Students and Alumni

IQBAL  U. AHMED '26 | MARKETING
COHORT 3 | CHAIR: DR. DIPANKAR CHAKRAVARTI

Iqbal Ahmed is the founder-president of Austin Business Consulting. His firm specializes in marketing research, branding issues and Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) strategies. He has previously served as a Marketing Manager for OSS-Cube Inc., a Houston-based vendor of digital transformation solutions to start-ups. He has also served as a licensed Broker for Fidelity Investments and Wells Fargo, offering financial solutions to their high-net-worth clients. 

Iqbal holds a B.S. in Biology (Honors Thesis) from the UT-Arlington, and an M.S. in Microbiology from UT - Tyler. His master’s thesis was funded by the American Heart Association.  He returned to UT- Arlington to earn his MBA (Finance).  with a specialization in Finance. Iqbal’s research interests focus on how consumers interact with AI devices.  Specifically, he is examining how social robots may be used to address the interactional needs of consumers who experience loneliness due to social exclusion or self-imposed selectivity reflecting interactional preferences.

ARCHANGE AKENOU
COHORT 11 

Archange Akenou has more than 20 years of international experience in banking and financial risk management. He is a finance and risk analytics expert specializing in credit risk, economic capital, stress testing, valuation, and model risk evaluation. He currently serves as Principal Risk Officer and Team Lead for Model Risk Governance at the InterAmerican Investment Corporation. 

Prior to this position, he held senior quantitative risk roles at Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, and the African Development Bank Group. In fact, his career spans multilateral development banking, commercial banking, consulting, and financial regulation. 

He also holds the FRM® designation and an MSc in Finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he specialized in the Mathematics of option pricing theory. As part of the Executive PhD in Business Research at Virginia Tech, he plans to conduct research aiming at formulating a unified theory joining option pricing and neural networks.

ABDULLAH ALJAWINI | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 9 | CHAIR: DR. PANKAJ KUMAR

Abdullah Aljawini is the founder and Managing Director of Dawli Aerospace. He is also a frequent contributor to the press on new developments in the aviation sector.  He is also the author of several aviation studies.  One of his published recommendations resulted in changing a policy that reduced international airport levies to improve competitiveness vis-à-vis other regional airports. 

Abdullah served as a Board of Directors Member & Executive Director at the Saudi Aviation Club (SAC) in Saudi Arabia, which is a semi-governmental. He was also appointed as Saudi Arabia’s Head of Delegation for nine years to the Federation Aeronautique International (FAI) in Switzerland.  One of his achievements at the FAI was the success with other Asian countries in securing international support to establish the Air Sports Federation of Asia (AFA) in Thailand, where he then served as a co-founding Executive Board member.  With an investment of $80 million, Abdullah’s leadership role was instrumental in launching the Saudi Aviation Flight Academy (SAFA) in Riyadh, where he served as a cofounding Board Member. 

Prior to SAC, Abdullah spent 10 years in the banking industry working in corporate banking, corporate planning, private banking, and investment banking.  In his role as a Private Banking Relationship Manager, he managed high-net worth client deposits, credit facilities, and investment portfolios that aggregated to around $160 million in credit facilities, $200 million in diversified global investments, and $800 million in deposits.  As an Investment Banking Regional Director, he led a project that included a team of financial advisors and attorneys that established a new investment bank in Riyadh with paid-up capital of $80 million. 

Abdullah holds an M.S. in Supply Chain Management from the Muma Collage of Business at the University of South Florida in Tampa.  He was awarded an MA in International Affairs and BA in International Studies degrees from the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C.  He successfully completed the Strategic Thinking & Management for Competitive Advantage executive course at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  At present, Abdullah is completing his Ph.D. in Business from the Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business. 

AKWASI AMPOFO Ph.D. '21 | ACCOUNTING & INFORMATION SYSTEMS
COHORT 2 | CHAIR: REZA BARKHI

Akwasi Ampofo is VP of Financial Reporting and Accounting Policy at Prudential Financial Inc. He advises senior management and coordinates with external auditors on technical accounting matters in complex transactions and interacts with domestic and international regulators in setting accounting standards and implementing new rules. He has represented Prudential at the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), and the Big 4 Insurance Accounting Forums. Previously, Akwasi was an AVP at MassMutual, and project manager at the FASB. As an Adjunct Professor at the U. Connecticut, School of Business Akwasi has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Accounting and Finance for over 15 years.

A member of the Insurance Experts Panel of the AICPA, Akwasi holds a B.S. in Business Accounting from Lincoln University, UK, a MBA in Finance from the U. of Baltimore, and a DBA in Accounting from Nova Southeastern. He is a licensed CPA, Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), and holds an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the MIT Sloan School. His research interests include financial statement analysis, value relevance of financial accounting standards and firms’ capital structure decisions. He has presented his work at the AAA annual conferences and published in the Accounting Forum, and the Journal of Business & Economic Research. His doctoral research focuses on the interaction of ethical corporate citizenship and CEO power on firm outcomes.

Read the Executive Ph.D. Profile of Akwasi Ampofo

SANDRINE ATABONG 
COHORT 9 

Sandrine Atabong is a human rights and social justice professional with over 17 years of experience in advocacy, policy, and organizational leadership. Inspired by her mother’s pioneering work in Cameroon’s Ministry of Social and Women’s Affairs, she cultivated an early commitment to service and a lifelong dedication to advancing human rights and equity.

She holds a B.S.c in Law from the University of Yaoundé, an M.S.c in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action from the Catholic University of Central Africa, and an MBA in Information Technology Management from Western Governors University. Her professional trajectory involves impactful roles working as a Project Manager with the Center for Social Affairs and the National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms in Yaoundé, Cameroon, as well as technology-focused consulting engagements in the United States, where she supported financial institutions and start-ups in implementing agile solutions before pursuing her Executive Ph.D.

In 2014, Sandrine founded Women in Humanitarian Dynamics (WIHD) in memory of her late mother, an initiative dedicated to empowering displaced women in informal employment by promoting equitable opportunities, representation, and dignity.

Her current research explores the integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing into disaster operations management and business supply chain systems. She focuses particularly on the use of predictive analytics and risk mitigation strategies to enhance organizational decision-making and resilience under conditions of uncertainty.

QUENTIN BALDWIN Ph.D. '24 | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 5 | CHAIR: DR. RICK HUNT

Quentin Baldwin joined Virginia Tech in 2018 as Senior Project Manager, Office of the VP. In this role, Quentin has conceptualized, built and managed Reimagining diVersiTy with a focus on strategic direction and institutional collaboration. Reimagining diVersiTy is a transdisciplinary university-wide research effort to collate diversity, inclusion and human-centered technology solutions at Virginia Tech using data on underrepresented minority recruitment and retention gaps. He started as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua where he embraced relationship-building skills that have   enabled him to navigate variable corporate cultures.

With global lived-experiences across Central and South America, and the Caribbean, Quentin served as a Management Consultant for small and medium-sized enterprises, establishing a project management infrastructure that spanned 15 Caribbean islands, and provided opportunity to engage with diplomats in North-and South America and Europe. Upon his return to the U.S. Quentin’s doctoral research interests focus on diversity and institutional logics.  He holds a B.A. from Howard University and a MA in Latin America Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

PETER (PETE) BANKS | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 2 | CHAIR: DR. ALAN ABRAHAMS

Peter Banks is a senior logistician supporting the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship program. Previously he was a managing partner for Sloth Acres, a sustainable, organic farm outside of Tulsa, OK, that provided the highest quality organic food for customers throughout Northeast Oklahoma. Previously, Peter was a production manager for CPKelco, the world’s premier hydrocolloid manufacturer, at their Okmulgee, OK plant, with responsibilities for training employees and ensuring compliance with production and safety standards throughout this large pharmaceutical plant.

Peter is also a 12-year army veteran, with three deployments to the Middle East. During his military career Peter served as an Air Defense Officer and a Civil Affairs Team Leader. His professional military education includes advanced linguistics studies in Modern Standard Arabic and advanced Middle Eastern cultural training. Peter holds a BA degree in History from Virginia Tech, and an MBA (Entrepreneurship concentration) from Oklahoma State. His doctoral research interests focus on innovation, crowdsourcing, and natural language processing.

CELESTE BELL | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 7 | CHAIR: DR. CHRISTOPHER PORTER

Celeste Bell currently serves as Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Deutsch NY, a full service creative agency based in New York City, where she leads all HR activities and drives structural and strategic change management initiatives. Celeste has a wealth of experience in building equitable policies, procedures and practices that deliver and positively impact diverse groups of talent. Most of Celeste’s career experience was with Major League Baseball, where she was instrumental in the digital evolution of the organization. A crucial focus at MLB was on recruitment efforts around technology, engineering, and media, creating employee programs for the purpose of development, engagement and retention and establishing partnerships with forward-thinking organizations like All Star Code, Girls Who Code and ScriptEd/CodeNation to build diverse pipelines. Prior to joining Deutsch, she handled talent acquisition at Publicis Media.  

Celeste holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Development from New York University as well as a Certificate in HR Analytics from Cornell. She’s interested in pursuing research in the areas of future of work, diversity and inclusion and leadership.

BEATRIZ LOPEZ BONETTI Ph.D. '23 | MARKETING
COHORT 3 | CHAIR: DR. MARIO PANDELAERE

Beatriz L. Bonetti is currently a Busch School Scholar-Practitioner Fellow at The Catholic University of America where she teaches mainstream courses in marketing. She is also a Media Fellow for The Institute for Human Ecology. She joined Catholic University in 2011 as the program director the M.A. degree in Integral Economic Development sand has served as Director of Public Relations for the Busch School.  She started her career in logistics, managing production and export sales within the Mills and Cardboard Division of Smurfit-Kappa Venezuela. Beatriz is also experienced in conducting marketing and consumer research for companies like Nielsen Media Research and startups in the pro-social space.

Beatriz holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the Universidad Tecnológica del Centro in Venezuela and a M.S. (Marketing) from Johns Hopkins. Her dissertation research examines whether incidental sensory stimuli, paired with a product, influence product evaluations. For her dissertation, she also developed an Ordinary Beauty Attentiveness Scale which specifically measures the degree to which a person sees the beauty of simple, ordinary, everyday things and people.

DANIEL BURKE
COHORT 10

Daniel Burke is the Chief Financial Officer for the Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America, www.astroa.org). As a non-partisan, non-profit organization, ASTRO works with industry, government, and academia to develop Advanced Manufacturing Accelerators driving change in American defense production. Key programs include developing programs in partnership with the US Army at the Rock Island Arsenal, the US Navy in the US territory Guam, and Florida State University in the northwest region of Florida.

Prior to his work with ASTRO America, Dan had a long career in the banking and financial sector, serving a Vice President, Supervisory Manager of Northeast Ohio region for JPMorgan Chase, and as Vice President, Central Review Manager for PNC Investments, a subsidiary of PNC Bank. Dan has spends considerable time consulting with non-profit organizations to assist in the design and implementation of administrative, financial, and technological processes that best support a rapidly growing operation. In addition to his consulting working, Dan has served as an accounting instructor at Cuyahoga Community College for close to 10 years.

A native and resident of northeast Ohio, Dan holds an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace University (Berea, OH) and a Master of Organizational Leadership from Malone University (Canton, OH). He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC).

ZEYNEP ÇEVIKEL | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 9 | CHAIR: DR. ONUR SEREF

Zeynep Çevikel, who completed her Master of Science Degree in Human Resources Management and Development at New York University in 2012, is the Founder/CEO of a Human Resources Services and Consulting Firm. wiZeHR Solutions' mission is to empower small businesses to concentrate on their strategic growth initiatives while supporting mid-size to large companies in leveraging their teams to deliver effective and impactful HR projects. 

Zeynep is a Senior Certified Human Resources Professional (SCP) through the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM). She is also a Myers & Briggs Type Indicator Certified Practitioner.                                                                                                                                                       
Before establishing her own company, Zeynep worked as an HR Executive for 20 years at various professional services organizations. Most recently, she served as a Global Human Resources Leader at Cognizant Consulting where she fostered engaged and high performing teams in India, Europe and the Americas. 

In addition to her Global HR Leadership role at Cognizant, she also served as a Regional Leader of the Outreach Council for Cognizant Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to address the lack of access to quality education, training and job opportunities where it is most limited. Cognizant Foundation has reached over 70 organizations so far by awarding approximately $60 Million. 

