Graduated in 2014 from Boston Conservatory with a degree in Vocal Performance. Tyler went straight from there to earn a Masters in Opera Singing, also from BoCo, which he received in 2016.
Position: Manager of Planning and Partnerships a William H. Kopke Jr. Inc., a.k.a. Kopke, a major importer of fresh fruit and 4th generation family business. Tyler wears many hats in this administrative/managerial position. He writes and helps negotiate contracts with retailers and then makes sure that those contracts can be fulfilled. Tyler also works on branding initiatives and making sure the company’s workflow is going smoothly.
Overview: Tyler grew up a navy brat, constantly moving. As he was finishing his education he realized that he didn’t want a touring lifestyle and wasn’t certain what he wanted to do, so he took a break and moved home to Minnesota. Tyler spoke with financially successful people about what how they got there, and they suggested he learn sales-related skills. He got a job selling door-to-door in the winter. But his fiancee was soon moving to New York for graduate school; her father worked in the fruit industry and suggested Tyler speak with Kopke, which is based in New York. Although her father put in the word, Tyler didn’t get an interview. However, after reaching out several times and finding his now-boss’s phone number, Tyler was given an interview.
In a bit of luck, the president of Kopke was a major supporter of the Metropolitan Opera, and the first half hour of the interview was them chatting about opera! Tyler was hired as an executive assistant, but worked extremely hard to prove himself and take on more responsibility, and over the years his position and areas of responsibility have grown substantially.
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You can see Tyler’s LinkedIn profile here.
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Choice Quotes: “I love the relationships we get to build. We’ve worked with some growers for generations! Some buyers will send me photos of kids, or we’ll grab drinks after a day at a convention. The produce industry is very personally driven. We’re making a lot of logistical investments and are expanding and it’s exciting to be part of that. It’s also fun to go a grocery story and see a label on a shelf that I helped make.”
“The produce industry is a heavy workload–we work with perishable product. For example, Walmart is closed one day per year. If a truck with grapes can’t deliver on a Friday, I can’t wait until Monday.”
“The ability to creatively problem-solve, think outside the box, good communication skills. It’s all played into my role here and I learned it all in my performing career. A lot of those intangible skills are something people can really lean into, and are very valued by companies.”
‘The best advice I got was the year after I graduated. “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or have to do. What is it you want to do that’ll let you sleep soundly at night.’ I really wanted/needed stability and community. If you don’t know what you want, take some time and do some genuine self-reflecting. It takes a certain type to be happy on the road; if that’s not making you happy, don’t waste your time. Life is too short.”
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See the full index of successful Berklee/BoCo alumni.