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The work of Michigan Ross faculty influences the world’s largest companies and global economies. Every day we’re creating real-world solutions for the most pressing challenges in our world.
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Discover more about the history, people, milestones, and contributions that have shaped Michigan Ross.
Priyanka Komala, MBA ’13, was featured in Toastmasters International Worldwide magazine in the September 2016 issue, sharing her insights on leadership. She also spoke at the World of Women festival, which celebrates women as a force for positive change, in Baltimore in October 2016. In addition, she is a finalist for the Women In Technology 18th Annual Leadership Awards in the “Rising Star” category. WIT is the premier organization supporting professional women in the Washington, D.C. tech industry. Priyanka works for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, where she directs technology strategy and development.
Peter Henrich, MBA ’12, married Dianna Di lorio on Sept. 5, 2015 in Amelia Island, Fla. Photographed are: (First row) Carol Danoff (formerly Carol Lu), MBA '12; Peter Henrich; Lauren Shaughnessy (formerly Lauren Foukes), BBA '06/MBA '12; Kristen Schultz, MBA/MPP '13; Rytas Vygantas, MBA '12; David Bierman, MBA '12. (Second row) Mary Smendzuik, MBA '12; Martin Vogel, MAcc '10; Sid Malhotra, AB '00; Nick Danoff, MBA '12; Ira Shaughnessy, MBA/MS ’13; Stan Garstka III, MBA '12; Jenny Gerow.
Afua Bruce, MBA ’11, is a finalist for the Women In Technology 18th Annual Leadership Awards. WIT is the premier organization supporting professional women in the Washington, D.C. tech industry. Afua serves as the Executive Director of the National Science and Technology Council at the White House, a cabinet-level group chaired by the president. She is nominated for leadership excellence in government.
Forbes recognized Leore Avidar, BBA ’11, and Harry Zhang, AB/BBA ’11, for their work co-founding lob.com, a suite of web services that help organizations manage and send large volumes of physical mail as easily as email. Their company has grown to nearly 30 employees and attracted $29 million in funding. The company exceeded $9 million in revenue last year with a client list that includes Amazon, Square, and Microsoft.
After six years working as a marketer for PepsiCo in NYC and LA, Marisa Meddin, BBA ’10, has moved into true entrepreneurship. She has revived a family bakery named The Dessert Place in Atlanta as an e-commerce platform to reach a national audience. More info: www.thedessertplace.com.
Justin Felt, Erb Institute MS/MBA ’08; Michael Elchinger, Erb Institute MS/MBA ’12; and Bryan Thomas, MBA ’93; are on-site consultants helping the U.S. Army's Office of Energy Initiatives reach its goal of developing one gigawatt of renewable energy projects. OEI serves as the central management office for partnering with U.S. Army installations to implement cost-effective, large-scale renewable energy projects, 10 megawatts or greater, leveraging private sector financing. Standing L to R are Michael, Bryan, and Justin. Michael is employed by the National Renewable Lab, Bryan is with Jones Lang LaSalle, and Justin is with Value Recovery Holding. The three are involved with project due diligence, financial analysis, real estate coordination, and project management.
Ralph Allen Jr., MBA ’09, is celebrating 30 years in financial services, including founding and selling several financial services companies. His company HawkPeak Ventures has several active businesses and entrepreneurial ventures. These include commercial real estate (RnL Holdings/Lakeside Traffic), a Brewpub (Grand Haven Brew House), a microbrewery (HawkPeak Brewing Company), a financial intermediary company (HawkPeak Distributors), another brewery in planning, an investment and trading operation (HawkPeak Wealth Management), a consulting practice (HawkPeak Consulting), financial advisory (HawkPeak Financial), and others.
Christina R. De Simone, BBA ’09, has enjoyed a successful mentorship with Courtney M. Munley, BBA ’17, which resulted in Courtney landing a full-time offer after her internship at Amgen. The two were paired up as mentor/mentee via the Michigan Business Women Club. Courtney negotiated to defer the offer for one year so that she is still eligible to run track (for which she has earned scholarship money) and also earn her MAcc.
Joseph Liu, MBA ’07, of London, United Kingdom, has launched the Career Relaunch podcast, featuring career insights and interviews with professionals who have made brave career changes. Hear the latest episodes at CareerRelaunch.net.
Simon Bogdanowicz, BBA ’07, co-founded LaunchTeam (www.mylaunchteam.com), a marketing platform for authors. His business partner is Jesse Tevelow, a U-M alum and two-time bestseller. LaunchTeam guides writers through the book writing, publishing, and marketing process with its in-house technology and network of partners.
Salvatore J. Pacella, MD, MBA ’05, is the division head of plastic surgery at Scripps Health in San Diego and La Jolla, Calif. He co-authored a textbook on cosmetic advances in the surgical treatment of facial skin cancer. The book expands upon the most common method of treating skin cancer on the face, known as Mohs surgery. The text takes a new turn for medical textbooks: Pacella concentrates on reinforcing strategies for providing an exceptional patient/customer experience during what can often be a very traumatic experience for skin cancer patients. More information can be found at www.drpacella.com.
Jaime Schneider, BBA ’03, and Aaron Harris, MBA/MS ’06, were married on Oct. 15, 2016 in North Brunswick, N.J. They are joined in the photo by: Alyse Beekman, BA ’03; Larry Johnson, BA ’03; Will Grossett, BSE ’07; Melissa Kasoff, BA ’04; Aaron Weiss, BA ’01; Lori Cannava, BS ’04; John Horn, MBA ’04; and Joseph Liu, MBA ’07.