Last year, the AB50C Awards honored 50 exceptional leaders. But who are they beyond their roles? We spoke with these leaders to uncover the stories, passions, and perspectives that shape them and what truly sets them apart.

Why He’s an AB50C Champion

From pioneering East Stroudsburg University’s first Athletics Giving Day to building smarter, more intentional systems for alumni engagement, Mike leads with collaboration, clarity, and a deep commitment to helping alumni feel connected and empowered.

Beyond the Title

There’s an infectious energy about Mike Gombita. In the middle of talking about donor engagement strategies and alumni programs, he casually joked that if he were ever featured on the cover of Forbes, the headline would read: “Happy Almost Monday.”

That optimism pretty much sums him up.

Ask Mike what he does, and his answer isn’t about fundraising targets or event metrics. It’s about helping alumni rediscover their connection to their alma mater and reminding them that they still belong.

As Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at the East Stroudsburg University Foundation, Mike wears many hats from organizing homecoming celebrations and alumni travel programs to leading Giving Day initiatives and building pathways for meaningful donor participation. But no matter the project, his north star remains the same:

“Making sure our alumni feel celebrated and feel like they can make an impact.”

What Winning AB50C Meant to Him

Winning the AB50C Community Choice Award came as a surprise for Mike. But for him, the recognition meant much more than receiving another professional accolade - it was validation.

There was a point in his career when he believed he would never return to advancement. Yet life had other plans. Receiving this recognition reaffirmed something he had come to realize about himself:

“It truly validates the idea that where I’m at is where I need to be.”

The award also served as a reminder that leadership is never a solo journey. Behind every initiative, every bold idea, and every challenge overcome is a community of people who believe in you and cheer you on.

As the recipient of the Community Choice Award, Mike saw the recognition as a symbol of trust, encouragement, and belonging.

“No matter how crazy your idea is… there’s always a village behind you.”

For someone who spends his career helping alumni feel connected and celebrated, the award felt especially meaningful. It was a powerful reminder that he, too, belongs to a community that believes in his vision and the impact he’s creating every day.

Finding His Way into Advancement

Like many advancement professionals, Mike didn’t map out this career path from the beginning.

His journey into advancement started during his undergraduate years when a mentor noticed his work on a video project and kept inviting him into conversations. Those conversations eventually led to an unexpected opportunity.

As Mike puts it:

“I jokingly say that I got tricked into starting our own student philanthropy program.”

That “accidental” yes changed everything.

As president of the program, he learned the fundamentals of fundraising, scholarships, unrestricted giving, and donor engagement. The experience opened his eyes to the many ways philanthropy fuels institutions and transforms lives.

His communications background naturally drew him toward digital engagement. Long before short-form videos and podcasts became a staple of engagement strategies, Mike was already experimenting with how digital channels could strengthen alumni relationships and complement traditional outreach.

The journey, however, wasn’t linear. There were ideas that worked, ideas that failed, and plenty of moments of uncertainty.

That willingness to experiment, adapt, and keep learning became one of his defining strengths.

Today, Mike channels those experiences into his role at the East Stroudsburg University Foundation, where he creates meaningful opportunities for alumni to reconnect with their alma mater, celebrates alumni achievements, leads Giving Day initiatives, and helps donors make an impact through unrestricted giving and participation programs.

The Work That Matters

At its core, Mike’s work revolves around one central question:

How do you help alumni reconnect and feel like they’re part of something bigger?

For him, the most exciting moments happen when someone who has been disconnected from their alma mater suddenly finds their way back.

It could happen at an event, during a phone call, or through a simple engagement opportunity. That moment of reconnection, the realization that they still belong is what keeps him energized.

Looking ahead, Mike is focused on creating more intentional and scalable alumni experiences. His vision is to build programs and systems that make engagement easier, more accessible, and more meaningful.

And for the institution to have the pathways and processes ready to make those opportunities happen seamlessly. At the heart of it all is a simple idea: create alumni-first experiences while building better systems, clearer processes, and stronger data behind the scenes.

An Initiative He’s Proud Of

One initiative Mike is particularly proud of is the university’s recent Giving Day campaign.

The results were impressive:

📈 15% increase in donors

💰 38% increase in dollars raised

📱 75,000+ social media reach

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

What stood out most was how the team achieved greater impact with fewer, more intentional communications.

The campaign relied on highly coordinated videos, emails, and social content, proving that effective engagement isn’t always about doing more, it’s about doing the right things together.

As Mike put it:

“We exceeded last year’s reach with fewer, more coordinated posts.”

For him, the campaign became another reminder that thoughtful strategy and collaboration often outperform sheer volume.

AI: A Tool, Not a Replacement

Like many advancement professionals, Mike is paying close attention to the rise of artificial intelligence.

But he doesn’t see it as a threat. He sees it as an opportunity.

For Mike, AI can make workflows smarter and processes more efficient, but it can’t replace the human side of advancement. Because advancement ultimately comes down to relationships.

Rapid Fire

Where It All Comes Together

Advancement is often measured through campaigns, events, and fundraising numbers. But stories like Mike’s remind us that the work is ultimately about people. It’s about helping someone reconnect with a place they once called home. It’s about creating opportunities for impact. It’s about building systems that empower relationships and communities to thrive.

And sometimes, it’s about saying yes to unexpected opportunities even when they arrive disguised as being “tricked” into starting a student philanthropy program.

Because the paths we accidentally fall into often become the places where we make our greatest impact.