For This Year's Executive in Residence, Kris Amplo ’00, Resilience and Community Engagement Are the Keys to Success

Kris Amplo '00 is sharing his experience as business owner, entrepreneur and philanthropist with students as the 2025-2026 executive in residence at the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business.

When Kris Amplo '00 isn't running J.C. Steel Erectors as president and owner, doing charitable work through the Amplo Family Foundation, or serving on the boards of nonprofits and industry groups, he's finding new ways to connect with the community and give back.

This year, Amplo will be giving back to Adelphi by serving as executive in residence at the University's Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, sharing insights from his dynamic career across construction, real estate and philanthropy. The executive in residence program brings successful alumni to campus to meet with business students and faculty members through lectures, classroom visits and mentorships.

"Speaking in front of students is something I really enjoy," Amplo said. "I'm very passionate about my business, my philosophies and my journey. And when students can hear from someone who's living and breathing the business world firsthand, it's very refreshing for them."

Amplo has long had a strong connection to Adelphi, having won NCAA championships as a member of Adelphi's 1998 and 1999 men's lacrosse teams. He even started his first construction business while a student at the University. Since achieving success in his career, Amplo has made impactful contributions to support the men's lacrosse program.

"Adelphi was a great place for someone like me, with small classrooms and professors who were very in touch with their students," he said. "The people around me were extremely supportive and very strong mentors who taught me some life lessons that I carry to this day."

MaryAnne Hyland, PhD, dean of the Willumstad School, thinks that experience makes Amplo an ideal choice for the executive in residence role.

"We are delighted to welcome Kris Amplo as our executive in residence this year," she said. "His journey-from Adelphi student-athlete to successful entrepreneur and philanthropist-is a powerful example of what's possible with hard work and leading with purpose."

Learning to succeed-and fail-in business

Amplo brings a rich mix of experience as an entrepreneur and teacher to his new position at Adelphi. In fact, he taught U.S. history to high school students for nearly six years after graduating from college, and only left when his construction business started to take off.

"When I gave up teaching, it was something I always missed, and I always wanted to get back involved in academics at some point and on some level," Amplo said.

Now, he helms a commercial steel company with more than 300 employees, having led landmark construction projects like UBS Arena (home of the New York Islanders hockey team), LaGuardia and JFK airports, and TSX Broadway. He says he couldn't do that without the people around him.

"I have a wonderful staff," he said. "They don't work for me-they work with me as part of a team. My success is their success. We have very much a 'we' and 'us' attitude."

As executive in residence, Amplo looks forward to sharing some of his other business philosophies, like his belief that putting yourself out of your comfort zone is a key to success.

"Whether that's going into a room of people you don't know and forcing yourself to network, or knocking on the door of a business and cold-calling them-those are all uncomfortable positions," he said. "But if you do that over and over again, you're going to find success."

Amplo is also a living example of how entrepreneurs can continuously reinvent themselves and find new opportunities through adversity. As Amplo said, "Students have to learn how to fail. I failed over and over again. I still fail, and I still have tough days. It's about being able to pick yourself back up and learn from your mistakes."

A lifelong commitment to giving back

Amplo has always had an innate drive to help people and give back to his community, tracing this passion to his blue-collar roots.

"It's very important for me to continue to give back; I instill that in my staff," he said. "Whatever you can give, whether it's your time or money, you have to give something. If you're not involved with some type of charitable contribution, then you can't work for me."

Amplo himself serves on the board of various nonprofits, runs his own Amplo Family Foundation, and, of course, donates his time to professors and students at Adelphi. In 2023, he was honored at Adelphi's annual Golf Classic for his contributions to the men's lacrosse program.

"For me to have the opportunity to give back to a program that is still built with personalities like mine is very special," he said. "Thirty years ago, I was that kid. It's been very powerful, and they're winning national championships now, so it's even more rewarding."

Looking ahead to his time as executive in residence, Amplo encourages students, faculty and staff to reach out to him as much as possible and find ways to connect.

"I'm extremely grateful for where I am in this world and for the things that I'm able to do," he said. "I love to talk about it because-and I know it's a cliché-but if I can do it, anyone can. I pinch myself sometimes-from where I was 25 years ago to where I am now, it's been a fun, fun journey."