Photos courtesy of: John Manzo
Sometimes the best journeys begin without a clear destination in mind and if you asked John Manzo a few years ago that he’d be on the cusp of receiving his undergraduate degree from Chestnut Hill College with plans to follow that up with pursuit of the College’s MBA program, he probably would have been quite surprised. That’s because when Manzo arrived at CHC following his transfer from Montgomery County Community College (MCCC), he didn’t fully know what he wanted to do. All he knew was it was something in the world of business.
Growing up, Manzo had a genuine curiosity and passion for the world of business. He’d watch shows like Shark Tank and find himself analyzing business ideas, thinking about what made some concepts work while others failed. “There’s so many areas you can go with business,” Manzo explains. “I thought it was very open, and I wanted to see what I could do.”
So when it came time to search for a four-year institution, Manzo had specific criteria: he wanted somewhere close to home, a strong sense of community, small class sizes, and a robust business program. Chestnut Hill College checked all the boxes and as Manzo says “was the perfect fit” for what he was looking for.
Having long had a transfer relationship with MCCC, Manzo noted the process was smooth and efficient. “The counselors offered a personal connection and every step of the way you felt like you had someone there behind you, rooting you on a little bit.”
It didn’t take long for Manzo to find his academic home at CHC, but beyond that, he began to flourish and discover talents he never knew he possessed.
Achieving His Goals with the Flyers College Sales Program and HR Internship
Last fall, while taking a human resources class, Manzo learned about an opportunity that would challenge his preconceptions about his own abilities. The Philadelphia Flyers were partnering with Chestnut Hill College for a ticket sales competition, pitting students against peers from larger universities like the University of Delaware and West Chester.
“The first thing I thought was ‘sales’—that was something I never thought I wanted to pursue,” Manzo admits. “But I never know what I’m capable of, and I wanted to see if I really liked it before going through it in the future.”
As a first-generation college student without family connections or close experience in business, Manzo felt he was starting at a disadvantage. But rather than let that discourage him, he used it as motivation.
What happened next surprised everyone, including Manzo himself. Armed with creativity, determination, and design skills from a high school course, he created his own marketing materials. He designed professional-looking flyers with QR codes, leveraging his Photoshop experience to create clean, effective promotional materials.
His LinkedIn post about the ticket sales opportunity reached over 1,000 impressions—far more than he had anticipated. He distributed flyers around campus, reached out to classmates, and even connected with people he’d never met before who were interested in purchasing tickets. “It was a confidence boost to say that I was able to sell tickets to somebody that I didn’t even know,” Manzo reflects. “People were contacting me through email and text that I didn’t even remember, but they still wanted to buy tickets.”
The results spoke for themselves: despite representing one of the smaller schools in the competition, Manzo finished in the top 10 individually for sales. His success earned him recognition from the Flyers organization and a varsity jacket—tangible proof that he could compete with students from much larger institutions.
“Ranking first at Chestnut Hill and tenth against the competing colleges made me feel that my hard work and determination had paid off,” Manzo says. “It was a rewarding journey that aligns with my goals of sharpening practical skills and preparing for a competitive career landscape. I felt honored to represent and lead Chestnut Hill College in this program.”
The program culminated with a special event at a Flyers game against the Florida Panthers in December. Students were invited to the exclusive Flyers Shift4 Club, where they received not just recognition for their sales performance, a signed puck, and a varsity jacket, but also invaluable networking opportunities and behind-the-scenes access.
“We had a stadium tour, which was very interesting. I’ve been a Flyers fan since I was young, but I’d never seen parts of the stadium like that,” Manzo says. “We even had a walkthrough of the corporate offices—all the sales teams. It was like seeing how something works in the background that you’re always there for, but you don’t really know how it operates.”
The experience provided real-world application for classroom theories. “It’s almost like an internship,” he notes. “They always talk about businesses in our classes—this is what happens—and it’s all on paper or maybe in a PowerPoint. But this was real-world application. My experience with the program was nothing short of transformative as it taught me ways to think outside of the box.”
While the Flyers program helped Manzo discover he could excel at sales, it wasn’t his ultimate destination. Through an internship with Chestnut Hill College’s HR department, he found his true passion: human resources.
Working on projects ranging from filing records to processing coach clearances, Manzo gained firsthand experience in the complexities of HR operations. “HR is very different depending on where you go,” he learned. “In a small place like Chestnut Hill, you practically do all of the steps. I think seeing that firsthand—sitting in on interviews, doing clearances, making sure everything’s organized—I felt like I developed a passion for it.”
“You’re Not Just an Individual Behind Everybody Else…Everyone Knows You as a Person”
Throughout his journey, Manzo consistently credits the personal attention he receives at Chestnut Hill College as a key factor in his success. Unlike larger institutions where students can feel like “just a number,” he found professors and staff who knew him personally and invested in his growth.
“You’re not just an individual behind everybody else—everyone knows you as a person,” he explains. “Having that personal connection with your professors, with them being there for you and trying to help you dive into your passion and see where you want to go—I don’t know how I could have that same experience at another school.”
Assistant Professor and Chair of the Center for Business, Rita K. Borzillo, J.D., who facilitated the Flyers program as part of her human resources class, provided crucial support and encouragement throughout Manzo’s sales competition journey and beyond, encouraging him to enroll in the College’s MBA program.
“I didn’t see myself getting an MBA, but I’m pursuing that,” he says. “I just want to keep going. I think I had a real passion coming into CHC, and I want to continue it onward.”
When asked what advice he’d give to incoming students, Manzo reflected back on his own experience. “Connections are key. Getting that real experience—the idea of interning somewhere or getting first-hand experience—I think is very vital. There are so many opportunities to get involved on campus and beyond. You should be open to trying new things even if they seem out of your comfort zone.”
– Robert Bogdon