The Rambler Podcast

Jake is the Vice President of Economic Development at the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership and has been working in the economic development sector for over 30 years. On this episode, he shares his experiences and knowledge with us, specifically addressing the current state of the Erie economy, what he has seen over the last few decades in regards to growth and challenges Erie has faced, as well as providing us with a 10 year projection for what he believes the future holds for Erie. This episode is both informative and entertaining to listen to as we get to hear from Jake's perspective on the economic development of Erie!

Sage serves as Associate Director of Development at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. From her roots at Villa to working in international development in D.C. and nowadvancing fundraising in higher education, on this episode Sage shares her inspiring journey of purpose, passion, and professional growth. We discuss her favorite memories from her time at Villa, her leap into international studies and global health, and professional experiences she has learned so far in her career.

From the halls of Cathedral Prep to the treetops ofErie, Jacob Thomas has built a successful  business in the tree care industry. After finding his passion in 2003, he took a leap of faith in 2006 and founded J. Thomas Tree Service, now one of Erie's top tree care companies. As a Certified Arborist and Tree Care Safety Professional, Jacob is dedicated to keeping Erie's landscape healthy and strong. In this episode, Jacob shares with us his journey from Prep to entrepreneurship, the challenges and rewards of running his own business, expert tips on tree care & maintenance, and advice for young professionals looking to start their own ventures.

Pat Czytuck '70 dedicated 43 years to the Ramblerfootball program, coaching under five different head coaches and standing on the sidelines for all nine of Prep's state championship appearances, including five title-winning seasons. Beyond football, he spent 42 years as a belovededucator in Prep's Math Department, shaping countless young men both in the classroom and on the field. His legacy is the dedication, mentorship, and unwavering commitment he poured into the Prep community.Now, Pat faces his toughest battle yet as he was recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Despite this challenge, his spirit and resilience remain as strong as ever. In this emotional and inspiring conversation, Pat reflects on his decades at Prep, the championship moments, the lessons he's passed down, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. Whether you were coached by him, taught by him, or simply admire his dedication to Prep, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now to hear his incredible journey and the wisdom he shares along the way.

A best practice for private schools is to provide a “state of school” address to the community. This presentation is similar to a State of Union/State of State address that a president or governor would provide. It shares the priorities,goals, and underlying financial information for our organization. Please take some time to listen to this podcast and reach out to President Kevin Smith if you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the content. Weare having a great year at Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System and our schools Mother Teresa Academy and Cathedral Prep.

Episode #71 of The Rambler Podcast is now available as wewelcome Aaron Watters '96, CEO of OEM Interactive & AdWatter Holdings, whose leadership has landed his company on theInc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing businesses! From dominating the wrestling mats here at Cathedral Prep to making big moves in the digital marketing world, Aaron shareshis journey, lessons in leadership, and what it takes to build a thriving business. On this episode you will hear how grateful he is for Cathedral Prep and how the school helped him to excel in his business and life. Don't miss this inspiring conversation!

Paige is the Head of Marketing for North America at Phaidon International, a global specialist recruitment firm, and she is based in New York City. On this episode of the podcast Paige talks about how her experience at Villa helped prepare her for the career path she has been on, she talks about how to strategically execute brand management within a large organization, and she goes on to share with us what it takes to be a successful leader and advice for aspiring leaders.

For the past 25 years, Bill has been at the helm of Prep's athletic programs, overseeing 27 varsity sports and achieving an astounding 300 state, District, Metro and Region championships during his tenure. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping the standard of excellence at Cathedral Prep. On this episode of the podcast, Bill shares with us his journey from being a Prep student to leader of our athletics program, lessons he has learned through the years in managing our athletics program, and insights into this weekend's Burger King Classic, one of the nation's top high school basketball tournaments… More than 70% of Prep students participate in athletics and Bill has played a key role in fostering this culture of involvement and success. Whether you're a student, parent, alum, or fan, this episode is packed with pride and inspiration!

