Get the help you need and take control of your professional development at Illinois Tech by developing a comprehensive career plan with our Career Services team. Each professional staff member in our office is uniquely trained to equip you with the tools you need to have a successful career.
We are here for you each step of the journey- from your first resume to your first interview to salary negotiation and accepting/declining an offer.
BJ Engelhardt
BERNIE FLORESCA
Nicholas Mancari
Celestine McGee
Lisa Montgomery
Emily Ginger
Senior Career Development Coach
Julie was born and raised in Chicago, and has worked in learning and development for over 20 years. She has a passion for teaching others what’s possible and loves connecting with people. After graduating with a BS in Marketing and Economics, and a Master’s degree in Teaching, she has spent her career as a software trainer and leadership development consultant, in industries including healthcare, IT, travel, and environmental health and safety. She’s an author and a podcaster. Her podcast “The Peace and Possibilities Podcast” is a platform that shares stories from successful, happy people who love the work they do, and can help you learn just how to get there sooner.
Senior Director, Career Services
BJ serves as Senior Director for Career Services. He has worked at Illinois Tech since 2007 in both enrollment management/recruiting roles and Career Services. In his current role, BJ manages the day-to-day activities of Career Services and assists in determining the strategic direction for the office to most effectively engage students, employers, and alumni to ensure that our students are successful in the first step of their career journey. This also includes the management and development of the Elevate program and Illinois Tech’s Cooperative Education and Internship program. BJ is a proud alumnus of the Illinois Tech’s Stuart School of Business, receiving his Master of Science in Marketing Analytics and Communication in 2014.
Senior Career Development Coach
Bernie is a seasoned educator and an adjunct at McHenry County College in adult education who loves coaching and mentoring. He now brings this passion to Illinois Tech’s Career Services. Bernie worked as an engineer/program manager for AT&T Bell Laboratories, a Lyft driver, and an account executive for various companies like Ricoh USA. He even pitched credit cards for Chase/United at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Being self-employed in marketing operations for the last three years, he also created a student workshop that teaches business strategies in the #JobSearch space. Bernie gives his expertise to his alma mater with the workshop now in-house.
Associate Director, Career Services
Nicholas Mancari is the Associate Director for Career Development and Engagement. Nick’s primary focus is to lead career development and related education efforts through a range of services and programs to meet the needs of Illinois Tech students. Collaborating and foraging relationships with students, faculty, staff, and hiring employers is essential in Nick’s role.
Associate Director of Employer Engagement and Outreach
Celestine McGee develops relationships with employers to generate employment opportunities for students. Celestine is passionate about helping others and bringing them together through collaboration and synergy! Outside of work, Celestine is passionate about running races, writing beauty blogs, and helping others find their inner calm through mindfulness. She is also a passionate entrepreneur for marketing, fashion, beauty, and holistic approaches to healthy living concepts.
Director, Employer Engagement
Lisa L. Montgomery is the director for Elevate Experiential Partnerships. In this role, she strategically works to pair students with robust internships, externships, and research opportunities at companies and organizations that are university partners. She also builds trusted relationships with companies that drive the universities diversity, business, and social goals, enhances brand reputation, and engage alumni.
Outside of work, Lisa has a nonprofit organization, Dreams & Beyond, that supports girls and women serving organizations through research, training, and coaching. She also advocates for literacy through her program, The Wild Formula Learning Network, by providing free books to youth and promoting sensory learning. Additionally, her Cultural Kitchen Club program has revealed the secrets of kitchens around the world!
Assistant Director, Career and Professional Development For International Students
Steven Szmurlo is the assistant director, career and professional development for international students, and he has worked at Illinois Tech since 2010 in various positions, all related to helping international students succeed. Along with an extensive background in communications, media, and teaching English as a second language, Steven brings personal experience as both an international student and an international faculty member to his position. Steven’s current role focuses on international student outreach and providing services and resources to meet the unique career needs of international students.
Mentorship Coordinator & Career Coach
Emily serves as Mentorship Coordinator and Career Coach. Her background is in clinical psychology, having worked with many individuals from diverse backgrounds in psychology, research, and career services settings. Emily developed and coordinates the Alumni Mentorship Program for current Illinois Tech students using evidence-based mentorship practices. She uses her background in psychotherapy training to deliver effective career coaching guidance to help students navigate their career paths and achieve their goals. Emily is a proud alumnus of Illinois Tech and received her Master of Science in Psychology in 2021.
