Opening doors in NYC

Warrington alumni are leveraging their success to help current students through networking events and connection opportunities in New York City’s competitive business landscape.

New York City can be a daunting place for young professionals trying to make career-elevating connections, but for University of Florida Warrington College of Business students and recent graduates, thousands of alumni calling the Big Apple home provide an immense network that makes those crucial introductions a little easier.

This fall, several Warrington alumni wanted to give back to their alma mater by providing networking opportunities in New York City for students studying real estate, accounting, finance and more. David Aarons, Steven Morrison, Liam O’Neil and Anu Rajakumar are just four alumni who are facilitating connections between students and the NYC business community. 

When AFD CEO David Aarons (MSM ‘02) learned that students in the Nathan S. Collier Master of Science in Real Estate would be in Manhattan to defend their first-place win at the 2nd annual New York University Stern School of Business Berkadia-NYU Invitational Real Estate Investment Case Competition, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help them make local connections. 

Aarons quickly set up a reception, hosted at his company’s office, with the students attending the case competition as well as local alumni in the industry.

“It’s about creating opportunities for the next generation,” he said. “I know firsthand how meaningful it can be for students to connect with industry leaders and gain exposure to different career paths. Hosting this reception is my way of helping open doors, share experiences and hopefully inspire students the way other leaders have inspired me.”

Aarons, who leads his family contract furniture business, sees opportunities like this as the best investment in future Gators. 

“By getting involved, alumni can make a tangible difference in students’ lives, whether through mentorship, networking or even philanthropy,” he said. “I find it valuable to strengthen my own connections to the UF community that is continually giving back.”

Like Aarons, Steven Morrison (BSAc ‘99, MA ‘01), Partner and National Director of Audit at CohnReznick, saw a great opportunity to strengthen connections among Business Gators in New York City by hosting current and former Fisher School of Accounting students at a networking reception. 

“The Gator Nation really is everywhere,” he said. “I run into Florida alumni all over, and it’s always great to meet UF alumni through the business community, including those in the area.”

Morrison is proud to have the opportunity to bring together so many accounting graduates that came from Gainesville to New York and continue the Gator tradition of excellence. 

“UF is a flagship school that pushes excellence in all it does,” he said. “That push is not just in athletics, but permeates the overall culture of the institution and so many of its students, faculty and employees and the work that they do. Staying engaged with UF at the very least is invigorating.”

Liam O’Neil (BSBA ‘90) has hosted students and alumni of the William R. Hough Master of Science in Finance program for several years, and he couldn’t think of a better way to give back to the university that gave him his start. 

“As a proud UF Warrington grad, it is gratifying to give back to the university and stay connected with the leadership, faculty, alumni and students,” he said. “The Gator community in New York is strong and ever growing. Hosting this event over the years has afforded the opportunity to form and strengthen some wonderful relationships.”

Students in the Finance Professional Development program will spend two days meeting with several companies thanks to connections with Warrington alumni, including Blackstone, thanks to Susan Murphy (BA ‘16, MSM ‘17) and Matt Bloom (BS ‘99), Bloomberg through Gina Martin Adams (BSBA ‘98), Truist through Dan Beiley (BABA ‘03), and JPMorganChase, thanks to Anna Luisa Muchacho (BSBA ‘24) and Nicholas Vallejo (BSBA ‘24). The students will also visit Neuberger Berman through Managing Director Anu Rajakumar (BSBA ‘08). 

For Rajakumar, participating in case competitions, the Florida Leadership Academy and UF’s connections with recruiters at top companies helped open the door to get to where she is today. Wanting to give back in a meaningful way, she saw a great opportunity in hosting finance students while they were visiting New York City.  

“I want today’s students to see that careers are rarely linear – there are pivots, setbacks and hard choices – but with preparation, intention, and resilience, great things are possible,” she said. “By sharing my journey candidly and connecting students with a diverse set of alumni, I hope they feel both encouraged and seen: that they can envision life beyond Gainesville, recognize paths they hadn’t considered, and identify practical next steps. Most of all, I hope these connections spark confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging in a broader professional Gator alumni community they’re about to join.”