Judge Brabender '70 embodies the true spirit of Cathedral Prep- As a 3-time class officer, wrestling team captain, and standout in forensics and student council, Judge Brabender's Prep journey laid the foundation for a remarkable career in law and leadership. After earning his B.A. in Political Science and J.D. from the University of Dayton, he became a successful attorney, trying over 100 jury cases before being elected as a Judge of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, where he continues to serve with integrity and distinction.   In this episode, we explore his journey from the classrooms of Prep to the courtroom bench, where he shares with us some inspiring stories from his time at Prep as well as his insights on leadership, service, and what it takes to become successful. Judge Brabender also shares his passion for storytelling as the author of five best-selling books, including RAMBLERS, The History of Cathedral Prep Football, 1924-1999; That Championship Season, The Story of the 2000 Cathedral Prep Ramblers; Cathedral Prep Basketball Chronicles, 1924-2017; Sports Heroes of the Erie School District, 125 Profiles; and Erie's Sensational Murder Trials, Erie's #1 best-selling book in the years 2022 and 2023. . Whether you're a student, alumnus, or aspiring leader, this episode is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and reflections on how Cathedral Prep shaped his extraordinary path.

Allison is a Vice President in Commercial Banking at ERIEBANK. On this episode of the podcast Allison shares her journey from Villa to becoming a leader in the financial industry, balancing a thriving career, family life as a mom of three boys, and her passion for giving back to the Erie community. From career advice to inspiring leadership lessons, this episode has great stories and insights into her career experiences.

Episode #66 of The Rambler Podcast is now available and we're excited to welcome Jeremy Lynch ‘13 on as a guest! Jeremy is currently the head coach of the Cathedral Prep Boys Basketball team! On this episode, Jeremy takes us through his journey, from his days as a Rambler player to his coaching experiences at Penn State Behrend and Chowan University, and now back at Cathedral Prep as the head coach. He shares his memories on the court, the lessons he's learned along the way, and his vision for the Ramblers' future. Hear how his coaching philosophy has been shaped by his journey and why he's so passionate about leading the next generation of Prep athletes by listening to this episode!

Episode #65 of The Rambler Podcast is now available as we welcome Jim Kaveney' 92 to share his inspiring journey with us! From co-founding a successful biotech startup to overcoming health challenges with strength and purpose, Jim's story is all about resilience. On this episode of the podcast, Jim discusses his new memoir, Unlimited Heart, his favorite Prep memories, lessons he learned as an entrepreneur, and insights on balancing life, business, and health. You won't want to miss his message on turning challenges into opportunities.

Camryn currently works for the Cleveland Cavaliers as the Manager of Global Partnership Marketing and was recently honored as one of Front Office Sports' Rising 25, one of the most prestigious awards in the sports industry. From leading Villa's state champion tennis team to rising through the ranks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Camryn's story is one of ambition, leadership, and hard work! On this episode of the podcast, Camryn shares with us on how Villa helped shape her career path, the professional career insights she has learned in her journey, as well as advice for young professionals looking to advance in their careers.

Ed Hinkel ‘01 is one of Cathedral Prep's most accomplished student-athletes. Ed led the Ramblers football team to a perfect 14-0 season and a state championship in 2000. On this episode, we talked about his football career and best memories from his time at Prep, his experience playing college football at the University of Iowa, and his 18 seasons as a coach at Iowa City Regina Catholic High School, where he's helped guide his teams to seven state titles.  We also talk to Ed about the upcoming Athletic Hall of Fame event which is going to be held this Thursday, October 10. Ed was a Junior on the 1999 football team, which is one of the teams that will be inducted. Ed went on to share memories from that 1999 season and reflected on the impact of his teammates from that year. Additionally, Ed shard his congratulations and memories for the teammates who are inductees for this year's Hall of Fame class, Jawan Walker '02 and Joe Dipre ‘01. You can hear Ed's thoughts on the significance of the Athletic Hall of Fame on this episode.

