Alumnus Used St. John’s Degree to Create a Premier Spice Warehousing Firm

“I started working with my dad when I was 16, and  still in high school at St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, NY,” recalled the younger Collette, who  assisted with deliveries and the warehousing side of the business. “I also worked there through college. I applied all the knowledge I gained from the Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting  at St. John’s and applied it directly to our family business. My father was more than happy to let me do that.”

Mr. Collette plans to honor St. John’s University for  its role in his success in laying the foundation of a full and meaningful life. To that end, he is establishing the Collette Family Scholarship Fund, which will benefit students in financial need who attend The Peter J. Tobin College of Business.

“I am the product of a very modest upbringing, and I always remember that,” said Mr. Collette. “The opportunity presented itself for me to give back to St. John’s for propelling me to where I am now. I often think about how essential it is to give back to others who are less fortunate because I remember being in that same position when I was a young man.”

Today, Mr. Collette of, Colts Neck, NJ, is the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, providing transportation and warehouse distribution services to the food and spice community. Currently headquartered in Edison, NJ, Glendale Warehouse and Distribution cornered the spice market while claiming a spot as the largest single spice facility in the country. The business warehouses spices from around the globe and, under Mr. Collette’s leadership, grew to include three state-of-the-art storage facilities, all located in New Jersey.

“We are in a unique segment of the warehousing industry,” Mr. Collette said. “Handling spices has its challenges because the fragrances of the spices are so strong that you can’t mix them with other items or with some other food products. Can you imagine having black pepper stored right next to clothing? Spices are niche items that very few people handle in the US, as well as throughout the world.”

Mr. Collette credits his education  at St. John’s with thoroughly preparing him to successfully build his family’s company, which the father of five now runs with his three grown sons, James, Michael, and Matthew Collette. “The degree I earned from St. John’s is invaluable,” he said. “In life, whether you go into business or are just managing your finances, it is essential to understand the basic principles of finance and accounting. St. John’s did a magnificent job of giving me a solid base in these areas.”  

He has fond memories of his days as an undergraduate student at St. John’s, commuting daily to the Queens campus to attend classes at the College of Business Administration, currently named The Peter J. Tobin College of Business.

“In addition to the superb education, the environment at St. John’s is perfect,” Mr. Collette said. “There is this mix of students who commute daily and those living on campus. The campus is beautifully maintained. I always remember those days as among the best periods of my life—great people and faculty, and the student body was always amazing.”