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Jaclyn Kuzma ’17

Jaclyn Kuzma ’17 was the featured speaker at the March 25 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar. Kuzma is a vice president and underwriter at Citizens Bank in Pittsburgh, Pa.

“On March 25, 2026, Jaclyn Kuzma spoke to our class about the ins and outs of commercial banking, offering both practical insight and personal reflection on her career path. She began by sharing that not long ago, she was sitting in the same seats as us, looking up to guest speakers and imagining what her own future might look like.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“Jackie graduated from Thiel College in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. During her time in college, she was a member of the DHI, Chi Omega sorority, the marching and concert bands, where she played the flute, and worked in the Sports Information Department.” Dwayne Simpkins ’27

“Many of the themes Ms. Kuzma shared with us were like what we have heard before. I think it was also cool that she took the senior seminar class in the past and was now back to speak to us. She talked about being unsure of her career, but that everything works out well in the end. It can feel like companies do not want to hire new graduates, so hearing about her experience with the training program at Citizens was encouraging to hear.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“Jaclyn shared that she did not receive an internship at the accounting consortium, which was discouraging, but she later secured an internship at Citizens Bank that ultimately led to her full-time position. After graduating, she moved to Boston for a training program and worked her way into her current role.” Sara Owens ’26

“After graduating from Thiel College, Kuzma started her career at Citizens in a competitive credit training program, where she gained experience in accounting, credit analysis, and financial modeling. She gradually moved up through roles, including Commercial Banking Associate, Credit Analyst, Assistant Vice President, and Underwriter, ultimately reaching her current position as Vice President. Her career illustrates the value of starting in an entry-level role, building skills over time, and seizing growth opportunities within an organization.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“She explained that commercial banking involves making loans to companies and discussed asset-based lending, emphasizing the importance of careful financial decisions.” Lindsey Pearce ’27

“Throughout her career, she has worked in commercial banking, specifically in asset-based lending, where loans are made based on company assets such as accounts receivable and inventory. She explained how this type of lending is structured to minimize risk and ensure that, aside from fraud, the bank should not lose money. She also discussed working in the middle market and briefly switching roles into debt capital markets for a year to gain new experience, showing the value of being open to different opportunities.” Sara Owens ’26

“I thought she also did a phenomenal job of explaining her job to us, and it was very interesting because I could relate to it. Asset-based lending is what many farmers are limited to due to the cash flow structure of many operations. It is clear that she is passionate for her job, but if she ever wanted a career change, I would suggest teaching! Even though she said she was uncomfortable, she was very easy to follow, included the right details, and kept my attention.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“She explained that programs like the one she completed are designed to establish a strong technical foundation, but long-term success depends on effort, adaptability, and willingness to learn. Kuzma also underscored how her role as an underwriter demands strong attention to detail and critical thinking, as she is responsible for evaluating financial information and helping make decisions that affect both clients and the bank. Overall, her message encouraged students to stay committed, keep developing their skills, and understand that career growth often results from consistent effort rather than immediate successes.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“The first thing she admitted was that she had never liked public speaking, and that earlier in her career she was told she was too quiet. Jaclyn explained that you do not have to be the loudest person in the room because actions speak louder than words. As someone who was never—and never will be—the loudest person in the room, I really appreciated hearing someone similar say that you do not need to have that quality to prove you’re smart and capable.” Lorene Byler ’26

“Being on brand to yourself is what matters most in any situation. You may be the quietest, but it’s the work that you produce that matters the most.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“Another one of her stories that stuck out was her complete lane switch in roles at the company. Despite being comfortable and successful where she was, she opted to delve into the unknown, and her risk was rewarded as she fell in love with her new position. The bravery required to do something like this is admirable and is something I wish to emulate as I feel it is easy to get complacent rather than actively seek out what is best.” Spencer Cleary ’27

“The biggest lesson I took away from her talk, learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“Networking played a major role in her career development. She was required to complete worksheets at the end of her shifts, where she reflected on what she learned and connected with at least three new people. She built relationships with both senior leaders and colleagues who were a few years ahead of her in the program.” Dwayne Simpkins ’27

