Confessions of Peter Napolitano

The executive director of auxiliary services at Binghamton University in Binghamton, N.Y., admires Pope Francis, loves Chilean sea bass and wishes french fries had never been invented.

Q. What is the best part of your job?

I enjoy working with all facets of the university: students, faculty, staff, and administration. Each day brings a new set of opportunities for auxiliary services and hospitality services
to make a difference by changing perceptions in positive ways. 

Q. What is the worst part of your job?

There are times when you need the gift of patience to let things settle and work themselves out. In order for this to happen, you need to be part of the larger picture to envision how all the parts fit together. This is representative of the challenges within the silos of higher education.

Q. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Being a dad to four beautiful adult children and a grandpa to four wonderful grandkids.

Q. What is the most unusual foodservice/catering request you have ever received?

One event where the guest count at the last minute increased by 75 people. I was asked to stretch the main course [beef tenderloin], of which we had enough for a little over 100 people, to include a total of 175. Everyone got a nice taste!

Q. If you weren't in foodservice what would you be doing?

Most likely, I would do something in the entertainment industry.  

Q. If you had a time machine what historical event or era would you visit?

I would visit the Colonial days of our young country, witness the birth of our nation and visit the 13 original colonies.

Q. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’d listen more, speak less. 

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

Pope Francis, the “people’s pope.” 

Q. What would be your dream vacation?

An all-inclusive resort villa in the Virgin Islands. 

Q. What is your favorite meal?

Grilled Chilean sea bass with roasted vegetables and pineapple.  

Q. If you could eat dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

President Barack Obama. 

Q. What is your guilty pleasure?

I enjoy safety meetings after work with friends at a local “watering hole” [a.k.a. the local bar] because everyone should be safe.  

Q. What will people always find in your refrigerator?

Virginia baked honey ham, provolone cheese and spicy brown mustard.

Q. What is your most treasured possession?

My 30-year-old Guild guitar, which has a deep, melodic tone. I love playing that guitar.

Q. What food fad do you wish had never started?

Eating french fries.

Q. What activity is at the top of your bucket list?

Travel to Ireland, Scotland and Italy. 

Q. What is the weirdest food you have ever eaten?

Fat-bottomed ants from the rain forest of South America. 

Q. Are you a morning or evening person?

Absolutely a morning person.

Q. What are your words to live by?

“Never look down on anybody unless you are helping them up.”