--- title: "Alumni Spotlight: Ray Bartolomucci, Class of 2017" description: As an Italian-American, I knew that attending JCU would be the perfect opportunity to, get in touch with my Italian roots. image: https://blog.johncabot.edu/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/RayB-e1548677299710.jpg --- [![JCULogo1](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/JCULogo1.png?width=300&height=80&name=JCULogo1.png "JCULogo1")](https://blog.johncabot.edu/blog?hsLang=en) [![JCULogo2](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/JCULogo2.png?width=300&height=82&name=JCULogo2.png "JCULogo2")](https://blog.johncabot.edu/blog?hsLang=en) - [Undergraduate](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/undergraduate) - [Graduate](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/graduate) - [Study Abroad](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/study-abroad) - [Italian](https://blog.johncabot.edu/it/blog) - [Website](https://www.johncabot.edu/) - Filter By Topics - Scegli Il Topic - [All](https://blog.johncabot.edu) - [Academics](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/academics) - 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[Marketing](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/marketing) - [Mathematics](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/mathematics) - [Parent Perspective](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/parent-perspective) - [Political Science](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/political-science) - [Professor Spotlight](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/professor-spotlight) - [Psychological Science](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/psychological-science) - [Rome](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/rome) - [Safety](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/safety) - [Student Life](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/student-life) - [Student Spotlight](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/student-spotlight) - [Study Abroad](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/study-abroad) - [Study Abroad in Rome](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/study-abroad-in-rome) - [Sustainability](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/sustainability) - [Transfer Students](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/transfer-students) - [Undergraduate](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/undergraduate) - [University in Rome](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/university-in-rome) # Alumni Spotlight: Ray Bartolomucci, Class of 2017 September 16, 2020 SHARE [mailto:?body=https://blog.johncabot.edu/degree-seeking/alumni-spotlight-ray-bartolomucci](mailto:?body=https://blog.johncabot.edu/degree-seeking/alumni-spotlight-ray-bartolomucci) ![](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/RayB-e1548677299710.jpg) SHARE [mailto:?body=https://blog.johncabot.edu/degree-seeking/alumni-spotlight-ray-bartolomucci](mailto:?body=https://blog.johncabot.edu/degree-seeking/alumni-spotlight-ray-bartolomucci) ![John Cabot University](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hubfs/JCUCrestWhiteonBlue-1.jpg) Written By [John Cabot University](https://blog.johncabot.edu/author/jcuadmissions) Topic [Undergraduate](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/undergraduate), [Student Spotlight](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/student-spotlight) ## A Leap of Faith Choosing to finish my degree at John Cabot University was a huge leap of faith - and it was the best decision of my life! My name is Ray Bartolomucci, and I am an Italian-American from Pleasanton, California. I started my college career by accepting a scholarship to play Division One baseball in Indiana. However, after two years, I concluded that I simply wasn't happy, and began searching for something else. I felt burned out, and realized that I could do more with my life than just play baseball. After spending some time looking at schools online, John Cabot University popped up on Google. I clicked the link, took a leap of faith, and before I knew it I was packing my bags and on my way to Rome. Luckily, JCU accepted most of my credits, which was a huge relief during my [transfer](https://admissions.johncabot.edu/academics/how-to-transfer-to-jcu/) process. As an Italian-American, I knew that attending JCU would be the perfect opportunity to get in touch with my Italian roots. During my three years in Rome, I was reunited with my cousins and re-connected with my family's culture. I cannot express how rewarding it was to live, work, and study in a country that I felt so connected to. My most vivid memory of my Rome experience was just walking the streets every day and thinking to myself in awe, "How did I get here?" Every single day I woke up grateful for this amazing experience, and for the memories I was making along the way. ## From JCU to CEO Along with an excellent cultural experience, the academic atmosphere at John Cabot ignited my fire for entrepreneurship. If you want to own your own business someday, I would strongly encourage you to reach out to Professor Silvia Pulino. She instilled in me a passion for entrepreneurship. More specifically, I would advise you to reach out to the JCU [Institute for Entrepreneurship](https://www.johncabot.edu/entrepreneurship-institute/) and start brainstorming ideas that can realistically become