It’s been an incredible ride. We’ve been not only colleagues but really become great friends.
Entrepreneurs Laura Viola Maccarone, ’07, and Stephanie Boyle, ’11, never met as Bridgewater State students, but they are now each other’s biggest supporters as small business owners.
“It’s been an incredible ride,” said Maccarone, who founded graphic design firm Rizbee Studio almost a decade ago. “We’ve been not only colleagues but really become great friends.”
Boyle started her business, byFriday, 4 ½ years ago to provide administrative services for other firms. One of her clients is Rizbee Studio, and Boyle and Maccarone’s relationship quickly grew into a sisterhood. Their bond became stronger upon discovering they shared an alma mater that played a pivotal role in their careers.
For Boyle, everything changed when – as a BSU student – she was alone in a parking lot crying and overwhelmed about an uncertain future. Fellow student Matthew Reopell asked her what was wrong and helped her discover BSU’s communication department.
“I had no idea what I wanted to do,” recalled Boyle, who changed her major from business to communications. “He took the time to help me find what I wanted to do and help me find the right people.”
Maccarone struggled as an English major, but found her home in the art department.
“I knew the career path that I wanted – to design for magazines – but I didn’t know how to get there (until becoming an art major),” she said.
She served as editor-in-chief of student literary and art magazine The Bridge and appreciated the mentorship of Professor Mary Dondero, who is an entrepreneur herself. After working in the magazine industry in Manhattan, Maccarone returned to Massachusetts ready to become her own boss.
“What really inspired me was Mary Dondero,” Maccarone said, praising her work ethic. “I was like I could do this one day.”
When she landed her first major client, Dondero was there to offer advice. Maccarone still asks her former professor for feedback on her work.
Boyle, who was a WBIM DJ as a student, started byFriday after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Her disability made working a traditional 9-5 job challenging. byFriday was born during a conversation with her acupuncturist, who became her first client.
Boyle credits BSU with teaching the communication, time management and networking skills to succeed as an entrepreneur.
“There was no roadmap for me,” she said. “What I took away was making connections and learning how to meet the right people.”
One of those people is Maccarrone, who became a mentor as Boyle grew her business.
“It really is that sorority sister feeling,” Maccarone said. “We understand each other in a certain way.”
Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.