David Cullen '73 connection to Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria Academy runs deep, with five of his brothers also attending Prep and four sisters attending Villa. David also served as the Chairman of the Cathedral Prep Board of Directors. On this episode of the podcast, David shares how the lessons he learned at Prep—like integrity, discipline, resilience, and a commitment to excellence—shaped his approach to leadership and entrepreneurship, helping him overcome challenges in the fast-paced world of finance and startups. His latest venture, Evident Financial, continues his legacy of innovation and service, providing financial management solutions to both individuals and businesses.

On this episode we have the Erin (Doolin) Fessler ‘84VMA joining us as a guest! Erin currently serves as the Vice President of Marketing and Community/Government Relations at The Erie Community Foundation. In this episode, Erin shares her favorite memories from her time as a student at Villa, her impactful work at The Erie Community Foundation, and her thoughts on the evolving landscape of marketing and communications, especially in the non-profit sector. Plus, she gives us insight into organizing and planning the record-breaking Erie Gives Day event! Whether you're interested in marketing, community service, or just love hearing from leaders, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

We are excited to bring you episode #60 of The Rambler Podcast featuring Kevin Hourigan '85! As the President & Co-founder of Spinutech, Kevin has built an award-winning digital marketing agency with over 160 team members across the nation. In this episode, Kevin shares his incredible journey from Cathedral Prep to the top of the digital marketing industry. We explore his experiences at Prep, the highs and lows of growing Spinutech, and his strategies for staying ahead in a rapidly changing field. Kevin also offers valuable insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the importance of a client-first approach. Plus, hear about his most memorable moments speaking alongside giants like Google, Facebook, and General Motors

We are thrilled to welcome Justin Fatica ‘97 as our guest! Justin is the Executive Director of You're Amazing Fitness & Amazing Nation and has has inspired millions with his powerful message of hope. He's spoken at 1,500+ events and been featured on Good Morning America, ABC Nightline, and was the subject of an HBO film called "Hard as Nails". He's also a bestselling author, podcast host. Additionally, he coaches Team Amazing AAU Basketball and the team was just featured in a 6-part docu-series called “In The Paint”  which follows Justin and his team of players as they strive to follow their dreams and make a difference in the world.

Sam Tojaga is entering his 20th season at Cathedral Prep as the Head Soccer Coach and on this episode of the podcast we delve into his journey to becoming the Head Soccer Coach, his reflections on winning the state championship this past season, and he goes on to share some of his leadership style & coaching philosophy.

Rosa Agnello ‘11VMA is a proud Villa Maria Academy alumnae and Senior Recruiter at Paramount Global in New York City. In this episode, Rosa shares her journey from Villa to the heart of NYC's recruitment scene, working with iconic brands like CBS News, Nickelodeon, and MTV. Don't miss her insights on her career success, navigating high pressure situations, and advice for progressing in your career.

Were excited to have John Dill '81 as our guest! From his days at Prep to becoming President & CEO of Marquette Savings Bank, John shares his career journey, the key strategies behind Marquette's growth that he has lead, and advice for aspiring leaders. Don't miss his insights on leadership, overcoming challenges, and maintaining a competitive edge in business by listening to this episode of the podcast!

Chet Moffet has been a dedicated faculty/staff member of Cathedral Prep for 23 years and is currently serving as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. From starting as a Track & Field coach to becoming a teacher, Guidance Counselor, Dean of Students, and now the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Chet has worn many hats at Prep. In this episode, he shares with us his journey, the people who impacted his career here, some of his most memorable moments, and his key achievements.

Join us for Episode #54 of The Rambler Podcast for a great conversation with Cathedral Prep's newest Alumni, Lindsay Armanini '24 and Luke Costello ‘24! From navigating the historic merger of Prep & Villa to experiencing the transformation of a new co-ed campus, Lindsay and Luke sit down with Host Jimmy Smith '11 to share their unique journeys and memories that shaped their high school years. Hear about their reflections on their freshman and sophomore years, the impact of their teachers and coaches, and their experience in the new co-ed Prep for their Junior & Senior years.

