Business Advisory Council Gains New Member

The Business Advisory Council, which is in charge of guiding business majors, has recently added the owner of Berner Financial Services Irene Berner, to its group of 35 local members.

The Business Advisory Council consists of senior executives from the business community that provide input to the school of business and advise students on their field of study, according to Newpaltz.edu. 

Rick Alfandre, a council member, 1980 alumnus of New Paltz and owner of Alfandre Architecture, said the Council has been around for a long time and meets biannually. He said members must participate in useful ways by aiding the Council and its mission.

Berner said she felt she was considered for the board due to her involvement with the school over the years she has attended. She said she has seen the business department grow at New Paltz because she took “one class per semester since 1999” and only just received her B.S. in finance this past year.

She said there have been a number of improvements in the school over the years including the addition of new computer labs, a trading room and the addition of an MBA program to the School of Business.

“I spent a decade taking classes in the Business School and had the opportunity to watch closely as the program evolved and transformed,” Berner said. “The business program has changed and improved greatly thanks to Hadi and his staff, who worked very hard to make it the outstanding program it is today.”

Berner was one of the local judges for the Investment Competition for the last three years, participated as a local business in the Business Plan Competition, has been a guest speaker in several business classes, held a Financial Planning workshop during Alumni Weekend and most recently ran a workshop in Financial Planning for incoming Residence Hall Directors.

Berner said she intends to continue her contributions to the school.

“I plan to give back as much as I can to the Business School by participating in as many programs as I possibly can,” Berner said. “I bring a well-rounded perspective that can only enrich the council’s mission to achieve excellence in the business education and promote a positive image for the School.”