Pirate’s Eye Podcast

On this episode of the Pirate’s Eye Podcast, we sit down with Luciana Gencarelli (Contuzzi), founder of zest in Fairfield, NJ. A Seton Hall alumna with a degree in Finance and Information Technology Management (’14), Luciana shares how her Italian roots, entrepreneurial drive, and belief in the holistic power of food led her to build a thriving health-focused food business. What began as ideas in a notebook on a flight home from Italy evolved into an online business, countless hours in commercial kitchens and street fairs, and ultimately the opening of zest’s first storefront in Fairfield in 2017. Joined full-time by her husband TJ in 2018, zest has grown into a welcoming, family-like space rooted in energy, wellness, and community. Tune in to hear Luciana’s journey from corporate career paths to entrepreneurship, the lessons learned along the way, and how food can be a powerful tool for connection and health. Learn more at www.zesteats.com. Pirate’s Eye is hosted by alumna volunteer Viannca Vélez ’10.  www.vianncavelez.com  Linkedin.com/in/vianncav Instagram: @vianncavelez

On this episode of the Pirate’s Eye Podcast, we speak with Carina ’21, M.P.A. ’22, a first-generation Seton Hall graduate who transformed personal loss into a powerful legacy. After losing her father in 2021, she founded Pesto Joe, a pesto brand built from his cherished recipes and developed through the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s summer accelerator. Today, Pesto Joe partners with local retailers, farmers markets, and Seton Hall Athletics.

In this episode of The Pirates Eye Podcast, host Viannca Vélez ’10 chats with Viviana Zambrano ’, a two-time Seton Hall grad and Director in the Office for Student Retention & Educational Innovation. Viviana shares her journey through EOF and Upward Bound, her passion for mentoring first-generation students, and her commitment to expanding college access.

Host Viannca Velez talks with Newark entrepreneur and urban farmer Marcellis Alexander Counts '19 about beekeeping roots at Seton Hall, blending creativity with purpose, and driving change in his community.

In this episode of Seton Hall's Pirate Eye Podcast, we’re joined by Linda Schaeffer ’73, the first woman in Seton Hall’s accounting program, who broke barriers in forensic accounting and now mentors the next generation of business leaders and financial professionals.

In this episode of Seton Hall's Pirate Eye Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Naima Ricks, Seton Hall’s 2024 Many Are One Alumni Impact Honoree and Executive Director of After-School All-Stars New Jersey. Dr. Ricks made history in 2013 as the youngest elected official in her hometown of Roselle, NJ, serving as Vice President of the Board of Education. She shares her inspiring journey through academia, her passion for learning, and her dedication to community impact.

Dr. Enmanuel Mercedes- is a Latino-American psychologist, professional speaker, and founder of Your Wellness Space™, a mental health service company with the mission to cultivate a life of hope, healing, and harmony. In addition, Dr. Mercedes serves as a consultant to organizations seeking to play an active role in meeting the mental health needs of its members. Dr. Mercedes leadership positions include being the current President of the Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey, a board member of the non-profit organization Boys to Leaders and a board member of the ECHA Scholarship Foundation. Dr. Mercedes was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Newark, New Jersey. He lives with his wife and three sons in West Caldwell, NJ. Dr. Mercedes is the first of his family to attend college in the U.S. and is a proud alumnus of Seton Hall University, where he obtained a BA in Psychology, MA in Psychological studies, and Ph.D. in Counseling. mercedesphd.com | yourwellness.space IG- @mercedesphd | LinkedIn- www.linkedin.com/in/enmanuelmercedes

In this episode of Pirate's Eye, we sit down with Brother Gregory Cellini, a Franciscan Brother from Brooklyn whose mission is to embody the Gospel and inspire others to live boldly in God’s Love.    As the Director of the Office of Mission, Ministry, and Interfaith Dialogue at St. Francis College, Brother Greg is dedicated to fostering a sense of community and purpose in the workplace through his weekly radio show, Thank God For Monday. With a 29-year career in the pharmaceutical industry before joining the Franciscan Order, he brings a unique perspective to the intersection of faith and professional life.

In this episode of the Pirate's Eye Podcast, we sit down with Kathy Cunningham '85, a dedicated community servant, former professional cheerleader, and proud generational Pirate. Kathy shares her journey of keeping her brother Donnie Robertson Jr.’s legacy alive after his tragic death on 9/11. Through her tireless fundraising efforts for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Kathy and her team have raised nearly $2 million to provide mortgage-free homes for Gold Star and fallen first responder families.

In celebration of National Volunteer Month in April, we flipped the script on our podcast host, Viannca Velez '10. Take a listen as our Assistant Director of Alumni Communication and Digital Engagement, Aaron Smith, puts the Pirate Eye on Viannca. Hailing from Jersey City, NJ, Viannca is a communications strategist with over 13 years of experience. As Director of Communications for New York City’s Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, Viannca leads the creation and implementation of the organization’s marketing, public relations and mass communication strategy. Her communications experience includes her career beginnings as a video journalist for Fi0S1 News on Long Island, NY, in-studio tech work at the sports television channel SNY, and digital media management for NGL Media (now NGL Collective). Viannca developed into a communications strategist within the nonprofit sector through her years of working in the advancement departments of Marist High School and Seton Hall University. At each institution, she created and led campaigns that used video storytelling, social media and niche segmentation to successfully increase community engagement and individual donations.  Instagram: www.instagram.com/vianncavelez Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/vianncav