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

ealvarado@vaftizo.com
(321) 674-6141

Erin oversees the Florida Tech Alumni social media accounts, Florida Tech Connect, email content creation, the bdsj.vaftizo.com/alumni website, and AlumNotes for Florida Tech Magazine. She graduated from Florida Tech in the spring of 2016 with a bachelor's degree in business administration - marketing and has stayed active in the Panther community ever since. In her spare time, you can find Erin reading, running, going to the movies with her husband (also a Florida Tech alum), binge-watching reality TV, and visiting her second home...Disney World!

Jessica Cartagena Assam
Assistant Director of Sponsorship Relations

jcassam@vaftizo.com

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
Major Gift Officer - COA & COPLA

sbacon@vaftizo.com
(321) 674-7198

Since 2011, Stephanie has enthusiastically touted Florida Tech's can-do culture and champions our stellar faculty. She strives to involve alumni and friends of the university to further Florida Tech's mission. 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. Most often, you will find Stephanie in the kitchen, pretending to play golf or gardening.

Daniel Blucker
Associate Director of Advancement Services

dblucker@vaftizo.com
(321) 674-6142

Daniel leads the Advancement Services team in all data and gift processing areas into Florida Tech's donor database while ensuring all financial transactions are reconciled with the Controller’s Office. In addition, he facilitates the partnership between Advancement and other university units.

Alyssa Carney
Admin III

acarney@vaftizo.com
(321) 674-6162

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

jcornell@vaftizo.com
(321) 674-7506

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 Development

shelley@vaftizo.com
(321) 431-0445

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

akero@vaftizo.com
(201) 562-2218

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.

Cassie Pericak
Vice President of Philanthropy

cpericak@vaftizo.com
(321) 309-3124

Cassie Pericak unofficially joined the Florida Tech family in July 2023 with her facilitation of the University’s strategic plan and currently serves as the Vice President of Philanthropy, overseeing the Office of Advancement. She has supported the nonprofit world since 2009, most recently, as a fundraising consultant and strategist. Her work has taken her around the country and across the sectors of education, healthcare, faith, and social services. Cassie’s determination to help positively change our world, coupled with her educational and work experiences, has led her to serve as a board member at an anti-trafficking organization. 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

mspradlin@vaftizo.com
(321) 674-6826

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.

Zulfa Sultana
Annual Giving Manager

zsultana@vaftizo.com
(321) 309-3071

Zulfa is originally from Bangladesh and prides herself on being a very ambitious person. She received her master’s degree in business administration and was recently awarded “First Winner” on her research paper published with CBERUK. She might sound super-serious but she is a goofball at heart! Her sports car is her other half and she is obsessed with music. You can often find her humming lyrics to herself. In her spare time, she also loves to sing karaoke, cook, and dance. As a proud multi-lingual person, she is passionate about learning new cultures and their languages.

Timothy Worzick
Advancement Services Coordinator

tworzick@vaftizo.com
(321) 674-6211

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

gyates@vaftizo.com
(321) 674-8428

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

jzito@vaftizo.com
(321) 674-6152

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.