Several decades after leaving North Park University (NPU) with a business degree, Tom Bagley BA ’74 returned to talk to alumni about his thriving career in private equity. In attendance was Professor of Finance Dr. Alvin Kamienski, who soon realized that the deeply informative three-hour lecture would be perfect for NPU’s business majors.

The next year, Bagley’s audience shifted from alumni to students, who, dressed in smart business attire, gathered in a conference room in downtown Chicago to mimic a real-world work environment. That meeting ignited a valuable partnership between NPU and Bagley that has nurtured numerous careers.

Bagley, founder of Pfingsten Partners LLC, said he has hired as many as 10 North Parkers at his various places of employment and is viewed by many as an early pioneer in private equity. In a field dominated by those with Ivy League educations and family connections, Bagley had to work harder and smarter than most others to succeed.

He said he learned his work ethic at North Park, which is why he has hired so many NPU graduates.

“Having gone through North Park myself, I knew they were getting a good education,” Bagley said. “And one of the things I valued about my time there was that I wasn’t told what to think; I was taught how to think. North Park teaches critical problem solving.”

Another benefit of an NPU education, especially when trying to succeed in a business built on trust?

“North Parkers tend to have a good moral compass,” said Bagley, who in 2014 received NPU’s Distinguished Alumni Award. “When you combine the ability to think with the drive to do the right thing, even when no one is looking, that is integrity. And that is appealing to me in an employee.”

I tell them, ‘You don’t owe me anything; just pay it forward. Once you’re in a position where you’ve had some success, it’s now your responsibility to become the mentor.’

—Tom Bagley

One of Bagley’s NPU hires was Janice Erickson BA ’83, with whom Bagley still exchanges Christmas cards. After her graduation, Bagley hired Erickson to work for him at the former bank holding group Citicorp, now known as Citigroup.

Even after Erickson moved on to another job, she routinely sought career advice from Bagley.

“Several years ago, I was looking for a new job and reached out to Tom,” Erickson said. “We sat together and brainstormed roles I could pursue. He helped me think of positions that would use the skills I’d developed over the years.”

Eventually, Bagley referred her to a past coworker, who then referred her to a contact that led to her current job at Antares Capital LP.

“I felt very blessed that Tom and others would take the time to think through opportunities with me along the way,” Erickson said.

Other talented alumni, like Lawrence Anderson BA ’71, bring their skills and counsel to NPU via an Evangelical Covenant Church connection. Anderson worked for 23 years as a sales and marketing executive for three of the world’s largest financial futures firms before running Covenant Ministries of Benevolence (CMB) from 2008 until his retirement in 2018.

Anderson, who in 2004 was given NPU’s Distinguished Alumni Award, estimated that he’s guided more than 100 North Park students onto their career paths via internships and career counseling.

“What I’ve enjoyed most are the ties between CMB and North Park,” said Anderson. “Nothing excites me more than to see North Park’s success.”

Anderson mentored and hired Scott Hanson BA ’06, CMB’s senior vice president of finance, and Scott Stenmark BA ’91, NPU’s vice president for finance and administration.

“Larry has been a great friend and mentor to me for many years,” Stenmark said. “He embodies the North Park mission of living a life of significance and service.”

NPU’s partnerships extend beyond the business field. The athletic training program continues to help its graduates find jobs with its long-term partners.

Marcus Malou MS ’24 did his clinical intensive placement at Lane Tech College Prep High School through NPU’s partnership with ATI Physical Therapy and Chicago Public Schools (CPS). He’s now an ATI employee who primarily serves as an athletic trainer within CPS.

Since earning her degree, Melissa Martinez MS ’22 has worked at three institutions with which NPU has clinical education relationships: Concordia University Chicago, Northwestern University, and Niles Township High School District 219.

The best thing a student can have is someone who gets to know them throughout their career and provides coaching after they graduate. Then, you have each other’s name in mind when you need a contact; it’s the original, in-person LinkedIn.

—Alvin Kamienski

And those are just a few examples, according to Dr. Alyssa Anderson BS ’12, athletic training clinical education coordinator.

“Our clinical partnerships with organizations and individuals provide a strong network in Chicagoland,” said Anderson. “Our program’s reputation means that employers often reach out to our faculty to see if we have any graduates or alumni who may be a good fit for their open positions.”

Kamienski said the value of an alum mentor is especially important in the age of artificial intelligence. When students send their résumés to employers, computer filters often eliminate them before a human sees them.

“The best thing a student can have is someone who gets to know them throughout their career and provides coaching after they graduate,” Kamienski said. “Then, you have each other’s name in mind when you need a contact; it’s the original, in-person LinkedIn.”

Bagley said his mentees often ask how they can pay him back. “I tell them, ‘You don’t owe me anything; just pay it forward. Once you’re in a position where you’ve had some success, it’s now your responsibility to become the mentor.’”