Prime Controls Inc. in Dayton has hired Beth Graves as marketing manager. Graves will be responsible for brand management, company communications, market research, distribution expansion strategy, as well as sales and engineering support. She joins the Prime Controls team from Clearwire Corp. and also previously held a marketing position at Rittal Corp. Graves has a bachelor's degree in business from Wright State University and is currently pursuing an MBA.

Angela Yake is one of 65 fellows selected for the inaugural class of the Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellowship. Yake received a $30,000 stipend to complete a special intensive master’s program at the University of Cincinnati. Every fellow makes a commitment to teach for at least three years in a high-need urban or rural school in the state of Ohio.

Brian Lawrence has been promoted to the position manager accountant at Clark Schaefer Hackett accounting firm.

Stephanie Jergens has been promoted to the position senior accountant at Clark Schaefer Hackett accounting firm.

Dustin Tobe has been promoted to the position staff level II accountant at Clark Schaefer Hackett accounting firm.

Dennis Mullins has been named a senior portfolio manager for U.S. Bank’s Institutional Asset Management Group. Mullins is responsible for providing customized investment solutions for U.S. Bank Institutional Trust & Custody clients, making use of strategic and tactical asset allocation, income and growth strategies, including equities, fixed income, commodities and real estate, and both traditional and alternative investments.

Kevin St. John is executive director of Wright Nursing and Rehabilitation in Fairborn, Ohio. A Licensed Nursing Home Administrator,
he has managed long-term care facilities in Celina, Ohio, and Columbus, Ohio.

Swadeep Nigam (M.B.A., ’86 M.S.) was appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval to the State of Nevada’s Equal Rights Commission. Nigam has worked for the Las Vegas Water District for 20 years. Prior to that, he was a financial manager for a national home health care company. Nigam has over 30 years of experience in accounting, finance, economics, and investment management. Along with his regular volunteer work with numerous organizations, he established a scholarship program at the Nevada Policy Research Institute for graduating high school students in Clark County.

Three Raj Soin College of Business accountancy alumni were recognized at the Dayton Business Journal’s 2011 “CFO of the Year” awards. Read More

Steven J. Heitbrink has been promoted to Vice President of  Engineering & Business Development for Pentaflex, Inc., a Springfield-based contract manufacturer of metal stampings and assemblies, primarily for the Class 8 truck and trailer industry. Steven has been with Pentaflex for nine years and has over 25 years of manufacturing industry experience.

Swindon, Springer & Co. Inc., CPAs in Tipp City has hired Elisabeth Cress, CPA, as a staff accountant. Cress has more than four years experience primarily in financial audits of privately closely-held companies and retirement plan audits. She is a graduate of Wright State University.

Dr. David A. Gilliam has been appointed Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Dr. David A. Gilliam's research interests focus on boundary spanner issues for salespeople and service workers, especially those regarding communication and relationships.

He received a Ph.D. from the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University this year and holds an MBA from Wright State University and a B.A. degree in economics from Ohio University. Prior to graduate school, he spent four years as a field representative for Heidelberg Eastern Inc., Division of East Asiatic Corp. in Copenhagen, Denmark, and then 17 years in an Ohio-based entrepreneurial venture in the graphic arts machinery industry.

Nicole Theisen (B.S.B '08 Finance & '11 MBA)
Source: Dayton Business Journal, 29 July 2011

Nicole Theisen, CFP, a senior financial planner with Buckingham Capital, has received a master's degree of business administration through Wright State University with a concentration in finance. (Dayton Business Journal, 29 July 2011)

Mohammad Khalil (B.S.B '10 Accountancy)
Source: Dayton Business Journal, 29 July 2011

Brady Ware has hired Mohammad Khalil as a staff accountant. Khalil has a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Wright State University. (Dayton Business Journal, 18 March 2011)

Becky Jantonio, Senior Development Specialist for the City of Dayton's Office of Economic Development, works with business owners and entrepreneurs. She matches business owners with venture capitalists and helps gain entry into mentoring programs. Jantonio holds a bachelor's degree in management and a master's in business administration from Wright State University.

Zachary Allen (B.S.B. ’06) received the Recent Graduate Award. Allen, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Wright State, is a commercial and life insurance producer for Trojan Insurance. He has increased their business and revenue bookings nearly 18 percent since last August. Allen also has assisted his alma mater with corporate appeal initiatives.

Day Air Credit Union has hired Scott Rife as a mortgage loan originator. Rife is responsible for helping those seeking home mortgages as well as those looking to refinance. He has a bachelor's degree from Wright State University.

Engineering Inc. has hired Jerry DePoy as an account manager and sales engineer. DePoy has many years experience as a sale engineer, account manager and applications engineer. He has a bachelor's degree in manufacturing engineering from Miami University and a MBA from Wright State University.

