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1995

Estee (Dorfman) Foster, Melrose, Mass., and Marvin H. Dorfman ’72 are pleased to announce the launch of Dorfman & Dorfman, CPAs. From its home base in Woburn, Mass., the firm specializes in accounting and tax services for individuals and small businesses.

1999

Luis N. Martinez, Athol, Mass., has been promoted to supervisor at Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitsol. The alumnus, who is a CPA, has been with the firm for eight years.

What’s New with You

?

We welcome Class Notes and Milestones submissions from alumni. Information may be sent by e-mail to Mildred E. Murphy ’00 at mmurphy@bentley.edu, or by U.S. mail to: Bentley University, Lewis Hall, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452 USA. Wedding photos should include the bride and groom only, and should be high resolution (300 dpi or better).

1997

Kirk J. Purvis, Saco, Maine, has been promoted to principal at Dawson, Smith, Purvis & Bassett, a full-service accounting firm in Portland.

2002

Jason S. Talwar, Seattle, Wash., has accepted a position at Ipsos Public Affairs as senior research manager. His primary focus is global technology and trust research.

2003

Brendan O’Leary, Eliot, Maine, has earned a certification in purchasing management from the Institute of Supply Management. The institute is based in Tempe, Ariz.

A Worthy Investment

class notable

Sometimes, even the bleakest financial markets have a silver lining. It may not be financial doctrine that people are ready to hear, but that conviction holds strong for research analyst Shana Orczyk ’07 MBA.

“In the long run, markets go up
more than they go down, so it’s important to differentiate
fear from the quality of investments,” she says of surviving
a volatile market. “Don’t let the psychology of the stock
market affect your own psychology on investing.”

At Peak Financial Management in Waltham, Mass., Orczyk is charged with researching alternative investments such as hedge funds and private equity. “Keeping a careful eye on hedge funds gives you a feel for what’s going on in the market before it happens,” she explains. “It helps better manage an overall portfolio.”

Spend a few minutes with Orczyk, and it’s evident that this is not her first walk down Wall Street. An affinity for research developed early in her career. As a financial adviser, she realized that a personal investment would be necessary for a career transition. “In this field, having an MBA can make or break you. I needed it to get my foot in the door.”

She enrolled in the graduate program at Bentley, where she got more than she bargained for in the classroom. “The quality of the work and types of projects were so aligned with what was happening in the industry. I was able to build a portfolio that proved my capabilities in the research niche. It got me where I wanted to be.”

Ready to pay forward the support she received as a graduate student, Orczyk is helping Bentley students develop a career map and build a strong résumé. Through the Miller Center for Career Services, she holds mock interviews with undergraduates who are pursuing finance careers.

The alumna reaches out to a wider audience through technology and the media. Her blog — The Orczyk Factor — is targeted to other wealth management firms, small foundations and endowments, and multi-family offices. Her online advice helps asset managers understand the use of alternative investments in portfolios that are smaller in scope. She has also shared her financial savvy on CNBC and in local print publications.

A role model on many fronts, Orczyk hopes to encourage women who are interested in a traditionally male-dominated field. “Breaking stereotypes isn’t a road block, it’s merely a new challenge to me. If you work hard and earn respect, you will go further than you could ever imagine.” Kristen L. Walsh

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