Connected by Purpose: How Three PBA Alumni are Supporting Palm Beach Businesses

For three Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) alumni, Brendan Patterson, Katie Reichelt and Kiana Rivera, working at the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce became the start of a mission to invest in the community that helped shape their college years.

Today, each of them plays a unique role at the Chamber. Even though they have different career paths, their stories have common themes: meaningful relationships, a passion for serving others, and a deep appreciation for the impact PBA had on their lives.

Brandon Patterson

Patterson, a 2019 psychology grad who also went on to earn a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling in 2024, says helping people has always been at the center of his work.

"I love people," he said. "I knew I wanted to be in a career path centered around understanding and helping people."

His education taught him how to listen well, build trust, and identify needs beneath the surface-skills he now uses daily as the Chamber's membership coordinator. Though he joined the Chamber team only a few months ago, Patterson already sees his work as an opportunity to strengthen the community he has called home for the past decade.

"My job is essentially about bridging companies and nonprofits," he said. "When I do that well, everybody wins."

That connection to community is something Reichelt understands well. Originally from Texas, she arrived at PBA in 2014 and quickly found a place that would become home.

Katie Reicheit

Reichelt graduated in 2018 with a degree in intercultural studies before returning to earn a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling in 2023. Along the way, she discovered a passion for understanding people and their perspectives, influenced by professors, the Frederick M. Supper Honors Program, and her work supporting students in Residence Life.

"Both degrees shaped me in ways I use every day," she said. "They taught me how to really listen, meet people where they are, and understand that everyone comes from their own context."

Today, as director of communications & events, she helps tell the story of a community she genuinely loves.

"Long before I worked at the Chamber, I was already an advocate for Palm Beach," she said. "Now I get to do that professionally."

Kiana Rivera

Rivera is a 2017 public relations graduate, who originally discovered the field after taking a course at PBA.

"I remember leaving my first Writing for PR class knowing I wanted to change my major," she said.

Years later, she first became involved with the Chamber as a volunteer, and what started as an opportunity to serve grew into a career. Now Rivera oversees strategic partnerships, communications, membership growth, events, and advancement initiatives.

"We've worked to bring new energy, fresh ideas, and innovative programming to the Chamber," Rivera said. "What makes this work meaningful is knowing that we are helping bring people together."

That spirit of connection extends beyond the Chamber's walls. Through a growing partnership with PBA, the Chamber has created opportunities for students to engage with local business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and global influencers through events, networking opportunities, and educational programs.

Rivera believes those experiences help students recognize that meaningful careers can be built in Palm Beach County.

"At its core, the Chamber exists to create connections," she said. "This partnership allows us to connect the next generation of leaders with opportunities that can shape their futures."

Patterson, Reichelt and Rivera's journeys display the power of relationships, a value deeply embedded in both PBA and the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce cultures. Together, they are helping create a stronger community while opening doors for the students who will follow in their footsteps. To read more about PBA alumni, click here.