Prior to joining Florida International University, Mr. Birrittella was on the faculty of the Marketing Department at Berkeley College in New Jersey. He also taught courses at the International Fine Arts College in Miami. In 1995, Mr. Birrittella founded Zacko Sports, Inc., a bicycle helmet manufacturer. After two years, he negotiated the sale and merger of Zacko Sports, Inc. to PTI Sports, Inc., the second largest manufacturer of bicycle accessories in the United States. Mr. Birrittella continued working with PTI Sports, Inc. as a marketing consultant until 2000. He is the main retail Professor for the Retail Certificate Program, as well as the faculty advisor for the FIU student chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA). At the AMA’s 2011 & 2006 International Collegiate Conference in Orlando, the AMA@FIU chapter received the Top Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award, which ranks the chapter first in the United States. Currently, the AMA@FIU chapter ranks # 1 (and in the Top 10 (a position held for the past 10 years.) Mr. Birrittella is currently a consultant and former Senior VP, Marketing, of Baby Abuelita Productions, a toy company designed to preserve Hispanic Heritage.