John Casellini:
CLASS OF 1977
Glastonbury High SchoolClass of 1977
Glastonbury, CT
Syracuse University - MaxwellClass of 1987
Syracuse, NY
Syracuse University - MaxwellClass of 1982
Syracuse, NY
Utica College of Syracuse UniversityClass of 1981
Utica, NY
John's Story
Life
Life is great! After about 7 months of semi-retirement to be at home with the kids (which was harder work than being at work!), I am ready to return to work. I left my VP job with CSX, running the state and local government relations (lobbying) program for the rail freight company in January and expect to become a full-time New York State contractual lobbyist in October.
I am married with four kids (gasp!): Peter, a college sophomore at RPI; Laura, a high school sophomore at Columbia High School in East Greenbush, NY; Joseph (JoJo), a three-year old ready to start his first school program this fall at Maria College; and Andrew, who arrived on Easter this year! Yes, quite a spread - I divorced and remarried, and have never been happier.
We have a great life - a nice home in Albany, NY that is in the process of massive renovation, and one in Florida (on Amelia Island) that came into our family when I was commuting to Jacksonville, FL each week for work.
That commute got to be too much - and with Andrew's impending arrival just around the corner - it was time to work out the means of parting ways from CSX (and a job I loved.)
I am looking forward to this new gig - effectively entering the world of small business - and will have more than 30 clients to manage in the years to come.
Before all this madness of late, life took some twists and turns:
* Utica College after high school - loved it, really got to grow and become involved in everything there, and am now giving back as a member of the Board of Trustees;
* a brief gig while in college as a DJ, all through college with WPNR (the school station) and for a while with WOUR-FM, 96.9 in stereo, the Rock of Central New York...what I played on the air then as alternative rock is now the same music they are now playing - classic rock!
* grad school at the Ma...Expand for more
xwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University - where, in return for the awesome resume point, I worked my tail off and met my matches in the student ranks.
* a job with the New York State Legislature running campaigns full time - well, direct mail and issue research and the like during the session; then off the payroll to run the campaigns in the fall.
* a second position with the State Assembly, to get myself out of the frantic world of campaigns and into steadier policy work - studying the state's dairy industry (from cow tipping in G'bury to promoting the industry!) during which time I helped re-write the state's depression-era milk licensing laws and passed legislation to help protect further erosion in the dwindling ranks of farmers.
* a third position with the Assembly, with the Ways and Means Committee - starting out as the Agriculture analyst, then adding Transportation, then climbing the ladder - Deputy Budget Director, First Deputy, Director. A great time in my life, developing expertise that helped stop a subway fare increase in New York in Federal Court (for a few days, anyways) and where I met Chrissy, my wife.
* a start of a second career - lobbying and handling community relations for CSX. More ladder climbing, first in NY, then Quebec, then NJ, PA, MA and CT - before taking on the Northeast region and then the whole shebang! Great job, working on government and community issues, media involvement in crises, running the safety awareness program, helping to map the strategic direction for the company. But the last stop was Jacksonville, FL - eight hours each week on an airplane from home in Albany - so it was time to go.
More adventures await, I am sure!
Sorry to have missed the GHS Reunion - the date was our long-planned departure date for a needed vacation.
Best to all!
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Photos