Cover art by Emily Acri.

On stage, behind the scenes, or on screen—LVC grads are making an impact in entertainment and beyond.

Crafting Stories Through Sound

When Ryan Collins ’07 began at Lebanon Valley College, he was focused solely on performing and recording music. That changed when an assignment in his Electronic Music class introduced him to a new aspect of the sound industry.

“We were tasked with replacing all the sounds in a video clip using selfcreated sounds,” he recalled. “I started realizing that with a silent moving picture, the possibilities for shaping an audience’s experience through sound were endless.”

That moment sparked a path that has taken Collins from LVC’s studios to Hollywood, where he has built a 15-year career as a Re-Recording Mixer and Sound Designer. His credits include 12 Years a Slave, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The White Lotus, True Detective, Pam & Tommy, and Dopesick. Along the way, he’s earned six Emmy nominations—and one win—plus seven MPSE Golden Reel and two CAS Award nominations.

Collins chose LVC for its Music Recording Technology program (now, Music Production), having developed a passion for recording during high school. “At LVC, I was introduced to post-production and was immediately drawn to the art of how sound and picture come together to craft a storytelling narrative,” he said. His senior-year internship at Audio Post Philadelphia gave him his first real taste of professional post-production. “That experience sharpened my skills and eventually led me to Los Angeles.”

Now with more than a decade at Sony Pictures Entertainment, Collins credits early mentors for shaping his craft. “Early in my career, I had the privilege of working with incredibly talented mixers and sound designers who taught me to listen beyond the technical and to truly understand what each scene needs.”

That mindset carries across formats. “In animation, you’re building the entire sonic world from a blank slate. There’s room for stylization and exaggeration,” he explained. “In live action, you’re usually grounded in realism, so the focus is on enhancing what’s already there and maintaining emotional clarity.”

Technology has expanded those creative possibilities. “Atmos has completely changed the canvas,” Collins said of Dolby Atmos mixing. “It’s immersive, 360-degree storytelling. But technology is just a tool. It doesn’t automatically make something better; it expands what is possible.”

One project that stands out is HBO’s Love and Death, which the team mixed without music first. “We had the rare opportunity to build the sonic world first. The music team then composed against our soundscape. It reinforced why I love finding ways for sound to support the story and be an active part of how it’s told.”

Winning the 2022 Emmy Award for The White Lotus was a career milestone. “Professionally, it opened doors and created new opportunities. But the most important part was what it meant to my family. The hours are long, and it often means missing time with them. Winning was validation, but for us as a family, it was a reminder that the hard work matters.”

Looking ahead, he hopes to explore visually bold films and immersive audio projects. But his biggest lesson goes back to LVC:

Paths in the creative industries aren’t always linear. Some of the biggest moments of growth happen in the detours. The ‘right’ path isn’t always the obvious one.

From ValleyFest to Nashville

When Nikki Abbamont ’14 started at Lebanon Valley College, she knew she wanted a career in the music industry—she just needed to find the right path. After exploring her options, she combined business and music, ultimately creating an Individualized Major in Entertainment Business with the help of her professors.

“I loved that I could customize my curriculum with what I was interested in most about the music business— marketing, fan engagement, and the fan experience,” Abbamont says.

Her time at LVC was filled with experiences that readied her for the music industry. ValleyFest was her “pride and joy,” where she served as Entertainment Chair, Vice President, and President. She still remembers the buzz of their 2013 headliner, Sammy Adams: “Tickets sold out, a line started before the doors opened, and seeing our classmates genuinely having a great time is more than we could have hoped for. I’ll never forget it.”

She also helped launch VALE Records, LVC’s student-run record label, calling it her “first experience in building something from the ground up.” And when she started DJing at The Underground and campus events, a country song request planted the seed for her eventual move to Nashville.

After graduating in 2014, Abbamont moved home to save money, working as a bank teller before heading to Music City in 2016 with enough funds to last a year without a job. Her first Nashville gig wasn’t behind a desk— it was as a hostess at The Listening Room Cafe, a venue for songwriter showcases. “I met so many talented musicians and other people like me trying to get a job in this industry,” she says.

