Rob Rivera was a U.S. Army infantry soldier in 2009 when he suffered a spinal injury while practicing tactical maneuvers at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. He was forced to retire early and reconsider his career plans.

By then, Rivera had spent 12 years with the military and 10 as an emergency medical technician just outside of New York City—he was among the Ground Zero responders on 9/11. He had also spent a year as a newspaper production manager and, for a time, ran a small recording studio that among other things, helped a historical group digitize original recordings of Thomas Edison.

“After the injury, I decided to go back to school and pursue my own business,” he says. “It was a matter of necessity. I needed to pay my bills and have a roof over my head.”

Fast-forward to the present: Rivera has earned two master’s degrees from Syracuse University—including an executive master’s in international relations from the Maxwell School—and he is the owner of 123 Imaging, a photography and videography business just a few miles from campus.

The business may seem an unusual fit given his background, but photography was always intertwined in his life. His dad, Jesse Rivera, was an avid “hobbyist” with a special interest in taking pictures, says Rivera, who grew up in New Jersey. Early in his military career, he served as a geospatial intelligence imagery analyst; he found an affinity for details and perspective while analyzing satellite images. After the injury, he connected with two professional photographers who offered mentorship and opportunities that laid the groundwork for his company.

“They were integral in shaping my understanding of imagery, as well as the value of authenticity behind each shot,” Rivera says of Mark Chaird and Lourenso Ramautar. “They instilled the idea of telling an entire story in a fraction of a second that can then be preserved and retold for years to come."

Rivera says the University provided valuable skills and instruction that helped him pivot to a career as an entrepreneur. For instance, he points to lessons on conflict resolution offered by Peg Hermann, professor emerita of political science at Maxwell.

“The techniques she showed me are utilized every single time I’m working with a client,” he says referring to Hermann, who retired in 2023. “The fundamental principles of conflict resolution are transferable across disciplines. When people choose my business, they’re not just looking at our deliverables, they’re looking at how we solve problems.”

Rivera’s E.M.I.R. degree was awarded in 2019, one year after he received a master’s degree in public relations from the Newhouse School of Public Communications. He also received certificates of advanced study from Maxwell and the Institute for Security Policy and Law, a collaboration between Maxwell and the College of Law.

While at Syracuse University, he received support and mentorship through the University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). He completed its Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans in 2022 and is currently enrolled in its Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship program.

"Support from Syracuse University came from many directions,” he says.

In addition to Hermann, Rivera credits F. William Smullen, former director of the National Security Studies program, and Vice Admiral Robert Murrett (U.S. Navy, retired), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, for their expert instruction and counsel. At the IVMF, he has appreciated the caring support from staff like Melissa Bird, associate director of entrepreneurship strategic partnerships and programs, and Lexie Jones, coordinator of the Breaking Barriers program.

 

In addition to his business, Rivera is the external relations lead for the Central and Northern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross. He was deployed to California for two weeks this past January to respond to the Los Angeles area wildfires. He created public service messages, produced two micro-documentary stories and met with hundreds of displaced residents.

“These survivors are some of the bravest people I know,” he says, adding, “It's critical that we remember to care for those in need, to provide compassion for strangers in challenging situations, and to actively seek out each other’s commonalities. There is no greater joy in this life than serving others.”

By Jessica Youngman