Jim Miale ’85

Jim Miale ’85 was the featured speaker at the March 18 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar which also included the induction ceremony for Chi Eta Sigma, the Department of Business Administration & Accounting Honorary Society. Miale is Vice President for Commercial Lending at ERIEBANK in Meadville, Pa., and an adjunct professor in the Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration and Accounting.

“Tonight, we had the privilege to open our classroom to the members and new inductees of Chi Eta Sigma. This was an opportunity to celebrate students who excel in and out of the classroom as business and accounting majors.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“One of the most striking details about his ‘Thiel Story’ is that he almost did not have one. Still, he said, he was not sure how those random chances occurred that he ended up at Thiel. The only thing I can suggest is that everything happens for a reason, and it seems that it has worked well for him so far.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“He told us a great story about his friend, Sam, who convinced him to come to Thiel on a whim after already committing to Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He came to Thiel to play basketball originally but ended up playing baseball and football here as well. He got his degree in business administration and accounting, which got him a job at First National Bank out of college.” Trey Grazier ’27

“I was surprised to learn that attending Thiel was not an easy decision for him. In fact, he had initially committed to IUP before ultimately changing his mind. Hearing that such a pivotal moment in his life came down to encouragement from his friend Sam and Sam’s mother really made me reflect on how small conversations or influences can completely alter the course of someone’s future. It made me think about how many decisions in my own life might be shaped by people around me, sometimes without me even realizing it.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“At Thiel, he majored in accounting and business, participated in football, basketball, and baseball, and was also a member of the Chi Eta Sigma Honor Society. I found myself wondering how he managed to balance so many sports with academics and being part of an honor society!” Miyeon Lee ’26

“One of the first stories Jim mentioned was how he lived right above where we were and how he and his friends played Nerf basketball to cause noise whenever there was an event taking place. That story alone put into perspective that everyone who passed through Thiel was also once a young person just starting to find their place in the world, like we are today.” Lorene Byler ’26

“After graduation, he worked at a bank for many years but eventually realized his passion for education. At the age of forty, he made a bold decision to quit his job and return to school to become a teacher. Later, due to family and financial reasons, he returned to banking and now works as a commercial loan officer.” Miyeon Lee ’26

“Later in life, Miale realized he had a passion for teaching and made the bold decision to leave his career at the age of forty to pursue a master’s degree in business education from Robert Morris University. His decision reinforced the idea that it is never too late to change career paths or pursue something new.” Sara Owens ’26

“He also discussed shifting careers when he realized he had a passion for teaching and training others. This has been a theme reiterated by multiple people, that your first career path does not have to be your only, or your last. When I asked the question, ‘Do you still get to teach or at least enjoy what you do?’ he said yes, and that I should come to his class the next morning.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“This year, he became an adjunct professor teaching my managerial accounting class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As I have gotten to know him this semester from sitting in the front row of his class, Professor Miale has been one of my favorites during my time here at Thiel. He is a great storyteller, and I can tell he has passion for what he does; something I hope to accomplish one day. It was great to get to know a little bit more about one of my professors and having a connection with him already made me look forward to this class so much more. I learned that there are two things he likes: sports and telling stories, which makes a lot of sense.” Trey Grazier ’27

“Another important point from Jim Miale’s presentation was his view on mindset and personal growth. He stressed that being outgoing and willing to connect with others can open doors to opportunities that might not happen otherwise. Instead of waiting for things to occur, he suggested taking initiative and putting yourself in situations where you can meet new people and form connections.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“Throughout this presentation, I learned the importance of never saying the phrase ‘I can’t.’ When we say these words, we immediately take ourselves away from the situation. We are all capable of so much, and those words just take away our confidence and power.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“Miale talked about the importance of having a good attitude, being passionate, and staying open to feedback so you can keep improving. He also emphasized being prepared and willing to put in extra effort instead of doing the bare minimum. A big focus was on being dependable, especially showing up on time and having a strong work ethic.” Lindsey Pearce ’27

“I was really encouraged by the list of qualities he said we needed: Passion, Effort, Attitude, and being on time. He explained that these are things that require "zero talent," meaning anyone can achieve them just by trying. Sometimes I worry if I have enough natural talent to succeed in a competitive environment, but his words reminded me that a consistent heart and hard work are much more valuable in the long run. This gave me a lot of confidence because it means my success is something I can control through my own daily choices. I realized that instead of worrying about what I lack, I should focus on being the most passionate and punctual person.” Eunseo Lee ’26