a business one day. Choose your own future; don't let others dictate what you are capable of! Although my main academic focus was business-oriented, I also enjoyed many other courses, and one of my favorites was actually Counter Culture in America with Professor Lanzone. Life after graduation has been different but refreshing. Upon graduating, I felt ready to enter the real world. I saw this as my opportunity to start working to make money, but also to begin my own business ventures. After returning to California, I began managing my dad's [Italian restaurants](https://www.strizzis.com/). At the same time, I became cofounder and CEO of [Roopairs LLC](https://www.roopairs.com/) in August of 2017. I have been managing all facets of the business, which means I have a great deal of responsibility. ## Today Working two jobs was tough, but I needed money to fund my own business projects, and I was happy to return to the restaurant industry; I had helped in my father's restaurants from a young age. However, as of three months ago, I took a leave of absence and moved to San Luis Obispo to begin the Cal Poly Summer Accelerator program. Cal Poly chose eight businesses to join their Summer Accelerator Program, and I am so grateful that our company made the cut. They provided us with a free office space, connected us with leading mentors, and even wrote us a check for $10,000.  I can honestly say that my [degree in Business Administration](https://www.johncabot.edu/business-administration/) truly prepared me to start my own business after graduation. It's thanks to my JCU education that I am where I am today. In an era of tough competition in the business world, I've learned that an entrepreneur must have resilience. Starting a company is a real roller coaster. There are so many obstacles that continue to present themselves, but it's *how* you overcome these obstacles that makes you a successful entrepreneur. My advice to any fellow Business Administration majors out there would be this: follow your heart. Do things in life that make you happy. Work hard. Don't wait for someone else to make your dream a reality. ![](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Roopairs-Headshot-150x150.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Roopairs-Headshot-150x150.jpg) Ray Bartolomucci Class of 2017 Business Administration Major Hometown: Pleasanton, California, USA [Previous Post](https://blog.johncabot.edu/study-abroad/importance-international-network-can-build-one-studying-abroad-italy?hsLang=en) [View all posts](https://blog.johncabot.edu) [Next Post](https://blog.johncabot.edu/study-abroad/3-reasons-study-art-history-rome-passionate-renaissance?hsLang=en) ### Subscribe Here! ### Recommended Reading [Undergraduate](https://blog.johncabot.edu/topic/undergraduate?hsLang=en) [Student Spotlight](https://blog.johncabot.edu/topic/student-spotlight?hsLang=en) ##### [Spring vs. Fall University Start: Which Semester Is Right for You?](https://blog.johncabot.edu/spring-vs-fall-university-start?hsLang=en) By [John Cabot University](https://blog.johncabot.edu/author/jcuadmissions) / October 2, 2026 [Continue Reading](https://blog.johncabot.edu/spring-vs-fall-university-start?hsLang=en) [Undergraduate](https://blog.johncabot.edu/topic/undergraduate?hsLang=en) [Student Spotlight](https://blog.johncabot.edu/topic/student-spotlight?hsLang=en) ##### [Application Process Walkthrough: How to Apply to John Cabot University](https://blog.johncabot.edu/how-to-apply-to-john-cabot-university?hsLang=en) By [John Cabot University](https://blog.johncabot.edu/author/jcuadmissions) / October 2, 2026 [Continue Reading](https://blog.johncabot.edu/how-to-apply-to-john-cabot-university?hsLang=en) [Undergraduate](https://blog.johncabot.edu/topic/undergraduate?hsLang=en) [Student Spotlight](https://blog.johncabot.edu/topic/student-spotlight?hsLang=en) ##### [Studying Abroad in the UAE Through JCU Direct Exchange: A Year That Expanded My World](https://blog.johncabot.edu/direct-exchange-study-abroad-uae?hsLang=en) By [Vittoria Ferri](https://blog.johncabot.edu/author/vittoria-ferri) / September 24, 2026 [Continue Reading](https://blog.johncabot.edu/direct-exchange-study-abroad-uae?hsLang=en) ### Subscribe and stay up to date ### Subscribe and stay up to date - [Academics](https://www.johncabot.edu/academics/default.aspx) - [Admissions](https://www.johncabot.edu/admissions/default.aspx) - [Student Life](https://www.johncabot.edu/student-life/default.aspx) - [About JCU](https://www.johncabot.edu/about-jcu/default.aspx) - [Studenti Italiani](https://www.johncabot.edu/universita-americana/default.aspx) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/JohnCabotUniversity) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/JohnCabotRome) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/school/john-cabot-university/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/JohnCabotUniversity) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/johncabotuniversity) ![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3067823/phone.svg) [+39066819121](tel:+39066819121) ![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3067823/email.svg) [admissions@johncabot.edu](mailto:admissions@johncabot.edu) ![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3067823/address.svg) Via della Lungara 233 00165 Rome, Italy [©](https://a.cms.omniupdate.com/11/?skin=oucampus&account=john-cabot&site=www&action=de&path=/default.pcf) 2025 John Cabot University ### Request Info »