00;00;01;08 - 00;00;33;17
Heather Burke
Hello and welcome to the Providence College podcast. I'm your guest host, Heather Burke, and I'm joined by producer Chris Judge of the Class of 2005 here on the Providence College podcast. We bring you interesting stories from the Friar family today. I'm pleased to be speaking with Steve Caldeira, who graduated from Providence College in 1981. Currently, Steve is president and CEO of the Household and Commercial Products Association and lives in Potomac, Maryland, with his family.

00;00;34;17 - 00;01;09;24
Heather Burke
Steve is a stroke survivor and serves on many not for profit boards, including the Alzheimer's Association, Boy Scouts of America. So others might eat. And the Bryce Harlow Foundation, the premier lobbying organization in Washington, D.C.. Steve was named Trade Association CEO of the Year in 2022 by CEO Update magazine for his incredible work during the pandemic and his many contributions to the Washington Association in Business Communities.

00;01;10;18 - 00;01;20;24
Heather Burke
Steve serves as alma mater, as a member of the National Board of Overseers and as the chair of the Fund for Providence College. Steve, welcome.

00;01;21;10 - 00;01;24;26
Steve Caldeira
Thank you. Heather, it is a pleasure to be with you today.

00;01;25;00 - 00;01;43;23
Heather Burke
We're happy to have you here. So, Steve, as I understand it, you majored in political science here at Providence College, and you've had a very successful career in Washington, D.C. But I'm wondering if this was the path use for saw. Was this what you expected to do while you were a student here at Providence College?

00;01;43;24 - 00;02;25;01
Steve Caldeira
Yes, but it has been a long and winding road with with interns since being an intern for Rhode Island Governor Jay Joseph Garrity. In my junior and senior years at P.S. Upon Graduation. I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity on Capitol Hill for a New York congressman. And from Long Island. I have worked as a political director for U.S. Senator Al D'Amato from New York, helped to run a Long Island congressional campaign and a New York City mayor's race.

00;02;25;02 - 00;03;26;10
Steve Caldeira
I have also worked for a major trade association such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Restaurant Association, and the International Franchise Associa ation. And I am incredibly grateful for my corporate experience that I had for such well-respected companies, including PepsiCo and Dunkin Brands, the parent company to Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin Donuts. Now, for the last six years, I have been truly fortunate to lead the Household and Commercial Products Association and represent major manufacturers and marketers such as Procter and Gamble, SC Johnston and Clorox, to name a few, especially during the pandemic, as they make cleaning and disinfecting products.

00;03;26;17 - 00;03;49;28
Heather Burke
Well, I see why your answer was yes and no. Certainly, as you started out, there were some clear paths, but it sounds like your career has branched off in a lot of different directions, so that's really fascinating. But were there any while you were a student here? Do you think there were any classes or people or experiences that kind of helped you discover all these different areas of your career?

00;03;50;17 - 00;04;31;29
Steve Caldeira
Good question, Heather. I look back with appreciation to the foundation that I received during two years of Western civilization and the political science professors such as Mark Haim, Mary Bill House and Richard Hudson. That taught me so much and opened my eyes up to different points of view on domestic and world affairs. I also enjoyed my English class with Father Bond, and he was also a trusted mentor in his capacity as dean of undergraduate studies in general.

00;04;32;00 - 00;04;41;06
Steve Caldeira
I think that p c prepared me for the challenges and opportunities. I would say that life certainly brains.

00;04;41;18 - 00;05;06;08
Heather Burke
Well, that's great. And I. I do have to ask, though, because we are we're recording this interview right after the midterm elections. And I think that people have been focused on Washington, D.C., and maybe consider it to be a fairly cut throat place. You yourself have been named a top lobbyist multiple times by the Hill and for four consecutive years.

00;05;06;18 - 00;05;21;14
Heather Burke
Yet I've read other articles with you where you sort of express the gratitude to Providence College for giving students a moral compass. Can you kind of like, put those two ideas together for me?

00;05;21;19 - 00;05;55;05
Steve Caldeira
I'll try. Heather, you know, no matter what you choose to do as a profession. P.S., Encourage the deepest respect for the institution. Take any freedom and a quality of every person. And I think when we all look back at our experiences at P.S., this is the gift that I cherish the most, and this is the one gift that we can all have the responsibility to share.

