David Orfinik, '90 and Lori Orfinik, '90
It was in the driveway of his home that David Orfinik met his best friend and future wife, Lori Lombardo Orfinik. You could say that it was love at first sight. Lori says, “I conducted a door-to-door survey and David’s home was my first solo stop. He asked me out that night.”
David and Lori Orfinik with their daughter, Lauren
David and Lori Orfinik are 1990 graduates of University of South Carolina Upstate. David earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing, while at the same time Lori earned her bachelors’ degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting.
The Orfiniks were your typical college students. Lori was an active member of the accounting club, while David spent a majority of his time studying, developing marketing programs, and working around the clock to make extra money. But it was the memories they made with each other that will last them forever.
Of their years at USC Upstate, David remembers, “riding back and forth to school and just being able to share our daily experiences. We talked about professors, life, and where we were going for lunch. Usually we went to Taco Bell, because it was cheap.”
After graduating from Upstate, David and Lori found prominent jobs in their respective fields. Lori spent 11-plus years as an accountant for law firms in Orlando, Milwaukee, and Charlotte and later for small entrepreneurial businesses in Charlotte, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. David worked in the electrical and power-tool field as a sales and marketing leader.
Today, the Orfiniks are pleased with their accomplishments and their lives. David is currently employed as the executive vice president of Technibilt, a manufacturer of shopping carts and shelving equipment in Newton, NC. Lori's current title is “mom,” working "for" her eight-year-old daughter, Lauren.
Of all of their accomplishments Lori says the most significant is “a solid marriage of almost 20 years resulting in a wonderful and confident little girl.” David says his are, “developing people, specifically an individual who is now a vice president for another company, staying married to a wonderful lady for almost 20 years, and creating the best daughter in the world.”
The Orfiniks advice to students is to not be afraid, and to step up and out of your comfort zone. They want students to remember that the courses they are taking now will have an impact at some point during their careers.
Alumni Spotlights
The Alumni Relations Office, with input from other campus offices and alumni, highlights outstanding graduates throughout the year to let others know of their accomplishments. If you are interested in being highlighted, contact Leah Anderson, director of alumni relations, annual giving, and university events, at (864) 503-5240 or landerson2@uscupstate.edu.