Skidmore Scope Magazine Annual Edition for 2017

19 SKIDMORE COLLEGE Skidmore alumni are remarkably limber and nimble career-shapers. With first-year seminars, dou- ble majors, minors, undergraduate research, study abroad, campus clubs, summer internships, senior thesis projects, and other experiences already under their belts, they bring not just knowl- edge but flexibility and inventiveness to any workplace. Just try these five stories on for size: NO WORKING STIFFS three alumni are putting creative thought to work at the Brooklyn Home Company, a real estate development firmwith in- house architectural, construction, and design services. This family- run cooperative of custom home builders and artists says it aims to create innovative living spaces that are tasteful, functional, and timeless. TBHCo has built a reputation as one of the best high-end residential builders in Brooklyn. Bill Caleo ’99 founded the Brooklyn Home Company and serves as president and head of operations, overseeing the purchase, devel- opment, and sale of residential properties, particularly Brooklyn brownstones. A business major, theater actor, and original member of the Dynamics a cappella troupe, Caleo credits Skidmore for preparing him for his current career. “I use my business degree and my acting background, and I enjoy collaborating with creative people, technical people, a mix-and-match of different personalities.” Caleo is also active as an alumnus, sharing his experience and business skills as a member of the President’s Advisory Council. Art major Fitzhugh Karol ’04 specialized in ceramics, and now he lends the company’s signature trademark to each TBHCo prop- erty. Whether it’s an oversized, 400-pound, reclaimed-wood barn door or a custom-sculpted banister or fireplace mantel, Karol says, “We build hand-crafted elements and leave a handmade item or two” for new owners. Mark Klein ’05 adds big-city real estate development skills. Klein began as a psychology major but switched to management and business after taking MB 107, the iconic introductory case-study course. “I really enjoyed strategizing a business plan for Callaway Golf—working to solve a problem for an organization,” he recalls. Problem-solving is at the heart of his work now: “It’s what we do, overcoming challenges and finding opportunities for growth and improvement.” The Brooklyn Home Company’s diverse staff of 20 features a full in-house team of experts who, like the three from Skidmore, devote themselves to artistic integrity, individuality, environmental sustainability, fine craftsmanship, and high-quality architecture and interior design. —Diane O’Connor Building Brooklyn