“His perspective is that by being laser focused on one thing, you run the risk of missing everything else. This is a sentiment that has been shared by a few other speakers and has really struck a chord with me then, too, as I feel this is a bad trait of mine that I often succumb to.” Spencer Cleary ’27

“One concept that really stuck with me was his analogy about buckets. He explained that everyone carries around their own bucket, and when someone is having a bad day, that bucket can spill onto others. I found this especially thought provoking because it made me more aware of how people’s actions are often a reflection of what they are dealing with internally. It reminded me to be more patient and understanding, even when someone’s behavior might initially seem frustrating.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“Toward the end of his presentation, he talked about blind spots. I think this stuck with me because I tend to get so sucked into jobs that I miss things going on. He told us not to let that happen and to try to focus on everything. His last bit of information was the 10 traits that require zero talent. I liked that he added this to his presentation. I obviously know that when people hire you, it is because you have a certain skill set, but if you have these ten traits, nothing stops you from doing whatever you want.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“Prof. Miale emphasized that this close-knit community doesn't end at graduation; the alumni network is very active because everyone knows and helps each other. Even though Thiel is a small college, this strong connection leads to great professional results for students.” Eunseo Lee ’26

“Jim mentioned how we should do something for Thiel, like get involved, stay connected, come back and visit, promote it, and support it. Just because our time learning at Thiel is done does not mean we have to give up everything Thiel-related.” Lorene Byler ’26

“From the very start, Jim Miale was an upbeat and extroverted man who immediately caught my attention and that of the room. Throughout his presentation, he discussed his journey in choosing Thiel and the wonderful memories that followed. One thing I treasure about these presentations is the way the speakers share their stories. Their deep affection for this Thiel shines through every time they get the chance to relive those memories.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“What stood out to me most this evening was not just what Prof. Miale said, but how he said it; his presence was light, engaging, and comforting, which made his message feel more personal and memorable.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“Throughout the lecture, his humor made us laugh many times, and his energy, combined with the larger number of students than usual, made the experience lively and enjoyable.” Miyeon Lee ’26

Lessons Learned

“Networking is the best way to find a job.” Giovanna Franz ’27
“Being on time shows responsibility and respect for others.” Lindsey Pearce ’27
“Never say ‘I can’t”. Lorene Byler ’26
“Be coachable.” Brett Channell ’27
“Body language and energy affect how people see your confidence and attitude.” Lindsey Pearce ’27
“Traits requiring zero talent: Being on time, work ethic, effort, body language, energy, attitude, passion, being coachable, doing extra, being prepared. These traits make you a better person.” Preston Lefkowitz ’27
“Don’t become so focused on one goal that you overlook other opportunities.” Sara Owens ’26
“Rejection isn’t personal.” Raegan Nelson ’26
“Everyone has buckets, which can be filled and emptied.” Trey Grazier ’27
“If you are not personable and don’t get along in the workplace, you get fired.” Spencer Cleary ’27
“If I hadn’t made that ride, I would not be talking to you here tonight.” Miyeon Lee ’26
“Get involved.” Dwayne Simpkins ’27
“Remember what Thiel has done for you, and give back, stay involved, and come back.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

Dinner “Dishing”

“Dinner, as usual, was amazing. AVI dropped a classic AVI meal with a salad, grilled chicken and potatoes, and a delicious cheesecake. I had the absolute pleasure of sitting with our amazing guest speaker, Mr. Jim Miale, and directly to the right of our very own Dean Nowinski. The conversation was light and flowed throughout dinner. It was a pleasure to also be a part of the Chi Eta Sigma ceremony as one of my good friends was inducted. Overall, my rating of dinners continues to be 10/10.” Trey Grazier ’27
“I was honored to sit with President Traverso, Dr. Ruth Miller, and three of the Chi Eta Sigma members. The dinner was filled with great company and conversation!” Raegan Nelson ’26
“On Wednesday, March 18, we celebrated new members of Chi Eta Sigma, as well as the Seniors receiving department awards. Our conversation at dinner was enjoyable and it was nice to have more student guests. And, not to brag, but our table was able to successfully predict all four award recipients.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26
“We talked about what students think about using AI, our majors, and even whether anyone had ever seen a bear in real life. The idea of encountering a wild bear on the street was something I had never imagined before, but I was surprised and fascinated to learn that it might be possible in Pennsylvania.” Miyeon Lee ’26