Jennifer DeSalvo ‘07 credits her unusual combination of a double major in managerial economics and communication arts for allowing her to meet a wide variety of friends while at Allegheny, and for inspiring her to become a successful entrepreneur.
As a high school student, she was set on attending a large Southern school. At the last minute, she visited Allegheny at the recommendation of a neighbor. “It was fall, and my mother and I fell in love with the campus instantly,” says DeSalvo. She applied on the spot.
As a broadly engaged student, she thrived in cheerleading, Kappa Kappa Gamma and student government. DeSalvo attributes the balancing act of a rigorous workload with so many activities to propelling her into a successful adult.
I formed some great relationships while at Allegheny- not only with other students, but in the community through different philanthropic efforts, like working off-campus. Allegheny taught me how to build relationships and think things through logically and objectively. My education also allowed me to explore my creativity.
After a lucrative run in the corporate sector, she pursued a dream of founding her own company. She says, “I was able to marry my business background with my passion and figure out a way to make money at it. Now I own two businesses, and love being an entrepreneur.”
DeSalvo was a passionate dog lover who traveled extensively in her first career. Because her dog was like a child to her, it meant a lot to find the right place to board her pets while she was away.
“There was a giant whitespace in the marketplace for pets to be well taken care of and have fun so their owners didn’t have to worry,” she says.
In 2014, the perfect opportunity came her way when she left the corporate world. “A building was available in Sewickley, and I bought it. Pittsburgh Paws Pet Resort was born,” says DeSalvo. She now has two locations and a third business, Bark Barn, in Pittsburgh.
This drive and ambition require confidence. DeSalvo credits her experience at Allegheny with instilling a certain type of positive energy that she’s held onto.
“It was just so easy to meet people. And we didn’t have phones then, we were focused on building relationships and exploring everything,” she says. The small campus and spirit of community enabled DeSalvo and others to create strong bonds that continue today. She frequently runs into other Gators while in Pittsburgh and beyond.
DeSalvo enjoys coming back to campus to participate in panels and alumni events to benefit students. She feels it is important to share her journey, saying, “I think it’s important to find something that you’re passionate about and that you love. This is especially important to share with the younger generations, who need positive guidance and influence more than ever. You never know when you may make an impact on one person, and that impact may be felt for the rest of their life. Allegheny is a family, and it’s important to invest in making sure these students are confident and get out and make a difference in the communities in which they live – it’s kind of like a legacy.”