“She also told us how important work-life balance is and how you need to keep it in order to be happy and make sure you’re enjoying your job. Having a good circle is also very important for your success because they will be honest with you and have those tough conversations you need to hear instead of being ‘yes’ men.” Brett Channell ’27

“Additionally, her emphasis on workplace culture changed the way I think about future job decisions. While salary and responsibilities are important, the environment you work in and the people you work with can have an even greater impact on your overall happiness and success.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“I really enjoyed this week’s speaker because she touched on a lot of things that I worry about, or things that other speakers haven’t touched on as much.” Lorene Byler ’26

“I wanted to add that Jaclyn has been my favorite speaker so far, and I hope she can come back in the future.” Sara Owens ’26

Lessons Learned

• “Your brand is your most important tool in your tool kit.” Preston Lefkowitz ’27
• “You are your biggest advocate.” Raegan Nelson ’26
• “Your career should be treated like a portfolio: gain different experiences, learn from mistakes, and avoid repeating them.” Lindsey Pearce ’27
• “Don’t change your personality based on one person’s opinion.” Sara Owens ’26
• “Find people/mentors that you can go to who will give you authenticity.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26
• “Just because someone is the loudest person in the room, doesn’t mean that they’re the smartest person in the room.” Lorene Byler ’26
• “Not everyone is going to like you.” Dwayne Simpkins ’27
• “Opportunities won’t appear if you’re waiting on the sidelines. You must get active in the field.“ Spencer Cleary ’27
• “Your career is a participatory sport.” Giovanna Franz ’27
• “Seek out projects outside of your daily tasks.” Lorene Byler ’26
• “Ask questions. (She told a story about how you may think it’s a dumb question but by not asking that question your boss may think you aren’t engaged.)” Brett Channell ’27
• “Trust your gut and make decisions in your best interest.” Sara Owens ’26
• “Never make the same mistake twice.” Dwayne Simpkins ’27

Dinner Dishing

• “I was honored to be able to plan and share a meal with fresh flowers, beef, potatoes, dairy products, and cinnamon rolls from home with our class on March 25^th. Ms. Kuzma shared that part of why she loved her job is because she dealt with people who made things feel real. This statement summarizes my goal of being an advocate for local foods. I hope that as my peers move forward in their lives, they can be informed consumers who support local farms.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26
• “Dinner was a meaningful and memorable experience made possible by the generosity of McCullough Flower Farm, Nickel Farm, Watson’s Inc., Marburger Farm Dairy, and Alan Henry. Thanks to Kendall for organizing the menu and coordinating with the donors; everything came together smoothly and felt thoughtfully planned. The meal included a balsamic mozzarella, tomato, and arugula salad, followed by roast beef, scalloped potatoes, and green bean casserole, all of which highlighted the quality of the local ingredients. The dessert was especially memorable: homemade cinnamon rolls paired with homemade ice cream. The ice cream reminded me of my late grandfather, Pearce, who used to make ice cream from scratch for every one of my birthdays. That personal connection made the ending of the meal even more special. It was also a nice touch to take home a bottle of chocolate milk, which really showed the extra care and generosity behind the evening. Thank you, Kendall!” Lindsey Pearce ’27
• “Dinner was good and I really enjoyed the local food Kendall treated us with. We had a great table with great conversation. Professor Kandray was great to have at the table as he helped conversations flow and make dinner a lot more enjoyable. I like sitting with a professor from Thiel because you get to learn more about them. It’s always a good dinner and always a good time with friends and faculty.” Preston Lefkowitz ’27
• “I found the theme of locally grown food especially interesting and really enjoyed my meal. AVI did a great job preparing an excellent dinner. Our conversation was easily one of the most memorable so far. It ranged from spooky Thiel stories to unexpectedly educational discussions about milk production, thanks to our dinner concierge, Kendall McLaughlin.” Giovanna Franz ’27