board member spotlight
Jose moreira '00, MBA '03

 
Major: Management
Title: Chief Operating Officer
Employer: Cleaner's Supply
Location: Conklin, N.Y.

Campus Involvement: Wrestling, Tau Alpha Upsilon

By Kathleen Rubino '13

Jose Moreira '00, MBA '03 lives life without regrets and encourages students to be aggressive and pursue their goals.

"Don't be scared to take chances," he says. "Find your true passion and go after it with everything you've got. You're the author of the book of life. Write it how you want it to be."

And Moreira definitely took his own advice, pursuing his passion for management, and currently serving as chief operating officer at Cleaner's Supply in Conklin, N.Y. Although he never imagined his career path would include a job in operations, he loves what he does.

Moreira graduated from SOM with a degree in management and a concentration in MIS and Marketing. He then earned an MBA at the School of Management. Binghamton University has made a huge impact on Moreira's life and he continues to give back to the University today, as a member of the alumni board. He also shares career advice and insights with current students at SOM's annual mentoring and networking event. His fondest memories of college life include the Tau Alpha Upsilon fraternity and being a Bearcat wrestler.

During school, he was no stranger to the art of time management, as juggling a varsity sport with the rigorous course load of the School of Management posed quite a challenge. However, Moreira feels these experiences helped him in his career, as corporate America is very fast-paced and requires a person to solve problems under pressure.

He is fascinated with politics and would love to re-take a political science class, which he remembers as "Cultural Forces in International Politics," if he had the opportunity to do so.

"I think it would be interesting to take this class again and see how it would be taught differently since 9/11 and the war," he says.

Moreira simply misses being in the campus environment on a daily basis - the student life, excitement of meeting new people, educational possibilities and being surrounded by motivated individuals pursuing a successful future.

He feels students should be open-minded during their college years and meet as many people as they can. He also advocates getting involved with an activity or cause on campus because it teaches lessons that can't be acquired in a classroom.

"Your college years will be over before you know it, and then life will change and become really hectic," he says. "Take advantage of the opportunities presented to you now."