CBA Alumni Week Event Archive

The College is privileged to host our valued alumni and alumnae during our annual Alumni Week. Below you will find more information about our keynote speakers, panel participants and guest lecturers from years past.

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2023 CBA Alumni Week: Investing in the Current Environment--ESG, Crypto & Beyond

The Keynote Event of Alumni Week:

Investing in the Current Environment:

ESG, Crypto & Beyond

Mr. Duane Garth, MBA ’07

Managing Principal, Garth Financial Group
2022 CBA Alumni Week: Hiring & Promoting Interns & New Employees

The Keynote Event of Alumni Week:

Hiring & Promoting Interns & New Employees

Mr. Chris HooSang, MBA ’01

Director of Workforce Strategy, Human Resources and

Diversity & Inclusion at DTE Energy

5:30pm, Thursday, March 17, 2022
2021 CBA Alumni Week: Navigating Your Career in Times of Change
Alumni Week 2021

The Keynote Event of Alumni Week:

“Navigating Your Career in Times of Change”
- Decision-making for important career choices
- Tips for standing out in a competitive job market
- Leadership qualities necessary to succeed in a changing environment
- Taking advantage of career development opportunities
Ginny Abramson, MBA ’16

Vice President for Global Human Resources & Talent Management

Carhartt, Inc.

5:00pm, Monday, March 15, 2021

Guest Lecturers
Ginny Abramson, MBA ’16: Vice President for Global Human Resources, Carhartt, Inc.
Jeff Antaya, ’80, ’87: Chief Marketing Officer (ret), Plante Moran
Mike Arkison, MBA ’96: Chief Information Officer, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits
Mark Bealin, MBA ’84: Managing Director, UHY Advisors
Joe Berkowski, ’73, ‘75: Chief Financial Officer (ret.) Argent International
Kristina Brinich, MBA ’17: Partner Management Specialist, Amrock
Ken Carbaugh, MBA ’15: President & CEO, Liberty Capital Management
Claude Cellich, MBA ’65: Vice President, External Relations, International University, Geneva
Joanna Cooper, ’06, MBA ’09: Business Unit Manager, Demand Detroit
Devynne Davis, ’17, ’18: Buyer, Ford Motor Company
Emily Doerr, MBA ’12: Executive Director, Michigan Land Bank Authority
Mark Ellis, MBA ’90: Chief Revenue Officer, Sports Illustrated
Eric Hespenheide, ’75: Chairman, Global Reporting Initiative
Michele Hurst-Burton, ’91: Executive Director, U.S. Tennis Assn, SE Michigan
Ann Jones, ’99, ’09: Supply Chain Manager, Brasscraft Manufacturing
D. Lynn Kelley, ’88: Sr. Advisor, Brown Brothers Harriman Capital Partners
Judy Kelly, ’86: Vice President of Sales for Government & Education, IBM
Lawrence Manning, ’08, ’10: Software Development Team Leader, Amrock
Holly McCartney, ’17, ’18: Financial Advisor, Plante Moran
Jessica McGrath, ’04, ’07: Chief Admin Officer & General Counsel, The Huntington Co.
Jim Murawski, ’73, ’75: Vice President (ret.), Lear Corp.
Alexandra Nicholaides, ’83: General Counsel, U.S. Internal Revenue Service
Asia Rawls, MBA ’18: Director, Software Education & Training, Trumble Inc.
Brad Simmons, ’79,’84: Director of Community Outreach, Ford Motor Company
Michael Sulaka, ’15, Managing Attorney, Diamond Strategy Partners
Greg Zegarowski, MBA ’75: Director of Technical Accounting, SOAProjects, Inc.
2019 CBA Alumni Week: Smarter by the Minute--How Social Media and Artificial Intelligence are Transforming How We Live, Work, and Play

Smarter by the Minute:

How Social Media and Artificial Intelligence are Transforming How We Live, Work, and Play

Mr. Jason Vazzano, ‘00

Founder & CEO

Vectorform

Thursday, March 21, 2019
2018 CBA Alumni Week: Technology's Impact on the Future of the Auto Industry

The Detroit Mercy College of Business Administration Alumni Board hosted 2018 Alumni Week during March 19-24, with alumni and alumnae of the College providing guest lectures in many business classes.

Keynote Event: "Technology's Impact on the Future of the Auto Industry"

Moderator: Alumni Board President Christina Pauken, '12

Sheryl Connelly, JD/MBA '93; Futurist, Ford Motor Company

Guest Lecturers

Jeff Antaya, ’80, MBA ’87: Chief Marketing Officer, Plante Moran

Mark Bealin, MBA ’84: Managing Director, UHY Advisors

Joseph Berkowski ’73, MBA ’75: Chief Financial Officer, Argent International

Anthony Bronner, MBA ’13: Information Technology Analyst, General Motors Corp.

