Rider Points West '82, '89 in the Right Direction

For Karen Blazer West '82, '89, including Rider University in her estate plans seemed like a natural choice. As the chief operating officer of Patient Marketing Group, Inc., a Princeton-based pharmaceutical marketing agency, West said Rider has afforded her numerous career opportunities, as well as lasting relationships that have had a tremendous impact on her growth as an individual and a professional.

"I feel like everything that I have accomplished, I owe to my education," West explained. "I think my credentials opened doors. I have to say that my education was a good foundation for what I do."

Shortly after graduating from Rider with a B.S. in accounting, West took a position as an accountant with Johnson & Johnson, where she got a taste of various business disciplines within the company through its training program.

"These opportunities were easily available for us to pursue at Rider," she explained.

Even as West gained more experience in her professional career in positions with Novartis and Publicis Groupe, she has always turned back to Rider and her former professors for guidance. She remembers in particular how Dr. Mark Sandberg and Professor Alan Sumutka took the time to give her advice.

Sumutka, associate professor of Accounting, remembers how West reached out to him shortly after taking the position with Johnson & Johnson.

Responding to Challenges

"Karen was very smart, but unsure of her future career path, like most 22-year-olds, so in that respect, she was no different than most students," Sumutka said. "As a faculty member, I always try to treat my students the same way. I have very high expectations in the classroom, and I push students to work far beyond what they think their potential is. But Karen responded very well to that, and she would always seek advice even after graduating from Rider."

Over time, their faculty-staff mentoring relationship evolved into a friendship between West, Sumutka and their spouses.

"In my life, he has always been a go-to person. Al is always the voice of reason. He has a real knowledge of the accounting world and he's just able to provide very sound advice," said West, who later pursued her M.B.A. from Rider, of her mentor. "He's become a really good family friend. How many people can say that about their college professor 20 years later? I hope my kids have a relationship like that in their life."

Providing Students With More Opportunities

West and her husband, Brit, and their two daughters reside in Pennington, N.J., where she remains an active member of the Rider community. She attends basketball games and uses the Student Recreation Center gym facilities frequently. West is also committed to providing current business students with internship and career opportunities. Whenever she is looking for staff, she contacts Sumutka, who either recommends a student or spreads the word to a colleague.

"As faculty members, we are here to help students and that doesn't stop when they graduate. That's the bottom line. Why would I stay in touch with Karen? To me our job doesn't stop when they walk out the door. I treat all my students the same way," Sumutka said. "It's through effective people like Karen that Rider fulfills its mission."