Alumni News Portal
Share your good news with us so that fellow alumni can see what you're up to. Tell us about your professional and personal accomplishments. Examples include promotions, awards, volunteer activities, advanced degrees, new ventures, publications, or family news.
2020 - 2029
2010 - 2019
Devam Shah
('17
Marketing)
Devam Shah is a Director at B M Paper Packaging. The company manufactures bulk packaging products for industrial use, such as paper bags and paper board drums. They pride themselves on being eco-friendly because their products are biodegradable. The company recently announced a new product called 'paper fabric bag'. This is an eco-friendly bulk packing bag for all industries that manufacture powder based products. It is an alternative to plastic bags and also is long-lasting in terms of durability. B M Paper Packaging has exported bags to various continents already, and industries have started implementing our 'paper fabric bag'.
Date posted: Dec 10, 2019
Ethan Durham
('14
Finance)
Ethan Durham and his co-founder Alex Jekowsky developed Ulyngo, a student marketplace platform that universities would buy and offer on campus. The purpose is to ensure college students can safely buy and sell products from their peers, As a software developer, Ethan built the software behind the marketplace. Ulyngo was sold to Modo Labs in 2019; both Ethan and Alex have stayed on as directors at Modo, and were selected as Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees!
Date posted: Dec 11, 2019
Alexander Rice
('12
Marketing)
AJ Rice is the Founder & CEO of Privo Mobile, a tech startup making dumb phones designed for kids with a modern user experience and interface. The idea is that parents can keep in touch with their kids without giving them unfettered access to the internet. Privo Mobile officially launched to the public and is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter.
Date posted: Jan 9, 2020
Sneha Sundaram
('10
MBA)
Sneha Sundaram is pleased to announce the launch of her debut book, 'Sunshine Blooms and Haiku', which is available on Amazon.
Date posted: Nov 19, 2019
2000 - 2009
George Benham
('08
MBA)
George recently began his two-year term as president of the Smeal Alumni Society Board, where he will lead the Board in identifying ways to engage Smeal alumni with the college.
Date posted: Nov 6, 2019
Andrew Moses
('07
Accounting)
Andrew Moses officially announced the launch of a new media platform, Everybody Pulls The Tarp (www.everybodypullsthetarp.com). Everybody Pulls The Tarp illuminates the stories behind successful leaders who contribute far beyond the boundaries of their job description and features one-on-one conversations with leaders in business, sports, and media. You can find the content at www.everybodypullsthetarp.com as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Date posted: May 29, 2020
Michael Cocco
('05
Economics)
Mike is the Managing Partner of Beacon Wealth Partners, a wealth management and financial advisory firm, in Northern New Jersey. Mike has recently been a contributor in Barron's, as well as in the Newark Star-Ledger and NJ.com, sharing financial advice. He lives in Montclair, NJ with his wife Katie and their children, Rosie and Charlie. They currently have a family scholarship through Smeal to help support the college's diversity programs.
Date posted: Dec 12, 2019
Ryan Weber
('03
Economics)
Miami, FL – Ryan C. Weber, Senior Vice President with Raymond James & Associates, member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC, was recently named to the Forbes list of America’s Top 250 Next-Generation Wealth Advisors, which recognizes advisors from national, regional and independent firms.
Date posted: Dec 12, 2019
John Peterson
('03
Marketing)
The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County held is 2019 Excellence Awards Dinner at the Nittany Lion Inn, on December 12th, 2019. Multiple businesses and individuals were honored recently with 2019 Excellence Awards from the CBICC. Recipients were recognized among nearly 350 peers in attendance. John Peterson was honored with an "employee of the year" through his help with the community in economic development and helping area businesses grow within his role at the Penn State Small Business Development Center.
Date posted: Dec 20, 2019
Brian Richardson
('03
Accounting)
Brian Richardson was named to the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 for 2020. He is the executive vice president and CFO of Univest Financial Corporation. Brian was promoted to Executive Vice President and Director of Finance in January 2018. In July 2019, he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Univest Financial Corporation and Univest Bank and Trust Co.