DAVID W. CHINN | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 8 | CHAIR: DR. CHRIS ZOBEL

David W. Chinn is pursuing his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech, where he also serves as the Director of Finance and Planning in Student Affairs. In this role he is responsible for managing budgets in excess of $200 million across the Division of Student Affairs including the nationally recognized Dining Services, Housing and Residence Life, Dean of Students, Cranwell International Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Conduct, Student Engagement and Campus Life and others. He is responsible for the oversight of the Student Affairs Capital Design and Construction efforts which currently include three major renovations and one new construction project with a combined budget of $194 million.

Previous roles in his sixteen years working for Virginia Tech include oversight and management of a team of 120 housekeepers, maintenance technicians and renovation staff and their $5 million budget as well as capital construction project management where his projects were recognized at the local, state and national level for excellence such as the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility. Numerous other projects received recognition from Engineering New Record, American Institute of Architects as well as LEED certification through the US Green Building Council. Prior to Virginia Tech, David worked for multiple General Contractors and Architect & Engineering firms in Virginia. David earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in Civil and Environmental Engineering and later returned to Virginia Tech earning a Master of Business Administration. He is licensed Professional Engineer (PE), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Building Design and Construction (LEED AP BD+C) and Design-Build Institute of America Professional (DBIA). He has previously taught in the Pamplin College of Business and is a regular guest lecturer at Virginia Western Community College. He loves meeting with and working with students to hear first-hand how he and his team can improve the student experience. David is a husband and father to two fantastic daughters who he routinely challenges to try something new, especially new foods.

ANIMESH CHOWDHURY | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 9 | DR. G. ALAN WANG 

Animesh Chowdhury has 20+ years of progressive leadership experience in enterprise and solution architecture utilizing deep understanding and appreciation of designing large-scale enterprise systems in Finance, Telecom, Internet Core Technology, and eCommerce industries. He is a technology leader with a proven track record of spearheading complex enterprise-wide technology transformation initiatives. He is currently a Principal Enterprise Architect in Fannie Mae leading portfolio initiatives in the Multifamily line of business. He is also deeply involved in the adoption and scaling of AI and GenAI capabilities in the firm. 

Animesh holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Technology from BE College, India and a MBA from George Mason University. 

His research interests are accelerators and barriers to technology transformation, adoption of AI in particular, in the established industries. 

SHYUE HONG CHUANG | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
COHORT 9 | DR. VISWANATH VENKATESH

Shyue Hong Chuang has more than 25 years of experience in Cybersecurity and is currently a Product Management Leader in Security Business Group of Cisco Systems. During his 20 years at Cisco, Shyue Hong has also been a Technical Marketing Engineer, Solutions Architect, Network Consulting Engineer and Systems Engineer across the Cisco Development, Services and Sales organizations. Shyue Hong's international consulting experience spans most of Asia, the 

United States and Australia. Prior to Cisco, Shyue Hong held security and business consulting positions with the Singapore Defense Technology Group, Arthur Andersen and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has an MBA from the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Business School, a Graduate Certificate in International Security from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. 

PAULA DARLING Ph.D. '24 | MARKETING
COHORT 4 | CHAIR: DR. DIPANKAR CHAKRAVARTI

Paula Darling is the CEO of Applied Performance Analytics Corp. Her company focuses on the financial services, higher education, compliance, and portfolio management sectors. She has 25+ years of experience working with enterprise-level corporations and institutions performing process analysis, developing software platforms to aggregate and analyze data, and creating visualizations for presentations and decision-support. Her business research experience spans contexts such as corporate performance assessments, credit and lending operations, and corporate acquisitions. She has also served as VP, Risk Management and Acquisitions at GE Capital, and COO and Portfolio Manager for EduCap, an education finance lender.

Paula holds a bachelor's degree from Auburn University, an MBA from Averett College, and has taken post-graduate courses at Cornell University for a certificate in strategic financial reporting. She has been an instructor in business and analytics for 18 years and has taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Columbia University, University of Maryland and Marymount University. Her research interests lie in consumer financial decision-making, factors underlying choice of debt-mitigation strategies, and institutional risk and credit policy.

ANJANITA DAS 
COHORT 11

Anjanita Das is a dynamic, result-oriented technology executive with over 22 years of pioneering experience spanning Data Science, Analytics Consultancy, Data Engineering/ modernization/transformation, and cross-functional team leadership. Known for her strategic vision and hands-on execution, Anjanita has successfully built and scaled advanced AI capabilities across major global shared services organizations in both India and the United States, spanning high-impact sectors including Technology, CPG, Retail, BFS, Insurance, and Travel & Hospitality. 

Currently serving as a Director of Artificial Intelligence and Analytics at Cognizant, Anjanita sits at the forefront of the next technological frontier, specializing in Responsible AI, Generative AI, and Agentic AI. She is a driving force behind innovative enterprise frameworks, helping clients seamlessly transition from traditional predictive modeling to cutting-edge autonomous agents and contextual engineering solutions. 

Throughout her distinguished career, Anjanita has excelled at translating complex business problems into strategic growth opportunities. Her core expertise includes: 

• AI-Infused Marketing Strategy: Leveraging traditional AIML, GenAI, and Agentic AI to transform marketing planning frameworks into autonomous, hyper-personalized strategy engines that drive measurable enterprise revenue and margin growth. 

• Econometric Modeling and Risk Optimization: Applying Machine Learning and Deep Learning algorithms to high-stakes operations, such as deploying intelligent pricing and dynamic stock replenishment architectures to accelerate corporate decision workflows. 

• Agentic AI & Transformation: Democratizing AI to replace static corporate reporting and repetitive operational processes with proactive, AI-driven strategic insights. 

A recognized thought leader and published author, Anjanita frequently collaborates with premier global industry publications, including The Global Treasurer and WatersTechnology, sharing insights on solving complex regulatory and operational hurdles. She holds a degree in Engineering alongside an MBA in Marketing and Finance. 

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MARK DELULLO 
COHORT 11

Mark DeLullo is a career federal civilian with more than 15 years of experience delivering enterprise solutions across the Defense and Intelligence Community. He is currently establishing Business Operations in the Technology Support Office, a new defense agency within the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Intelligence and Security. He recently served as the Director of Staff for the Joint Information Operations Warfare Center, where he oversaw 171 personnel and managed a $25 million annual budget supporting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He previously served in the Offices of the Secretaries of the Air Force, Defense, and the Army. Prior to federal service, he supported the Central Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency while at RTX-BBN Technologies. Mark is a veteran and a U.S. Army Reserve field grade officer specializing in Civil Affairs and Information Operations. He holds a Master of Arts in Business and Organizational Management from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Shepherd University. Additionally, he is a graduate from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center & School, Joint Forces Staff College, and National War College. 

SULLIVAN DENNING 
COHORT 11

Sullivan Denning is a Data Analyst at FedEx, where he has spent the past three years supporting enterprise-wide HR and workforce analytics. His work spans dashboards and reporting, forecasting and predictive modeling, data pipeline development, and ad-hoc analyses for leadership, with significant time spent programming across data science, data engineering, and data architecture. His analyses informs workforce planning, talent strategy, and operational decisions that affect employees across the company. 

Sullivan Denning holds a B.S. in Business Information Technology from Virginia Tech and recently completed his M.S. in Information Technology, also from Virginia Tech. He is now pursuing his doctorate. His research interests focus on how cognitive biases shape how organizational leaders interpret data analytics, and how those interpretations, in turn, influence strategic decisions. He is particularly interested in the gap between what the data show and what leaders conclude from them, and in what organizations can do to close that gap. Outside of his professional and academic work, he enjoys cycling, pickleball, and photography. 

ABDOULAYE DIOMANDE | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 7 | CHAIR: DR. CHRIS ZOBEL

Abdoulaye Diomande is an Acquisition Specialist at Naval Medical Logistics Command. He previously served at DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) and at DCMA (Defense Contract Management Agency) as Contract Specialist and Contract Administrator. He is currently certified DAWIA (Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act) level II.  He had intensive years of experience working in Côte d’Ivoire in construction and land development sector as Business Engineer and Sale Representative.

Abdoulaye Diomande holds a Bachelor and a Master in Marketing and Sale from Université de Cocody in Côte d’Ivoire. He also holds an Executive MBA from Jack Welch Management Institute/Strayer University (Suitland, MD), a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA), and a Graduate Certificate in Government Contracting from Webster University (Washington, DC).

Abdoulaye Diomande’s research interests focus on Operations Management specifically in Service Design, Quality Management, and Project Management.

DEANNA DOAN | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 8 | CHAIR: DR. CHRIS ZOBEL

Deanna Doan is enabling partner and co-founder of Eleccion LLC. She has more than 20 years of corporate leadership and consulting experience, with expertise in emerging organizational practices, tools, and methodologies. Prior to founding Eleccion, she was vice president at Allegheny Science & Technology, managing a diverse portfolio of programs across the Intelligence and DoD markets. Deanna served in a number of management and advisory roles at Northrop Grumman and TASC (now SAIC), including advising senior intelligence community leaders on strategic planning, process improvement & communication initiatives.

Deanna is a member of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) Technology & Innovation Council. In addition, she serves on the board of directors for Sliding Doors STEM and Dyslexia and Fairfax Futures, where she chairs the Development committee. Previously, she served 5 years as Chair the Title I Parent Advisory Committee Executive Board for Fairfax County Public Schools.

Deanna holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Virginia Tech and a Master’s degree in Operations Research from George Mason University. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma green belt.

MICHAEL DOHERTY 
COHORT 11

Michael Doherty is currently the Associate Director of Living-Learning Programs at Virginia Tech. In this role he leads and manages the operations, assessment, and staff support of more than 20+ academic and residential programs spanning a variety of disciplines. His work focuses on building strategic partnerships, strengthening organizational effectiveness, and enhancing the student experience through collaborative leadership and evidence-based practices. Across his career journey, he has held leadership, advising, and teaching roles at Texas Tech University, Clemson University, and Rutgers University. In these roles he has developed expertise in organizational management, program and curriculum development, staff supervision, and student success initiatives. 

 Michael Doherty holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Elementary Education from University of Virginia's College at Wise and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Old Dominion University. He is pursuing the Executive PhD in Business with research interests in organizational behavior, leadership, and operational resilience within organizations. His goal is to bridge research and practice by developing strategies that help organizations navigate change, strengthen leadership structures, and create sustainable environments. 

JOHN FALCUS 
COHORT 11

John Falcus is a faculty member in the Melville School of Business at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in British Columbia, Canada, where he teaches courses in leadership, negotiations, organizational behaviour and team dynamics. He also serves as Department Chair of Marketing Management at Langara College in Vancouver. 

John brings more than 30 years of combined experience across business, entrepreneurship and post-secondary education, including leadership roles in gaming, hospitality, tourism, real estate and academic settings. His industry experience informs a practical, student-centered approach to teaching focused on connecting theory with real-world application. 

John’s research interests include leadership, emotions in organizations, self-efficacy, team dynamics and how people navigate growth, resilience and change in workplace settings. Through the Executive Ph.D. program at Virginia Tech, he hopes to deepen his understanding of human behaviour in organizations and contribute research that supports healthier, more effective workplaces. 

Outside of work, John enjoys running, scuba diving, travel and the natural beauty of British Columbia.

JESS MISNER GEORGE | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 8 | CHAIR: DR. WILLIAM BECKER

Jess Misner George is the Co-Founder and CEO of zestt organics. She has led the textile brand through its eCommerce growth, wholesale distribution expansion and partnership strategy, including programs with National retailers Nordstrom and Crate and Barrel. She also manages the company’s social and sustainability efforts and GOTS certification. Prior to starting zestt organics, Jess was the Founder and Principal of Knovex, an eLearning consulting firm that served mid-market and government agency clients. She sold the company to AFMS, Inc. in 2014.

In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Jess has served as the Leadership Coordinator for Lehigh University’s student leadership development program and as an adjunct professor in Marketing, Leadership and Project Management for Central Penn College and the American Universities in Asia program, hosted by Tsinghua University. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from James Madison University, a master’s degree in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania and a Professional Certificate in Project Management from Lehigh University. Her research interests include entrepreneurial mindset, social entrepreneurship, and behavioral models of entrepreneurial persistence.

