In 2013 Gary Stubits ’82 and the Brother Rice Alumni Association founded BRAIN for Business.  Six years and fifteen meetings later, more than 250 alumni from graduating classes spanning 50+ years have gathered to learn new ways to support each other’s business ventures, while always supporting Brother Rice.  We will always appreciate Gary’s work with the Alumni Association in laying the foundation for BRAIN (Brother Rice Alumni Interactive Network) and for his continued volunteer effort in promoting alumni participation at meetings and other events.  Thank you, Gary.

And now we hand the mantle of leadership for BRAIN for Business to Brian Barkowski ’95, who needs no introduction.  Brian is a long-time networking expert who has the distinct advantage of being well-known and respected by alumni of all ages, including hundreds of young alumni with whom he coached, taught, or mentored while he wore many hats at Brother Rice from 2004-2017.  Networking is what Brian has done on a full time basis while at Rice and has continued in his position as a loan officer for The Ironbank Mortgage Group since 2017.

Anyone who knows Brian knows he bleeds maroon and orange, so please join the Alumni Association in welcoming him back to Brother Rice as an association board member and as BRAIN’s new leader.  Please also contact Brian today at Barko@Ironbank.Mortgage if you would like to step up your participation and perhaps become a BRAIN for Business Decade Representative.

Brian met with Jim Casey ‘70 on January 5, 2019, and they agreed they want BRAIN meetings to slot enough time for everyone to make multiple connections and hand out many business cards.  They also agreed to continue to invite alumni from all age groups who come from various careers.

Brian said, “I am extremely excited and honored to help grow the success of BRAIN for Business and bring Crusaders together to work with one another. The Brother Rice alumni base is vast and full of talented individuals of all ages and I am looking forward to helping connect people and live the mission of our school, which is a commitment to life-long learning.”

Welcome back, Barko, and thanks again, Gary!