Rob Yunich

Class of 1998, Manager of Communications at the USA Rice Federation

Rob Yunich knows a lot about rice. As Manager of Communications at the USA Rice Federation, he’s responsible for creating a daily newsletter to promote US-grown rice.  Rob’s full of rice facts.  For example, did you know that the biggest user of US-grown rice is Anheuser Busch? The company has a gigantic rice farm in Arkansas and uses rice in the beer-making process.  Rob tells us that 85% of the rice consumed in the US is grown by farmers in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas, so thank them when you eat dinner tonight!

Rob’s lifelong quest is to be on Jeopardy and he tells us that he is constantly collecting information, in addition to rice facts, for when and if that opportunity ever comes.

The 1998 graduate came to Syracuse with the dream of becoming the next great sportscaster, following in the footsteps of Mike Tirico and Bob Costas.  On campus, he was involved in WAER, the Daily Orange, and Z89.  He applied for a few jobs in television after graduation, but quickly decided that the lifestyle of a sportscaster wasn’t for him.

Rob went on to work as editor of B’nai B’rith International’s bimonthly newsletter, then came back to Syracuse to write for the Central New York Business Journal, and eventually moved back to the D.C. area as Director of Communications for the National Small Business Association. 

After holding several different jobs over the last decade, Rob wants students and alumni to know that “the most important thing about working anywhere is the people you work with.” 

Rob knows how stressful the job search can be, having gone through several lay-offs himself in his career, the longest of which lasted 9 months.  Rob called it a “real lesson in networking.”  His advice for students or grads looking for work is to find activities that make you happy.  For Rob, that was blogging and writing a book with his wife.  More on those activities later!  He also wants job seekers to not lose sight of what’s important to them.  Rob says, “if you don’t like being home alone searching for a job, then don’t accept a job working from home.”  For him, it was important to leave the house every day, without spending too much money.  “What you don’t want to do,” Rob says, “is sit in front of the computer all day searching.  You’ll drive yourself crazy!”

While Rob was a broadcast journalism major, he also picked up a minor in economics.  That came at the advice of his dad, who told him to have a good background in something other than his major.  Rob’s advice to students? “Pick your minor judiciously. Don’t just pick something that’s easy to fulfill the requirements.  My economics minor worked out really well for me and has actually given me some guidance in my career path.”

In addition to his day job at the USA Rice Federation, Rob also has a blog that covers the Washington Capitals hockey team (http://www.stormingthecrease.com/) and has written a cookbook called The Kitchen Dance with his wife (http://www.thekitchendance.com/).  “When you don’t have a job,” Rob says, “you have a lot of free time on your hands to cook.”  The book got its name, Rob tells us, after the first apartment he and his wife had in the D.C. area.  They always joked that in order to have two people cooking in the VERY tiny kitchen, they had to do the kitchen dance to get around each other!

Rob and his wife Elana Milstein are now living in the D.C. area with their cat Toby – who is affectionately named after the country of Tobago.

Rob Yunich is part of Mentor@SU, a database of Syracuse University alumni who are interested in helping students learn about careers and assist in the job search process.  If you would like to connect with Rob (or another SU alum), contact SUmentor@syr.edu.