ELIZABETH GILLIS | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 10 | DR. A.K. WARD BARTLETT

Elizabeth Gillis is a Coast Guard Commander with experience in shipboard operations, financial management, and national strategy.  She was hand-picked to serve as Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy, where she designed and manages the Department of the Navy’s long-term research portfolio.  Previously, she was a strategic advisor and researcher for the Secretary of Defense.

Elizabeth was the regional Comptroller and Operations Officer for southern California.  She also served as a high-level financial analyst, where she earned two DHS Chief Financial Officer team awards for efficiency, innovation, and transparency.

Elizabeth led varied operations during seven years at sea.  She commanded three ships, including one in the Middle East during a period of elevated threats.  Domestically, she interdicted over $1B in cocaine, apprehended more than 25 narcoterrorists, and rescued over 200 people in distress.  Following a particularly difficult rescue, her ship was awarded Unit of the Year for heroism. 

Elizabeth earned an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan, a M.S. in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in Oceanography. 

In her spare time, Elizabeth volunteers extensively, travels, and enjoys swing dancing.

MAHBLEETA GRANT | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 4 | CHAIR: DR. CHRISTOPHER PORTER

Mahbleeta Grant is the Director of IT Professional Services at Howard University, Washington, DC. She is responsible for setting strategic direction for a number of IT departments for the university, including Academic Computing, Desktop Support, and Help Desk Services. In this role, she works closely with the deans and administrators of the thirteen schools and colleges of Howard U. She also manages the University’s strategic partnership with Xerox, an initiative that optimizes the University’s print services. An experienced IT Project Manager, Mahbleeta has established and managed a Project Management Office (PMO), renovated IT (labs) spaces, and upgraded nearly 200 of the academic classrooms into smart classrooms.  Currently, she is also the Academic Lead for all IT matters regarding faculty.

Mahbleeta holds a B.A. in Communications and an MBA from Howard University.  She is also a certified project management professional. As a two-time graduate of Howard University, Mahbleeta transitioned from her previous consultant role to becoming a full-time employee of Howard University in 2013 and was responsible for the automation of mission critical financial business processes. Her primary research interests lie in Management, specifically employee socialization and entrepreneurship and assessing the impact of mentorship in diverse organizations.

PHILIP GREEN | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 7 | CHAIR: DR. CHRISTOPHER PORTER

Philip David Green is currently the Head of Finance for YouTube TV which is the leading virtual live streaming television service in America. He has over 14 years of finance experience spanning across multiple industries. He first joined Google in 2017 as a finance lead for Google’s real estate and workplace services organization where he was responsible for managing California real estate acquisitions. He is an active member of both the Black Googler Network and Blacks@YouTube employee resource groups and has a passion for increasing the pipeline of diverse professionals at Google. Prior to joining Google, Philip held a variety of finance roles in the oil & gas industry.

Philip has both a B.S. in Business Administration and MBA from Florida A&M University (FAMU). Outside of work he enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and three kids.

HOWARD HAINES Ph.D. '22 | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 3 | CHAIR: DR. DAVID TOWNSEND

Howard Haines is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Virginia Tech's Management Department. Previously, he was Associate Director of Virginia Tech's Apex Center for Entrepreneurs, overseeing new venture development cross-campus, and helping support Virginia Tech’s Top 25 national ranking in Entrepreneurship. He assists with project-based and experiential curriculum development across campus, reflecting a passion for supporting experiential learning and entrepreneurship that addresses societal problems sustainably and profitably. Earlier, he played similar roles on the Univ. of S. Dakota faculty. He has advised many start-ups, started several of his own, and helped develop multiple accelerator programs both in the private and academic sectors.

Howard holds a B.A. in Human Resource Mgmt. from the Utah State and an MBA from Brigham Young. He also earned an Education Specialist degree in Learning Sciences and Instructional Technology from Utah State with research on how novice entrepreneurs learn to be successful as well as how to scale online experiential entrepreneurship education. Howard’s primary research interests are in nascent entrepreneurship. His dissertation examines how entrepreneurs make sense of ambiguous information in order to develop business ideas. His other projects include cognitive task analysis with experienced entrepreneurs to unpack the decision process for starting new ventures.

JAMIE HELMER | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 9 | DR. TABITHA JAMES

Jamie Helmer is the Director of Fuel Efficiency at Norfolk Southern (NS), a freight transportation company. Starting in 1996 as a co-op student, she’s held positions of increasing responsibility including in IT, Quality Management, Strategic Planning, and Mechanical focusing on process improvement, efficiency, and sustainability. She’s served on the Diversity Council, Thoroughbred Volunteer Council, Women’s Leadership Council, and safety committees. She represents NS on the AAR Decarbonization Committee and other industry groups. Jamie was included in Progressive Railroading’s first “Women of Influence in Rail” ebook, featuring profiles of women who have broken barriers to have successful careers in railroading. In 2022, Jamie was awarded the John H. Chafee Environmental Excellence Award.  

Helmer contributes as a Senior Consultant with Lead Star, a boutique leadership consulting firm. She practices Ut Prosim by community volunteering such as with Chattahoochee River National Recreation Areas and on the boards of non-profit organizations.  

She earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering and a Master’s in Information Technology from Virginia Tech. She’s been on the Advisory Boards for the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity and currently with Electrical and Computer Engineering. She is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and certified in Lean from University of Kentucky. 

BRIAN HENDERSON | FINANCE
COHORT 10 | DR. REZA BARKHI

Brian Henderson is a senior executive with over 25 years of experience leading complex operations across defense, OEM, and industrial sectors. Currently serving as Director of Federal Programs Delivery at Microsoft Federal, he oversees mission-critical IT infrastructure and cloud operations for sovereign environments, managing over $100M in annual budgets and leading teams of 90+ personnel. His career spans highly regulated domains, including nuclear safety, radiological operations, and data center management, with a consistent focus on innovation, compliance, and strategic transformation.

He holds an MBA from Duke University and is a Certified Health Physicist (CHP) through the American Board of Health Physics. Brian is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Executive Business Research at Virginia Tech, where he aims to explore the intersection of technology leadership and organizational performance in high-stakes environments.

A U.S. Navy veteran and former small business owner, Brian brings a unique blend of technical depth and executive acumen. He is passionate about leading and mentoring people, workforce development, and advancing inclusive leadership practices.

MARIAN HRISTOV | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 9 | DR. RAJESH BAGCHI & DR. CHITVAN TRIVEDI

Marian Hristov is an accomplished IT and Operations Management professional with a robust background in establishing and leading successful businesses. He holds an Executive MBA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, complementing his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from the same institution. Marian has a rich history of providing IT management and consulting services for top companies, including Google, Intuit, and Realty One Group. His expertise spans IT infrastructure, software development, and video surveillance systems. 

As the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of multiple ventures, Marian has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial skills. He has successfully started and managed businesses in IT, real estate investment, and video surveillance, showcasing his ability to navigate and excel in diverse industries. His strategic acumen and operational excellence have secured significant corporate contracts and established his companies as preferred vendors for national clients. Marian's leadership has been instrumental in creating technology departments, developing custom software solutions, and implementing cost-saving measures that have significantly improved business operations.

In addition to his entrepreneurial success, Marian is committed to supporting the growth of future business leaders. He serves as a speaker at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) UNLV, sharing his business success stories and strategies with aspiring entrepreneurs. He assists startup founders with business growth and development and conducts workshops on various business topics.  

As an invited panelist for the UNLV Executive MBA program, Marian contributes to the selection process of new candidates, working closely with UNLV admissions professors. Driven by his business success and passion for continuous improvement, Marian has decided to pursue a Ph.D. to further his research in business practices, aiming to contribute to the advancement of the field and help businesses thrive. 

RYAN T. JESSEE
COHORT 11

Ryan T. Jessee is a senior advisor on artificial intelligence policy and enterprise adoption for senior U.S. government leadership. Over two decades, he has held director and senior leadership roles building and scaling data and AI capabilities across government and industry, both domestically and across East Asia.  

Ryan holds a Master of Arts in Global Affairs and Management and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. His research examines AI governance at scale: the organizational capability and accountability structures required to sustain legitimate human authority over increasingly autonomous systems.

JAMES (JIM) JEWETT | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 2 | CHAIR: DR. PAUL LOWRY

Jim Jewett is an adept Agile Coach for the Society of Worldwide Interbank Financial Transactions (SWIFT), a global member-owned cooperative that provides secure financial messaging solutions for over 11,000 financial institutions in 200+ countries. His role involves teaching and helping high-performing software development teams to use agile development principles to deliver value-added, customer-focused products. Currently, he is also engaged in an innovation project involving the application of different machine learning models. Jim is also a co-owner and manager of a grain farm in central Virginia for which he supervises daily operations as well as strategy and risk mitigation planning.

Jim holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems from the Univ. of Mary Washington, and a Masters in IT from VT. Jim's research interests are in business information technology. His dissertation addresses the impact of information technology workarounds in the context of massive system disruptions.

GILDA (GENEAN) JONES
COHORT 11

Genean Jones is a PhD student in Business at Virginia Tech and an executive marketing strategist with more than 20 years of experience leading growth-oriented marketing initiatives across enterprise, B2B, and technology-driven organizations. As Founder of G2IM Consulting, she advises CEOs, CMOs, CROs, and investors on go-to-market strategy, revenue growth, and marketing transformation designed to improve pipeline performance, commercial alignment, and long-term enterprise value. 

Her work spans positioning, demand generation, lifecycle marketing, and organizational strategy, with particular experience supporting companies navigating growth, transition, and pre-M&A environments. She has helped organizations identify and address commercial issues such as misaligned go-to-market motions, underperforming demand systems, inconsistent messaging, and limited expansion readiness. 

Genean is also a co-author of a go-to-market strategy playbook developed for Ariel Alternatives to help portfolio companies assess commercial risk and accelerate value creation. Prior to founding G2IM, she held senior marketing and consulting roles at CARFAX, WireWheel, Revature, Comcast, AOL/Time Warner, and Sprint. In addition to her advisory work, she serves as an Adjunct Professor at West Virginia University, where she teaches graduate courses in go-to-market strategy, digital marketing systems, and organizational change.

STEPHEN JUMA Ph.D. '21 | MARKETING
COHORT 2 | CHAIR: MARIO PANDELAERE

Stephen Juma is Assistant Professor of Marketing at Southern Arkansas University, Rankin College of Business. Stephen received a B.A. in Philosophy and International studies from Loyola University, Chicago, and an M.A. in Liberal Studies from the University of Memphis. He earned his doctoral degree in Marketing from Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business. Stephen is passionate about start-up businesses and nonprofit organizations. He founded the Mercy Feeding Program outside of Kisumu, Kenya. The project provides lunch and clean water for students in the rural villages of Kenya. The community project model are set to be self-sustainable within one year. Stephen’s cooperate experience includes Southwest as an Analyst, FedEx as an auditor, and Cummins as a Marketing Analyst. Stephen’s research addresses shift in consumer mental states (specifically the causes and consequences of hope, curiosity, scarcity, and mindfulness) and how such shifts affect consumption decision-making both in the short and long term.

MARTA KAIGHIN
COHORT 11

Marta Kaighin is a Senior Director at Leidos, leading the end-to-end management of a $150M, 5-year new-start program. She is responsible for the stand-up of all program operations, processes, and governance frameworks including the management of a multi-disciplinary team. In addition, she is operationalizing corporate strategy in classified environments by driving the expansion of cloud-first secure networks to enable enterprise collaboration of a geographically dispersed workforce. 

Marta has 15+ years of experience working across government and industry, most of that time spent supporting Department of the Air Force acquisition programs focusing on mission execution. As a program manager with the Air Force she held roles on multiple classified programs focused on delivering capabilities aligned with the National Defense Strategy. 

She holds a BBA and MBA from the University of Toledo and has completed a variety of Department of Defense certifications and military education to include Air Command and Staff College and Air War College via correspondence. She resides in Washington, DC with her husband and goldendoodle.

EDNA KANABAHITA
COHORT 11

Edna Kanabahita is a global Qualified Risk Director®, Harvard‑certified Women Executive on Board, and MIT‑trained leader in AI‑driven transformation, known for guiding organizations through complexity and turning risk into strategic opportunity. She serves as Emerging Topics Subcommittee Liaison for the Directors and Chief Risk Officers (DCRO) Institute and as a Board Director for Machapala Group, a diversified conglomerate with annual turnover exceeding USD 80 million. 

