"Winning Hofstra's Young Alumnus of the Year Award just goes to show that your time at Hofstra never has to end, and in some cases it can really begin to thrive after you graduate," says this year's recipient, Rob Salvatico '95.

Young Alumnus of the Year Robert Salvatico

This is not to say that Rob was uninvolved as a student. Soon after entering Hofstra as a transfer student in 1992, he joined Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. "It was Delta Sigma Phi, along with the Greek system," he says, "that provided me with the opportunity to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities; to meet and stay close with many of the best friends in my life; and in general make my time at Hofstra much more enjoyable."

In his senior year, Rob joined the Men's Golf team. "It gave me some terrific insight into the world of NCAA Athletics, and I got to play some fabulous golf courses along the way. I will admit that I have never been more nervous than I was stepping up to the first tee in an NCAA-sanctioned golf tournament, but that experience forever changed me in a profoundly positive way."

Rob continues, "As involved as I tried to be during my time as a Hofstra student, it pales in comparison to my involvement as an alumnus of the University. Even if you are not the Homecoming king or queen or a 4.0 student, you can still look forward to contributing to the success of the University, and that can really add or lead to your own success."

Today Rob is the general manager of the Wingate Inn, a family-owned and operated hotel in Garden City, New York. Because of the hotel's close proximity to Hofstra, Rob has been able to nurture a successful business relationship with the University.

"It's an interesting story," Rob says about the history of the 6-year-old Wingate. "We were a financial services family first: my father, Albert, was a partner in one of the largest specialty insurance brokerages. My uncle, Louis, was running currency exchange desks for a few of the largest banks in the world. I was juggling graduate school and a job in insurance."

"The story of the Wingate began in 1996 with my father's interest in commercial real estate – in particular, a location on Stewart Avenue where there were a few overlooked and available spaces. At about that same time, he invested in a group that was formulating the concept for a hotel brand, Wingate Inns. Factor in the difficulty he had finding available hotel rooms on Long Island for an annual holiday party, and there was the basis for building and operating Wingate Inn, Garden City. To be sure, more went into it than that, but my father's spontaneous vision and the subsequent sale of the family's share in the insurance brokerage gave birth to the formation of this new Salvatico family venture."

Wingate Inn, Garden City, opened its doors December 23, 1999. Its success has led to the family's purchase and renovation of the Best Western East End, and the newly built Holiday Inn Express East End, both located in Riverhead, New York.

As general manager of the Wingate Inn, Robert is responsible for the oversight of Wingate's daily operations. He is also active in the oversight and development of the sales and marketing and technology strategies for other family businesses, including the Tin Alley Grill restaurant in Garden City and the two new hotels in Riverhead.

Though business is currently thriving, Rob is all too aware of the uncertainties of the hospitality market. "Unlike other commercial or residential properties, hotel accommodations must be sold and resold each and every day of the year. And there are no guarantees of sales being consistent from day to day."

Outside the office, Robert is an active member of his community, serving on the board of directors for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, the Hofstra University Advisory Board, Alumni Organization Executive Council, the Chaminade High School Golf Committee, the Hempstead-based Coats for Families, and recently as co-chair for the 2004 Winthrop University Hospital Golf Outing.

In addition to his degree from Hofstra, Robert holds an M.B.A. in marketing and information systems from the Fordham University Graduate School of Business Administration. He resides in Garden City with his wife, Cynthia Bevington, and their dog, Lila.