John Brady '05

John Brady knows the value of networking. A connection he forged while a student led to a job immediately after graduation with the St. Moritz Group, owned by Allegheny alumnus Phil St. Moritz '61.

An economics major and communication arts minor, Brady has advanced steadily at the firm and now serves as vice president and Pittsburgh branch manager of its building services company. He's part of a management team responsible for business development, customer relations and general operations of 65 corporate accounts and 600 employees in western Pennsylvania.

"Never underestimate the importance of networking," Brady advises students. "Always look for opportunities to sell yourself to others."

Brady says his experiences as a student-athlete at Allegheny—juggling the demands of his coursework and football—prepared him well for the challenges he faces in his career. And the value that Allegheny places on communication skills, he explains, translates into success in the business world.

To stay successful in a competitive field, Brady tries to learn as much as he can about his customers' industries—and about the different the facets of his own employer. "To be truly value-added in the ever-flattening economy means to be an extension of another group's values or ideals, even if you are an outsider," he says.

The First Five is a series of profiles celebrating the accomplishments of recent Allegheny College graduates in their first five years as alumni. Read more First Five profiles here.