Sheryl Connelly, ’93: Global Trends & Futuring Manager, Ford Motor Company

Joanna Cooper, ’06, MBA ’09: Business Unit Manager for Axle Assembly, Detroit Diesel

David Grubb, ’92: Director of Accounting Policy, Plante Moran

Lenora Hardy-Foster, ’88, MBA ’96: President & CEO, Judson Center

Nancy Hazely, ’78: President & CEO, Tax Trilogy

Chris HooSang, MBA ’01: Director of Human Resources, DTE Energy

Kathrine Horan, ’97: Strategic Category Manager, DTE Energy

Mike Ilitch III, MBA ’13: Franchise Advisor, Little Caesar Enterprises

Thomas Kenny,’89, MBA ’95: Partner & Portfolio Manager, Seizert Capital Partners

Amanda Konja, ’16, Assistant Marketing Manager, Akebono Brake Corp.

Chris May, MBA ’96: Vice President & CFO, American Axle & Manufacturing

Gary MacLean, ’65: Partner, MacLean, Proppe, MacLean & Darnell, P.C.

Jessica McGrath, ’04, MBA ’07: VP & General Counsel, Certified Restoration Dry-Cleaning

Frank Migliazzo, MBA ’78: Private Wealth Advisor, Merrill Lynch

Michael Morin, ’71: President, Yaffe Group

John Naglick, ’78, MBA ’83: Finance Director & Deputy CFO, City of Detroit

David Newhouse, MBA’89: Internat’l Trade Development Mgr, Mich Econ Devel Corp.

Emily O’Brien ’15, MBA ‘16: Tax Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Anai Orozco-Hernandez, ’14, MBA ’15: Auditor, Ernst & Young

Brad Simmons, ’79, MBA ’84: Director of Stakeholder Relations, Ford Motor Company

Laura Soave, MBA ’00: Senior VP, Chief Marketing & Comm Officer, Federal Mogul

Teresa Thiele, ’96, MBA ’98: Head of Cost Mgt, Mopar Supply Chain, Fiat Chrysler

Gabrielle Thomas, MBA ’88: Chief Operating Officer, Accounting Aid Society

Jason Vazzano, ’00: Chief Executive Officer, Vectorform

Joe Walsh, ’69, MBA ’71: President, Legacy DMC

William Patrick Young, ’90: Vice President, Absopure Water Co.

Frank Zolenski, ’02, Marketing Director, Absopure Water Co.
2017 CBA Alumni Week: A Century of Commerce
The Detroit Mercy College of Business Administration Alumni Board will once again host Alumni Week during March 20-25, with alumni and alumnae of the College providing guest lectures in many business classes.

Keynote Event: Tuesday, March 21: "A Century of Commerce: Business Trends Past & Present"
- Noon - Lunch, Student Center Ballroom (Reservations required with LySandra Hill, CF 121)
- 1 p.m. - Panel Discussion, Student Center Ballroom
- 1:45 p.m. - Raffle for $50 gift cards (only current students are eligible to win)
Moderator: Alumni Board President Christina Pauken, '12

Panelists

Phyllis Peters Look, '51, Director of Professional Standards, Deloitte

Michael Porter, '82, Vice President for Corporate Communications, DTE Energy

Ann Jones, '99, '09, Global Supply Chain Manager, Masco
2016 CBA Alumni Week: Social Entrepreneurship
Lenora Hardy-Foster '88 '96

Gabriella Santiago-Romero '15

The UDM College of Business Administration Alumni Board once again hosted Alumni Week with alumni and alumnae of the College providing guest lectures in many business classes.

Keynote Event: Tuesday, March 15
- Noon - Lunch, Student Center Ballroom
- 1 p.m. - Panel Discussion and Forum on Social Entrepreneurship, Student Center Ballroom
The keynote event titled, "Social Entrepreneurship," featured two distinguished alums:
- Lenora Hardy-Foster, '88 '96, President and CEO of Judson Center
- Gabriella Santiago-Romero, '15, Founder of Livernois SOUP
2015 CBA Alumni Week - Cybersecurity: Crimes & Consequences
The UDM College of Business Administration Alumni Board is once again hosting Alumni Week with alumni and alumnae of the College providing guest lectures in many business classes.

Keynote Event: Tuesday, March 17
- Noon - Lunch, President's Dining Room
- 1 p.m. - Panel Discussion on Detroit, Student Center, Fountain Lounge
The keynote event featured a discussion on cybersecurity, titled, "Cybersecurity: Crimes & Consequences," featuring two distinguished alums:
- Meredith Phillips '94, '97 is the Chief Information Privacy & Security Officer at Henry Ford Health System, where she oversees all aspects of Henry Ford’s privacy and security operations. As part of this work, she designed and led the HFHS Privacy Program and Data Breach Response Program. An alumna of both the College of Business Administration and the College of Health Professions, Meredith also serves as Vice President of the Medical Identity Fraud Alliance Board.
- Dominic Paluzzi '04, '07, an attorney with McDonald Hopkins, advises clients regarding data privacy and cybersecurity measures, including information security programs and responses to data security breaches involving sensitive personal information. He works with federal, state and local authorities, as well as third party vendors, throughout the breach notification process, and has litigated matters involving numerous industries, including education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, automotive, accounting, finance, information technology, and others. An alumnus of both the College of Business Administration and the School of Law, Dominic is a past president of the CBA Alumni Board.
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2014 CBA Alumni Week - Detroit: Beyond Bankruptcy
The UDM College of Business Administration Alumni Board is once again hosting Alumni Week with alumni and alumnae of the College providing guest lectures in many business classes.