00;05;55;10 - 00;06;20;05
Heather Burke
That's wonderful. So that might help explain a little bit how, as you have had built this successful career in Washington, D.C., and raised a family, why you've also stayed involved with Providence College. And I know, for instance, as I said in the intro, that you serve on the National Board of Overseers, but I don't know a lot about that group.

00;06;20;06 - 00;06;21;21
Heather Burke
Can you tell me a little bit about it?

00;06;22;08 - 00;06;59;29
Steve Caldeira
Absolutely. Heather and I have stayed involved with P.S. over the years because I passionately believe it is a special place that profoundly changes lives. And I want as many students as possible to benefit from a PC education to your second part of your question. The goal of the National Board of Overseers, the MBO, as it's called, is to secure involvement of individuals who can assist the college to advance.

00;06;59;29 - 00;07;36;11
Steve Caldeira
P.S. The MBA all members come from all divergent backgrounds, geographic regions throughout the country and professions, and offer diverse perspectives on a whole list of issues. The MPO also serves as a trusted resource to President Sicard, the Board of Trustees and the senior administration of the College on matters related to strategic planning at Mission, Philanthropy and other operational initiatives.

00;07;36;13 - 00;08;00;26
Steve Caldeira
We participate in conceiving and validating ideas that may be helpful to PCC in assisting with the college's growth and development, both short and mostly long term. The business advisory Council, or back, as we call it, serves p cs school of business in the same way.

00;08;01;01 - 00;08;32;01
Heather Burke
That's so interesting, Steve, because you and I were talking before we started recording the podcast and I mentioned that I used to work at the School of Business and I worked closely with the Business Advisory Council. And now that you've explained it in that way, I understand the National Board of Overseers a little bit more. And it was interesting when the business Advisory Council, I could really see the impacts of them on the School of Business curriculum and the opportunities they created for students.

00;08;32;01 - 00;08;56;12
Heather Burke
So that's fantastic to see how the National Board of Overseers is doing that for all students as a whole. You are also serving your first year as chairperson for the Fund for Providence College. This is a fund that has huge impact across the campus, but I'm not sure people really understand that. Can you tell us a little bit more about the Fund for Providence College?

00;08;56;22 - 00;09;49;02
Steve Caldeira
I would be happy to have. I think it's important to list the campaign priorities. Of course, financial aid and endowment growth, as any college or university has. The growth of PCs, national reputation by funding new and innovative academic programs, state of the art facilities, academic chairs and high profile athletic programs. And importantly, and celebrating our Dominican identity by having visiting Dominican professors innovative programs that share the heritage of the Dominican order and to support E and I programs to support this beloved PC community and donations to the fund.

00;09;49;02 - 00;10;29;26
Steve Caldeira
It's important to note, can be designated to support areas of greatest financial need, including need and merit based scholarships, emergency student support and varsity athletics. The fund also serves as another way to elevate the student experience at PCC, which we all know is important. My personal commitment to PCC helps address emergency needs so that students can focus on engaging in all that.

00;10;29;26 - 00;10;59;29
Steve Caldeira
PCC has to offer. I know that in speaking to alumni everywhere throughout the country, the annual fund will help continue to recruit the students with the potential to be the leaders of tomorrow and fund the programs that help them on their journey and lasting. If you indulge me, Heather, people can give to the fund at giving dot providence dot edu out will say that again.

00;11;00;02 - 00;11;12;09
Steve Caldeira
People can give to the fund at giving dot providence, dot edu and perhaps share a story about the impact that this fund has had.

00;11;12;12 - 00;11;37;07
Heather Burke
I will always indulge you, Steve, and giving that information out to our audience. And I think I think it's so important. But I do I mean, I work here on the Providence College campus, and I see the impact of the Fund for Providence College every day. And talking to students, they're just so thankful for it. You know, you've done a lot for Providence College and now you're the chair of the fund.

00;11;37;07 - 00;11;52;09
Heather Burke
It's a three year appointment, and you were just appointed in July. So it is a new area for you. But I'm wondering if you can tell us what you hope to achieve, how you hope to put your stamp on the fund for Providence College?