As a Risk Specialist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), she contributed to the Fund’s first Board‑approved Enterprise Risk Management Policy and Framework. Previously, she was Chief Risk Officer at Stanbic Bank Uganda, Absa Bank Uganda, and Barclays Bank Uganda, where she led COVID‑19 crisis response and strengthened governance across 150 branches. 

Earlier, as Regional Risk Project Director at Accion International, she worked closely with microfinance clients across Africa and Latin America, reinforcing her commitment to equitable financial inclusion.  

She holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics, Economics, and Statistics from Makerere University and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot‑Watt University. 

Her doctoral research focuses on developing a multidimensional quality of inclusion framework that assesses whether fintech genuinely improves household resilience and wellbeing in underserved communities.

JOHN KELLY
COHORT 8

John Kelly is Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at SiiRA, a talent cloud matching hiring managers to remote on-demand talent. 

At SiiRA, John manages all commercial aspects of the organization including Research, Business Development, Marketing, Legal, and Client Services. Prior to SiiRA, John was Vice-President of Data Strategy & Commercialization at NBCUniversal where he was responsible for developing and operationalizing NBCU's data interoperability strategy with global advertising agencies, Fortune 500 clients, and measurement firms.  Prior to NBCU, John held analytics & commercialization focused roles at Altice USA, Cablevision Media Sales, and Music Choice. 

John's research interests include evaluating skills-based recruitment and staffing effectiveness, the use of data interoperability, network, and system science in identity & skills verification, and workforce analytics in the age of artificial intelligence. 

Outside of work and academics, John enjoys spending time with his wife Kaitlyn, a PhD student at NYU and Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Therapy at Molloy University, their dogs Milo & Bruski, and cat Rose. 

John holds an M.B.A. from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University and an M.S. in Applied Social Research from The City University of New York at Hunter College.

MARIAM KHAZIURI
COHORT 11

Mariam Khaziuri is a seasoned financial executive with extensive experience in financial management, operations, and organizational administration.

Her career in the non-profit sector started as a junior staff accountant at National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and has now spanned two decades supporting women’s right, reproductive rights, racial, social, economic and immigration justice, international education and religious tolerance initiatives as a Controller, Global Director of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer positions in national and international organizations. 

Throughout her career, Mariam has led transformative initiatives, such as transitioning organizations from third-party management to in-house operations, implementing various modern accounting, HR and operations software, and redesigning and streamlining global financial management processes. She has extensive experience working with international/cross cultural and diverse teams, consolidating financial statements, and managing compliance with donor specifications and government standards. Proficient in several technical systems and languages, Mariam is skilled at aligning financial goals with organizational strategy, managing risk, and enhancing operational efficiency. She particularly enjoys building highly efficient, cross-functional and cross-cultural finance and administrative teams to ensure financial transparency, sound governance and audit readiness.  

Mariam holds a Master of Science in Finance from the George Washington University and Bachelors in Business Administration with dual concentration in Management and Finance from Midwestern State University. She enjoys her free time being a soccer mom to her two teenage daughters, traveling and reading non-fiction books.

SHALAKA KHOT | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 8 | CHAIR: DR. PANKAJ KUMAR

Shalaka Khot is a seasoned business expert with an impressive 15+ years of comprehensive experience within the IT industry. As a cornerstone in the foundation of TechnoMile, a leading software company, she gained multifaceted business experience and honed her entrepreneurial skills. Having steered the ship through the trials of establishing and nurturing a start-up, Shalaka possesses a profound understanding of the inherent challenges of entrepreneurship. Moreover, her leadership prowess enabled her to mentor and guide various teams throughout numerous projects.

Prior to her journey with TechnoMile, Shalaka amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience from multiple organizations within the sector. She holds a Master of Science from George Mason University and a Master of Business Administration from Nagpur University, both of which bolstered her capabilities in her pursuit of a Ph.D.. Her multidisciplinary M.S. program, a collaborative endeavor by the Volgenau School of Engineering and the Schar School of Public Policy and Government, was perfectly aligned with her ambitious career aspirations.

Shalaka's MBA studies laid a robust foundation for comprehending intricate business management concepts, thereby shaping her professional trajectory. Further enriching her academic portfolio, she completed courses in Digital Marketing from Harvard University, and Advanced Web Page Design from Northern Virginia Community College.

Shalaka is recognized for her impeccable presentation skills, strategic acumen, and innovative ideation. She has a proven track record of deftly handling analytics and is experienced in utilizing analytical tools such as SPSS. She is equipped with proficiency in an array of software skills like SQL, Salesforce, ARIS, Hootsuite, and more. Currently, Shalaka is elevating her business management prowess at Virginia

Tech’s Executive Ph.D. program, where she combines her dedication to research and study to further amplify her professional credentials.

NIGEL KIRTLEY | HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MANAGEMENT
COHORT 9 | DR. JUAN LUIS NICOLAU

Nigel Kirtley is a seasoned, senior, R&D leader. He received an M.S.c with distinction in Biochemical Engineering from University College London, a world leading academic institution, and also holds a B.S.c in Biochemistry. He earned an MBA with distinction from City University London and recognized with the KPMG MBA excellence award. His MBA thesis won a European Foundation of Quality Management medal.   

Nigel leads Kirtley LLC a consultancy focusing on technology strategy, supply chain and intellectual property. He has worked with a range of clients including corporations such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Diageo, BAT, BSH, and McCain as well as VC backed startups. He is a board member of FoodPharma where he chairs the compliance committee. 

For 27 years Nigel worked for Kraft Foods becoming a senior executive managing technology organizations across US and Europe and delivering disruptive technologies for iconic brands such as Milka, Philadelphia and Kraft American Singles. He chaired the US dairy industry’s Sodium Reduction Taskforce working with peers, universities, NGOs and government bodies. During the Kraft-Heinz merger, he led the design of the new R&D organization for the combined entity. 

Nigel has published numerous articles and holds several patents which with his global perspective makes him a sought-after expert, speaker, mentor and educator in the industry.  

Nigel lives in Glencoe, Illinois with his wife of 34 years Martha. They have two adult daughters pursuing their own careers and ignoring all advice from their parents. 

GEORGE KOO | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 2 | CHAIR: DR. ALAN ABRAHAMS

George Koo is founder, CEO and CIO of Clearmark Partners, a SEC-registered investment advisory and management firm. Previously, he has served as CFO and Director of Investment Banking at Dahlman-Rose (now part of Cowen & Co., a NYC-based global investment banking and securities firm), as an investment banker with Burnham Securities and as a securities analyst at Oppenheimer. George started his career at Chase Manhattan (now JP Morgan-Chase) as a portfolio manager overseeing one of Chase’s largest mortgage securities portfolios. He has served as an instructor at Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch conducting courses in accounting, finance, and portfolio management and as an advisor to several public company boards and the US Treasury.

George holds a Master’s in International Relations from Harvard, as well as an MBA (Finance) and a B.S. (Accounting) from St. John's Univ. He has also received graduate certificates from NYU’s Stern Business School and the Harvard Business School. George also holds the CPA, CFA, and CGMA designations. George's research interests focus on Information Technology and Finance. He is developing his methodological research in artificial intelligence, deep learning, natural language processing, and expert systems.

VARADARAJAN (VARADA) KRISHNASWAMY | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 4 | CHAIR: DR. CHRIS ZOBEL

Varadarajan Krishnaswamy has 20+ years of professional experience delivering business and technology solutions across various industries. He started his career implementing supply chain technology solutions in Hindustan Lever, India. As a technology engineer in the supply chain reengineering team, he was involved from concept to design, and contributed to change management, and to institutionalizing the ‘daily replenishment’ capability. These contributions drove his selection as advisor to senior leadership, CIOs, and the Board on critical programs. Varada’s expertise and interests span engineering, programming and large-scale software development, database management, applied innovation and product development, technology strategy, and human-computer interaction. His domain experience spans Financial Services, Education, Non-Profit, Consulting, eCommerce, Supply Chain, and Logistics.

Varada holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, India, Graduate Systems Management & Software Technology from NIIT in India, and an MBA from Virginia Tech. HIs doctoral research interests focus on business information technology applications to behavioral operations, assessing the financial impact of technology operations, and technical debt.

VANISHREE (VANI) LANCASTER | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 6 | CHAIR: DR. RICK HUNT 

Ms. Vani Lancaster’s professional career spans over 21 years supporting the United States Government.  As a Federal civilian, she is currently serving as a Senior Advisor within Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) Enterprise Operations Center (DEOC), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD(P&R)).  As Chief, Enterprise Operations, she is responsible for strategic / business operations planning and enterprise integration of DEOC strategy, plans, shared programs and business services and associated strategic communications to the DHRA enterprise.  She leads focused research and studies across DEOC to determine service delivery related process improvements and opportunities via Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) to effect mission performance improvement.  Prior to this, she served as a Senior Advisor for Customer Assurance Services and Executive Officer to the Director of DEOC from October 2018 to May 2019.  From April – September 2018, she served as the OUSD(P&R) and DHRA Component Records Officer and implemented a compliant records management program and resolved chronic records management issues. 

Preceding her federal career, Ms. Lancaster founded WAY Technologies, LLC., in July 2005 and served as its Chief Executive Officer until April 2018.  As an Independent Consultant, she concurrently delivered value added transformational services to the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of the Interior and other federal agencies during that timeframe.  Her leadership and expertise in support of OUSD(P&R) in an Office of the Secretary of Defense / Chief Management Officer (OSD/CMO; formerly Deputy Chief Management Officer (DCMO))-led CPI study led to the DoD and VA Secretaries’ decision to create a Joint DoD/VA Electronic Health Record.  She also contributed toward several key Deputy’s Management Action Group (DMAG) reform initiatives including the Defense Commissary and Military Exchanges Review via Defense Resale Business Optimization Board and Business Process and Systems Reviews for OUSD(P&R), DHRA and Department of Defense Education Activity resulting in effectiveness and efficiency of defense business operations.  Ms. Lancaster earned her Master of Science in 1997 and Master of Science in Business Administration in 2000 from Mississippi State University.  She earned her Bachelor of Science (Horticulture) degree in 1994 from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.  She lives in the City of Falls Church, VA with her husband and young daughter.

BOON LIM | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 9 | DR. A.K. WARD BARTLETT & DR. JOSEPH SIMPSON

Boon Lim’s diverse skill set spans data analytics, instructional design, medical laboratory technology, and military services. He is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Fujian (Hokkien), Malay (Bahasa Indonesian), and is studying German. Boon holds an M.S. in Instructional Systems from Florida State University and a B.S. in International Business Management from Brigham Young University-Hawaii. His academic journey also includes significant doctoral coursework in Learning and Cognition prior to his military service.  

Boon’s professional journey is marked by significant contributions to various capacities within the U.S. military and the field of data analytics. He has served as a Soldier and Blood Transfusion Specialist in the U.S. Army, a Data Analyst for the Navy Defense Acquisition Talent Management, and a Military Manpower Analyst in the U.S. Marine Corps. His dedication to enhancing operational efficiency through innovative data solutions has led him to a role at the U.S. Navy as a Military Operations Analyst. 

Boon’s research interests are deeply rooted in the dynamics of educational psychology, leadership, team performance, and technology, which he seeks to further explore. 

Outside of his professional life, Boon is involved in community services, with the Virginia Medical Reserves Corps, and mentoring with Veterati for transitioning military members.  

Boon’s multifaceted career and personal experiences reflect his commitment to continuous improvement and his capacity to adapt and thrive in diverse organizations. 

AARON LYVERS Ph.D. '24 | MARKETING
COHORT 3 | CHAIR: DR. DIPANKAR CHAKRAVARTI

Aaron Lyvers has over 18 years of experience in higher education administration and finance.  For the past 12 years Aaron worked in higher education at Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar and most recently at George Mason University Korea.  At George Mason University-Korea, he served as the Chief Financial Officer and Controller and was responsible for Finance, Human Resources, Student Accounts and Institutional Planning.

