Foundation Board Member Spotlight: John Hobika
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth” —Muhammad Ali
Over the last 35 years working in the financial industry, John Hobika’s passion has shined through his services, community projects and advocacy, and engagements with clients. John is currently Vice President and Relationship Manager at Berkshire Bank, a $12 billion, relationship-driven, community-focused with more than 80 financial centers across New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island and a deep focus on personalized service and community impact.
In 2021, John joined the SUNY Poly Foundation board where he currently serves as a Foundation Officer-Secretary, as well as being a member of the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee. John saw joining the board as a unique opportunity to contribute to positive change at SUNY Poly.
“Seeing the real life change that SUNY Poly was creating in areas such as public education, advanced research, and economic development was inspiring,” he said. “It also was something I believed paired well with the holistic work that I do in the field of financial wellness.”
Although John has always had a strong belief in SUNY Poly and the positive change the institution can create, one of the biggest reasons he believes in the power of education started with his parents.
“My parents believed in the power of education, especially college, as they felt that going away would help me become independent and strengthen my skills academically,” he said. “I truly believe that experience helped build my study skills, time management and really did help me become more independent.”
John believes SUNY Poly sets itself apart from other institutions of higher education through the various partnerships it has within the community. As someone who values collaboration and leadership, when he saw the work SUNY Poly was doing in the community, he knew he wanted to be a part of it, including the specialized focus on technology.
Like SUNY Poly’s mission, John believes in the power of collaboration and educating individuals about financial wellness and how to make smart decisions.
“As a certified financial education instructor, I take great pride to better equip students with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions,” he said. As a frequent speaker on these initiatives, his passion for this work allows him to present to numerous organizations, nonprofits, school districts and other groups throughout Central New York.
With his years of experience in banking and the financial industry, John is committed to educating individuals about financial wellness and supporting students at SUNY Poly in any way possible to help them succeed and achieve their goals.
