Syracuse University Alumni Club of New York City

Karen Au - President and Founder, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, 2003, The College of Arts and Sciences

Karen is an internal change management consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The education Syracuse provided, prepared her for graduate school; where she attained a Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. While at 'Cuse, Karen forged life-long friendships and actively re-founded Phi Sigma Sigma sorority on campus. Also, she has been known to throw a "mean spiral" and was the quarterback of her intramural football team while at Syracuse.

In addition to her position at Big Apple Orange, Karen is also part of the Syracuse University Mentor-Mentee Alliance (SUMMA) for the past few years, mentoring high school students. She also recently joined the advisory board for the Friends of Leadership, supporting the High School for Leadership and Public Service. Her hope is to continue to strengthen the bonds of the Orange (and blue) across all alumni in the New York City area. Go Cuse!

Joe Donovan - First Vice President and Founder, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bachelor of Science in Finance & Marketing, 2004, The Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Joe is an Insurance Consultant at Employee Benefit Solutions specializing in reducing insurance premiums for organization’s medical benefits. Besides attending as many Syracuse Sports games as possible while at Syracuse, Joe could be found working the door, bartending and eventually managing Darwins Bar and Restaurant. Joe keeps a busy schedule and also tries to run at least 1 marathon in a different city every year. Joe’s goal for Big Apple Orange is to establish an Alumni club in NYC that all SU Alumni can count on. Bringing the spirit of SU to the New York City area through events, networking and philanthropy.

Carolyn Brafman - Secretary, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bachelor of Science in TV, Film Radio Production, 2004, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

Carolyn currently works in online marketing at Cheetahmail producing e-marketing campaigns. She started off in broadcast news working on Catherine Crier Live on Court TV and then ventured into web production and marketing. Carolyn keeps a busy schedule by teaching gym classes for NYSC and volunteering through the NY Cares Organization. Her goal is to help make the Big Apple Orange a big presence in the city that never sleeps.

Harris Sokoloff - Vice President, Membership and Founder, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, 2007, L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science

Harris is a civil engineer with AECOM. His fun fact (based off of all the questions he gets from his friends) is that he worked in Dubai for five weeks, helping on the engineering aspect of the opening of the world's largest mall. During his time at Syracuse, Harris was committee chair for Homecoming and Winter Carnival and now wants to bring that same school spirit and fun to NYC.

Alex Roberts - Vice President, Marketing and Founder, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Psychology, 2005, The Martin J. Whitman School of Management, The College of Arts & Sciences

Alex is a Communications Manager on the AT&T account at Mediaedge:CIA. He works on the Wireless portion of the account and manages West Coast advertising. Throughout his career, he has worked on a variety of clients including JP Morgan Chase, Modell's Sporting Goods and Ernst & Young. While at Syracuse University, Alex was a writer for the Daily Orange, had his own radio show on Z89 and was a student manager in the Department of Recreation Services. He also interned for Rolling Stone Magazine and the Syracuse SkyChiefs while at SU.

Joe Kanakaraj - Co-Vice President, Web Administration and Founder, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bachelors of Science in Information Management Technology, minor in Political Science, 2000, School of Information Studies

Joe has been working in the web since 2000, when he graduated from IST. He's currently a Senior Technical Producer at MLB.com. While at Syracuse, Joe lived in the infamous "Green Moster" on Euclid, stormed the court after Syracuse upset #2 ranked UConn in basketball, and was active in seeing bands all over central New York. He currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Josh Frost - Co-Vice President, Web Administration, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bachelor of Science in Information Management Technology, History, Spanish, 2008, School of Information Studies

Josh is a Marketing Producer with MLB.com and has been since he graduated Syracuse in 2008. He was on the Mock Trial team, an active member of First Year Players and proud resident of Euclid Avenue during his tenure at Syracuse. He's excited to be a part of Big Apple Orange and working with the infamous "Joe K" on the web team.

Michael Zyborowicz - Treasurer, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bachelor of Science in Accounting, 2003, The Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Mike is currently employed at Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP as an auditor. Originally born in Poland, but moved to New York City shortly after graduating from Syracuse. Mike is looking to give back to Syracuse University by being part of an alumni club that helps younger graduates transition into life in NYC while bringing older graduates back together again.

Beth Crisafi - Board of Director (3-year term)

Bachelor of Science in Communication & Rhetorical Studies, 2005, The College of Visual and Performing Arts

Beth is an account supervisor at Gibbs & Soell Public Relations, where she works on accounts related to the consumer lifestyle and building products industry. Beth is an avid fan of Syracuse basketball, and while at ‘Cuse, she showed her school spirit by participating in Alpha Chi Omega sorority as Vice President and Homecoming chair. She’s so grateful for the wonderful, lifelong friends that she made at SU, and for the unforgettable memories.

Shari Diamond - Board of Director (2-year term) and Founder

Bachelor of Science in Television, Radio, and Film, 1994, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

Shari has been a “cast member” with the Walt Disney Company since a summer internship in ’93 while at SU. Now Executive Director of Sales Promotion for ABC National TV Sales, Shari puts her Newhouse degree to work every day, and in her spare time, runs a successful wedding coordination business. As a member of the National SU Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2002 – and the only member without a “home club” – her key goal was to create a general interest NYC alumni club, which she was thrilled to gain University approval for in Fall ’07 during her term as Vice President of that Board, when she led a standing-room-only kickoff meeting to gain support for what is now Big Apple Orange. As Founder and a Board of Director for BAO, she sees the club as a great way to connect and re-connect with area alumni, but also to strengthen the SU name in NYC, increasing the value of our degrees and effectively building equity in our SU ‘investment.’

Leo Rosenholz - Board of Director (2-year term) and Founder

Bachelor of Science in Finance, Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship & Emerging Enterprises, 2005, The Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Leo is the Senior Stock Loan Analyst at Interactive Brokers in Greenwich, CT. Leo worked for Interactive Brokers in Zug, Switzerland for the summer ‘08. He also participated in the Birthright program in August 2008, where he traveled throughout Israel for two weeks. In his college days he was the Syracuse men’s basketball head manager, while being a U100 member and a SOM ambassador.

Why is Leo involved with Big Apple Orange?

"I bleed orange."

Matthew Alexander - Board of Director (1-year term) and Founder

Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Information Management Technology Studies, 1999, The Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Matt is a Business Development Manager at PAETEC Communications. He was awarded an athletic scholarship at Syracuse University for Lacrosse. In 1995, Matt and his team won the National Collegiate Lacrosse Championship at Syracuse University. Greatly involved in SU's athlete community, Matt was part of the 2004 Member of the New Jersey Pride (Major League Lacrosse); 2001 & 2002 Member of the Bridgeport Barrage (Major League Lacrosse); 2000 Member of the New York Saints (National Lacrosse League); and 1998 & 2006 World Lacrosse Games (Iroquois National Lacrosse Team) post graduation.

Derek Delvalle - Board of Director (1-year term) and Founder

Bachelor of Arts in English and Textual Studies, 1999, The College of Arts and Sciences, Masters of Social Work in Social Work, 2001, The College of Human Ecology

Derek is currently working at Catholic Charities in Brooklyn and Queens. He is a huge fan of tennis and loves running and discussing politics. While at Syracuse, Derek was a Resident Advisor, an employee for Recreation Services, and a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Co-Ed Service Fraternity.