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Alumni Profiles
Mark Tavern '94:
Director, A&R Administration at the RCA Music Group, a unit of SONY BMG Music Entertainment and home of the J, Arista and RCA record labels.
- Briefly, what is it that you do?
My department handles all of the administration (planning, scheduling, finance, logistics, etc.) involved in the process of recording,
mixing and mastering records.
- What, if any, obstacles did you face trying to get your first job in this field?
Surprisingly, my first job in the record business came as the result of answering an ad in the New York Times!
However, I think the biggest obstacle to getting into this business is the very small number of open positions in an
industry that is in a major transition.
- What advice would you give to students interested in working in your field?
If they want to work in the record business, they should get an internship at the kind of company where they think they want to work, whether that is a record company,
an artist manager or attorney, a concert promoter or a radio station.
Getting inside and proving themselves as an intern will insure that they can get ahead of the rest of those applying for the same job.
Also, informational interviews-if used correctly-can be extremely valuable, both in terms of the research they can provide and the networking that can be accomplished.
- What are some of the activities you were involved in while at SLU?
I was in Laurentian Singers, Singing Saints and the Academic Honor Council.
- How can students best prepare themselves while at SLU?
Students can prepare themselves in two ways: first, by getting as broad an education as they can; and, second, by taking an internship while still in college. A broad education will help prepare them for the many different problems that come up on a day-to-day basis in the working world. An internship will expose them to the workplace and give them valuable experience even before they graduate. I think that it is easy to overlook the fact that employers are looking for well-rounded employees with broad skills who don't have to be taught how to conduct themselves in a business environment. Understanding this is essential for a student who wants to differentiate themselves from the rest of the entry-level job seekers.
- In retrospect, is there anything you would have done differently with regard to your
career?
I would have taken summer internships while I was still in college. Though I'm not sure this would have altered my career path, it would certainly have made me better prepared.
- What are your future plans?
Hopefully, to take advantage of the opportunities arising as a result of the transition the record business is undergoing.
- Are you willing to talk with students interested in a career in your field? If so, how may
they best contact you?
Yes. The easiest way to reach me is via my work email: mark.tavern@sonybmg.com.
Additional Alumni Profiles:
John Marino, '83 : Vice President for Marketing, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, South San Francisco, CA
Dawn Montanye, '89 : Manager of Conservation Economics, World Wildlife Fund Northern Great Plains Program, Bozeman, Montana
Amanda Valenta '04 : Senior Audit Associate, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
Moira Collins '84 : Senior Vice President, Product Development, Gartner, Inc.
Bruce E. Seely '75: Professor History and Department Chair, Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University
Mark Tavern '94: Director, A&R Administration at the
RCA Music Group, a unit of SONY BMG Music Entertainment and home of the J, Arista and RCA record labels.
Anthony (Tony) Ross '75, M'78: Vice President for Student
Affairs California State University, Los Angeles
George Ashline '89: Associate Professor of Mathematics, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT
Alissa Bibb '03, Program Officer: American Councils for International Education
Rick Persons, '83, Senior Television Producer, PGA TOUR Productions
Ronald T. Burkman, M.D., '65 Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ken
Dowling ‘84, Executive Vice President, Grey Worldwide
Advertising
David Dusek ’93, Senior Managing Editor
of golfonline.com
Noelle Laing ‘03, Senior Consulting Associate
at Cambridge Associates
Dan Lee 05', Investment Banking Analyst, Cochran,
Caronia & Co.
Armand A. Rapetti ’73, President, CEO:
JBS & Associates, Lakeland, FL
Ken Polk & '91, Major Accounts District
Manager: Automatic Data Processing, Williamsville, NY
Wendy Davidson Freihammer & #8217;94,
Financial Advisor: American Express Financial Advisors, Cambridge, MA
Mayela C. (Calabria) Harris '87, Family
Therapist (Social Worker): Hospice of Wake County, Raleigh, NC
Peter J. Dalton '94, Affiliate Support
Manager: Habitat for Humanity International
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