Abby is the Director of Sport Performance Quality Control & Internship Director at Yale University. She is also the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Men's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Volleyball, and Gymnastics teams as well as assisting with the Football team. On this episode of the podcast Abby talks to us about her memories from her time at Villa Maria Academy, she shares her journey in the sports performance field, and also some of the challenges she has faced and how she has overcome them.

Emily worked at Villa Maria Academy for 10 years prior to coming to Cathedral Prep last school year to be the Campus Minister and Algebra teacher. On this episode of the podcast Emily shares with us what were some of her favorite memories from her time at Villa and what the transition was like for her coming from Villa to Prep. She also goes on to talk about her role as Campus Minister, the impact of Outreach Day, and overseeing the long standing tradition of Mary's Day.

Jerry Clark '78 has over 35 years of law enforcement and security experience through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). He currently is the Chair of the Criminal Justice Department at Gannon University. On this episode of the podcast, Jerry reflects on his career and provides some of the best leadership lessons that he has learned along the way. Jerry goes on to share some of the key principles of his success such as the importance of integrity, preparation, mentorship, and more.

On this episode of the podcast, Tony shares with us about his time as a student at Prep, what his experience has been like teaching at Prep, and why he is so passionate about being a teacher here at Prep.

Jake is the Vice President of Sales at Agresti Real Estate and has been the #1 ranked Real Estate Agent in the local industry since 2017 and in 2023 he achieved an all-time high sales goal with over $52 Million in sales volume. On this episode of the podcast, Jake shares with us how he got started in his career and how he was able to work his way up to becoming the top Realtor in our area. He goes on to share with us some of his secrets to success that he has learned as well as reflect on his Prep days, which he credits as being a big part of the success he has achieved today!

Pat Grab '05 is entering his 15th season as the Head Coach for the Cathedral Prep Boys Tennis Team and during his time as the coach they have produced Four Doubles State Titles, one Doubles State Runner-Up, and one fourth place State Singles medal. On this episode of the podcast Pat reflects on his time as a student at Prep, he discusses how he ended up becoming the Head Coach for the Prep Tennis team in 2010, and he also provides us with some insights for lessons he has learned through his career as a coach of the team.

Libby Waltman ‘03VMA is the CFO of the Pittsburgh Pirates and on this episode of the podcast Libby talks to us about her career journey starting off as a Staff Accountant for the Pirates in 2008 and working her way up the organization to become the CFO starting in the 2023 season. Libby goes on to share with us some key lessons she has learned working in Finance for the Pittsburgh Pirates as well as leadership advice for aspiring leaders.

Brian Markley '89 is the Science Department Chair and teaches AP Chemistry, Freshman Seminar, and The Universe. On this episode of the podcast Brian talks to us about how he began his career as a teacher at Prep, his experiences as the Assistant Wrestling Coach from 2000-2019, and what he enjoys most about teaching at Prep nowadays.

Episode #45 of The Rambler Podcast is now available and features Jeremy Young '94! Jeremy is the CEO of Federal Resources Corporation (FRC), which was just recently ranked #710 in the Inc. 5000 list of the top 5,000 Fastest growing privately held companies in America. On this episode of the podcast Jeremy talks to us about how he founded FRC, strategies he has implemented for their company growth and success, as well as advice he would give to aspiring leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Meghan Fuhrman '99VMA is the MedPath Coordinator here at Cathedral Prep and on this episode of the podcast Meghan talks to us her role as the MedPath Coordinator and provides us with information on all of the amazing opportunities that our students have today by being apart of the MedPath program. She also reflects on her time as a student at Villa and why she is excited about teaching here at Cathedral Prep!

