Fordham Prep Alum Helps ower New York City’s Biggest Races

Joe Altenau ’04 is a model Fordham Prep graduate. Not only has he continued to support the Prep and broader New York City community through his role as Head of Event Production at New York Road Runners (NYRR), but he has also remained closely connected to his alma mater in ways both big and small.

Altenau has been a consistent presence on Fordham Prep’s Summer Service Immersion trips to Tennessee, providing support and guidance to students as they work with Appalachia Habitat for Humanity. He also served as the 2024 Senior Class Breakfast speaker. Held annually at the New York Botanical Garden, the Senior Class Breakfast offers graduating seniors an opportunity to connect with and learn from fellow Fordham Prep alumni.

As a Prep student, Altenau spent much of his time running cross country and track and field, while also working in the school’s Dramatics Department. His interests in both running and theater continued into college. Altenau attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he majored in theater and took numerous sport and event management classes. One of those classes provided an opportunity to work with NBC during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy (coincidentally, another Fordham Prep graduate, Sean Gregory ’94, is currently in Italy writing on the 2026 Olympic Games)—an experience Altenau credits with opening his eyes to the sports and event management world. His involvement in athletics continued as well, as he ran for GW’s cross country team.

“I also worked at the athletic center at GW as part of a requirement to fundraise for the cross country team. That's where I really got hooked on the arena business at a small level,” Altenau said.

After graduating from GW, Altenau returned to NBC for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. That experience led directly to a job offer from the Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils.

The Olympics were not Altenau’s only experience with high-profile events. “I worked this past Super Bowl in New Orleans, we hosted Super Bowl Media Day at Prudential Center, and we hosted two MTV VMAs,” he said. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work on some of the world's largest events, including the TCS New York City Marathon.”

After nearly 15 years at the Prudential Center, Alteanu seized an opportunity to join the New York Road Runners. A lifelong runner, he describes the move as “the perfect time to shift careers a little bit and go to something that I'm truly passionate about.”

NYRR, Alteanu explains, is a nonprofit organization responsible for running in New York City. While many people associate NYRR primarily with the TCS New York City Marathon, the organization’s impact extends far beyond a single race. “We have about 40 races throughout the year that encourage people to get out and continue exercising,” he said. “In addition, we offer a ton of free programming – open runs across all five boroughs almost every night – so people can stay motivated throughout the year and experience the physical and mental health benefits of running.”

NYRR’s programming also reaches across age groups and communities.

“We have incredible partnerships with the Department of Education and offer free Rising New York Road Runners programs for kids aged 2 to 18,” Altenau said. “It’s all about helping young people stay healthy and hopefully develop a lifelong relationship with running by coming out and running their own races, or running portions of our races.”

Ensuring that running and road racing are accessible and equitable for all is a mission Altenau finds deeply personal.

“I ran at the Prep, I ran in college and I ran the TCS New York City Marathon in 2018 and 2019,” he said. “Coming to the organization that's responsible for it feels like a homecoming.”

As Head of Event Production, Alteanu’s day-to-day work focuses on logistics and operations. 

“My team handles everything you see at the start and finish of a race: tents, generators, cones, porta-potties and coordination with agency partners like NYPD, FDNY, DOT, CECM and others,” he explained. “All of it comes together to make these events possible.”

Looking back, Altenau credits both Fordham Prep and his grandfather for sparking his interest in event management.

“My grandfather was an event manager at his alma mater, Queens College,” he said. “The very first event I worked on was with him while I was still a Prep student. That experience really jump-started my interest.”

From then, Alteanu knew he wanted to build a career in the event world, drawing on theater, event operations and athletics to shape the role he holds today.

He credits Fordham Prep with giving him the foundation to pursue multiple passions.

“I credit where I am now with where it all started,” Altenau said. “The teachers and coaches at the Prep encouraged me to pursue multiple passions. Coach Febles allowed me to work in the theater department and balance very challenging schedules, which ultimately helped me earn a college scholarship and set me up for future success.”

Altenau points to the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis — care for the whole person — as a defining influence. Prep teachers, coaches and administrators encourage students to explore and pursue multiple interests. “I didn’t fully realize it at the time,” he said, but the focus on educating the mind, body and soul was incredibly important. Now working at a nonprofit, I take those values with me and try to apply them every day.”