All aboard! This Binghamton business grad is joining Royal Caribbean Cruises

Driven by his passion and emotion for life, Robert Kwortnik '25 is a jack-of-all-trades.

Following his graduation this spring, Kwortnik will work with Royal Caribbean International's Food and Beverage Operations as an equipment and island support analyst, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. His father, an associate professor of marketing with an industry specialty in cruising at Cornell University, helped shape his beliefs and career goals. His grandfather started in the cruise hospitality industry in 1958 and served as the first director of training for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

He will return to Royal Caribbean Cruises after his summer 2024 internship and is excited to get back there. Whether it be a short-term market research project or a long-term company-wide transition, "the engagement lies in the people you meet and the variety of work," he said.

Coming to Binghamton amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Kwortnik was unsure exactly what he wanted to study. He chose Binghamton University for its education and location near his hometown, Ithaca.

"Considering all the external factors, like the price point, the education level and location, it was pretty much a no-brainer," he said.

Starting as a student in Harpur College and transferring to the School of Management, he had to make a decision on his concentration. Looking at his options, nothing had truly sparked his interest - until he found leadership and consulting. This concentration spoke to him because "it sounded somewhat of an all encompassing jack-of-all-trades."

"I want to be good at a lot of things, rather than great at one thing," he said. "That's also how I landed on the trifecta - business administration, leadership and consulting concentration, with a health and wellness minor."

Now nearing his graduation, Kwortnik is reflecting on his time in Binghamton and all that it brought him.

"I have so much appreciation for Binghamton," he said. "When it comes to my educational experience, I can boil it down to two professors."

One, Jennifer Wegmann, is a lecturer at the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences' Health and Wellness Department.

"She is one of the educators who clearly shows that she is passionate about why she's here," Kwortnik said. "She provided me a lot of guidance in my time in the minor program. She's pushed me and helped me learn and grow so much."

The other, Kim Jaussi is an SOM associate professor in the leadership and consulting concentration.

"I've had two courses with her, individual leadership and strategic leadership. Those courses taught me more than all of my other courses combined in preparing me for my internship and my career outside of Binghamton," he said.

The work Kwortnik accomplished with both faculty members did not go unnoticed.

"His role as my teaching assistant in Contemporary Health Issues has showcased his remarkable ability to lead with integrity, compassion and purpose," Wegmann said.

Jaussi added: "Students like him are what make me feel like I have the best job in the world. Robbie makes Binghamton very proud."

Coming back to Binghamton for the 2024-25 school year and knowing he had a job after graduating, Kwortnik admitted his fear of the dreaded senioritis hitting. However, "that's where many of the things I learned through Wegmann and my own experience came into play," he said.

While his current courses still have applications to his life after school, he's learned to look for the hidden gems. Finishing his graduation requirements and taking classes that don't directly align with his concentration, Kwortnik's work ethic isn't faltering. His belief that grit is the number one determinant of future success consistently gives him the motivation to keep working.

"If I'm not picking up a technical skill that I can see myself using in my job, I can be strengthening my skills and my grit," he said. "I can always be the hardest worker in the room. I remember that I'm becoming mentally tougher. There's no way that I can't be successful if I keep that mindset."

Looking to the future, Kwortnik is most excited for the people he will meet and work with and thanks Binghamton for all the experiences it provided him.