Episodios

  • Ep 6.3- Hans Ottinot

    Ep 6.3- Hans Ottinot
    Mar 14 2026
    Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Ottinot Law Managing Partner, Hans Ottinot ’92. With more than 20 years of experience representing local governments and private businesses, Hans has built a distinguished legal career focused on complex development, governance, and community-building across South Florida. After graduating from Colgate, Hans earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and went on to serve as City Attorney for several municipalities, including the City of Sunny Isles Beach, City of Tamarac, City of North Miami Beach, and the City of Miami Gardens. In his role as City Attorney, Hans played a key role in major redevelopment efforts across South Florida. He was particularly instrumental in helping establish the City of Miami Gardens, now the largest African-American city in the State of Florida and home to the internationally known Jazz in the Gardens music festival and the Miami Dolphins. Throughout his career, Hans has remained deeply committed to public service, serving on numerous boards and supporting civic organizations that strengthen communities across the region. At Colgate, Hans earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and was recognized as an All-ECAC Football All-Star, setting the foundation for a career defined by leadership, impact, and service.
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    1 h y 2 m
  • Ep 6.2- Derek Jones

    Ep 6.2- Derek Jones
    Mar 8 2026
    Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with retired aerospace executive and community leader Derek “Boston” Jones ’77. With a remarkable 36-year career at United Technologies Corporation (UTC), Derek built a legacy of leadership across manufacturing, operations, and global program management within the aerospace and defense industry. His work took him around the world, leading projects across the United States, Poland, Japan, and the Czech Republic. Since retiring in 2019, Derek has dedicated his time to mentoring and community service. In recognition of his extraordinary service, he recently received the 2025 Volunteer Impact Award from United Way of Greater New Haven. At Colgate, Derek earned his Bachelor’s degree and began a journey that would take him from Boston to boardrooms and global operations around the world, while never losing his commitment to service and community impact.
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    1 h y 12 m
  • Ep 6.1- Michele Alexandre

    Ep 6.1- Michele Alexandre
    Mar 1 2026
    Alvin and German conduct a powerful and wide-ranging conversation with Dean of the School of Law at Stetson University, Michèle Alexandre ’96. A first-generation lawyer and nationally recognized legal scholar, Dean Alexandre has built a distinguished career rooted in justice, equity, and institutional transformation. After graduating from Colgate University, she went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, launching a career that bridges academia, advocacy, and leadership. Her scholarship and public engagement focus on sustainability, race and gender equity, economic independence, and advancing social justice for small farmers and marginalized communities around the world. At Colgate, she was deeply engaged in campus life, serving as a leader and active member of multiple student organizations — a reflection of the same courage, intellect, and commitment to community that continue to define her leadership today. Michèle made history as the University’s first Black valedictorian, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
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    57 m
  • Ep 5.8- Anita Bueno

    Ep 5.8- Anita Bueno
    Jun 29 2025
    Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with licensed landscape architect and Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner®, Anita Bueno ’90. A lifelong learner with a passion for connecting mind, body, and environment, Anita has dedicated her career to exploring the relationship between thought, movement, and our inner and outer worlds. Through the Feldenkrais Method®, Anita uses movement to help people activate and reorganize their nervous systems—empowering them to think clearer, feel better, and show up as their most creative, fully embodied selves. She integrates this work with her practice as a landscape architect, designing spaces that foster connection to nature and sustainable living. For ten years, Anita designed recreation areas for the US Forest Service, and for another decade she founded and directed BuenoLuna Landscape Design (now Cummings Landscape Architecture), a residential design/build firm focused on mitigating climate change through ecologically responsible landscapes. Beyond her professional work, she has lived in India studying yoga and Carnatic dance and music, traveled her ancestral lands of Hispaniola and Central America, and taken on countless creative pursuits—from watercolor painting and playing guitar to sewing her own clothes, figure skating professionally, commercial fishing in the Bering Sea, and bike touring in Mexico and New Zealand. At Colgate, Anita was a proud member of the Women’s Rugby team, setting the stage for a life defined by curiosity, resilience, and a fearless spirit of exploration. She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion from Colgate University.
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    1 h y 18 m
  • Ep 5.7- Aaron Morton