Aaron received his B.B.A. from James Madison University and holds a Master of Business Administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management with Distinguished Honors. Aaron’s research interests lie in the areas of managerial and consumer judgment and decision making in marketing contexts. As part of his dissertation research, he is examining factors that drive managerial and consumer use of decision support algorithms. 

DANIELLE MACDONNELL | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 9 | DR. WILLIAM BECKER

Danielle (Danie) MacDonnell is a Colonel in the United States Army, currently serving as the Chief of Operations for the Army National Guard Human Resources Directorate at the National Guard Bureau. She joined the Army in 1998 and has completed nearly 26 years of military service, including two deployments, the first in Qatar and the second in Afghanistan. Danie earned a B.S. in Human Resources (HR) from Park University in 2003 and an M.A. in HR Management from Marymount University in 2013. In 2021, she earned an M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National War College, National Defense University. Within her military education, Danie is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, the Human Resources Captains Career Course, and the Transportation Officer Basic Course. Danie is married and resides in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband, four children, and two dogs. Her four children comprise a 20-year-old stepdaughter attending the University of Florida, an 18-year-old stepdaughter attending the College of William and Mary this fall, a 15-year-old daughter completing the ninth grade, and a 10-year-old son who will soon complete the fourth grade.

Stephanie holds a B.A. in English; Creative Writing from Wells College in upstate New York. Her research interests include examining the effects of particular software features on the culture of its users, as well as understanding the specific behaviors and policies in video games that lead to toxicity. In her spare time, she plays video and board game or works on her never-ending pile of books to read.

JOEL MALDONADO-RAMOS
COHORT 11

Joel Maldonado-Ramos is an active-duty senior leader in the United States Army and a Department of the Army Congressional Liaison whose career has focused on leadership, strategy, national security, and institutional decision-making in complex environments. Over more than two decades of service, he has held assignments across conventional and special operations organizations and has worked closely with senior military, civilian, and congressional leaders on issues of strategic importance. 

He holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a Master of Professional Studies in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University.

Joel's research interest lies at the intersection of technology, governance, and organizational adaptation. He is particularly interested in how institutions maintain effective oversight, accountability, and decision quality as emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, increasingly shape decision-making environments. His broader scholarly interests focus on governance under technological complexity, institutional resilience, and the evolving relationship between human judgment, advanced technologies, and strategic leadership.

STEPHANIE VEGA MARVIN | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 7 | CHAIR: DR. ALAN ABRAHAMS

Stephanie Marvin is a Senior Consultant at Cognizant where she uses her decade of experience in customer facing roles and product management education to design effective digital business solutions for a variety of clients. She graduated from Simon Business School with her MBA in May of 2022, focusing on Strategy Consulting, Product Management, Pricing, and Analytics. Stephanie is also a co-founder of Guild Me, a website focused on matching gamers together through a behavior algorithm with the overall purpose of reducing toxicity in the gaming culture.

Stephanie holds a B.A. in English; Creative Writing from Wells College in upstate New York. Her research interests include examining the effects of particular software features on the culture of its users, as well as understanding the specific behaviors and policies in video games that lead to toxicity. In her spare time, she plays video and board game or works on her never-ending pile of books to read.

DWAYNE MCGRAW Ph.D. '25 | MARKETING
COHORT 1 | CHAIR: DR. DIPANKAR CHAKRAVARTI

Dwayne McGraw is Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary at Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company, Abilene, Texas. He has over twenty years of actuarial experience in the insurance industry and as an actuarial consultant to insurance companies. In his current role, Dwayne provides actuarial leadership for pricing, product development, implementation, in-force management and compliance accountabilities related all insurance products for Funeral Directors Life.

Dwayne is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and is member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in Mathematics from Northeastern University and returned to the Pamplin School for his MBA. Dwayne's research uses behavioral economics principles to examine consumer purchases of insurance products.  His dissertation focuses on the influence of mortality salience, and financial vulnerability on insurance purchases and how age moderates these behaviors. Another study examines how grief states moderate expenditure decisions on funeral services for loved ones.

JAMES MEERSMAN Ph.D. '24 | ACCOUNTING & INFORMATION SYSTEMS
COHORT 4 | CHAIR: DR. ANDREW ACITO & DR. ROB DAVIDSON

James Meersman is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA and teaches taxation and not-for-profit accounting courses. His educational research interests include self-regulated learning strategies for financial accounting students, case study implementation for upper-level accounting courses, and curriculum development for quantitative business analysis. Previously, he spent three years in public accounting, starting his career in Business Tax Services for KPMG in Houston providing business tax services involving both compliance and consulting. His consulting focused on R&D tax-credit studies and tax savings through domestic production activities for a client base that included multinational corporations and partnerships in various industries. James is also an instructor at KPMG’s Tax Business School, where he delivers an updated taxation curriculum to a range of KPMG professionals.

James holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a M.S. in Accounting from Texas A&M University. His research interests focus on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. In addition, he is also interested in taxation and its role in both corporations and not-for-profit entities.

MARK MONDRY | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 1 | CHAIR: DR. RICK HUNT

Mark Mondry is Associate Director of Virginia Tech’s LAUNCH, The Center for New Ventures in the Office of the VP for Research & Innovation. He focuses on commercializing technology emerging from Virginia Tech research, directs a Proof-of-Concept early stage innovation fund, and mentors several faculty-led startups. Previously, he was a Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at Virginia Tech, and served as an Associate Teaching Professor and Director, Engineering & Technology Management Program at the Colorado School of Mines. Prior to joining academe, Mark focused on technology innovation and new ventures. He is a registered patent attorney and was a Partner in a Silicon Valley IP law and strategy firm. As an entrepreneur, Mark has founded several startups including one he helped guide to an IPO on NASDAQ. He has also been a senior executive and in-house counsel in the medical device, digital health, and electronics companies.

Mark earned his J.D. from the University of Maryland, his M.A.S. degree from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. from Miami University in Ohio. His research interests blend entrepreneurship, innovation, and strategy. His dissertation examines entrepreneurship across the macro, meso and micro levels and examines factors that drive  entrepreneurial behavior in large U.S. public land grant research universities (including formal versus informal governance mechanisms). He has presented his research at the Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference and the Blockchain Technology and Organizations Research Symposium.

ROBERT (BOB) NUGENT | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 3 | CHAIR: DR. RICK HUNT

Bob Nugent is a member of the Strategy, Management and Operations faculty of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. He has spent 22 years as a U.S. naval officer in intelligence, operations, diplomatic and acquisition assignments, including duty as a Foreign Area Officer and Assistant Naval Attache in Moscow, and billets in Japan, Korea, the U.K. and Hawaii. He served in operational aviation and amphibious squadrons and on the staff of the Navy Acquisition Executive in the Pentagon. He continues to consult on strategy, competitive and management topics with major aerospace and defense companies.   

Bob received a M.B.A with honors from Marymount University (Arlington, VA) and was the 2003 President’s Honor Graduate at U.S. Naval War College. He attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and Defense Language Institute, and received undergraduate degrees in Finance, Economics and Philosophy from New Mexico State University. Bob’s doctoral dissertation/research interests focus on digital platform organizational structures and business models. He is also interested in the Defense Industrial Base and innovative technologies. 

MICHELLE PANNONE | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 8 | CHAIR: DR. RICK HUNT

Michelle Pannone is an Assistant Professor in the Reap College of Professional Studies at Marywood University teaching in both the School of Architecture and the School of Business and Global Innovation. In the context of community engaged design thinking methodologies her expertise is in innovative methods of communication, including graphic representation, virtual reality, full-scale mock-ups, and workshops as a means to convey design ideas, opening the conversation to engage a broader audience in the design process. She has worked extensively in the international realm with business executives delivering a variety of design thinking workshops and courses.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech and her Master of Urbanism Studies from KTH Royal Institute of Technology. She also holds certificates in Advanced Design Thinking (IDEO), Business Innovation (IDEO), and the Charrette System (National Charrette Institute). She serves as a board member for City Space Architecture and University Hall of Innovation. Michelle is particularly passionate about developing participation mechanisms that foster engagement in the co-design process as an integral step towards an empowered community. She is driven by the power of the design thinking methodology to address design through a comprehensive approach that is both user-centered and interdisciplinary. In 2018 she founded the Community Design Build program at Marywood through facilitating collaborations and industry partnerships to support full-scale build workshops. Her current research focuses on innovative participation methodologies to create a stronger connection between students and their local communities. These projects explore the complex relationship between design and technology as a mechanism to communicate with a diverse audience.

BARUN PAUDEL  | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 9 | DR. CHRISTOPHER ZOBEL

Barun Paudel is a seasoned data analytics professional with over 7 years of hands-on experience addressing complex business challenges across different sectors including e-commerce, government institutions, and Higher Eds. With a strong academic background in IT and Business, Barun has integrated his educational insights with extensive professional expertise in data and business analytics. Currently serving as a data analytics engineer in the Finance Division at Virginia Tech, Barun is at the forefront of transformative data initiatives. His role involves leading exploratory data analysis projects and optimizing data processing to facilitate data governance, effective data reporting and showcasing his ability to drive innovation and efficiency within complex organizational structures. While employed at Virginia Tech, Barun has earned prestigious awards for his dedication to work including the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award, which he received as part of a cross-functional team for his leadership in a data analytics initiative. Additionally, he was honored with the Hokie Huddle Award for his outstanding collaboration across various university departments, further underscoring his commitment to delivering impactful results. 

Barun Paudel's prior professional experience includes working as a Consultant Data Analyst at Virginia Tech's Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance, where he collaborated with a team to develop an analytical tool. This initiative resulted in annual savings through effective monitoring of p-card transactions. His leadership at GrowByData Services in Nepal involved optimizing product catalogs and re-engineering a Data Quality Engine for heightened productivity. Additionally, his consulting tenure at the World Bank in Sri Lanka involved developing impactful solutions, such as a web-based Disaster Data Sharing Platform. Proficient in Python, SQL, Tableau, MicroStrategy, and more, Barun consistently delivers results and demonstrates a commitment to excellence in every role. 

Barun earned his Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Information Technology from SLIIT, Sri Lanka. During his undergraduate studies, he received acclaim from the British Computer Society (BCS) for leading a research project on Business Intelligence, addressing critical issues in the telecommunications and finance sectors. He furthered his education with a Master of Science in Data and Business Analytics from Virginia Tech and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Executive Business Research at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business. He also holds certifications from the Microsoft Professional Program in Data Science and as an Enterprise Analyst and Project Architect from MicroStrategy. Currently, he is working towards obtaining Project Management Professional certification. 

SAMUEL (SAM) PROFFITT | MARKETING
COHORT 5 | CHAIR: DR. DIPANKAR CHAKRAVARTI

Samuel Proffitt is President, PR Medical Resource Corporation, a veteran-owned small business providing strategic supply chain management and distribution in healthcare. He is also a paramedic/firefighter in Wilmington, NC. He started with DePuy/Johnson & Johnson as a sales representative for medical devices and orthopedic implants. Since 2002, Sam has continued in medical device sales, working for several start-ups and as an entrepreneur. He started his public safety career while a junior at UNC-Wilmington, working for the local fire department and the EMS agency. He has remained committed to the fire service and currently leads several state and federal special operations teams, specializing in wilderness search and rescue.

Sam holds a B.S in Business Marketing from the UNC–Wilmington and a Master’s in Public Health & Homeland Security from the Pennsylvania State University’s Hershey School of Medicine, and an MBA in International Business from UNC-Chapel Hill. His research interests focus on marketing and consumer behavior as it relates to public safety, homeland security and disaster preparedness, and in assessing the economic impacts of such events.

BRYCE PYLE | FINANCE
COHORT 3 | CHAIR: DR. RAMAN KUMAR

Bryce Pyle is a Senior VP at AlixPartners in the Turnaround and Restructuring practice in Washington, DC. He has experience developing and implementing operational and financial turnaround strategies for public and private sector clients in distress (e.g., JCPenney, Pacific Gas & Electric, Westinghouse, and Puerto Rico Electric & Power Authority. His experience in financial modeling, business segment rationalization, and restructuring plan scenario analysis and implementation spans multiple industries including energy, retail and healthcare. Previously, he worked for Alvarez & Marsal, helping clients with operational and financial challenges. He started as a business and planning analyst at M&T Bank.

Bryce has a B.A. in economics from Yale and an MBA with concentrations in finance and operations management from University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is also a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor.

