Meet the Advancement Team
We are here to serve and each of us is eager to make a connection with you.
Erin Alvarado
Alumni Communications & Content Manager
Erin oversees the Florida Tech Alumni social media accounts, Florida Tech Connect, external email creation, the www.fit.edu/alumni website, and alumni stories for Florida Tech Magazine. She graduated from Florida Tech in the spring of 2016 with a bachelor's degree in business administration - marketing. In her spare time, you can find Erin playing with her future Panther Owen, reading, running, binge-watching reality TV, and visiting her second home...Disney World!
Jessica Cartagena Assam
Assistant Director of Sponsorship Relations
Jessica leads initiatives to secure individual and corporate sponsors for university and fundraising events while offering dedicated support to event volunteers. She collaborates closely with the university to foster lasting relationships between Florida Tech and the community. Beyond her professional endeavors, Jessica actively supports various local organizations. Her commitment to philanthropy underscores her passion for positively impacting the community.
Stephanie Bacon
Director of Philanthropy
Since 2011, Stephanie has enthusiastically touted Florida Tech's can-do culture and champions our stellar faculty. Her role is to engage with alumni, industry, the local community, and constituents connected to Florida Tech's College of Aeronautics and the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts to support the university’s mission and values. Depending on the day, this may be connecting an accomplished alumnus with a student, corporate partners with a community leader, or listening to their aspirations and intentions. You will often find Stephanie in the kitchen, pretending to play golf or gardening.
Daniel Blucker
Associate Director of Advancement Services
Daniel leads the Advancement Services team in all data and gift processing areas into Florida Tech's donor database while reconciling all financial transactions with the Controller’s Office. In addition, he facilitates partnerships between Advancement and other university units.
Alyssa Carney
Admin III
Alyssa provides administrative support to the Sr. VP for the Office of Advancement and undertakes the responsibilities of being the department's Stewardship Coordinator. This includes ensuring all donors are appropriately recognized and celebrated so that philanthropy for the department grows. She earned a degree in business administration (’14) and her M.B.A. (’16) from Florida Tech. Alyssa was a part of the cheerleading program while attending Florida Tech.
John Cornell
Director of Annual Giving
John manages a diverse Student Philanthropy Team that is a growing initiative to connect alumni with students as well as establish giving habits to increase participation rates. He also directs our Day of Giving activities. He has long had a passion for higher education, along with athletics, the arts, and live music. Originally from Connecticut, John has lived up and down the East Coast, always gravitating to the water.
Shelley Johnson
Director of Philanthropy
Shelley’s role is to engage with alumni, industry, the local community, and constituents connected to Florida Tech's College of Engineering & Science and the College of Business to support the university’s mission and values. Originally, from Palm Beach County she has lived in Indialantic for more than 20 years and has been with Florida Tech since 2010. When not serving as a vital ambassador for Florida Tech, she is often found on the golf course, tennis court, or boating with her family.
Ameena Kero
Foundation Relations Officer
Ameena started her career in higher education, working in different departments in the U.S. and at the international level. As the Foundation Relations Officer of Advancement at Florida Tech, she searches for foundations and funding opportunities, writes proposals and grants for funding requests, and assists the Deans and faculty in completing proposals and submissions of independent proposals for grant opportunities.
Christen Mea
Gift and Financial Services Specialist
Christen is responsible for managing incoming gifts from Florida Tech’s generous donors. She creates pledges, records gifts accordingly, sets up new funds for campus organizations, and more. She also volunteers at many events on and off campus. Though she did not earn her undergraduate degree at Florida Tech, Christen is planning to further her education here toward a master’s degree. Outside of the office, Christen is most likely reading a classic, baking, and spending time with her family.
Cassie Pericak
Vice President of Philanthropy
Cassie Pericak joined the Florida Tech family in January 2024 and oversees the Office of Advancement. She has supported the fundraising initiatives of nonprofits since 2009. Most recently, she served as the Director of Operations at Alliance Fundraising. In her role, she led campaign efforts for a humane society in Louisiana, developed a campaign plan and processes for a university in Michigan, and wrote the new strategic plan for Florida Tech. Cassie's determination to help positively change our world, coupled with her educational and work experiences, has led her to Freedom Network USA, where she currently serves as a board member. In her free time, Cassie travels, visits friends and family, attends live music events and spoils her two cats.
Mary Ida Spradlin
Alumni Engagement Officer
As an Alumni Engagement Officer, Mary Ida Spradlin leverages her MS in marketing and passion for higher education to build long-term relationships with alumni by creating events that build lasting connections! She is also a Florida Tech alumnus herself and has been with the university since 2018. In her spare time, you can find her dancing away at a studio or spending time with her puppy, Persephone.
Timothy Worzick
Advancement Services Coordinator
Tim is our Advancement Services Coordinator. He manages our volunteerism programs for alumni, parents, and friends. In addition, he oversees donor stewardship and assists with creating Envoke mass emails and Classy events. You can often catch him pairing students with alum mock interviewers using his favorite mapping tool.
Gina Yates
Assistant Vice President, Alumni Affairs
Gina and the Alumni Affairs team are working together to strengthen our alumni community for lifetime engagement with the university and with one another. Gina conceptualizes, implements, and manages a wide range of alumni engagement activities to advance the university's mission. Working closely with the Advancement team, the Alumni Board, and university leadership, she is an advocate for the university to increase awareness of Florida Tech among potential students and the broader public and in relevant industries. Her goals are to increase the number of actively engaged alumni and maximize their engagement's impact.
Joanne Zito
Director of Volunteer Engagement
Joanne manages the College Advisory Boards, the President’s Circle, and other volunteer groups as appropriate. In this role, she works closely with the Dean of each college and coordinates President Circle events with the Chair and Vice Chair. Volunteer engagement requires her to recruit members, manage meetings, and provide engagement through social gatherings and events that offer networking opportunities that support and recognize university happenings. A Florida Tech alumnus, Joanne has been with the university since 2018. She enjoys being active outdoors, cooking, and entertaining her family and friends in her spare time.