Phillies #CollegeSeries Finance Night

Sponsored by Temple University's Fox School of Business

On Tuesday, April 21, college students and recent graduates are invited to go behind the scenes in the business of baseball with top finance/accounting executives from the Phillies, Citizens Bank and KPMG at this exclusive #CollegeSeries pre-game event!

Event Details

  • Learn from top finance executives from the Phillies, Citizens Bank and KPMG during a moderated question and answer session in the Phillies Media Room. Panelists will provide excellent insight into the business of baseball as it pertains to the finance, accounting and audit industries, as well as share their career experience and advice. Speakers include John Nickolas, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer for the Phillies; Daniel Astolfi, SVP Middle Market Regional Executive Mid-Atlantic Region, Citizens Bank; and Kevin Murphy, Partner, KPMG LLP.
  • Practice networking with Phillies executives and other special guests during a Phillies Networking Hour. Meet informally with front office personnel from various departments, as well as those who spearhead the Phillies intern and Phillies Ballgirls programs. Attendees are invited to bring their resumes. Also meet with representatives from the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accounts (PICPA) - the second oldest CPA organization in the United States - who will have information on career opportunities, as well as membership and industry events. Appetizers will be provided, compliments of PICPA.
  • Cheer on the Phillies with a ticket to that day's game against the Texas Rangers with seating in Sections 241-245.

Additional Details

  • Check-in begins at 4 p.m. and features a Networking Hour and #selfies with the World Series Trophies until 5 p.m.
  • The panel portion of the program officially starts at 5 p.m., followed by the Phillies-Rangers game at 7:05 p.m.
  • The event is limited to 200 students. Interested professors, recent graduates, and parents of students are welcome to attend.
  • Dress is casual to business casual.
  • Students are urged to ask questions throughout the program, as well as in advance, to @Phillies using #CollegeSeries
  • Cost: $30. Includes (in addition to the above networking and panel) a game ticket sections 241-245 ($30 value), as well as $12 worth of concession credit that can be redeemed throughout the ballpark for food, beverage and/or merchandise.
  • The evening is also a Hatfield Phillies Franks Dollar Dog Night.

Speaker Bios

John Nickolas - Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, The Phillies

John Nickolas joined the Phillies organization in July 2003 and was named senior vice president and chief financial officer on July 1, 2017. John oversees all financial aspects of the club’s operations as well as business analytics, Florida operations at BayCare Ballpark and minor league franchise business operations. In addition, he currently serves as a trustee of Major League Baseball’s Non-Uniformed Personnel Pension Plan and chairs the MLB Eastern Region Finance group.

A 1985 graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School in Northeast Philadelphia, John graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from West Chester University in 1990. He has served as a member of West Chester University’s Business School Advisory Council and a trustee of the university’s foundation. John has been a guest speaker for various organizations and universities in the Philadelphia area.

Prior to joining the Phillies, John served in a variety of financial and operational roles for Internet Capital Group, Inc., Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. and KPMG LLP. He is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.

John and his wife Pam reside in Newtown Square, Pa., with the family’s two Shih Tzus, Daisey and Duke. They have two adult sons, John and Michael.

Daniel Astolfi - SVP Middle Market Regional Executive Mid-Atlantic Region, Citizens Bank

Daniel Astolfi (EVP) is the Eastern Mid-Atlantic Region Market Executive responsible for all Corporate Banking and Not for Profit Banking for Citizens Bank. The Eastern Mid-Atlantic Region includes the following geographies: Pennsylvania (East of Harrisburg), Central New Jersey and South, the State of Delaware and the Greater Baltimore, MD region. Clients served include Corporate and Commercial banking companies with revenues ranging from $25 Million to $500 Million (Commercial Banking) and Mid-Corporate clients with revenues ranging from $500 Million to $2.5 Billion. Additionally, Dan has responsibility for the Region’s Not for Profit business—which includes Human Service organizations, Higher Education, Retirement Communities, and Not for Profit Healthcare. He also manages the Bank’s Foreign Corporate and Professionals Banking groups. Dan has over 35 years of banking industry experience, with the last 17 years at Citizens Bank.