    Ep 5.7- Aaron Morton
    Jun 14 2025
    Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with actor, educator, and creative visionary Aaron Morton ’03. A dynamic presence in both performance and pedagogy, Aaron’s career bridges the worlds of television, film, theater, and education—always with a commitment to uplifting voices that are too often left out of the frame. As an actor, Aaron has worked with groundbreaking creators including Ava DuVernay and Lena Waithe, and gravitates toward bold, character-driven narratives. His work spans a wide range of mediums, from commercials and video games to stage and screen, grounded in a deep foundation of classical technique and contemporary realism. Off the stage, Aaron brings the same passion to the classroom as an Acting Professor at BMCC and Marymount Manhattan College, where he is dedicated to training the next generation of performers with a focus on authenticity, personal storytelling, and craft. His commitment to representation in the arts also led him to found Bridge To Reality, a nonprofit that mentors high school students of color and aims to expand their access to careers in the arts. After Colgate, he continued to hone his craft, earning an MFA in Acting from Columbia University. At Colgate, Arron earned a B.S. in Computer Science, was a four-year student-athlete on the football team during a historic era, and a proud member of The Commission.
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    1 h y 9 m
  • Ep 5.6 - Edwin Ruiz

    Ep 5.6 - Edwin Ruiz
    Apr 26 2025
    Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Asbury Park School District, Edwin Ruiz ’93. A passionate and experienced educational leader, Edwin has built a strong career dedicated to improving educational outcomes and inspiring student learning and development. In his current role, Edwin oversees curriculum design, instructional practices, assessment strategies, and professional development initiatives for teachers, all with a focus on elevating student achievement. His work is rooted in a belief that education must continually evolve to meet the needs of students and communities. Before stepping into district leadership, Edwin gained a wealth of experience as both a Principal and Teacher, shaping classrooms and school communities with his visionary approach to education. After graduating from Colgate, he earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. A lifelong learner in every sense, Edwin is currently studying to become a pilot while continuing to mentor emerging educators and leaders. An accomplished speaker and leadership coach, he is deeply committed to pouring his knowledge and experience back into the next generation. At Colgate, Edwin earned his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies, laying the foundation for his thoughtful, reflective leadership style that continues to impact education today.
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    1 h y 51 m
  • Ep 5.5 - Paula Madison Ryner

    Ep 5.5 - Paula Madison Ryner
    Apr 19 2025
    Alvin and German conduct a powerful conversation with public health leader and community advocate Dr. Paula Madison Ryner ’92. With over 30 years of experience in the public health sector, Paula has devoted her career to advancing health equity, empowering communities, and championing the well-being of underserved populations. She holds a Doctorate in Health Leadership from Seton Hall University and a dual Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. A highly decorated leader, Paula was recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in New Jersey for four consecutive years (2018–2021) by NJ Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg. In 2024, she was honored with the United States President's Leadership Award from the UNESCO Center for Peace for her transformative contributions to development, peace, and leadership in communities of African descent. Since graduating from Colgate, Paula has been a dynamic force for change, service, and leadership. She is the Immediate Past President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (Bergen/Passaic chapter), where she led the chapter to be named a national model for four consecutive years. Her community involvement continues through leadership roles including Vice President of the Board of Bergen Volunteers, Vice President and Programs Chair of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Bergen County Chapter), and appointed positions on several local government advisory boards. In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Dr. Madison Ryner is the co-founder of Ryner and Associates, an organizational consulting firm, and is preparing to launch P.Mad Consulting Group, along with a new podcast supporting African American caregivers of loved ones with dementia. At Colgate, Paula was a Night Flight radio host on WRCU, a member of the Sojourners, and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology/African American Studies.
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    44 m
  • Ep 5.4 - Atit Amin

    Ep 5.4 - Atit Amin
    Apr 12 2025
    Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Fintech Investor at Pivot Investment Partners, Atit Amin, ’08. Atit works at the cutting edge of finance and tech, backing transformative companies that are changing the game at the intersection of wholesale finance and enterprise software. At Pivot, he helps founders scale businesses that have already proven product-market fit and are ready to grow with the right strategic partner. Before his current role, Atit gained a wealth of experience in the finance world—serving as a Senior Research Analyst at CEB, an Accounting Analyst at Chartis, and a Summer Analyst at NDC Capital Partners. He even got his start with an early internship at Lloyds TSB. He’s also an active member of the CFA Society New York, demonstrating his continued commitment to the financial industry. At Colgate, Atit was an editor for The Colgate Maroon-News and earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Affairs.
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    1 h y 21 m