With just two months left before her savings ran out, a friend passed along her résumé, leading to interviews—and a mock marketing plan—with Black River Entertainment. She secured the Publicity and Marketing Coordinator position, eventually becoming Associate Director of Project Management, and worked with artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Abby Anderson, and MaRynn Taylor.

In 2022, Abbamont joined Borman Entertainment and worked her way to Senior Marketing Manager, collaborating with major acts such as Keith Urban and Tyler Hubbard. As a fan of Hubbard’s former band, Florida Georgia Line, helping launch his solo career was a highlight. “From his first single, ‘5 Foot 9,’ to releasing his debut self-titled album less than a year later—it was such a collaborative process and team effort,” she says. “Holding the vinyl in my hands for the first time was a big ‘We did it!’ moment.”

Even with these accomplishments, Abbamont admits, “Imposter syndrome is real. I’ve come to realize that many of my peers have felt the same way—even those who are more accomplished than I am.”

Abbamont’s love for the music industry is rooted in being a fan first. She points to her years of following the Jonas Brothers—especially a 2008 Madison Square Garden concert that ended with a midnight album release in Times Square— as an unforgettable experience. “Out of any artist, I’ve seen them the most in concert, and the memories I’ve made as their fan played a big role in why I focused on marketing in the music industry,” she says. Those moments remind her of the joy music can create and inspire her to help artists deliver that same excitement to their fans.

Looking back, she’s grateful for every twist in her journey. “Those four years at LVC shaped me into who I am now,” she says.

If I could go back and relive it again, I would in a heartbeat.

Once Upon a Shining Star

Ever since she was a kid, Katie McCarty ’07 knew she wanted to be in entertainment. Today, as a highly successful actress who has appeared in shows like Law & Order SVU and The Blacklist, McCarty credits LVC and its remarkable faculty for helping her succeed in such a highly competitive industry.

“LVC laid the groundwork for everything I’m doing now,” said McCarty. “The theater classes, voice lessons, and being part of so many Wig and Buckle Theater Company productions provided incredible training and stage experience.”

McCarty worked with Dr. Kevin Pry, Professor Emeritus of English, on Wig and Buckle shows, and with Victoria Rose, Professor Emerita of Music, on the voice lessons at The Valley.

“I learned so much from Dr. Pry’s direction,” noted McCarty. “His philosophy of ‘acting is reacting’ is still a core part of how I approach every role. I’m so grateful for that and for Dr. Pry’s encouragement. Dr. Rose’s classical training gave me a solid foundation for musical theater. She was so kind and encouraging, and her support helped me land summer stock jobs and eventually book work at Disney right after graduation.”

That Disney work enabled McCarty to see the world, starring as Belle at Walt Disney World and Hong Kong Disneyland, and as Pocahontas on Disney Cruise Lines. She also performed in regional theater and Off-Broadway shows in New York City.

From there, she moved into modeling and worked in commercials and print. McCarty parlayed these experiences into on-camera work with NBC, Amazon Prime, and Tubi. Her credits range from the aforementioned TV roles to films like A Very Nutty Christmas and A Brooklyn Love Story. In August, Hot Kitchen, a culinary comedy, began streaming on Tubi, with McCarty starring as Yasmin.

With over 30 acting, writing, and producing credits on her IMDB profile, McCarty has a few favorite projects, including two recent Prime Video airings.

“I felt a strong connection to Tara in Just for Showmance, a rom-com, and enjoyed playing Honey and tapping into my Italian/Irish heritage for A Brooklyn Love Story. It was special reaching wider audiences.”

McCarty, who is working on several projects she hopes will come to fruition, advises those who want to enter the industry that:

This career is a marathon, not a sprint! Alternatively, the cliché, ‘follow your intuition and heart,’ is equally true. Stay flexible, get creative, and don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. Everyone’s path is different.