Date posted: May 14, 2020
David Maaskant
('02
Marketing)
David Maaskant was named as a 40 Under Forty honoree by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) for 2020! David wishes to recognize and thank NACVA and their instructors for providing unparalleled support and education to valuation professionals, noting that the organization gives professionals the tools to grow their business and support their clients in a rapidly changing environment. David is very proud to be part of this organization and appreciates the recognition.
Date posted: Sep 22, 2020
1990 - 1999
Anne Louise Cropp
('99
MBA)
In 2014, Anne Louise joined the Smeal College of Business as a development writer/editor. She was promoted earlier this year and is currently the Associate Director of Development Communications for the college.
Date posted: Nov 6, 2019
Betsy (Dudinyak) Kiss
('93
Finance)
After spending 24 years with Marriott International in a variety of Finance and Human Resources positions, Betsy (Dudinyak) Kiss recently started in a new role with JBG SMITH, as Senior Vice President, Talent Management. In this position she has oversight of talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, training, and performance management.
Date posted: May 25, 2020
Douglas Dolfman
('90
Management)
Douglas celebrated his 25th anniversary of practicing criminal defense law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Law Offices of Douglas Dolfman serves the needs of individuals who have been charged with a crime in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Douglas is proud to have represented thousands of clients over the years, working diligently for their rights.
Date posted: Nov 6, 2019
Robert Emrich
('90
Accounting)
Rob Emrich was approved as a board member on the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) Foundation Board. Details of the board, its mission and outreach can be found on the Board's website. Rob is pleased and honored to be serving on this board as well as serving on the Smeal Alumni Society Board as an at-large director.
Date posted: Jan 15, 2020
1980 - 1989
Michelle Harmon-Madsen
('89
Marketing)
Michelle Harmon-Madsen was appointed chief marketing officer of AccuWeather in March 2020. In this role, Michelle drives the implementation of a cohesive strategic marketing vision and execution plan, strengthening brand awareness, reach, relevance, impact and analytics. She oversees all functions related to advertising, promotional campaigns, websites, branding strategies, marketing of new products and services, public relations, social media and CRM programs.
Date posted: May 14, 2020
Brian Dreibelbis
('85
Supply Chain/Operations Management)
Brian Dreibelbis is a nationally recognized company labor leader with organizations such as US LERN. Since 2013, Brian served on numerous US House of Representative and US Senate subcommittees to lead an effort to solve the nation’s Multiemployer Pension Crisis. Recently, Brian reached a unique agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to adopt a Company Defined Contribution Plan Pension replacement, this is a first of its kind in US Labor History. Brian is currently travelling to to Washington, DC frequently to begin educating key congressional leaders on this approach as a potential solve on a national basis.
Date posted: Dec 12, 2019
Brian Lynch
('81
Accounting)
Brian W. Lynch formed a consulting firm, BWL Associates LLC, providing world class expertise to clients. Brian's firm provides guidance on crisis management planning, training, and public relations solutions, as well as active shooter/workplace safety programs and training. His firm provides best-in-class investigative services on white collar crime/financial matters. Brian also provides guidance on the development of global security programs and security command center operations. Brian had a distinguished career as a Special Agent in the FBI, having retired after 22 years. Brian recently retired from Vanguard, after 10 years, having served as its Head of Global Security.
Date posted: May 16, 2020
Glenn Newman
('80
Accounting)
Newman Forensics is celebrating its fourth year in operation serving attorneys and their clients with forensic accounting services typically associated with analyzing economic damages involving commercial disputes. These disputes involve calculating losses of profits, reasonable royalties, shareholder value, and cost reimbursements. Underlying causes of actions include infringements of intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets), breaches of contracts, construction defaults and delays, professional negligence, acquisitions and shareholder disputes, assertions of fraud, among others. Mr. Newman has provided expert testimony under oath on approximately 150 occasions, and is a nationally recognized speaker on forensic accounting and economic damage topics.
Date posted: Dec 11, 2019
1970 - 1979
Stephen Kossayian
('79
Business Logistics)
Long-time freight-management service leaders, Hybrid Transit Systems (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Business Transportation Solutions (Stoughton, Wisconsin) have joined forces as Travero Logistics. Shippers of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies, have relied on Travero Logistics for customized freight solutions. Stephen Kossayian is the compliance and logistics manager with Travero Logistics, LLC.
Date posted: Aug 5, 2020