academics & Student Affairs, have aconversation about what the Academic Pathway Program is and how this new, innovative program is designed to allow Cathedral Prep students who have discerned closely or nearly a career choice or area of strong interest a higher level or preparation for the next steps in the process of achieving theirgoals. Paths are designed for preparation in the areas of Business, Architecture/Engineering, Global Students, Medical Sciences, and Technology.
Host, Jimmy Smith, & guest, Jim Stevenson, have a great conversation as they talk about Jim’s time at Prep as a student and how he helped lead the Prep Basketball team to the State Championship game his Senior year. They then go on to talk about the various leadership lessons Jim has learned through his 34 years of working at PNC Bank including strategies he has implemented for growth, empowering team members, and successful planning.
On this episode of the podcast, host Jimmy Smith & Josh Constable talk all things baseball from his playing/coaching background, the values he leads his team with, coaching philosophy, and what he is most looking forward to this upcoming season for the Ramblers.
This is first episode as part of our new series called "Info. Sessions" in which we will feature our tax-credit program with Katie Dufala '98VMA. Katie has been a Senior Tax Preparer at Felix & Gloeckler for 17 years now focusing on business and personal taxes. She uses her experience in the industry to help us understand how the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program works, how you can participate in it, and how it benefits our students at Cathedral Prep.
On this episode of the podcast, Debbie reflects on her time at Villa and the fond memories she has from her time as a student. She then shares with us some of the principles she has learned through the years in business which has led to her success and most importantly, how her faith has helped guide her through her life.
Bob began teaching Math at Prep in 1979 and has been doing so for 44 years now. On this episode of the podcast, he reflects on his time as a student, he shares some fun stories for us regarding his time as a teacher, and also talks to us from his perspective on how this first year of Cathedral Prep being co-ed has gone for him.
Tim NeCastro is a 1978 graduate of Cathedral Prep and is now the President and Chief Executive Officer of Erie Insurance. On this episode of the podcast, Tim reflects on his career journey and the lessons he learned along the way that helped develop him as a leader. Tim talks about his values and how those helped shaped some of the most important decisions he has made in his career as well.
Episode 13 features Veronica Seip, Assistant Vice President of Academics & Student Affairs at Cathedral Prep.
Charles Rush '01 is an Associate Attorney at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius in Washington D.C. where he advises organizations on risk management and import compliance issues with the US Customs and Border Protection. On this episode of the podcast, Charles talks about his time as a student-athlete at Cathedral Prep, a student-athlete at Penn State University, and the success principles he has learned through his academic pursuits and career accomplishments. Charles also provides us with the reasons to pursue excellence over success and his best advice on how to make 2023, your year!
Doug Chuzie began coaching at Villa Maria Academy as an Assistant Coach in 2003 and became the Head Coach in 2011. His record as a Head Coach for the Victors is an impressive 254 wins and 44 losses. On this episode of the podcast, Doug shares with us his experience coaching for Villa, the success his players have had beyond their time playing for Villa, and what he looks forward to coaching for the Cathedral Prep girls team this season.
Judge John Trucilla is a 1978 graduate of Cathedral Prep and is a Judge for Erie County Court of Common Please, 6th Judicial District. Judge Trucilla shares in this episode of the podcast about his time at Prep and how it prepared him for his career in Law. He then discusses what he has learned on his road to success and shares what he believes it takes to be successful in your chosen field.
Sonya is the Vice President of Strategic Marketing & Communications as well as the head coach for the boys and girls swim teams! On this episode, Sonya provides us with a better understanding for what all her position entails for the school and how the marketing department works collaboratively with other departments in the school in an effort to advance our mission. She also shares with us about her time coaching the Villa swim team over the last decade, how she managed to create the girls swim team into an elite program, and what she is most looking forward to now leading the girls and boys teams for Prep.
Giving Day 2022 is TODAY!!
Please join us today, November 16, in giving back to our community.