His primary research interests are in corporate restructuring and reorganization. His dissertation research is focused on reviewing management’s decision to use in-court or out-of-court options as mechanisms for restructuring for firms with high levels of distress and the impact of creditors in the decision-making process.

ZOHAIB (ZO) QAZI | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 8 | CHAIR: DR. VISWANATH VENKATESH

Zohaib (Zo) Qazi is a Program Director – IT Transformation at Virginia Tech. In this role Zo is responsible for overseeing large-scale projects and driving IT initiatives that have a transformative impact on the university. Zohaib (Zo) Qazi is an accomplished professional with a strong background in Program and Project management, ERP Systems implementation and HRIS.

Zo holds a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from University of Sindh, Pakistan, and a master’s in computer science from California State University Fullerton, Zo has further expanded his expertise through professional development courses in Digital and Cloud Transformation.

With a passion for transforming business processes and implementing new strategies, Zo excels at developing products and delivering projects in a timely manner. His exceptional leadership skills have been instrumental in successfully leading cross- functional teams, fostering collaboration, and driving organizational growth. Zo have accomplished a variety of projects in both the private and public sectors, particularly within IT and HRIS domains, consistently exceeding expectations.

With a proven track record of effective leadership, strategic vision, engagement with cross-functional teams, and expertise in developing metrics, Zo is poised to make a lasting impact in the field of IT and beyond.

FRANK RABENA | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 7 | CHAIR: DR. CHRIS ZOBEL

Frank Rabena is currently the Vice President and COO of the Virginia Pilot Association.  He started his maritime piloting career in 1999.  Prior to 1999, he worked as a Marine Engineer aboard commercial maritime ships and as a Marine Operations Manager for a major containership company.  Presently, he serves on the Virginia Port Authority’s Stakeholder Committee as Chairman.  He serves as an Advisory Council Member for Old Dominion University’s Maritime Institute.  He also serves as a Commissioner on the City of Virginia Beach’s Bayfront Advisory Board.

Frank holds a B.S. in Marine Engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, and a M.B.A. with a focus in finance from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.  He was honorably discharged from the US Navy as a Lieutenant in 2006.  He is presently a CFA candidate.  His dissertation research examines how proper timing of investment in specific technology and infrastructure affects all stakeholders in the supply chain, with a major focus on Maritime Shipping, Port, and Intermodal logistics.

RAJI RAMAN | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 8 | CHAIR: DR. JUAN LUIS NICOLAU

Raji Raman is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Business Information Technology. She has Masters degrees both in business analytics and computer science. She has over two decades of experience in various leadership and technical roles in the IT and telecommunications industry. Her expertise includes network security, data integrity, customer/business relationship management, analytics, project management, people management and service delivery.

DAVON RASPBERRY
COHORT 10

Davon Raspberry is a seasoned risk management and cybersecurity professional with over a decade of experience in enterprise risk, compliance, and information technology. Originally from New York City, he now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he serves as a Senior Compliance Specialist at Wells Fargo. In this role, he provides quality assurance oversight for enterprise testing programs and contributes to the development of methodologies that align with regulatory expectations.

Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Davon held leadership roles in marketing and business development at Aponia Data Solutions and served in various educational and nonprofit leadership capacities throughout New York City. He is the founder and CEO of CyberTech One, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to STEM and logic-based education for underrepresented students in underserved communities. His work in this space draws on personal experience and a commitment to bridging opportunity gaps through education and mentorship.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, a Master of Business Administration in Enterprise Risk Management from St. John’s University, and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from New York University. At Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business, Davon is pursuing a Ph.D. in Business with a concentration in Business Information Technology.

HARIBABU (HARI) RAVELLA Ph.D. '21 | MARKETING
COHORT 1 | CHAIR: DIPANKAR CHAKRAVARTI

Hari Ravella currently leads a professional services group at Amazon Webservices (AWS) driving cloud adoption and innovations. His prior assignments include leading global business operations for IBM Commerce Client Success Group and worldwide professional services for three product lines in the IBM Software Group. He joined Curam Global Services in 2006, moving to India to build and lead a 70+ member group providing professional services to a global client base. Returning to the US in early 2010, he led Curam’s services practice, business development and delivery until its acquisition by IBM in 2012.

Hari holds an M. Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and an MBA (2012) from SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, Italy. Hari’s research focuses on how technology impacts consumer decision making in various contexts. His dissertation examines how AI-based smart agents may be used to support physician-patient interactions, and the processes underlying patient responses in such interactions. Hari has presented his research at multiple INFORMS Marketing Science conferences as well as at a special session at ACR 2020.  

Read the Executive Ph.D. Profile of Hari Ravella

DAVE REEVES | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 9 | DR. TABITHA JAMES & DR. ANTHONY VANCE

Dave Reeves is currently the Chief of Cybersecurity for the Army National Guard. Taking the position after retiring from a 27-year U.S. Army career. He earned a B.S. in Telecommunications from the University of Florida and a M.S. in Governmental Information Leadership from the National Defense University (NDU) College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC). He earned post graduate certifications in Chief Information Officer and Information Technology Program Management from the NDU CIC, Criminal Counter Terrorism Intelligence from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy and Seaport Security/International Maritime Law from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and industry certifications as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Certified Data Privacy Security Engineer (CDPSE). Mr. Reeves is a graduate of Army Command and General Staff College, US Army Air Defense Artillery Course, U.S Missile Defense Agency Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Course and the Signal Captains Career and Basic Courses. Along with more traditional military assignments Mr. Reeves filled the following positions: Chief, Florida (FL) Department of Law Enforcement, Joint Seaport Inspection Team, Florida Counterdrug; IT security lead/lead Criminal Intelligence Analyst, FL Counterdrug; G6/Lead military Criminal Intelligence Analyst, U.S. Marshalls/North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; FL National Guard Hurricane Response forward EOC lead. Dave is married to a Colonel in the Army, has a 20-year-old daughter currently studying at the University of Florida, a 18-year-old daughter starting at the College of William and Mary in the fall of 2024, a 15-year-old step-daughter finishing the 9 grade and a 10-year-old step-son completing the 4th grade.

IVON RODRIGUEZ | MARKETING
COHORT 4 | CHAIR: DR. MARIO PANDELAERE

Ivon Rodriguez is Chief Marketing Officer at Linqto, a leading digital trading platform for private market securities. Until recently she served as CMO of The 360 Group, a marketing firm focused on entertainment and innovation. Ivon has been instrumental in the startup phase of numerous TV  stations including the Telemundo stations in Boston, Hartford and Providence, as well as the Caracol Television Miami station. She has also served as VP, Marketing for the private, non-profit Smithsonian affiliate, HistoryMiami Museum and as Managing Director for IE University programs in the Southern US and Caribbean.

Ivon graduated from Brown University with a double major in International Relations and Hispanic Studies and holds a joint Executive MBA from Brown University and the IE Business School. With experience in business development, general management, and marketing, Ivon's diverse background stems from her love of entrepreneurship, business innovation, and concept creation. Her primary research interests lie in consumer behavior and the role of social media at the intersection of social networks, consumption rituals and brand relationships.

SHEILA PHILLIPS RUTH | MARKETING
COHORT 9 | DR. CHITVAN TRIVEDI

Sheila Phillips Ruth holds a B.S. in Accounting and an MBA in Accounting from Mount Saint Mary College. As a seasoned accounting and finance professional, Sheila currently provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses and is in the initial stages of launching her own venture. Her diverse experience spans government, public, and private sectors across various industries, including manufacturing, engineering, and construction. Notable organizations she has worked with include the US Treasury, the US Department of Defense, local nonprofits, defense contractors, and international manufacturers. 

In addition to her professional endeavors, Sheila has served as an adjunct professor at local colleges and chaired her town's Finance Committee. She is also dedicated to community service, volunteering with several nonprofit organizations in her area. Sheila's scholarly interests focus on startup organizations, entrepreneurship, the impact of AI on accounting and business structures, socio-economic influences on entrepreneurship, and the effects of government policies on business, including taxation. 

Originally from Connecticut, Sheila now resides in Massachusetts with her son. 

RAMNATH SANKARAN | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 9 | DR. CHRISTOPHER ZOBEL

Ramnath Sankaran is a distinguished IT professional with over two decades of experience in AI, data science, and enterprise architecture. As the Co-Founder of AI Trail, he spearheads the development of cutting-edge AI solutions, driving innovation and mentoring engineering teams. During his tenure as Senior AI Solution Architect at C3 AI, Ramnath designed and implemented complex AI/ML systems across diverse sectors, including energy, pharmaceuticals, supply chain management, and multiple federal agencies. 

At CGI, Ramnath served as Director Consulting, where he led the development of real-time data analytics platforms and mentored teams on technologies such as Apache Kafka and MS Azure. He also directed data architecture for the US Census initiative, developing enterprise data models and big data solutions. His earlier roles at Avendra LLC and Micros Systems involved managing high-volume enterprise applications and leading the redesign of procurement systems and business intelligence tools. 

Ramnath holds an M.S. in Information Technology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is pursuing an Executive Ph.D. in Business at Virginia Tech. His professional certifications include a Professional Certificate in Applied Data Science, PMP, and Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert.

PETER SCHLITTENHARDT | MARKETING
COHORT 9 | DR. MARIO PANDELAERE

Peter Schlittenhardt, currently the Assistant Director of Academic Advising at the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University (MSU), is a Ph.D. candidate in Executive Business Research at the Pamplin School of Business at Virginia Tech. He completed his Bachelors studies in Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship at the Rutgers School of Business before earning his Masters Degree in Higher Education at Stony Brook University. He spent the majority of his career in higher education as an Academic Advisor at Middlesex College, 2011, then transitioning to Montclair State University in 2018. February 2022, he was awarded Faculty/Staff/Administrator of the Month by the Department of Athletics for his service to MSU student athletes. In Fall 2023, he began serving as an Adjunct Professor for the Management Department at MSU instructing MGMT 201 – Business Ethics and Social Impact. This inspired him to pursue his Ph.D. to conduct research in Sports Marketing with the goal of transitioning to a Tenure Track Faculty position. Outside of higher education, he served as an On-Ice Hockey Referee for the American Hockey League (AHL), and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) from 2017-2024. He currently still skates for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 

ERIC SCHMIDT | FINANCE
COHORT 6 | CHAIR: DR. RAMAN KUMAR

Eric Schmidt is currently a Process Engineer at Kettering Health in Dayton, Ohio. In his role, he manages inpatient and outpatient performance improvement initiatives, conducts statistical process control and multivariate data analyses, provides clinical and financial decision-support counsel to leadership, and teaches classes on Lean Six Sigma improvement techniques.

Eric started his career in healthcare administration, completing a 3-year hospital management residency with AdventHealth in Orlando, Florida. After completing his administrative training, Eric managed inpatient and outpatient radiology departments for AdventHealth. After realizing a passion for data analysis and statistics, Eric transitioned into the industrial engineering and process improvement realm of the healthcare system and worked as a Performance Improvement Specialist for AdventHealth. In 2020, Eric moved to Kettering Health to serve in his current role. Eric specializes in utilizing econometric techniques to diagnose and develop solutions to complex, multi-factorial healthcare problems, including length-of-stay reduction, capacity and utilization optimization, and cost minimization.

Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics from Ohio State University, a Master of Business Administration from Webster University, and a Master of Science in Economics from Purdue University. He received his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB) from the University of Central Florida. Eric is also a Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) through the Practice Management Institute. He lives in Ohio with his wife.

E. MONIQUE SCHOENTHAL | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 10 | DR. BILL BECKER

Captain “Mo” Schoenthal is a native of Billerica, Massachusetts, and earned her commission through Officer Candidate School after graduating from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from the Yale University School of Management.

Her operational assignments include USS ROSS (DDG 71), USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75), Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron THREE (MSRON 3), and USNS MERCY (T-AH 19), where she served as Supply Officer and deployed in support of Pacific Partnership deployments in 2022 and 2024. She also completed individual augmentee deployments to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. 

Ashore, Captain Schoenthal served at Navy Submarine Base New London, Defense Contract Management Agency-GE Engines, Navy Supply Corps School, Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella in Sicily Italy, Naval Sea Systems Command, and the Pentagon with OPNAV N4 and the Joint Staff J4. She currently serves as the Navy Senior Service Integrator at Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Captain Schoenthal is a Joint Qualified Officer and Acquisition Professional Membership member. Her warfare qualifications include Naval Aviation Supply Officer and Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer.

