Drive and Determination
Steven Treitel: Valedictorian of Lander College for Men
While most of us were still asleep, Steven “Lippy” Treitel’s day was already in full swing. As a commuter student in the evening program at Touro’s Lander College for (LCM), Steven would leave his home in Monsey, NY at 5:45am to make a 7am minyan at Meridian Capital Group, where he worked. Twice a week, he would then make the drive from Manhattan to Queens to take classes until 10:30pm, only to then make the hour-long drive back to Monsey.
Steven’s drive and determination enabled him to balance a demanding job with a rigorous academic schedule while earning an impressive 4.0 GPA. Even before his time at LCM, Steven displayed similar ambition and resolve when he spent two years immersing himself in Talmud study at Mercaz HaTorah in Israel.
As an accounting major, Steven also became involved with student life outside of the classroom in a way that mirrored his academic interests. Faculty and members of student government encouraged him to revitalize an inactive Business Society. “As president of the club, I started a stock picking contest and arranged for representatives from Bloomberg systems to talk to students about how to use its database to research and compile a successful portfolio,” said Treitel. “I also brought in an analyst from Harbor Group International to speak about real estate finance and investing.”
Many of the programs he began, including the relationship with Bloomberg, are ongoing even though Steven completed his coursework last fall and is no longer actively involved with the club, a legacy that makes him especially proud.
In February, Steven started a full time position as an Audit Associate with BDO’s Real Estate and Hospitality Services division. He credits Professor Herskowitz, one of LCM’s accounting professors, with helping him navigate the job search process and think through his decision to join this firm. “I had more than one offer, and Professor Herskowitz encouraged me to consider my long-term goals as I was making my decision.”
Steven attributes his time at Lander with providing him a strong foundation for his future career. “The accounting program is spectacular at LCM,” Steven said. “The professors were amazing and the small class size meant I got individual attention. I still reach out to, and value the advice I receive, from Professor Herskowitz.”
In the long-term, Steven hopes to work in real estate development, but for now he is looking forward to his work at BDO and has set his sights set on earning his CPA. He also plans to eventually go back to school for a graduate degree focused on real estate.
“Lippy is a gifted student, with the warm personality, drive, and determination so crucial to success, and with a deep consciousness of his special responsibilities as an Orthodox Jew,” said Dr. Moshe Sokol, dean of LCM. “He is destined to make a difference in the world.”