Keynote Event: Tuesday, March 18
- Noon - Lunch, President's Dining Room
- 1 p.m. - Panel Discussion on Detroit, Student Center, Fountain Lounge
The keynote event featured a panel discussion on the future of our city, "Detroit: Beyond Bankruptcy." See video presentation online. The panel consisted of three distinguished alums:
- Louise Guyton, ’86, who served Comerica Bank for more than 40 years, most recently as Vice President for Public Affairs, until her retirement last year, is the Founder of the Greater Works Foundation and represented the corporate perspective.
- Trevor Pawl, MBA ’11, is Managing Director of the Pure Michigan Business Connect in the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, recently praised by Governor Snyder in his State of the State Address. Mr. Pawl represented the government perspective.
- Emily Doerr, MBA ’12, is the Founder of Hostel Detroit and Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Oak Park. Ms. Doerr was recently recognized as one of the “Twenty in Their Twenties” by Crain’s Detroit Business; she represented the community development perspective.
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2013 CBA Alumni Week - Value of Diversity
The UDM College of Business Administration Alumni Board is once again hosting Alumni Week with alumni and alumnae of the College providing guest lectures in many business classes.

Alumni Week Panel Discusses the Value of Diversity

Alumni Week 2013 took place March 18-22, with corporate executives who've earned UDM degrees serving as guest lecturers in most CBA classes. The keynote event was a panel discussion entitled "Diversity Creates Business Value," featuring:
- Dr. Marilyn French Hubbard (moderator), President of Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Change Agents, founder of the National Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs, and former Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at the Henry Ford Health System
- Ina Fernandez, Managing Partner of Liberty Capital Management
- Feras Shammami, Vice President of JP Morgan Chase Bank
- Jean-Paul Meutcheho, Director of Corporate Sustainability at Global Advanced Metals
Alumni guest lecturers included:

Daniel Assenmacher, MBA ’00, JD ’07 Sr. Account Mgr, BorgWarner Emission

Edward Boutrous,’67, Owner, The Boutrous Companies

Frank DeLaura, MBA ’82 Pres & CEO, FDL210 Solutions

Alan Domzalski, ’84, COO & VP Finance, Sundance Beverage Company

John Donnelly, MBA ’78, Managing Dir., Donnelly, Penman & Partners

Sharif Farhat, MBA ’00, VP of Expert Analytical Services, Urban Science

Richard Gorges, ’75, Principal, Richard Gorges & Associates

David Grubb, ’92, Partner, Plante & Moran PLLC

William Harvey, MBA ’67, Accountant - Advisor

Judy Kelly, ’86, Client Director Public Sector, IBM Corporation

Ronald Loch,’83, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation

William Lubaway,’64, Founder, Lubaway, Masten & Co.

Jeffrey Moore, MBA’82, Vice President, TCF Bank

Bruno Olvera,’11, Purchasing & Supplier Quality, Chrysler Corp.

Christina Pauken, ’12, Financial Planning & Analysis, Chrysler Corp.

Alberto Piccone, MBA ’94, Purchasing Manager, Ford Motor Company

Bradley Simmons, ’79, Dir., Office of the Chairman, Ford Motor Co.

David Strachan,’80, Director, Finance, Chrysler Corporation

Rachelle Valdez, MBA ’90, VP Communications & Marketing, Delphi Corp.

Frank Zolenski, ’02, Marketing Director, Absopure Water Company

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2012 CBA Alumni Week - Marketing a brand online: Opportunities and Challenges

The UDM College of Business Administration Alumni Board is once again hosting Alumni Week with alumni and alumnae of the College providing guest lectures in many business classes.

Alumnus discusses "Marketing a brand online: Opportunities and Challenges"

Mark Ellis '90, vice president of North American Field Sales for Yahoo!, gave the keynote presentation for the 2012 College of Business Administration Alumni Week, March 20, 2012. See video presentation online.

Ellis leads the company’s display and search sales efforts, with a particular focus on growing revenue and share with Fortune 500 customers. He also oversees product sales, content sales and training.

Previously, Mr. Ellis was the executive vice president, North American sales at AOL, where he oversaw national sales, mid-market sales, account management, strategy and sales operations. Prior to AOL, he led corporate and digital sales at IMG, a sports marketing firm, and served as vice president of sales at Quokka Sports. Earlier, he held a variety of executive-level positions at Time Inc., including publisher for New Media and publishing director for Sports Illustrated. He began his career in Detroit working on automotive business for ad agency Kenyon & Eckhardt.

Mr. Ellis is co-founder and treasurer of 313 Digital, and a member of the Advisory Board for IAB Media Measurement. He is a former board member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the Adcraft Club of Detroit, and a former member of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Hall of Achievement judging panel.

Mr. Ellis received a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame University and an MBA from University of Detroit Mercy.

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