GELILA SEBHATU | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 2 | CHAIR: DR. RICK HUNT

Gelila Sebhatu is an Entrepreneur, Career Coach, and Community Leader. She has 15+ years of consulting experience serving US Federal Govt. and Fortune 500 clients such as the DoD, Gartner, DirecTV, BlueCross BlueShield, as well as various political campaigns. She currently is President and Principal Director for GPS Management Consulting, providing strategic advisory services for the private and public sector, supporting major transformational efforts for project management, process improvement, and enterprise architecture. She is also the Owner and Head Coach of GPS Professional Coaching, providing career enhancement services to individuals and non-profits. In these roles, she is visible in both traditional and social media.

Gelila holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Information Systems) from Old Dominion University and an Executive MBA from Virginia Tech. She also holds certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB), and TOGAF® Level 2.  Her doctoral dissertation /research focuses on early-stage entrepreneurship, decision-making, and narcissistic behavior. She is also interested in the role of gender and race.

Read the Executive Ph.D. Profile of Gelila Sebhatu

FRANK SERRINO | MARKETING
COHORT 9 | DR. SHANE WANG

Frank Serrino is currently focused on investing in early-stage companies, having invested in over 40 such companies. He is a member of Hyde Park Angels and Chicago ArchAngels. He occasionally serves on boards or advisory boards of his investment companies. 

His business career was largely devoted to derivatives trading through two trading companies he founded and owned, Serrino Trading Company Inc. and Progeny Trading Company LLC. He was the highest volume single trader at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) for several years. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the CBOT and helped shepherd it through the IPO process. 

Prior to his trading career, he worked for Intel Corp and AM International in technical sales and marketing.  

He earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School concentrating in Finance and Marketing. He was elected to the Booth chapter of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society for academic achievement. Prior to business school, he received a BA in English from the University of Virginia. He recently earned the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation from the American College of Financial Services. He has also completed many online classes from Coursera, EdX, Simplilearn and other online schools. 

DIANA F. SHILLER | MARKETING
COHORT 9 | CHAIR: DR. MARIO PANDELAERE

Diana F. Shiller is a Ph.D. candidate in the Pamplin Business School at Virginia Tech, specializing in Marketing and Information Technology. Her research interests include persuasive and deceptive language and the societal impacts of information technologies.

She is an adjunct assistant professor at Northern Virginia Community College, where she teaches Business Applied Mathematics and Marketing. She has more than 14 years of federal government experience, including roles at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of State. Throughout her career, she has developed technology solutions to improve business outcomes, accessibility, and efficiency. She has conducted extensive research on consumer behavior, information systems, payment systems, deceptive marketing practices, and digital marketing campaigns. Her contributions to national security and consumer protection have advanced trust, transparency, and compliance across digital ecosystems.

Diana earned a Master of Science in Public Service Management from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and in Criminology, Law, and Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is an Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Certified Fraud Examiner, a member of the Association for Consumer Research and the American Marketing Association, and fluent in Spanish.

She is originally from Illinois and lives in Virginia with her husband and two sons.

LARRY SMALL | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 7 | CHAIR: DR. RICK HUNT 

Larry Small is a Louisiana native and lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia with his family.  As Senior Advisor for Management and Budget in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, Larry assists and advises on four portfolios: Weapons Activities; Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation; Naval Reactors; and Federal Salaries and Expenses.  His notable previous assignments include Chief of Staff, Visiting Professor, Brookings Institute Congressional Fellow, and Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security.

Larry is also a retired U.S. Army Chemical Officer with nearly three decades of experiences in national security.  His duties included roles in the U.S. Department of Defense; Joint Chiefs of Staff; Defense Threat Reduction Agency; and Department of Army’s Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Agency.

Larry attained a B.A. in Political Science, Urban Affairs, and Public Policy from Boston University.  He completed a Master’s Degree of Military Art and Science focused on strategy at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.  His dissertation research examines cross-disciplinary insights into leadership, management, and organizational concepts for efficient, effective, and innovative ways in decision-making, resolving problems, and executing tasks.  More broadly, he is interested in developing processes that produce standards and systems to empower people and institutions to influence situations with positive results across geographical, organizational, and functional lines. 

WENDIE STORM | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 9 | DR. A.K. WARD BARTLETT

Wendie Storm is a mother, wife, cultural transformation ally, social entrepreneur, and United States Army veteran with 16+ years of corporate leadership experience across varied industries.  

She received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts focused in Global Studies (2021) and a Master of Liberal Arts focused in Management (2022) from Harvard University. She also holds graduate certificates in Organizational Behavior, Marketing Management and Digital Strategy from Harvard. She earned professional certificates from Cornell University in Teaching and Learning in the Diverse Classroom and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Wendie is currently pursuing an e-Co Leadership Coaching certification from The George Washington University. She will earn her certificate in July, 2024. She will also be on her way toward earning the Professional Coaching Certification (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Additionally, she is studying Positive Psychology through a variety of learning platforms.  

Her unique life experience and education led to the founding idea for Edtrinsic’s Allied Certified™ certification program and the online Shop Diverse ® consumer-facing business directory of Allied Certified Small Businesses.  

Wendie is a lifetime learner, curious traveler, and unicorn lover. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and two dogs and loves spending time with their grown children.  

RICHARD STUEBI Ph.D. '24 | MARKETING
COHORT 4 | CHAIR: DR. DIPANKAR CHAKRAVARTI

Richard Stuebi is founder and President of Future Energy Advisors (FEA), a management consulting practice providing advisory services to corporate clients pursuing innovative growth strategies related to energy. In a 30+ year career, he has pursued commercial opportunities in new energy technologies and innovative business models as an entrepreneur, investor, consultant, advocate, and executive. Richard has served as VP of US Strategy and Group Technology at National Grid, where he led strategy development for US operations and evaluated technology and businesses model innovations for the firm’s US and UK operations. He has extensive experience supporting regional clean tech ecosystems and entrepreneurial startups developing new energy technologies.

Richard earned a MA in Economics at Stanford University and a B.S. in Economics from MIT.  He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Boston University. His current professional interests involve the accelerated adoption of renewable energy, energy storage, and micro grids to facilitate adoption of high-resilience zero-carbon electricity supply. His research focuses on consumer behavior related to the adoption of lower-emitting energy-related products and services. He is also interested in marketing issues as they intersect with environmental sustainability.

Read the Executive Ph.D. Profile of Richard Stuebi

CAMILLA M. SULLIVAN | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 10 | DR. BILL BECKER

Camilla Sullivan is Vice President, Innovation & AI at Covista, where she leads the enterprise development and deployment of AI-powered solutions across five healthcare education institutions. Her work spans smarter learning environments, enterprise AI fluency programs, and intelligent tools that support students from enrollment through graduation — serving 97,000 aspiring healthcare professionals across Covista's network.

A signature focus of her work is personalized Socratic learning at scale: using AI to move beyond passive content delivery toward adaptive, inquiry-driven instruction that meets each learner where they are. She is currently working to deploy large language models and AI research tools to deliver this kind of individualized instruction across Covista's five institutions.

Sullivan brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning AI strategy, organizational transformation, corporate strategy, and technology solutions. Prior to Covista, she served as Managing Principal of Navigaite, a consultancy she founded to help organizations operationalize AI with measurable value, advising Fortune 500 companies across industries on large-scale transformation, change management, and the infrastructure that makes AI adoption stick.

Her previous leadership roles include Vice President of Brand, Creative Studios, and Strategy at Fannie Mae, where she built an in-house agency of over 100 professionals and pioneered the company's first enterprise generative AI content platforms. Earlier in her career, Camilla held senior strategy and product design roles at Toshiba America, EDS (HP), BearingPoint (KPMG), and Alorica, leading initiatives in product development, M&A integration, and global operations.

Camilla holds a Master of Commerce from the University of New South Wales (Australia) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle (Australia), both with concentrations in strategy, marketing, and organizational behavior.

MARK TAVANI | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 6 | CHAIR: DR. DEVI GNYAWALI, & DR. PANKAJ KUMAR, CO-CHAIR

Mark Tavani is a high-energy business leader and innovator with extensive experience building and leading high-performance teams in the communications, technology, and professional services industries. He is currently the US SE Head of Partnerships at Amazon Web Services, chartered with accelerating the adoption of AWS services with and thru Consulting and Technology Partners.

Mark started his career with IBM and held positions of increasing responsibility in sales, corporate education, marketing, and general management with P&L responsibility. Mark subsequently served as Vice President of Business Development for C-Bridge Internet Solutions, a Pre-IPO boutique internet consultancy, and held executive positions at Siemens Enterprise Communications and CA Technologies, including Vice President Global Technology Partners and Vice President of Global Go-To-Market.

Mark is adept at leveraging new technology (cloud, mobility, services) and creative business models to accelerate revenue growth. He has been a thought leader regarding the disruptive potential of delivering communications as a service and led the strategy and go-to-market efforts to realize the potential of the cloud at Siemens and CA Technologies.

He holds an MBA from Emory University and a B. S., Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland. He and his wife Sara have four children and reside in Johns Creek, Georgia.

JULIAN E. THRASH | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 1 | CHAIR: DR. BILL BECKER

Julian Thrash is Procurement Director at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of Procurement and Acquisition Logistics. He is responsible for enterprise-wide procurement for the Strategic Acquisition Center. A two-time USAF Contracting Commander; he commanded one of the largest contracting squadrons supporting European theatre strategic sourcing. At the DoD, Julian’s has led reviews of contracting cost principles that drove 24 published changes in Federal Acquisition Regulations. As a Contracting Staff Officer, he was action officer for the largest procurement review in USAF history, recouping a $625M+ contractor penalty. His multiple military honors include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Julian earned a B.S. in Chemistry from East Carolina U., and a MBA from the Univ. of N. Dakota. He is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute’s Advanced Program Management course, Squadron Officer’s School, Air Command & Staff College and Air War College. He also has multiple advanced certifications in contracting. Julian’s dissertation research focuses on the role of strategic communications.in enterprise-wide change. It is sited in the VA’s equipment life cycle management program - an agency-level initiative supporting medical equipment standardization for the nation’s largest network of hospitals. 

JEREMY TREADWELL
COHORT 11

Jeremy Treadwell is a full-time Lecturer of Management in the College of Business at Bowie State University.  He teaches courses on management foundations, organizational behavior, and enterprise AI strategy. His classroom work bridges traditional management theory with applied practice, preparing students at one of the nation’s leading HBCUs to navigate an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and human-machine collaboration.

Jeremy is also Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Simcia Security, a cybersecurity and human risk organization offering both product and advisory services to enterprises navigating the human dimension of cyber threats. In this role he leads operations, go-to-market strategy, and the productization of advisory frameworks designed to translate complex security challenges into measurable business outcomes. At Stillman College, Jeremy led the Cyber Clinic, a program that connected cybersecurity education with emerging workforce needs by pairing students with real-world engagements that prepared them for industry careers while strengthening institutional capacity at an HBCU. 

Prior to his current roles, Jeremy spent over 15 years in technical management consulting, advising clients across private and public sectors, delivering operational and technical solutions to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure. This work shaped his perspective on the intersection of technology, risk, and human behavior that now informs both his entrepreneurial and academic pursuits. An international keynote speaker, Jeremy has shared with a multitude of audiences including SANS, ISACA, and the Global AI for Good Summit, where he addresses audiences on the intersection of artificial intelligence, workforce readiness, and organizational transformation. 

Jeremy holds an MBA from Michigan State University with a concentration in management, strategy, and leadership, and a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Multimedia from Bradley University. He is also a Certified Futurist through the Institute for the Future (IFTF). Additionally, he is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Leadership in Technology Institute at Virginia Tech, an executive certificate program convening senior technology leaders. 

 
Jeremy is guided by his faith and enjoys spending time with his family - his spouse and his small chihuahua terrier named Digit. He is frequently caught reading, golfing, grilling, watching F1, Boxing, or Cinema. He is passionate about giving back through his family’ non-profit, The Treadwell Foundation, established by his grandfather in 1993. He collects watches, books and art. Jeremy’s mission is to resist the temptation to settle for what works, instead build what transforms. 

