Daniel Shirkey, EMBA '09. Our 3D Printing startup awarded Best Early Stage Company recently sold and delivered its first customer machine, launching us into the initial revenue stages of our budding business! [Est. Sept 2025]

On behalf of the Reading family, we share that Agnes Reading (MBA '87) recently passed away. We would like to share a note from her daughter:

Caroline Reading wanted to share with the MBA Class of 1987 that her mother, Agnes Reading, has passed away. Friends and family are invited to witness Agnes' internment at Forest Lawn in Ann Arbor, Saturday, September 20th, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. All are then invited to join Agnes' celebration of life at The Graduate in downtown Ann Arbor, MI, Saturday, September 20th, 2025 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Please see the link to her obituary here- https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/annarbor/name/agnes-reading-obituary?id=59374180.

The Michigan Ross community keeps Ms. Reading, her family, and friends in our thoughts. 

After struggling with too many venture ideas after leaving Blue Origin, George Weinmann, MBA '04, recently decided to create his own venture studio to pursue them all. AstroWorks Ventures is based in George's hometown of New Orleans and is focused on aviation and space with a few other points of interest. New Orleans and the Gulf Coast has a much stronger aerospace heritage than most realize as the Saturn V booster, Space Shuttle Main Tank, and the Artemis Space Launch System were all largely built right her on the bayou (with most major American rocket engines tested next door in Stennis, Mississippi). With the local venture community having a bit of renaissance, George is excited to be building new global businesses from his office in the heart of New Orleans. George continues to travel frequently to Asia and spends about 120 days a year on the road. Photo caption: George and wife Beibei on a visit to Parliament at Westminster.

Robert S. Bick BBA '83; a shareholder with Birmingham-based full-service business law firm Williams Williams Rattner & Plunkett (WWRP), has been named to the Crain’s Detroit Business 2025 list of Notable Leaders in Mergers & Acquisitions. The list recognizes dealmakers in the region actively involved in planning and executing successful mergers and acquisitions. Bick’s profile, along with other Notable honorees, is included in the August 11, 2025, issue. As co-chair of WWRP’s Corporate Practice Group, Bick has closed more than $3 billion in M&A transactions, including $200 million since 2022, and more than 150 transactions for private equity firms. Historical highlights include serving as M&A counsel to Compuware in numerous domestic and international transactions and as legal counsel to Compuware’s C-Suite executives during its sale to BMC Software in a $2 billion transaction. Bick also served as co-counsel to the owners of the Detroit Pistons in connection with the team’s sale to Platinum Equity in 2011. Bick’s practice focuses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and business transactions. [Aug 2025]

Trevor Laupmanis AB '95, MBA '03; Appointed as president of studios for game design and development firm Stardock Entertainment. In this role, Trevor will oversee development pipelines, lead product expansion initiatives. [Aug 2025]

Patrick Armstrong, BBA '08; Promoted to partner in the Asset & Wealth Management division of Goldman Sachs in January 2025. [AAUM class notes, summer 2025 publication]

Allison Winstel; MBA/MPP '22; The Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) — the region's premier civic leadership development program, delivering the knowledge and network to lead bold, transformative change — recently announced its 2026 Class of Signature Fellows. Included among this group of 45 local distinguished leaders including Allison Winstel, an alumna of the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business, and the Ford School of Public Policy.

Robert Sandleman; MBA '67; Since retiring from my market research business, which I founded in 1988, I have been busy innovating new products and puzzles. I've created several unique electronic timepieces, including the Crossword Clock and Crossword Calendar. I also have invented two web-based game apps (Scramble and Fragments) and published five puzzle books (Fragments, Sequence, MathMix, Quotables, Tangles, and Brain Gym). For more information, visit: www.innohvations.comSince retiring from my market research business, which I founded in 1988, I have been focused on innovating new products and puzzles. I have created several unique electronic timepieces, including the Crossword Clock and the Crossword Calendar. I have also invented two web-based game apps, Scramble and Fragments, and published five puzzle books: Fragments, Sequence, MathMix, Quotables, Tangles, and Brain Gym. For more information, visit: www.innohvations.com   [EST: 07.2025]

Dana F Andrews, MBA '06 was named President of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, a $60 Million Dollar foundation supporting philanthropy in Northern Michigan.

Beat M. Geissler; MBA '95: Funeral Announcement: Passed away on April 8, 2025 Suddenly and far too early, you were taken from this life by a tragic accident. You were always positive, inspiring, generous, and full of warmth. Your smile, your humor, and your wonderful spirit enriched all of our lives. You leave behind a void that no one can fill – but also countless memories that will last forever. In great shock and endless gratitude, we keep you in our hearts. With love, Monica with Julian, Tristan, Francis, family, and friends. Mourning address: Monica Geissler, Beerenstrasse 66, 14163 Berlin In lieu of flowers and wreaths, we request a donation in Beat's memory to support the education of Julian, Tristan, and Francis. Donation account: Monica Geissler, IBAN: CH18 0070 0114 9033 7007 5 - ZKB Note: Boys' Education.

Donald Fried’s Michigan MBA launched him into CBS Records and Avon, part of the Nifty 50, but he found his true métier buying and managing real estate. During the years he bought brownstones in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, it was gritty and decayed. His timing was perfect. Park Slope gentrified soon after his purchases, and subsequently became one of the most desirable neighborhoods in New York City. That, and Don’s prudent management of his properties, sealed his success. Even so, he was probably one of the most humane landlords in New York City. During the pandemic, when jobs and commerce disappeared, Don’s residential and commercial tenants couldn’t pay the rent. He decided not to charge them for months, then negotiated reduced rents so his tenants would survive. They did. In his personal life, Don avidly consumed high-quality news and commentary, relishing well informed, respectful debates with people of all views. “If everybody agreed on everything, it wouldn’t be interesting,” he often said. Don watched every Michigan football game on TV. He always protected himself from cold and sun by wearing his blue and maize Michigan cap.

Harry Clay McCreary, BBA ’50, passed away on April 25, 2025, at age 98. He served in the US Army’s 88th Division in Italy and was a snare drummer in the Michigan concert and marching bands under William D. Revelli. He embraced the “Revelli Attitude” of continuous improvement, often sharing that he played snare drum in the 1948 Rose Bowl. In Indiana, PA, he worked in his family’s tire business, leading the development of specialty product lines that continue to thrive. He was pivotal in establishing uniform standards for tire load capacity and tread wear. McCreary was also known for his humorous industry-related poems and songs, such as "Mary had a little tire, it failed her one day; her tire dealer’s still around, but Mary’s far away…". An accomplished aviator, he held various pilot ratings and logged over 3,000 flying hours. He taught pilot training ground school to ROTC cadets, served on the local Airport Advisory Commission, and held executive roles with the National Business Aircraft Association. His wife and family miss him deeply.

Ari Siegel (BBA '08); founder of History By Mail, a subscription service that delivers replica historical documents to subscribers, recently appeared on Shark Tank (Season 16, Episode 15) and landed a $250,000 investment from Daniel Lubetzky and Barbara Corcoran! Ari quotes "Ross played a key role in shaping my entrepreneurial mindset, and I’d love to share this milestone with the alumni community. Thanks for all you do to keep us connected!"