Responsibilities include managing various teams whose primary responsibility is servicing, building and growing relationships with a network of clients in varied industries, including Manufacturing, Distribution, Service, Transportation and Logistics, Chemical, Higher Education, Retirement Communities, etc. In addition to client coverage, Dan is also responsible for growing market share and adding value to each client relationship by introducing information and products of value and providing financing solutions to help clients achieve their strategic objectives.

Dan maintains offices in both Fort Washington, PA as well as Philadelphia, PA.

Dan is active in the community, and serves as a volunteer board member for the Mural Arts Program (Executive Management Committee and head of Development Committee) and Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS) - Scholarship Committee, and the Executive Leadership Team for the American Heart Association.

Dan earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Widener University and earned his MBA from Drexel University. He passed the CPA Exam in 2001 and holds Series 69 and 73 licenses.

He has lived and worked in the Philadelphia metropolitan area his entire life, growing up in Delaware County and now residing in Chester County, where he lives (Phoenixville, PA) with his wife Helena and their three daughters - Isabella, Grace and Leila.

Kevin Murphy - Partner, KPMG LLP

Bio to come.

Networking Hour Participants

Check back soon for Networking Hour participants.

2020 Spring Semester

2020 Summer Semester

2020 Fall Semester

  • Monday, August 21 (rescheduled from August 8) - Business of Sports Night for business, sport management, operations, and management students
  • Thursday, September 21 - Finance & Accounting Night for finance/accounting, business, economics, math & sport management students
  • Tuesday, September 26 - Business of Sports Night for business, sport management, operations, and management students
  • Wednesday, September 27 - Baseball Analytics Night for business intelligence/analytics, economics, MIS/information technology/computer science, marketing, business & sport management students
  • Thursday, September 28 - Sports Digital Media & Marketing Night for communications, journalism, broadcasting, advertising, marketing/digital marketing, TV production, social media, business & sport management students

Testimonials

“If you are looking for events to network and gain a lot of information from professionals in the industry, the Phillies College Series is an amazing experience for an even better value.” - Dominic, Neumann University

“The College Series was an excellent event, the panel was very helpful and gave great insight on what it’s like to work behind the scenes, would 100% recommend!” - Ayla, Stockton University

“The College Series is a valuable experience to network with industry professionals face-to-face!” - Addison, Bloomsburg University

“The College Series was an extremely fun and useful experience to be a part of. The networking and paneling helped me get an understanding of what I may find myself doing in the future, as well as useful information as to what I should do now to best prepare me for the future.” - Mason, Millersville University

“I really was impressed by the College Series. As a freshman who is still adapting to the college life it was nice to experience something like this for the first time. I didn’t feel judged or scared to talk to any of the office staff during the networking hour, and it was a very cool experience.” - Morgan, Kutztown University

“A fantastic event with fantastic panelists, every single time.” - Edwin, Temple University

“The Phillies and Temple’s Fox School of Business did an amazing job running this event! The opportunity to network with such fantastic individuals was such a valuable experience!” - Jared, Lebanon Valley College

“The networking event was an excellent experience. Connecting with individuals who are at the same career stage I am currently in was truly motivating. The panel session was not only insightful, but hearing from established professionals reassured me that I, too, can carve out my own path to success.” - Grace, Rowan College at Burlington County

“College Series night was an incredible experience that gave me a behind-the-scenes look at the business of baseball. Hearing directly from the panelists about their career paths, challenges, and day-to-day responsibilities was both inspiring and practical. The opportunity to connect with professionals from a Major League organization provided valuable insights into how different departments work together to create success on and off the field. I left the event with a clearer vision of the possibilities in sport management and a stronger motivation to pursue my career goals.” - Quentin, Ithaca College

Inside Tickets