Last year, gifts from faculty/staff, students, alumni, and friends had a tremendous impact on our school and students. Your gift provides tuition assistance, cutting-edge resources, a first-class education, and memorable experience for our students. When you give, it allows us to continue the mission of what Bishop John Mark Gannon and the Sisters of St. Joseph started over 130 years ago – providing a Catholic education and excellence for today’s youth!
Please join us for our annual giving day. When you give today, you impact tomorrow.
Gifts can be made at www.CathedralPrep.com/Give.
PrepGivingDay
Sister Mary is a 1963 graduate of Villa Maria Academy and began her teaching at Villa Maria Academy in 1981 and then in 2006 became the Principal at Villa for 10 years. Today she currently serves as the President of the Sisters of St. Joseph and has been the recipient of many recognition awards for her leadership and service to the community from several different organizations. In this episode, Sr. Mary reflects on the experiences she has had in being a leader and shares with us valuable lessons she learned along the way that allowed her to be such an accomplished and successful leader.
Tim Dougherty '98 is the Vice President of Enrollment Management and has been working in the Admission Office of Cathedral Prep for 17 years. On this episode of the podcast Tim talks about what lead him to work at Prep, his experiences in working for the school, and what his role entails for serving our youth.
Kayla is a 2010 graduate of Villa Maria Academy. She is currently a professional basketball player in the WNBA for the Minnesota Lynx and plays overseas in the Turkish Super League. After Villa, Kayla went on to the University of Notre Dame where she played in three National Championships for the Irish under legendary coach Muffet McGraw. During her time at Notre Dame Kayla was ACC Player of the Year, Sports-Illustrated All-American, Wooden Award All-American, AP All-American, among many other accolades. She was drafted #3 overall by the San Antonio Stars in the 2014 WNBA Draft and has been named to WNBA All-Star teams in 2015, 2018, and 2019. Kayla has been playing overseas through her career and currently plays professionally in the Turkish Super League where she is a three-time Champion there in 2017, 2021, and 2022.
Ruth started teaching at Villa Maria Academy in September of 1996 and then was actually one of the first teachers who taught on both campuses of Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria Academy when the schools first merged in 2010. She is also going to be the Honoree for our Harvest Gala event on September 24th where each year we honor the legacy of Mrs. Joann (Maxwell) Mullen '57VMA by recognizing a woman of Cathedral Prep, Villa Maria Academy or Mother Teresa Academy who has fostered service, strong moral character, global leadership and esteemed academic success among our students. Ruth teaches accounting classes, emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, 3D printing and modeling, exploratory engineering, financial planning, and ap computer science principles. She has been married for over 40 years to Art Oligeri the third, Cathedral Prep class of 1970 and has three children, Art, Prep class of 1997, Cristina Villa class of 2000, and Catherine, Villa class of 2005.
Mike McCoy, Prep Class of 1966, is the President of Mike McCoy Ministries. After graduating from Cathedral Prep, Mike went on to play football for the University of Notre Dame. There, he was an All-American and finished sixth in the Heisman voting his senior year as a defensive tackle. Mike was then drafted #2 overall in the NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers in 1970 and played eleven years in the NFL (7 years in Green Bay, 2 years with the Oakland Raiders and 2 years with New York Giants). Mike has traveled the world speaking from Catholic Schools in the United States to prisons in South Africa. By doing so he has empowered many with his message. Mike is also a recipient of numerous awards for his athletic and professional accomplishments. Mike provides some great leadership wisdom in this episode of the podcast based on all of his many great accomplishments and experiences.
Hear from Coach Krahe as he talks about his time as a player, time as a coach, what brought him back to coach football for Prep and what he is most looking forward to this coming season
Dr. Chris Clark, Prep Class of 1987, is the President of St. Vincent Hospital. Host Jimmy Smith ‘11, AVP of Development & Strategic Initiatives, and Dr. Clark have a great conversation where he shares valuable wisdom on his rise to success. On this episode, Dr. Clark shares how his time at Prep helped develop characteristics that led to him being successful in his career path. He talks about finding your passions and discusses complacency being the enemy. We are positive that you will gain a wealth of knowledge out of this episode!