00;11;52;22 - 00;12;47;22
Steve Caldeira
Good question. And I am passionate about raising funds to help students who are smart enough and hungry enough to come to the college but may not have the financial wherewithal to afford. P.S. Everybody associated with the fund wants to be able to give them a scholarship that makes a difference in their lives one life at a time and at the same time benefit PCC by having a student body from a wider geographical area and more diversity that would enrich the student experience, expand the perspectives, which is so important to any college or university, and develop a more global mindset for PC students.

00;12;48;06 - 00;12;55;05
Steve Caldeira
All of that, in my opinion, adds up to a more beloved P.C. community.

00;12;55;11 - 00;13;28;02
Heather Burke
ED And that is that is our whole goal, right, is to create that beloved community. Yes. It's it's interesting to see all the different ways that it is put into motion here and with our alumni throughout the Friar family. So, Steve, we've been talking a lot about the impact that donations have to Providence College and if you will indulge me, there is a special opportunity coming up on Tuesday, November 29th.

00;13;28;25 - 00;13;35;09
Heather Burke
It's giving Tuesday, and Providence College does participate in this event. Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

00;13;35;25 - 00;14;09;08
Steve Caldeira
Yes, I'd be happy to have their part of the National event of Giving Tuesday, which always follows Black Friday and by the way, is a wonderful opportunity to give to what you love, which we all know is Providence College. We have ambitious goals for both money raised and participation. So every gift, no matter how large or small and I think that's important, no matter how large or small, is really a appreciated.

00;14;09;13 - 00;14;47;12
Steve Caldeira
It is all of our collective responsibility, all of us to give back even a little bit to the institution that gave us so much and means so much to us, the place that molded us and for which we are so grateful. So Heather, keep your eye out for the Giving Tuesday email from the college. Follow us on social media or go to giving dot providence dot edu giving dot providence dot edu to help us reach PCs giving Tuesday goals.

00;14;47;12 - 00;14;59;15
Steve Caldeira
And I will say it again, this is a great and a terrific opportunity to positively impact the student experience at PC, which we know is so critically important.

00;14;59;20 - 00;15;28;14
Heather Burke
Indeed, and also critically important to Providence College is athletics, which is one of the designations of this fund. But I think that a lot of people coming out of the weekend at the time of this recording are excited about the start of the PC basketball team. Let's keep it up. Go, Friars. Yeah, but I understand that you have a special fryer connection with your grandfather that has a basketball bent, is that right?

00;15;28;25 - 00;15;57;07
Steve Caldeira
Yes, that is true for me. I will always be grateful for the time I spent watching PC basketball games with my grandfather, a 1929 alum, and hearing of the rich history of the college. And what a great level arts education he received. I wanted to follow his footsteps to PC. Even from my early days as a young child.

00;15;57;15 - 00;16;05;15
Heather Burke
And it sounds like, given your continued involvement, you have, you know, you really have followed through with those hopes and dreams.

00;16;05;15 - 00;16;05;29
Steve Caldeira
Yes.

00;16;06;09 - 00;16;22;14
Heather Burke
I understand. I have one more question for you, and then I won't hold you up, because I know that you have a busy day ahead of you. You recently returned to campus for homecoming and the weather been a little bit better. But what was a homecoming highlight for you?

00;16;22;24 - 00;17;11;14
Steve Caldeira
Well, Heather, you're right. Despite the weather, it was well attended and wonderful to be back on campus, which I always enjoy no matter what the weather is. I love seeing family, your faces connecting with old friends and enjoying the warmth and enthusiasm of the PC community. There is also a lot of excitement in the construction of Shanley Hall, which is named for former President Brian Shanley, class of 82 House sophomores beginning in the fall of 23, and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, which will also kick off at the same time, which is the brain child of Father Ken Sicard.

00;17;11;14 - 00;17;40;03
Steve Caldeira
And I just want to say a word about father. He is got such passion and energy and he's so dedicated to this school of nursing and health sciences as he is all the PC programs. But I think his passion is going to lead PC to the next level and be more competitive across the country for students. So kudos to Father Ken.

00;17;40;08 - 00;17;51;16
Heather Burke
Steve, I thank you so much for being here on the PC podcast today on behalf of the Friar Community. Thank you also for all that you do for Providence College.

00;17;51;26 - 00;18;02;13
Steve Caldeira
My sincere pleasure, Heather, and I'm just grateful to get back to school that I love in Providence College in some small way. Thank you.

00;18;02;15 - 00;18;21;11
Heather Burke
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