At Father Gabriel Richard High School, our mission extends far beyond the classroom—we strive to form students who live out their faith and values in all areas of life. In this alumni spotlight, we’re proud to feature a graduate whose journey reflects the enduring impact of an FGR education. From forming lifelong friendships and deepening his Catholic faith, to co-founding a hospitality business and building a career in financial advising, Vincent Pucillo ’18 exemplifies what it means to carry the FGR spirit into the world. His story is a testament to the lasting influence of our Christ-centered community.
As an alum of FGR, what do you remember or value most about your high school experience at FGR?
What I value most about FGR is the people and the Christ-centered curriculum. I am still very close with the same friends I had at FGR, had great teachers, and also met my wife (Pooja, ‘18) there as well. Along with this, FGR really helped to solidify my Catholic faith and prepare me for college and beyond. I can recall experiences at FGR that helped me on my walk with Christ in the present, such as the retreats as well as frequent opportunities for Mass and the sacraments.
After FGR, you attended MSU and earned a degree in Marketing, Financial Planning and Services. What courses of study and extra-curricular activities did you pursue at that institution and how did you decide to follow that academic path?
Around the time I was a sophomore at FGR, I got really into personal finance. This turned into me learning more and more about it until my senior year, when I took a course at FGR that is now the Personal Finance class. This helped me to learn real world applications about saving, spending, debt management, etc. At Michigan State, to further pursue a career related to this, I took Advanced Financial Planning, Tax and Estate Planning, and Insurance and Risk Management (courses part of MSU’s Financial Planning minor). I apply these courses to my full time job currently in financial advising.
I was also the president of the MSU Wealth Management Association, a student group helping MSU students interested in financial planning to learn more about a career in the field. Through that experience, I was able to connect and learn with several employers. We even had a podcast focused on interviewing people in the wealth management / financial planning field, which was a unique way for people to get a closer look at the profession.
You’re now the Co-Founder and Director of Operations at 405 Hospitality Group. How did that company come about? What are your goals for 405 Hospitality Group and what are some of the most rewarding things about starting this company?
Our company’s roots started at Michigan State when me and my now business partners would get together with our friends, make great food and cocktails, and spend quality time together. This was in apartment number 405, and the rest is history. Our goal is to provide people with a 5-star restaurant experience in the comfort of their own home and provide our services to people around the Metro-Detroit area.
Along with 405 Hospitality, which I do part-time, I also work full-time in financial advising, so balancing both roles and helping to run 405 can definitely become challenging at times. However, when we (my business partners and I) are planning the events, putting together menus, and then see the positive reactions and compliments received from guests that try our food and experience our service, all that hard work really pays off. To participate in hospitality is truly something special.
Are there any FGR classes or extra-curriculars that taught you lessons that you draw on in your current work? Or any teachers and coaches who helped shape your path?
Absolutely. I took a class my senior year called College Math Prep, which incorporated personal finance as part of that curriculum. That class really helped to reinforce my career path to financial planning and the courses I would take in college. I also fondly remember classes I took with Deacon Dave Lawrence. When he started his theology class, we would always start with a prayer that incorporated the phrase:
“Lord, let this day be about You and not about me”
I think about that every day, and I am so grateful I had Deacon’s guidance to help shift my perspective and attitude toward the Lord.
Along with this, another experience I constantly reflect on was running cross-country. Not only did I meet some of my best friends through it, but my coach John Urbanic and my teammates really helped to get me out of my comfort zone and push myself to a limit I didn’t think I could reach, both physically and mentally. I constantly think about this because when there are days when I am not feeling 100%, I think about the times in cross country when it was really hard and I wanted to quit, but I kept going, and it paid off.
Tell us a bit about yourself today. What sort of personal interests do you have? Tell us a bit about yourself, your hobbies, interests, family, faith, etc.
I am originally from the Ann Arbor area and have 3 siblings who also went to FGR (Sophia ‘19, Dominic ‘21, Anthony ‘23), and my mom is also a teacher there (shout out to Mama P)! My wife Pooja and I have been married for almost 1 year now (we started dating our junior year at FGR) and live near Toledo, OH. Pooja is attending Physician Assistant school at University of Toledo and I work at Foguth Financial Group, a financial planning firm based in Brighton, MI but I work in the Maumee, OH office. We are also parishioners at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maumee. We enjoy cooking, trying out new food / restaurant destinations, and traveling.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
If you can take anything from this interview, it is that FGR has blessed me abundantly, from the education I received, the teachers I learned from, and the friends I met and still have to this day. But most importantly, it instills in its students the Catholic faith that is necessary for eternal life, and that is where FGR excels.