caldwell-magazine-spring-2015

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MINUTES WITH…
CALDWELLALUMNI
Frank Salerno and his wife, Adrienne, at the 2014 Caldwell University Presidential Scholarship Gala.
COPYRIGHT: Watershed Visuals
FRANK SALERNO ’02
This accounting major is on his
way to new philanthropic heights—
and others are following his lead.
Michael E. Bressman, director
of Caldwell University’s annual
fund, recently sat down with
Frank Salerno, a partner in the
tax advisory firm True Partners
Consulting, to talk about his
involvement with the university’s
alumni board and the President’s
Society, an elite association of
Caldwell’s most generous donors.
MICHAEL BRESSMAN: LET’S START
AT THE BEGINNING. WHY DID YOU
CHOOSE CALDWELL
Frank Salerno: I wanted a small college
that offered a big education. Staying in
northern New Jersey was also important.
And, of course, I was looking for a school
with great teachers. I was also fortunate
to receive a scholarship for the charity
and ministry work that I had done while
in high school. The fact that Caldwell
recognized and rewarded me for helping
others showed me that my priorities and
the university’s priorities were in alignment.
MB: YOUR WIFE HAS A CONNECTION
TO THE CAMPUS AS WELL, CORRECT
FS: Yes she does. My wife, Adrienne, is a
physician, and she spent time as a medical
resident making rounds at St. Catherine’s
Convent. We now have two children: a
two-year-old boy and a four-month-old
daughter, both of whom are properly
outfitted with Caldwell apparel!
MB: YOU ARE A BUSINESS
PROFESSIONAL, A STUDENT, A
HUSBAND AND FATHER, YET YOU STILL
REMAIN A VERY ACTIVE ALUMNUS.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO GIVE OF YOUR
FREE TIME TO HELP THE UNIVERSITY
FS: I’m incredibly proud of Caldwell. And
one reason I’ve stayed so involved through
the years is to make Caldwell proud of me.
Part of my motivation for supporting the
university is to show the professors who
did so much for me that their efforts have
paid off. In addition, it’s invigorating to
be around other graduates who share my
passion for the university and want to see it
grow to new heights.
MB: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ALUMNI
BOARD AND YOUR ROLE AS CHAIR OF
THE PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY.
FS: I believe in Caldwell and what it aims
to achieve. So when I saw a Facebook post
seeking candidates for the alumni board,
I used it as an opportunity to restore my
connection with the university. It’s been
great working with the other alumni on
the board, advancing initiatives that are
important to alumni and the university. I
was asked to helm the President’s Society in
2014, and I truly see this as an honor. This
distinguished group of incredibly generous
people recognizes that even though
the overall goals of the university are
sometimes broad and are often evolving,
they are always built upon the university’s
core values. President’s Society members
make the university a priority in their
annual giving plans, and I’m proud to be
part of it.
For more information about the
President’s Society and how you can
become a member, contact Michael E.
Bressman at 973-618-3447 or e-mail
mbressman@caldwell.edu. n
The Caldwell University
President’s Report
Now available online at
www.caldwell.edu/annualreport2014.pdf
Caldwell University is grateful for the
support of our alumni, friends and other
benefactors. The President’s Report offers
Dr. Blattner the opportunity to thank
those who helped transform the lives of
our students through gifts to academic
programming, scholarships and other
areas of pressing need. We hope that you
will continue to make a difference in the
lives of our students in the year ahead.
30 CALDWELLMAGAZINE