Phillip Serio ’06 dreamed of attending a large and bustling college, but after attending several campus tours at other colleges, Serio found himself returning to LVC for a second visit. It was then that Serio realized LVC was the right place for him.

“I made a connection with the size of the campus,” said Serio. “I realized I could get involved without just being a number in the crowd. It was the best decision I ever made.”

Serio came to LVC as a computer science major but found himself taking an interest in the Digital Communications (DigiCOM) Program, which was just beginning at LVC. He quickly changed majors and was excited to continue opportunities in the computer science area while broadening his knowledge of the business field.

Outside the classroom, Serio was active in the campus community. He ran cross country, assisted at the College Center front desk, worked in the Admissions Office, and participated in Student Government. Through his involvement, Serio developed skills such as time management, communication, teamwork, and adaptability that have proved critical to his career success.

During his junior year, Serio obtained an internship with the help of LVC’s Career Services office at an international law firm in Annville. At this law firm, Serio was the only information technology person and tackled everything from basic computer hardware and application support to website design and maintenance.

“I had some minor guidance from the owner’s son-in-law on their technology stack, but this experience taught me what continual learning really meant,” said Serio. “Since I did not routinely report directly to someone, it forced me to adapt on the fly and learn as I went to ensure they could continue their operation effectively.”

After graduating, Serio worked full-time at an internet service provider doing DSL tech support. To bring in extra income, Serio began looking for a part-time position and stumbled on a helpdesk position at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (HE&R). As he moved through the interview process, Serio learned it had been upgraded to a full-time position, and when he was offered the job, he jumped on the opportunity. Since starting at HE&R, Serio has grown his interests and skills within their IT department.

“Over the last 14 years, I’ve worked at the helpdesk and in desktop and application support, managed the support teams, and worked with the data center team. Now, I’m the manager of IT security and compliance,” said Serio, who credits his wife, Holly Serio ’08, M’15, with supporting his career aspirations.

As the manager, Serio works with a team to help secure and protect HE&R’s vast technology infrastructure. This collaboration includes endpoint security, secure network and application design, and mandated compliance oversight.

Looking back on his accomplishments, Serio is grateful for the skills, knowledge, and self-assurance that LVC ingrained in him. To any prospecting DigiCOM student, Serio emphasizes the importance of intertwining technology and business classes to prepare for the modern job field.

“Take advantage of every opportunity within the degree,” said Serio. “Technology is driving business capabilities today, but unless you can understand the business you are working for and can easily translate how the technology drives the business goals, all the tech smarts in the world don’t matter. Being able to marry technology and business will allow you to stand out and be more attractive to potential employers.

“I still believe in the mantra that college does not just teach you a particular set of skills but rather teaches you how to teach yourself.  As long as you can grasp that skill, you’ll be able to grow yourself and adapt to the ever-changing workplace.”

— Parker Gallagher, Marketing & Communications Student Assistant