From College Athletics to Hollywood:

A LABOR NEGOTIATOR’S PLAYBOOK

Gregory “Greg” Hessinger, Esq., ’87 knew he wanted to play college football, but wasn’t committed to a school until legendary LVC Football Head Coach Lou Sorrentino ’54, who was rigorously recruiting him, met his parents.

“As a senior at Whitehall High School, I was considering a number of schools, but when I visited The Valley, Coach Sorrentino immediately won over my parents with his authenticity and sincerity. With their encouragement, I decided to enroll at The Valley,” said Hessinger.

“I cannot overstate the impact that the LVC family had on my life,” he added. “I was fortunate to learn from several LVC legends, in and out of the classroom. “Coach Lou, for example, genuinely cared about his players, and he doled out some tough love when I really needed it.”

During his first year at LVC, Jim Monos, the College’s winningest Football coach, had an equally profound impact on Hessinger. Though only coaching him in his senior year, “Coach ‘Mo’ was an incredible leader, bringing positivity and energy that inspired players, while holding them accountable with unwavering principles every step of the way,” said Hessinger. “I have borrowed heavily from his leadership style over the years.”

Academically, Dr. John Norton, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, taught him how to become a critical thinker and more effective writer, essential traits for the legal career that Dr. Norton encouraged Hessinger to pursue.

Like many alumni, Hessinger carried these lessons into his career.

He graduated from St. John’s University School of Law and started as a Corporate Tax Lawyer at Skadden, Arps in New York City (NYC) when a book changed the direction of his career.

“I read A Whole Different Ball Game by Marvin Miller, the former Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players’ Association, while on my honeymoon with my new wife, Paula. “While that might not sound particularly romantic, it was life-altering.

“Skadden was incredibly accommodating, allowing me to transfer into the Labor Department after investing a year in training me to be a corporate lawyer. That ultimately opened doors for me to break into the media and entertainment industry.”

Hessinger, who was inducted into the LVC Athletic Hall of Fame for Baseball and Football in 2012, had found his passion. After Skadden, he was named Director of Labor Relations for CBS, National Executive Director for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and Chief Executive Officer/National Executive Director of the Screen Actors Guild Inc.

He also managed to achieve partnerships in three major NYC law firms before reaching the pinnacle of his field in 2025, when he was named President of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in April.

Hessinger shared how his LVC mentors impacted his current role.

“To be an effective negotiator, you must command respect, like my coaches did. “That starts in my room, where I have a dozen senior labor executives representing their respective Hollywood studios. I am expected to present a unified front on behalf of the entire industry when we negotiate with the unions. However, the studios’ interests are not always precisely aligned, so I need to find ways to forge a consensus among the studios that compete against each other daily in the marketplace. To forge that consensus, you have to earn the studios trust that you will not elevate the interests of one studio over the interests of others.

“It isn’t rocket science. If you want respect, a good place to start is by giving it first. You have to prove your trustworthiness over time, but if you are consistent in establishing that trust, it’s amazing what kind of influence you can wield when the chips are down.”

Hessinger will need to rely upon that foundation of trust and his negotiating skills in tackling the challenges facing the studios in the upcoming round of bargaining with the unions. “Sharing revenue derived from streaming platforms [residuals], establishing parameters for the role of Artificial Intelligence, incentivizing domestic production, and looming problems with the union health plans are important considerations heading into the next contract,” said Hessinger.

With over thirty years of experience on both sides of the table in the entertainment industry, Hessinger is well prepared for 2026 and future negotiations.

“The AMPTP is my last rodeo, whether it lasts five or 15 years. I plan to continue fostering a working relationship with the unions that results in labor stability for the industry, while allowing the studios, creative talent, and behind-thescenes workers to prosper. We have a lot of problems to solve, but it’s still an incredible industry with a bright future ahead.”

Hessinger provided a final reflection on his time at LVC and the effect it had on his life.

LVC is a truly special place that is defined by its people. I mentioned some who impacted me, but there were so many more. I remain very close to former classmates and teammates—there’s nothing quite like the bonds formed at LVC.