Mike Riley sitting at desk with arms crossed

ENV Alumnus' Family Ties and Time at CPP Help Shape His Success

When Mike Riley says he has deep family ties to Cal Poly Pomona, he really means it.

Not only did Riley (‘81, bachelor of science in architecture, ‘82, bachelor of arts in architecture, ’83, master’s in architecture) graduate from CPP, so did three of his four siblings. Sister Kate studied computer science, sister Beth majored in accounting, and his brother Tom focused on hotel and restaurant management. Serendipity played a part, said Riley, who grew up in LaVerne.

“For 17 years, one, two or three of us were enrolled at Cal Poly Pomona,” he said. “What are the odds that we would live that close to that quality of a university that had something all of us wanted to study?”

Share Your Love for Cal Poly Pomona with the World!

New at CPP: the Points of Pride website is your one-stop hub for showcasing the very best of CPP. Explore a curated collection of images, national rankings, alumni and student success stories, and powerful highlights that capture who we are: a polytechnic university driven by creativity, community and become-by-doing excellence. Check out the website for the full toolkit and use the content to help tell the world what makes our campus extraordinary!

group of students smiling at baseball stadium stands with field in the background

Angels in the Outfield: CPP Night with the Angels

Monday, April 21 / 5 p.m. / Angel Stadium

Join fellow Broncos for an evening of baseball and school spirit at the CPP Angels Game. Purchase tickets for your family and friends and visit our pregame Bronco Village beginning at 5:08 p.m. for activities and community connection. For the first time, tickets include an exclusive Angels and CPP co-branded jersey, making this year’s event especially memorable. Visit angels.com/cpp to secure your tickets and jersey.

classroom building next to grassy field and trees

From Monument to Movement: Advancing MLK’s Legacy Through Community and Collective Action

Wednesday, March 25 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | University Quad and BSC, Ursa Major

Join us for community, conversation and collective action while honoring the life and leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. Hosted by the College of Education and Integrative Studies, this event will feature distinguished campus and community leaders, including actor and author Tucker Smallwood, poet and activist Luis Rodriguez, CSU’s Dr. BJ Snowden, alumnus Dr. Clark Rucker, and CEO of Pomona’s African American Advisory Alliance Chará Swodeck. The program will start in the University Quad with drumming, poetry and a rededication of an MLK plaque, and continue with a freedom walk to the Bronco Student Center where a dynamic panel on the past, present and future of civil rights will take place. Refreshments will be served. RSVP via Eventbrite by Wednesday, March 18. The event is free. Campus parking costs $8.

Save the Date: Broncos Give starts March 18 at 9 a.m.!

Join the Bronco community for 36 hours of giving back and making a difference. Support students, scholarships, and programs you care about—plus unlock special challenges and opportunities to double your impact.

Mark your calendar and be part of 365 days of impact at givingday.cpp.edu.

Check Out These Inspiring Stories from Fellow Broncos

Visit our new and improved We Are CPP website to read Class Notes and stories of alumni success. We are very proud of your accomplishments and would love to hear about your professional, philanthropic or community-based achievements. Share your impact by submitting a Class Note. If you have news to share or want to nominate a Bronco who is doing amazing work, contact Alumni & External Relations at alumni@cpp.edu.

Connect. Mentor. Grow with the CPP Bronco Mentoring Network.

The CPP Bronco Mentoring Network, our career-mentoring and advice-sharing network, makes it easy for you to connect with others in the Cal Poly Pomona community. Our upgraded platform allows you to find or sign up to be a mentor, learn skills by completing pathway modules, watch video resources, find and post jobs, list your business in the business directory and more. Don’t wait. Join the Bronco Network today!

#1 Polytechnic University for Diversity and Economic Mobility - Cal Poly Pomona

Mar. 12
Career Advancement Alumni Panel

Join us on March 12 at 6 p.m. for an evening filled with insightful discussions and valuable advice from our esteemed alumni. Whether you're a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, this event is perfect for anyone looking to advance their career. Event will be virtual and link will be sent to registrants via email.

Mar. 19
Latin Alumni Network Bowling Mixer
The Latin Alumni Network is hosting a networking bowling mixer on March 19 from 6-8 p.m. at Chapparal Lanes in San Dimas. Alumni receive discounted pricing. Guests are welcome but must purchase a guest ticket. All tickets include two games of bowling, shoe rental, pizza and soda. We look forward to seeing you!

Mar. 24

Job/

Entrepreneurship Synergy

Learn how to work smarter, build income streams and keep more of what you earn—without quitting your day job.

Apr. 28
AI in the Real World: From Daily Workflows to Labor Markets

Join us for an interactive workshop exploring how generative AI is being used today—and what it means for work, learning, and the evolving job market. We’ll cover real-world applications, where AI is driving true value, and how to thoughtfully future-proof your career in a rapidly changing landscape.

“Q&A: Suzanne Blaustone” — Soundings Trade Only, 2/2

Suzanne Blaustone (‘82, communication), CEO of Barton Marine Equipment, is interviewed about her upbringing and shares insights on steering her global marine equipment company through industry challenges like supply‑chain disruptions, rising costs and evolving market trends, while keeping customers supplied and operations resilient.

“Mojave Water Agency selects geologist Marina West as board president” — Victorville Daily Press, 1/29

Marina West (‘88, geological sciences) has been selected as the 2026 Board President of the Mojave Water Agency, bringing more than 38 years of water industry experience to guide the region’s long-term water strategy. She also serves as vice chair of the Community Water Systems Alliance, an organization that provides a collective voice in Sacramento for water systems serving disadvantaged and income-limited communities.

“Apex Highlights Key Thermal Engineering Talent as Nova Satellite Platform Nears First Flight” — TipRanks, 1/26

Cory Heath (‘24, mechanical engineering), who started as an intern at spacecraft manufacturer Apex, has been promoted to full-time thermal engineer. The article notes Heath’s liquid rocket lab experience at CPP and his involvement in Apex’s second satellite platform, Nova, scheduled for its first flight later this year. His responsibilities include defining and validating Nova’s thermal architecture and developing analyses, and test methodologies to ensure subsystem reliability under extreme orbital temperature conditions.

We invite you to send comments or submit story ideas to PolyAlumni. For more information or to contact Alumni and External Relations, call (866) CPP-ALUM or email alumni@cpp.edu.

Cal Poly Pomona | 3801 W Temple Ave | Pomona, CA 91768 US

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