SARAH TUSKEY Ph.D. '21 | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 1 | CHAIR: BILL BECKER

Sarah Tuskey serves as Dean of Faculty at the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus. Previously, she was Associate Dean at the Kendall Campus after serving as Department Chair for Business at the Homestead Campus and Kendall campuses. At Miami Dade, she has been active in engaging local industry to develop and launch the Bachelor of Applied Science in Supply Chain Management. Sarah has 15+ years of professional experience in higher education.  Prior to her service at Miami Dade, she served on the management team at St. Thomas University Business School, advancing the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, extending marketing reach and building external relationships.

Sarah earned a BBA degree in MIS from the Univ. of Central Florida, and an International MBA degree from Florida International. Sarah's research focuses on identities in the workplace and the implications for organizational change. Her dissertation examines the non-work-related identities that individuals bring into the workplace, and how these influence work-related identities and performance. Sarah has published her research in the Journal of Management, Academy of Management Proceedings and presented at the Academy of Management annual meeting.

Read the Executive Ph.D. Profile of Sarah Tuskey

STUART URBAN | FINANCE
COHORT 4 | CHAIR: DR. RAMAN KUMAR

Stuart Urban is a Lecturer at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC. He teaches Masters level courses in computational finance, statistics, non-linear econometrics and empirical finance. Stuart started as a Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin, working on the year-2000 US Census and spent 8 years on a passive radar project, in roles such as Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Engineering Program Manager, and R&D Principal Investigator. He has served as a data scientist with the US Mint and the CDC, utilizing machine learning techniques to target scarce CDC resources to high-risk individuals in two disease outbreaks in the US. He also served internal customers such as L-M Aeronautics. He has worked at the Federal Reserve Board as an analyst focusing in high-performance scientific computing and Natural Language Processing. 

Stuart holds a B.A. in Philosophy as well as B.S. degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science, all from the Univ. of Iowa. He also holds an M.S. in Computer Science, a MBA and an M.A. in Applied Economics, all from the Johns Hopkins. Stuart’s research interests focus on black swan/rare events in corporate finance. He is also interested in corporate bankruptcy prediction and effect assessments.

Read the Executive Ph.D. Profile of Stuart Urban

BARRY VANDERWAL | MANAGEMENT
COHORT 6 | CHAIR: DR. RICK HUNT

Barry Vanderwal is currently joining the sixth cohort of students in the Pamplin College’s Ph.D. program in Business with a concentration in Executive Business Research, at Virginia Tech. He is also a Technical Program Manager overseeing multiple software development projects at Disk Enterprise Solutions, Incorporated and he’s an active co-founder of Serenity Place LLC, St. Mary’s County Maryland’s largest private mental health service provider. 

Barry joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1995, serving as an Infantryman and Civil Affairs Specialist. In 1999, he began a career as a computer programmer quickly transitioning to IT project management.  Barry has directed and executed large, multi-million Dollar strategic IT projects at IBM, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Marriott International. While at Marriott International, he led multiple software development projects, including a cutting-edge multi-year research and development project to re-architect the Marriott.com web platform. In March 2017, Barry and his wife started Serenity Place LLC, where they’ve grown the practice from one licensed clinical therapist, to now over 20. With over 15 years of project and organizational management experience, Barry has found a passion for organizational management and entrepreneurship, well aligned to his academic studies at Virginia Tech.

Barry holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science in Technical Management from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Southern Maryland with his wife and two children.

JANE WAINWRIGHT
COHORT 11

Jane Wainwright currently serves as Executive Director of Business Operations and Chief of Staff to the Group CTO at Lenovo, where she operates at the forefront of enterprise innovation and advanced R&D in the fields of robotics, AI, and the future of compute. In this role, she leads teams across China, the US and EMEA and shapes and executes global strategy, helping to accelerate Lenovo’s transformation from a device-first to an AI-first organization. Known for translating complex strategic ambition into actionable outcomes, she drives execution across dynamic, global environments. 

With more than two decades of leadership experience, Jane has built a distinguished career at the intersection of technology, strategy, and organizational transformation. She began her professional journey with 12 years of service in the British Army, where she developed a foundation of disciplined leadership, resilience, and operational excellence, principles that continue to underpin her approach today. 

Her career spans globally recognized organizations including Meta, PwC, NBCUniversal, the University of Southern California, and the Olympic & Paralympic Games. At Meta, Jane supported senior leadership across Facebook, Instagram, and the Metaverse, leading divisional strategy, performance management, and cross-functional execution across a $1.4B global operation. Throughout her career, she has consistently enabled large-scale transformation by aligning business strategy with technology innovation. 

Beyond her executive role, Jane contributes to academia and the nonprofit sector as a Technology Sector Industry Advisor to Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford and as a Non-Executive Director for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. 

She holds an MBA from the University of Oxford, a postgraduate certificate in International Affairs from King’s College London, and a BA (Hons) in Criminology from the University of Leicester. Originally from England, Jane brings a global perspective shaped by her international career and diverse experiences. 

Outside of her professional life, Jane is married and the proud mother of four children. She has a keen interest in financial markets, ethics, and corporate deviance, particularly in the context of white-collar crime, reflecting her enduring curiosity about the intersection of business, accountability, and societal impact. She admits she could not live without coffee, champagne, her yoga mat, and her premium YouTube subscription.

EDWARD W. WALTERS III | MARKETING
COHORT 8 | CHAIR: DR. MARIO PANDELAERE

Edward W Walters III is a member of the Senior Executive Service at the US Department of Defense where he serves as the Defense Commissary Agency's Executive Director for Sales, Marketing and Logistics. He has global responsibility which includes the US, Europe, and Pacific with annual sales ≈ $4.5B of over 30,000 SKUs at 236 commissaries (military supermarket/grocery store locations). In his first 8 months at the Commissary, Ed led his team to overcome a 9-year sales decline, growing sales 12% FYTD with an 8.3% increase in transactions despite continued supply chain challenges.

Ed previously was Chief Customer Officer at the US General Services Administration (GSA). Ed also has experience in marketing and Brand Management at Fortune 500 companies, not-for-profits, and start-ups.

Ed earned a B.S. in environmental engineering from the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), an MBA from Northwestern University (Kellogg), and a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University (Kennedy School of Government). He is also currently a Ph.D. Candidate in executive business research at Virginia Tech (Pamplin).

JEREMY FEI WANG Ph.D. '22 | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 3 | CHAIR: DR. PAUL LOWRY

Jeremy Fei Wang is an Associate Professor of Management Information Systems (MIS) at Flagler College, with 15+ of diverse experience in higher education and IT & management consulting. Prior to his academic career, he was a Senior Consultant with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young (CGEY), one of the world's largest management and IT consulting firms. As a senior Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP+MCSD+MCAD) and Principal Certified IBM/Lotus Professional (PCLP), he worked with various client companies in this position, including P&G International, GE, Schneider Industry, Standard Register, and Provident Bank.

Jeremy has developed and taught a variety of contemporary information systems courses which featured a combination of lectures, case studies, and hands-on lab sessions. He is also an honorary guest professor at the University of International Relations (UIR) and the E-Commerce School of the Southwestern University of Finance & Economics (SWUFE) in China. Jeremy received his MBA with a concentration in MIS from Ohio University and his B.A. in Economics from Marietta College. Jeremy’s doctoral research interests focus on AI-powered recommendation agents and their affordances. He is also interested in e-commerce, autonomous technologies, social networks and mobile applications.

Read the Executive Ph.D. Profile of Jeremy Fei Wang

MIKE WETKLOW
COHORT 11

Mike Wetklow is a CPA with over 30 years of public service experience, including 17 years as a federal senior executive. His career has focused on financial management and auditing, with roles at the GAO, KPMG, and the Maryland Legislative Auditor's Office. This experience provided a foundation for his later work in modernizing policies and building control environments. 

At the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Mike led DHS in establishing internal controls for the newly formed agency following 9/11, helping to resolve material weaknesses and contribute to the department's first clean audit opinion. He also worked on government-wide financial policy at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and helped establish the federal government's first Enterprise Risk Management framework.  Later, at the National Science Foundation (NSF), he was involved in fintech initiatives, including the use of robotic process automation and the exploration of blockchain technology. He also co-authored a governmentwide CFO Council strategy for workforce modernization. As Chief Risk Officer at the IRS, he oversaw the agency's risk portfolio, supporting its AI initiatives and helping to ensure positive audit outcomes. 

He is now dedicated to training the next generation of accounting professionals as a Faculty Instructor at George Mason University, a role that builds on his prior experience as an adjunct professor since 2023 and reflects his ongoing commitment to public service and education.

STACIE WHITESIDES | MARKETING
COHORT 9 | DR. MARIO PANDELAERE

Stacie Whitesides works as a managing technology consultant within the professional services industry. Her career journey thus far, embodies a commitment to excellence and innovation. Born and raised in North Carolina, Stacie received her Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Master of Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University. With 15 years of experience serving both commercial and federal clients, Stacie has honed her expertise in Agile and Waterfall development methodologies, Program and Project management, and transformative business initiatives.  

With 15 years of experience serving both commercial and federal clients, Stacie has honed her expertise in Agile and Waterfall development methodologies, program and project management, and transformative business initiatives. Her relentless pursuit of delivering superior customer experiences and driving tangible business outcomes through emerging technologies has been a hallmark of her career. Stacie's passion for collaboration and strategic thinking has enabled her to forge strong partnerships with industry senior-level executives, working together to identify strategic opportunities and define program objectives. Her approach is not just about technological solutions but about crafting human-centered solutions that resonate with end users to drive meaningful impact. 

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Stacie is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she channels her commitment to service and community engagement. Through her volunteer efforts, she continues to make a positive difference in the lives of others, embodying the values of leadership, excellence, and service. 

LORI ZIEG
COHORT 11

Lori Zieg is a seasoned supply chain and procurement leader with extensive experience in the aerospace and defense industry. As Senior Manager of Supply Chain at L3Harris Technologies' Mason, Ohio, site, she is designing and executing a full supply chain stand-up in preparation for an upcoming corporate acquisition. Her previous experiences include beginning her career as a U.S. Air Force officer, transitioning to a contract negotiator role at Lockheed Martin, and later leading buying, procurement, and operations initiatives in multiple roles of increasing responsibility at GE Aerospace. 

 Lori also serves as an adjunct professor in the Master of Science in Analytics Program at Wittenberg University, teaching Statistics, Data Mining, and Data-Driven Decisions courses that blend professional experience with analytics expertise. 

 Outside of work, Lori serves her community on boards of both the Cincinnati String Project and the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. 

 Lori holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Business Administration from Miami University, and is currently pursuing a Business Executive Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. Known for her strategic mindset, Lori excels at optimizing procurement processes, building high-performing teams, and delivering measurable cost savings while meeting project timelines. 

HALLIE ZIMMERMAN | BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COHORT 9 | DR. FRANCE BÉLANGER

Hallie Zimmerman is a cybersecurity professional leading the Global Cyber Policy division at Northrop Grumman. With eight years of experience in the defense public sector and commercial industries, Hallie has gained distinction for her data-centric approaches to identify macro trends, improve information systems, and foster collaboration between technical and non- technical stakeholders across sectors.

Hallie's research on vulnerability resilience, process mining, and CMMC assessments has been highly regarded, with her recent work, CyMMCAA, earning her an invitation to present at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. Additionally, she was selected as one of the seven grant recipients of the COVA CCI (Commonwealth of Virginia Cybersecurity Initiative), conducting research on cybersecurity in the maritime industry. The sponsorship of her research has been upwards of US$50K. Hallie serves as a contributing member of ND-ISAC (National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center), CMMC Accreditation Body (Cyber AB), Aspen Digital (Aspen Institute), and SWE (Society of Women Engineers).

Hallie's educational background includes a B.S. degree from the University of Florida and an M.S. in Business Analytics from William & Mary. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in Business Information Technology at Virginia Tech, further expanding her breadth and depth within the field.

Hallie's ability to bridge technical complexities with organizational objectives has driven impactful change within the DIB community. Her leadership at Northrop Grumman's Global Cyber Policy division is crucial in sharing best practices within the global policy and supply chain ecosystem while safeguarding sensitive information. With her expertise in quantitative analysis and systematic design thinking, Hallie's mission is to drive digital transformation that connects, and protects, organizations and society.