Member Spotlights
Michael Troy
Member Spotlight – Michael Troy
Michael grew up in Middletown, NJ and graduated from Monmouth University – Leon Hess Business School in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Management. While at Monmouth University, Michael enjoyed studying abroad at Regent’s College in London through the Experiential Education program at the university. After graduating from Monmouth University, Michael attended Executive Programs at Stanford GSB and Wharton. Michael is currently the CEO at Troy Container Line and COTA Logistics, two logistics firms focusing on different sectors of the supply chain; both firms based in Red Bank, NJ. He currently resides in Little Silver with his wife Tori and three daughters; Logan(5), Elle(4), and Molly (2) along with their energetic Labrador, Otis. Michael travels quite a bit for work, all over the globe, so in his down time he enjoys being at home with his family, going to the beach, and being a part of his young children’s emerging sports interests. On occasion, Michael enjoys a round of golf, running, and enjoys reading, mainly non-fiction of all type. His most recent being The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. Three years ago, Michael joined the Business Council to connect more with the University that gave him so much. Being the CEO of a local company, he feels it’s important to support the university as part of a strong a vibrant community. One of Michael’s mentors, Paul Doherty, was involved with Monmouth University in many ways and encouraged him to get more involved; specifically with the Leon Hess Business School.
Pooja Shah
Member Spotlight – Pooja Shah
Pooja was born and raised in Tinton Falls, NJ where she still makes her home today. Her older sister and parents still live in the area as well as a large extended family of many cousins who are scattered around the state. Pooja graduated from Monmouth University in 2019 taking a job at BDO as an audit associate. In 2022, she moved to Spodify to pursue a role as Content Accountant where she manages the royalty payout process for content consumed on the platform. Pooja loves the culture of the company and the focus on exposure to new and emerging music and artists. She is currently into “Indie Pop” as a genre, but also enjoys a variety of styles; and working at Spodify there is no shortage of music to appreciate.
Having joined the Business Council in 2023, Pooja remembers attending the Business Council meetings as a student representative of Beta Gamma Sigma. She noted the value of being exposed to professionals outside of the classroom and “wanted to be a part of it” after graduation. Earlier this year, Pooja agreed to take on the role of Treasurer for the Business Counsel and joined the Steering Committee as part of this critical role. Pooja’s hobbies include travel, reading, cooking and dining out. She loves to experience the flavors of different cultures and was recently in Cancun over the holidays.
Video Testimonials
Watch videos of experienced professionals from the business council discussing their careers and how they achieved success. Benefit from the experience and advise of these professionals who currently serve as mentors.
Jamal Beale
Retired military general and real estate professional talks about the value of mentorship, skills for success, and leadership. Jamal shares special insight into being an effective “Servant Leader”.
Rick Gumina
Professional financial advisor talks about career development, advancement, and risk taking. Ricks shares his experienced insight into how to discover your career path and how to incorporate continuous improvement into your career development plan.
John Paolella
Retired attorney, state assemblyman, and state senator talks about mentorship, networking, and opening doors. John brings his unique experience in politics to his advice on career development.
Dennis Devery
Pilot, aviation expert, and homeland security consultant talks about communications skills, critical listing, and cultural competency. Dennis shares his unique experience in high stress environments to describe the skills required to succeed in a high performance role.
Ryan Lanier
Insurance company district manager talks about his diverse career path and arriving at an unexpected end point. Ryan shares his journey to describe the importance of working outside of your comfort zone and adapting to change.
Deb Clay
Retired VP of technology talks about her diverse career across multiple industries. Deb discusses leveraging your college education into the beginning of a lifelong learning experience. She shares her insight into the value of both depth and breadth of experience and the need for versatility and collaboration in senior leadership roles.