By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart
When Eric Grode (ET’ 26) was a little boy, his favorite pastime was to sit beside his dad, take electronics apart, figure out how they worked, and put them back together again. Grode parlayed the teachings of his technologically minded father into a nearly two-decade career in the car audio electronics industry. But when he noticed a decline in demand for custom sound systems, the husband and father knew that it was time to retool for a new career at his community’s college.
While many working parents find the idea of pursuing a college degree in the thick of life too overwhelming, Grode didn’t hesitate. Why? Because he watched his father do just that, when he came to SUNY Broome as an adult learner more than 20 years ago. The only difference between the father-son duo’s return to the classroom is that Grode’s enrollment unexpectedly coincided with SUNY Reconnect, making his Electrical Technology degree not just transformative, but tuition-free!
Grode spent his formative years in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, sandwiched between two sisters as the family’s middle child. The descendant of a long line of mechanically-savvy “do it yourself-ers,” Grode loved when his father would bring home broken answering machines, CD players, and televisions to troubleshoot together.
“The foundation of everything that I know is because of my dad,” Grode reflected. “I was always invited to watch, ask questions, and help out where I could. My grandpa and dad had a knack for turning every moment together into an interesting learning experience.”
The new Vestal transplant briefly considered pursuing an electrical engineering degree, but teenage priorities and a lack of direction ultimately won out. Instead, he got a job at Circuit City in the height of the car audio electronics era and rose through the ranks. Homesick for Oklahoma, Grode transferred to a Tulsa branch of the retail chain before ultimately venturing out on his own as the sole proprietor of a custom car electronics business.
Though his return to Oklahoma proved to be successful professionally, personally, his heart was still in the Southern Tier with “the one that got away,” Alana. In their seven years apart, they both married and divorced, leaving Alana a single mother to her then 4-year-old son from her first marriage. The couple rekindled their romance and dated long-distance before marrying. Understanding that Alana’s life was tied to Broome County, Grode spent the first year of their marriage officially closing his business in Tulsa and arrived back in Vestal just in time for the birth of their first child.
After spending the first six months of his son’s life as a stay-at-home dad, Grode joined J & R Auto Upholstery and Accessories in Binghamton. While there, he met an overwhelmed customer who had spent countless hours and thousands of dollars in an attempt to fix his son’s Jeep. Grode simply asked for a couple of hours. Within that time, he diagnosed the issue, addressed the necessary repairs, and documented his process to assist the customer with his insurance claim. Impressed with Grode’s technical aptitude and professionalism, the customer casually mentioned that he worked for BAE Systems and encouraged him to stay in touch.
Shortly after this interaction, Grode received a call from a staffing agency specializing in engineering and technical positions. Whether it was sheer coincidence or an act of thoughtful intervention from his customer, he didn’t know, but he took it as a sign to explore new options.
Eric Grode (ET’ 26) balanced full-time employment, family life, and a full courseload as a SUNY Reconnect student. (Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers)
Grode was first hired as a contracted Test Equipment Technician at BAE Systems. Within days of starting his new role, he was deeply inspired by the engineers assigned to his team. Equally impressed by their diligence, breadth of knowledge, and genuine pride in their work, Grode realized that he wanted to be just like them. With that, he came to Alana and the boys to map out a two-year plan.
“My dad and I have had very similar career trajectories,” Grode explained. “For both of us, there came a time due to advancements in technology that we both needed to pursue an education to transition from repairers and technicians, to designers and engineers. Even though we were students decades apart, coming to SUNY Broome was the logical choice for both of us. It was affordable, close to home, and manageable with our jobs.”
Grode arrived at SUNY Broome in 2024 and got his feet wet with Applied Algebra and Trigonometry. When that went well, he officially met with Maureen Breck, Coordinator for Student Success and Enrollment, to create an academic plan designed to accommodate full-time employment and family-life balance.
Thanks to the flexibility of his work schedule at BAE, and tremendous support on the home front, Grode was able to plow through courses in DC & AC Circuits, Energy Conversions & Automation, and Electronic Communications Systems. But even with a full team of on- and off-campus support, the weight of being a working student parent occasionally proved harder than expected.
“I was excruciating to hear my boys say, ‘Dad’s always busy,’” Grode admitted. “I’m a very level-headed person, but I can think of at least three times where I was on the verge of tears, thinking that there was no way I could manage it all. But through a lot of late nights and the occasional all-nighters, I was able to plow through the past two years, with Alana’s support. I don’t know how, but somehow I even managed to wiggle in time to coach the boys’ Odyssey of the Mind team. Adult learners just make it work.”
After self-funding the first year of his degree, an email popped up in Grode’s inbox announcing his eligibility for the SUNY Reconnect. Intrigued, but cautious of a catch, he reached out to a familiar face on campus, Breck, who had recently transitioned to support the SUNY Reconnect initiative. Thanks to her guidance, not only did she explain the ins and outs of SUNY Reconnect, which covered Grode’s tuition, books, and fees, but she also encouraged him to explore the College’s Credit for Prior Learning program, which allowed him to earn credits for three electrical technology laboratories based on his previous professional experiences.
“Participating in SUNY Reconnect was the easiest part of my academic journey. It couldn’t have come at a better time,” Grode beamed. “I encouraged a friend at work to take advantage of Reconnect, and he’s already enrolled in the Engineering Science program.”
As the Grode family counted down the days to graduation, the positives kept piling up. Grode was promoted to Lead Testing Technician at BAE Systems, and the family moved into their dream home. Graduating from SUNY Broome was the icing on the cake. While life will be a little quieter this summer, Grode is already enrolled to continue toward his bachelor’s in electrical engineering technology.
“Above all else, I hope that my time as a college student rubs off on our boys. I waited 20 years to go to college. I hope they go right away!”
Are you a New York resident between the ages of 25 – 55 with some or no college credits? The SUNY Reconnect program offers you the opportunity to earn a FREE associate degree in high-demand programs like Electrical Technology: A.A.S! Click the link to learn more about SUNY Reconnect at SUNY Broome! SUNY Reconnect at SUNY Broome | SUNY Broome
Earning a degree takes a village! (Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers)
Tags: Electrical Engineering Technology AAS, Reconnect, STEM Division, SUNY Reconnect
