Rod Wilt ’86

Rod Wilt ’86 was the featured speaker at the April 1 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar. Wilt is the Executive Director of Penn-Northwest Development Corporation in Hermitage, Pa. and serves as a trustee of Thiel College, after having previously served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

“Rod was a man who was born a Thiel Tomcat. He spent his early childhood years growing up on Thiel’s campus, and he truly never left. Rod’s connection to Thiel spans his entire life, and throughout that time, he has been a monumental figure in the College’s growth and success.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“Rod spoke on how intertwined all phases of his life were with Thiel. From practically being born and raised on campus to returning to Greenville in his 60s, Thiel is a part of him. This was a sentiment that he echoed frequently. While all the speakers we have had have sung the praises of Thiel, I struggle to remember one quite like Rod.” Spencer Cleary ’27

“Rod Wilt is a great representative of Thiel College, and I think he left us with a lot of great advice and knowledge that we can now use. He absolutely loves Thiel College; he said he was essentially born into this campus, he took his first steps here, he had his first memories at this college, and his whole life revolved around Thiel.” Brett Channell ’27

“Rod Wilt, Executive Director of Penn-Northwest Development Corporation, discussed his career and how community and relationships influence professional success. A Thiel College graduate, Wilt earned degrees in Business Administration and English. While at Thiel, he also wrestled, which he credits with developing his discipline, work ethic, and perseverance, traits he carries into his professional life.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“This week’s speaker, Rod Wilt, truly seems to be a jack of all trades. He shared his journey to Thiel, where he became an All-American and a national qualifier in wrestling. After Thiel, he worked at Dollar Bank in Pittsburgh, transitioned into financing apartment complexes, spent ten years in politics, and eventually began working with housing partnerships. I can only imagine how extensive his résumé must be and how many skills and abilities he has developed along the way.” Lorene Byler ’26

“Rod learned and grew his determination through the sport of wrestling. You can tell from his presentation the love that he truly has for the sport, along with the friends and mentors he has gained at Thiel. He was determined and worked extremely hard to develop his wrestling skills, and that hard work and determination are mirrored throughout everything he has done in his career.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“Mr. Wilt brought us along his journey of youth and college athletics to convey multiple points. One that stuck out to me was the concept of having fun and never knowing where things will take you. When he wrestled in the national finals, he said he felt no pressure because he was already doing better than expected. That day, he woke up and knew he could have fun while wrestling. At the same time, people everywhere were watching him wrestle on ESPN in shock. In summary, you have ‘no idea the magic this place (Thiel) has for you.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“What I appreciated most about Rod’s presentation was how he connected wrestling to life beyond sports. He talked about the discipline, work ethic, and perseverance that wrestling taught him, and how those qualities carried over into his career. One story that really stood out was when he started a job that he knew very little about. His boss told him that if he worked as hard at the job as he did in wrestling, he would be successful. This story stuck with me because it showed how effort and attitude can matter more than experience, especially when entering something new.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“He delivered many meaningful messages, and I found all of them relatable. In particular, I want to remember and practice ‘never abandoning my values’ and “the power of small daily improvements.” I could truly feel his sincerity as he shared lessons from his own life experiences. This lecture also reminded me once again of the importance of human relationships.” Miyeon Lee ’26

“What stood out most to me was how much he emphasized connections and relationships, and how important it is to be able to tell your story well. I also took away that you have to be willing to face challenges and make sacrifices if you want to succeed, and that nothing really comes easy.” Lindsey Pearce ’27

“He gave us six pieces of advice that were all great advice, but there were two that really stood out to me. The first being to NEVER do anything in conflict with my values, the second being to be successful, you must leave things behind. When Rod mentioned that you must leave something behind, I couldn’t say I didn’t freak out a little bit, but I understand what he meant. You cannot grow if the things/people in your life keep holding you down.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“During his presentation, Rod mentioned that we do not need more houseplants, meaning people who simply exist without making an impact. He is clearly not a houseplant. It is evident that he genuinely loves what he does and consistently puts forth his best effort. Rod emphasized the importance of being a great listener, explaining that paying attention to people’s problems is key to building meaningful connections and truly getting to know others.” Lorene Byler ’26

“One of the most important things he said was about storytelling in interviews. He explained that many students have similar grades and specs, so we need to know how to tell our own unique stories to beat the competition.” Eunseo Lee ’26

“Wilt highlighted that success depends not only on individual effort but also on being part of a supportive network and community. His message encouraged students to stay engaged on campus, build relationships, and recognize the long-term value of the connections they make during their time at Thiel.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“Overall, it made me think more about staying adaptable, continuing to grow, and being someone who listens, stays curious, and keeps moving forward.” Lindsey Pearce ’27

“Hearing Rod speak was phenomenal. Knowing him personally, the first thing I noticed was the way he talked to us. He communicated and treated us the same as he treats his colleagues and other people in his network. Seeing that he holds college students in a similar esteem as high impact community members illustrated the current and future potential he sees in us.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“What stood out to me most during his talk was not just what he said, but the passion he had for Thiel College and the Greenville community. His pride in where he came from made his message feel more personal and meaningful.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“After his speech to us all, I could think about how Rod had mentioned that Thiel has magic, and he’s right. I’ve made connections with people that I would have never known if it were not for Thiel, I have created memories that will last a lifetime, and most importantly, I am a part of a family that I know I can always come back to.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“One thing that I’ve gotten from all the speakers is that we have no idea the power or magic this place holds, they always talk about how strong the alumni are and how they really do care. And he talked about the advantages of going to a small school where if he connects with somebody on LinkedIn, there’s a good chance he knows who they are in real life and can have a conversation with them.” Brett Channell ’27

“I thoroughly enjoyed Rod’s speech. Just from listening, you could tell that he has such a deep love for Thiel and the community, for goodness ' sake, he moved back here from his lovely beach home in Florida. If that does not describe his love for Thiel and the community, then I do not know what does. Overall, Rod’s speech was both encapsulating and full of determination for myself to prosper in my future career.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

Lessons Learned

“Your idea doesn’t have to change the world, it can just be 5% to 10% improvements, and it will add up.” Brett Channell ’27
“Small, incremental changes can create significant value.” Miyeon Lee ’26
“Never be reactionary.” Spencer Cleary ’27
“There’s always a time and money issue; understand your numbers.” Giovanna Franz ’27
“Don’t be negative but always weigh the downside.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26
“Embrace the challenge.” Raegan Nelson ’26
“Be an inquisitive person who constantly asks questions and seeks answers.” Miyeon Lee ’26
“Make sure you are ready for change.” Lindsey Pearce ’27
“Your character is never for sale.” Preston Lefkowitz ’27

Dinner “Dishing”

“Tonight I had the honor of being the dinner concierge. I had a yummy apple walnut salad, chicken paprikash, and a root beer float. Working with AVI was amazing, and they did an outstanding job preparing these dishes. The decoration of the evening was very pink and easter themed, and I enjoyed that as well.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26
“Dinner was a good one, and I had a great table to enjoy it with. I really enjoyed the root beer float as I haven’t had one in forever. It was an honor to enjoy this dinner with Rod Wilt. He had a lot of information to give us, and it would piggyback off what he was going to present. For my first time meeting him he is a great guy and really enjoyed sharing dinner with him. We had good conversations and a good meal at our table.” Preston Lefkowitz ’27
“I had the pleasure of dining with Rod, who I spoke to a little before and found out he knew of me from a few things I had done. Rod was great company; he offered us all some great insight and advice for our future while maintaining a relaxed and natural feel at the table. For someone as accomplished as he is, he does a great job at making himself feel like a peer.” Spencer Cleary ’27