Ernie Canadeo Appointed to Stony Brook University's Alumni Board

-- Reprinted from Stony Brook Matters newsletter.

Some people can't leave well enough alone. Take Ernie Canadeo '77.

Seems that his ability to recognize untapped potential - whether it's his clients' businesses, Stony Brook students, or the Stony Brook Alumni Association - is just in his DNA.

Ernie's expertise helps explain why his company, The EGC Group, celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year as one of Long Island's top advertising and marketing firms. EGC was also voted Long Island's top agency by Long Island Business News readers, and was listed in Inc. Magazine's 500/5000 businesses in 2009.

Along the way, an untold number of Stony Brook students have benefited from Ernie's visionary support for their talents and ambitions. Recently, Ernie's active involvement with Stony Brook, and his marketing reputation caught the attention of the Stony Brook Alumni Association Directors who this year offered him a spot on the Board.

The Alumni Board is eager as ever to increase alumni engagement in ways that are both gratifying to the alums and beneficial to Stony Brook, so Ernie's considerable talents and experience will be critical. "He's just a wow kind of guy," said Board member Joanne Schiefer, "We're thrilled that he's agreed to join the Board and help us reach out more successfully to alums of all generations."

A generation ago, Ernie himself was at Stony Brook where he developed his lifelong passion for music. Along with performing original compositions and classic songs on his guitar on campus ("I did it to pick up girls. It actually worked."), Ernie acquired more employable skills as the arts and music editor of the Statesmen. "I used to interview all the bands that played on campus - even some that didn't. It was thrilling to talk to people like Rick Danko (bass guitarist for The Band) Jeff Lynne from ELO, and Tom Waits."

His experience on campus led to a career in advertising and promotion at RCA Records. He left RCA to open his own advertising agency on Long Island in 1985. The EGC Group, based in Melville, serves industry leaders in consumer products, finance, retail, education, hospitality and healthcare.

The demands of running any business is all consuming, yet Ernie still carves out time to volunteer at several other nonprofits, and on the sidelines (as he coached his sons' Little League team for 5 years). And he's a regular, along with his wife Valerie and twin sons Christopher and Jonathan, at many campus events. It was during a visit to the Staller Center when Ernie heard about the Music department's need to replace their antiquated fleet of pianos with all Steinways.

Ernie, being Ernie, volunteered to purchase the first one. The guy just can't stop himself.