The Marist Alumni Upholding Community in Poughkeepsie

O’Neill tending to the bar. Photo by Jack Torry ‘26

For Erin O’Neill and John “JB” Bryan, graduating from Marist University, formerly College, did not mean their time was up in Poughkeepsie. The two, who met during their time at Marist and are good friends to this day, have since become business owners in Poughkeepsie, serving as bearers of community in the area.

O’Neill, who graduated from Marist in 2004, is the owner of Erin O'Neill's Pub & Grill on North Water Street.

“When college was over, I guess I didn't want to leave. I just loved it here,” said O’Neill about staying in Poughkeepsie after graduating. 

Inspired by her grandmother, who owned a bar, O’Neill always knew she wanted to own her own place. Having worked at the now closed River Station while she was still attending Marist and doing bartending stints at Mahoney’s Irish Pub & Steakhouse and Tavern 23, O’Neill has an abundance of experience within the Poughkeepsie bar scene that helped her in opening her own spot in 2021.

“You kind of have to start from the bottom and then work your way up, you know, server, then bartender, manager, owner. The steps are putting in the time and learning different parts of it at different places, and also, staying at a place for a long time to see how a business operates successfully for a lengthy time,” said O’Neill.

Bryan, a 2002 grad, has become the owner of Hudson Valley Trivia Co., a company that hosts trivia nights across a circuit of bars throughout the Hudson Valley.

O’Neill beside a hand painted sign which faces the bar. Photo by Jack Torry ‘26

For Bryan, getting into trivia hosting was a chance encounter. While working at a restaurant in Poughkeepsie, a friend who admired JB’s charismatic personality put him in touch with Sean “Fuzzy” McGrath, founder of Hudson Valley Trivia Co, which started in 2012.

“He basically just was like, ‘Great, you're a trivia host’… and I remember, he took me across the street to The Derby and put a microphone in my hand and said, 'Here you go, go do it,’” said Bryan.

Since then, Bryan has taken over from Sean as the owner of the company, which has won the Best of the Hudson Valley award for Best Trivia Night in 2024 and 2025.

Having both majored in Public Relations during their time at Marist, O’Neill and Bryan express how their respective college experiences have aided them in their business endeavors.

“So many of those things I learned about in the business classes that I took and a lot of the communications classes, were absolutely wonderful. Like public speaking and things like that, but also like doing graphic design and understanding menu design and how to sell to people,” said O’Neill.

Additionally, O’Neill thanks Marist for her best friend, Jessica Licciardello, the Creative Director at Erin O’Neill’s Pub & Grill and owner of JLDELLO Artwork & Design. O’Neill credits Licciardello for giving the restaurant its signature identity, characterized by the eclectic logo and menu design and the portraits of rock ‘n’ roll icons that adorn the dining room.

“When I'm dealing with clients running my own business and when I'm setting up marketing strategies, there are things that still to this day I think about daily from my time at Marist, like memories of classes, things that teachers have said. Truly, I got a great education while I was there, and it's a thing that comes out in unexpected ways for me,” said Bryan.

The two still hold a connection to Marist, and their time there was a formative stepping stone, enabling them to uphold thriving businesses.

O’Neill and Bryan also talk about the community aspect that comes with their businesses. 

O’Neill experiences this sense of community with not only customers but also other bar and restaurant owners in the area as well.

“There's the community of the bar owners, who we all know each other and talk to each other and, you know, scratch each other's backs. You know, ‘Can I borrow Pepsi?,’ ‘Can I borrow a cylinder of gas for the beer?’ Could I borrow a tank? Can I borrow a Guinness keg?’ You know, we kind of come together for things like that in a community,” said O’Neill.

With Hudson Valley Trivia Co., Bryan emphasizes creating a space of inclusivity and escapism for the few hours that trivia lasts. Knowing people’s names, genuinely connecting with people, and bantering with players at trivia nights exist at the center of his mission.

“I want it to be a rewarding, challenging, stimulating and welcoming place for anyone who wants to come and play. I've always tried to approach it being very genuine about that, and about being very genuine about who I am, and putting a little bit of myself into the presentation of the business,” said Bryan.

O’Neill describes herself as a “Poughkeepsie advocate” as both a business owner in the area and a resident, and JB shares a similar viewpoint. 

“Poughkeepsie, to me, is just so unique and special, and I feel like it's kind of my own little secret, almost. It’s great here. Like, if you're into music, there's music. If you're into arts and culture, it's here. If you love nature, oh my gosh, you can't beat it,” said O’Neill.

“Poughkeepsie is a complicated city, and there's a lot going on within it, and there's a lot of different people trying to make big, actionable change in Poughkeepsie,” said Bryan.

For a city that is often overlooked and sometimes met with negative stereotypes, the two feel that this area has something to offer, and they are champions of it. As Poughkeepsie business owners and Marist alumni, there is a deep sense of admiration and hope for Poughkeepsie that they want to uphold and encourage.

There exists an evident connection between Marist, Marist alumni and the greater Poughkeepsie area, and individuals like Erin and JB are quintessential examples of this. Through their businesses, the two serve and give back to the area of their alma mater with the gift of camaraderie and community.