This is another installment of our Info. Sessions Series as we highlight the HagertynFamily Events Center! Our guest for this episode is Mark Jeanneret, the Executive Director of the Erie Sports Commission. On this episode of the podcast, host Jimmy Smith '11 and Mark share with us the history of the Events Center, key aspects of the facility, and what makes the Events Center such a great facility for our student-athletes at Cathedral Prep and the Erie Community.

Jim graduated from Cathedral Prep in 1979 and is the General Manager, Vice President of Operations, and Treasurer of Industrial Sales and Manufacturing Inc. (ISM) here in Erie PA. On this episode of the podcast, Jim provides us with some great wisdom on the power of having habits that produce desired outcomes, how to have a positive workforce development program, and he also gives us tips & advice on how to succeed in the sales field

Fr. Jason Feigh, the Chaplain here at Cathedral Prep, provides us with some of his stories and experiences throughout his time at Prep which began as the Campus Minister in 2013. Fr. Jason then discusses with us how in his role he is able to helpvdevelop the faith life of our students, how he collaborates with the faculty/staff for our students spiritual growth, and what this work means to him here at Prep and the joys it brings him. Also, with 1 week until Christmas, Fr. Jason shares with us a special message for the Christmas season!

Bridget is the Vice President of External Affairs & Strategic Initiatives at the Barber National Institute and she is being inducted into the President's Hall of Fame at our Legacy Gala event in March. On this episode of the podcast, Bridget shares with us why she is passionate about catholic education, why she is someone who is an advocate for being involved in the community, and she shares with us about the work they do to serve their mission at the Barber National Institute.

Coach Hahesy is entering his 14th season with the Rambler Wrestling team and 35th year overall coaching. He has coached 20 North West Regional Champions, 50 District 10 Champions, and 4 wrestlers to 5 State Championships! On this episode of the podcast, Coach Hahesy shares with us what lead him into the sport of wrestling and how he began coaching, he talks about what has lead to his success as a coach & his coaching philosophy, and Coach Hahesy also provides us with a preview of their upcoming season.

With TOMORROW being Giving Day, this episode of the podcast is all about Giving Day! Joining us as a guest for the podcast is Jayson Nickson, Annual Fund Manager. On this episode, Jimmy Smith '11 and Jayson talk about what Giving Day is, how Giving Day got started, and how your support on Giving Day impacts our students!

After his graduation from Prep, Les went on to West Point Military Academy andthen served 30 months deployed post 9/11. Post his military commitment, he then served many years working in the CIA and later went on to co-found two companies, The Twenty and RedOwl Analytics. Nowadays, he is a Partner at Next Frontier Capital where he has led 12 direct investments and serves on the board of 7 portfolio companies. Our host, Jimmy Smith, and Les have a great conversation on this episode of the podcast as Les shares stories from his military experiences and business career to provide us with the lessons he has learned in leadership and what it takes to become successful in your personal life and professional career.

Mia is a Guidance Counselor and the Guidance Department Chair here at Cathedral Prep. Earlier this month was Mental Illness Awareness week, and on this episode of the podcast Mia provides us with some great information on the signs to be aware of for someone going through a Mental Illness and advice for us on how to best help family members or friends through those situations. In addition to this topic, Mia also shares with us her background and why she decided to pursue a career in counseling services and more information on the resources available through the Guidance Department for students and families at Prep.

Sara is the Chief Operating Officer at Smith's Provision and serves as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for Cathedral Prep & Mother Teresa Academy. On this podcast episode, Sara talks to us about her time as a student at Villa Maria Academy, she talks about how she became a member of the Board of Directors and her role as Chairwoman, and she also provides us with very valuable leadership lessons she has learned through her career at Smith's Provision and in leading the Board of Directors.

Rolf taught at Prep for 50 years from 1968-2018 and continues to substitute teach at Prep to this day. On this episode of the podcast, Rolf reflects back with us on his years teaching at Prep sharing some of his best memories, he discusses his relationships with the faculty/staff members he worked with during the years, and he also talks about his perspective on change as he has seen it through his time at Prep.

