Doubt to Denouement

For first generation college student, Tom Stiner ’76 Bloomsburg was his only option. As it turned out, though, it was his best one.

Tight finances forced the Berwick native to look for a school close enough to be able to work and live at home. He enrolled at Bloomsburg while his friends scattered to larger schools all across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. 

“To me it was the local school,” said Stiner “I’d wonder if I made the right choice.”

The doubting stopped shortly after graduation when Stiner secured a position with KPMG in Harrisburg and became the only one of this cohort to pass the CPA exam on the first try. He hasn’t looked back since.

“[At first] I didn’t know if I had what it took,” said Stiner, who has spent his career working with graduates from Wharton and Harvard, as well as small state schools similar to Bloomsburg. “My experience has taught me that it’s not where you went to school, it’s what you choose to do with the opportunity.  Within two weeks on the job the big name doesn’t mean anything.”

Stiner eventually moved on from KPMG to work for a small solar company before landing roles as a CFO and COO in the electric supply industry. He has handled everything from an initial public offering to a company dissolution. Now partially retired, Stiner plans to do consulting work part-time and spend more time volunteering.

The increased focus on volunteering is how he found his way back to Bloomsburg.

Stiner had spent the last decade giving back financially to the scholarships that didn’t exist when he made the decision to continue his education close to home. During a recent Scholarship Luncheon, he was asked to speak with the Bloomsburg Investment Group during an upcoming Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD) Conference. Since then he has expanded his involvement to include mock interviewing, resume reviews, and speed networking workshops. His guest speakerships have included topics such as management ethics, international business, and corporate social responsibility. Stiner says he has always been well received by the students.

“Every time I go back I’m impressed by the students,” said Stiner. “They ask good questions, are very attentive and have great follow-up. Who you are and your attitude toward doing the job is paramount. It’s less about where you went to school and more about who you are as a person. I can teach anybody the business but I can’t teach them to care.”

“Most people with my level of experience has been through a lot,” continued Stiner, who is looking forward to coming back on a more regular basis once he is fully retired. “Things happen that you aren’t trained for and you learn to look out for yourself and keep your eyes open.  I can help someone understand that while still in college. I’ve had lots of ups and downs, but I’ve been fortunate, so to the extent I can help somebody, I want to do that.”

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Contact our team today!