Volunteers of the Year see results of their effort

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Lisa and Patrick Talty

Lisa Talty likes to tell people that she and her husband, Patrick, are the alumni who never went away.

Lisa ’91, ’97 (packaging science, MBA) started attending RIT in 1987. Patrick ’92, ’02 (criminal justice, MBA) took a few years off between degrees and finished in the Executive MBA program 15 years later. They are active supporters of the Nathaniel Rochester Society. They both have been adjunct professors. And they volunteer their time whenever they can.

The Taltys are RIT’s Volunteers of the Year for 2014 and will receive the award during the Presidents’ Alumni Ball on Oct. 17 during Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend.

“Who wouldn’t want to be involved in an entity like RIT?” asked Patrick. “It’s exciting to be involved in something that is growing.”

Patrick began his volunteer work after completing his MBA in 2002, working on development activities for the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. His employer, Info Directions Inc. (now known as IDI Billing Solutions), had ties to the computing college. He is now the company’s vice president of operations and chief security officer.

In 2003, he became involved with the Information Technology Advisory Board, has taught classes in Saunders College of Business and has been on the Nathaniel Rochester Society Executive Committee and is an NRS committee chairman. In 2008, he became an Alumni Association board member.

Lisa also began volunteering in 2002 with the Capital Campaign Committee, attending the kickoff event a few days before their daughter, Clare, was born.

She has taught as an adjunct professor in packaging science since 2003 and has been active with the Packaging Industry Advisory Board. She put her career as a packaging engineer on hold to be a stay-at-home mom. Patrick and Lisa have three children: Clare, 11; John, 8; and Colleen, 6.

“In our volunteer capacity, we are cheerleaders for RIT and try to show and explain our enthusiasm for the university and how it benefits from donors,” Lisa said.

Patrick said that they volunteer because they can recognize the results of their work in areas such as increased alumni contributions to scholarships and alumni involvement.

“It doesn’t go into some black hole. You can see a quick rate of return,” he said. “You don’t have to wait years to see your impact.”