John is the Co-Founder & CEO of Epistemix, a software company that uses synthetic populations to simulate how behaviors, ideas, products, and information spread among populations. On this episode of the podcast, John shares with us about how important the influences from his Prep days laid the foundation for his future success, the motivational principles he applies to his daily life, and through his entrepreneurial journey, learning what it takes to start and grow a company.

Therese is a four time State Champion coach as she is the Head Coach for the girls Cross Country teams as well as the boys & girls Track & Field teams. On this episode of the podcast, she shares her background with us for how she became a high school state champion runner herself and how she began coaching with Villa Maria Academy in 2010. Therese then shares with us some of the key elements that lead to her creating a team with a winning culture and standard of excellence!

We are beyond thrilled to share with you that thanks to a new Corporate Partnership with Joe Bizzarro and Interstate Mitsubishi-Nissan, Dollinger Field at the Hagerty Family Events Center is receiving a brand new, digital display, scoreboard! We make the announcement for this new scoreboard with you on Episode #31 of The Rambler Podcast which is now available! On this episode of the podcast, host Jimmy Smith ‘11, AVP of Development & Strategic Initiatives, and Joe Bizzarro share the exciting news for the brand new scoreboard. They also talk about how they formed this new Corporate Partnership to fund the board as well as to why Joe wanted to sponsor this project for the community.

Bill is a Partner at McDonald Illig and also serves as Solicitor for Erie County. On this episode of the podcast, Bill shares some truly amazing leadership wisdom for us which includes leadership lessons he learned while an Officer in the US Air Force, how to lead & direct your team to high levels of achievement, as well as the habits for productivity to create success for yourself.

Mike Mischler '87 is currently the VP of Operations here at Cathedral Prep and has been employed through various positions by the school for over 20 years. He also recently retired from being the Head Football Coach, where he lead the Rambler Football team for 20 years. On this episode of the podcast, Mike shares with us his back story for how he began coaching football for Prep and also how he began his professional career working for Prep. He talks more about his career coaching football and what key elements lead to his teams great success that they achieved. Mike then wraps up the podcast by talking about his current role for Prep and what he and his team do for the school.

It was one year ago this month that we started The Rambler Podcast featuring host Jimmy Smith '11, with a mission to promote why Cathedral Prep is the standard of excellence! To celebrate one year of the podcast, today we release a special episode in which we have a compilation of clips from all of our Alumni guests on the podcast. At the end of each Alumni episode, Jimmy asks them the question- “If you could go back in time and speak at your Prep/Villa graduation, knowing what you know now, what would you say?”. Episode 28 of the podcast features the answers to that question from: Dr. Chris Clark '87, Mike McCoy '66, Kayla McBride '10VMA, Sr. Mary Drexler ‘63VMA, The Honorable John Trucilla '78, Charles Rush '01, Tim NeCastro '78, Debbie Uht ‘82VMA, Jim Stevenson '84, Maria Sansone ‘99VMA, John Zack '82, and Almi Clerkin ‘81VMA!

Almi is the Executive Director for the Sister's of St. Joseph Mission & Ministries Foundation and has a long history with the Sister's of St. Joseph and Villa Maria Academy. First as a graduated in 1981, then as the Director of Development, Arts Faculty Member, and she has Directed over 30 musicals and plays from 1985 – 2005. On this episode of the podcast, Almi shares with us some of the key principles that has lead to her success in the arts and in her career such as effective communication within your team and practical short-term and long-term goal setting. She also shares a message for aspiring leaders on what they can do to advance themselves in their careers.

As we close out this fiscal year, listen to hear an important message from interim Vice President of Advancement Mike Krahe '00 and Chairwoman of the Board Sara (Weber) Kallner '93VMA.  There are only three days left to participate in our 30-Day Challenge: Igniting Excellence! Help us support the next generation of Ramblers!