Well-Known Capital Region Restaurateur To Deliver Keynote Address During College’s 55th Commencement
SUNY Schenectady is pleased to announce that well-known Capital Region restaurateur Angelo Mazzone, a SUNY Schenectady alumnus, will deliver the Keynote Address during the College’s 55th Commencement on Thursday, May 22, 2025, which will take place at 11 a.m. on campus, near the School of Music. Student Trustee Imani Romain-Barthley will deliver the Student Address.
Dr. Steady Moono, College President, said, “Angelo is not only one of our distinguished alumni who has supported the College for decades, he has also hired many SUNY Schenectady students and alumni at his area restaurants and catering operations, often providing them with their first foray into their careers in Culinary Arts, Hospitality, and Tourism. He is well-known, well-respected, and a pillar in our community. Welcoming Angelo back to campus to deliver the Keynote Address during Commencement is meaningful and Angelo’s remarks will surely make a lasting impact on this year’s graduates as they earn their degrees and certificates.”
About Angelo Mazzone:
Angelo Mazzone graduated from SUNY Schenectady in 1974 with his A.A.S. degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He is a visionary in the hospitality industry whose entrepreneurial spirit has shaped the Capital District's dining and catering landscape. His journey began at SUNY Schenectady’s School of Hotel, Culinary Arts, and Tourism, where he earned his A.A.S. degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 1974. He later completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of New Haven. His career launched in 1981 with the purchase of Peggy’s Restaurant, which led to the creation of Mansion Catering. Soon after, Mazzone opened Papa Cicco’s Pizza and Pasta Emporium. In 1988, he acquired Glen Sanders Mansion, which became a cornerstone for growth.
Over the decades, Mazzone opened more than a dozen restaurants and countless catering locations throughout the Capital District and beyond, ranging from elegant ballrooms to tents in open fields. Mazzone Hospitality expanded further with the success of Prime Business Dining, serving top-tier clients like AYCO and Goldman Sachs. Exclusive partnerships followed at venues like Fasig Tipton, Key Hall at Proctors, and 90 State Events. The company’s remarkable success was made possible by an exceptional team who shared Mazzone’s vision and drive. Their dedication helped build a brand known for innovation, quality, and hospitality.
Mazzone’s legacy is deeply tied to SUNY Schenectady, which not only launched his career but also supplied many valued members of the Mazzone Hospitality team. In 2017, Mazzone Hospitality was sold to Restaurant Associates and Compass Group, but his influence endures, inspiring the next generation of hospitality professionals.
Mazzone shared, “As I return to SUNY Schenectady to address the graduating Class of 2025, I am reminded that the foundation of a successful career in hospitality begins with education, passion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The hospitality industry thrives on dedication, innovation, and teamwork—values instilled in me at the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts, and Tourism. Mazzone Hospitality was built on these principles, and I am proud to see the next generation of industry leaders emerging from the very place that set me on my path. To the graduates, your journey starts here—embrace every challenge, seize every opportunity, and never stop striving for greatness.”
Imani Romain-Barthley will be graduating with her degree in Liberal Arts: Psychology and is the College’s Student Trustee. Imani is also Vice President of the International Club and a Member of the Student Activities Board, Student Government Association, and Faculty-Student Association Board. She plans to transfer this fall to SUNY Oneonta for her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and pursue a career as a high school guidance counselor. She is a graduate of Queens High School of Teaching
Imani shared, “I am so very honored to be giving the Commencement student speech. I truly hope that I make my fellow classmates proud at graduation. When I graduated from high school, I never saw myself being able to graduate from college - not because I did not have the support system that I needed, but because I doubted myself and the things that I could accomplish. So, as I walk across that stage in May, I will be thinking of my support system and my fellow classmates, and thanking them for encouraging me to do my very best.”