Scott Miller named as the new general manager of City Utilities of Springfield

Scott Miller has been the Associate General Manager for Electric Supply at City Utilities of Springfield (CU) and has been with the Utility since 2002. His current responsibilities include the safe, reliable and efficient operations of the electric generating system, electric dispatch/market interface, transmission planning, generation planning and fuel procurement for the generating assets. Scott also is a member of the CU Executive Committee and is involved with the overall management of the Utility through involvement on the key oversight committees of Project Steering (budget), Compensation (Human Resource/employee performance), Information Technology Steering (Chair), Natural Gas Options (customer risk management) and Compliance. Key accomplishments include:

- Successful management and completion of the $555M Southwest 2 Project

- Management of The Energy Authority (Board and Settlement Committee)

- Smoky Hills 50 MW wind generation contract in 2009

- Completion of the Noble Hill Landfill Renewable Energy Center in 2006

- McCartney Peaking Station in 2002

- Chair of the Board and Executive Committee for Missouri Public Utility Alliance

- Responsible for 211 personnel with an annual budget of $190M

Prior to City Utilities, Scott was the Director of Steam Generation for The Dayton Power and Light Company where he served on the Executive Committee. Responsibilities included the management of a 3,000 MW generating asset fleet and coordination of another 1,250 MW of generation across three states with asset partners. Key accomplishments included:

- Successful completion of a system-wide environmental capital program of $190M

- Management of 460 employees with annual operating budgets of $70M

Scott's educational and background experiences are extensive and supportive of his career in the utility business.

- MBA, Finance, Wright State University

- Professional Engineers License

- Executive “Mini” MBA, University of Michigan

- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

- U.S. Air Force, Honorable Discharge

Throughout Scott's career, he has been an active member of each community he has worked.

Shawn Michael Haas (B.S.B.) and his wife, Sara, own and operate Evergreen Farm, a 15-acre horse boarding facility in Cincinnati. Haas is vice president for International Theme Park Services, Inc. (ITPS). With ITPS, he has been invovled in opening numerous parks and attractions worldwide, including the Newport Aquarium and the Purple People Bridge Climb.

Douglas Allen Talmage (BSB' 88 Accountancy )

Douglas Talmage (B.S.B.) completed a specialized educational program in professional divorce analysis and is now a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst ™ (CDFA™). Talmage is one of only two CDFA™ professionals in Dayton, Ohio. He is an owner of Pohlman & Talmage CPAs, Inc.

Gerald Martin (M.B.A.) was appointed to the board of directors of the Louisville branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Martin is vice president and member of River Hill Capital, LLC, in Louisville, Kentucky. He also serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Louisville Water Company and is a member of the board of directors of Concord Custom Cleaners.

Robert J. Blommel (B.S.B. '82)- Accountancy & Finance
Source: Dayton Business Journal , 1 May 2011

Jon Ramey (B.S.B. ’95)- Financial Services
Source: Dayton Business Journal , 29 April 2011

Smeeks named chief medical officer at Bon Secours St. Francis

Dr.Frank C. Smeeks has been named chief medical Officer, senior vice president, medical affairs for Bon Secours St. Francis Health System of Greenville. Currently, Smeeks is chief medical officer with Frye Regional Medical Center, Hickory, N.C., a 355-bed acute care health system with an 81 bed psychiatric campus.

Prior to that, Smeeks practiced as a board certified emergency physician with Mountain Emergency Physicians. His first leadership role in medicine was managing partner of Mountain Emergency Physicians, Morganton, N.C., an independent emergency medicine physician group serving five N.C. hospitals. His educational background includes degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University (BS); Penn State University (MS); East Carolina University (MBA); medical training at Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN; and residency in emergency medicine at Wright State University, Dayton, OH.

Mark Nantz, CEO, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System said, “After a national search producing extremely well-qualified candidates, Dr. Smeeks’ outstanding background and experience has distinguished him as a strategic physician leader ready to make valuable contributions to St. Francis.”. Smeeks is a fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians and is active in leadership roles with that organization. Smeeks will join Bon Secours St. Francis at the end of May.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7317 or ttresslar@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Two Alumni Honored at Upcoming Forty Under Forty Awards on May 12

Matt Watson (B.S.B. ’07)- Accounting & Management Information Systems & MBA '08

James Investment Research Inc. has promoted Matt Watson to research associate. Watson will be responsible for research, operations, and compliance. He has been with James Investment since 2007 when he began as an intern while receiving his degree in accounting and finance from Wright State University. Watson also has a master's degree in accountancy from Wright State and is a designated Certified Public Accountant.

Melissa Behymer (B.S.B. ’03)- Accounting & Management Information Systems

Melissa has been promoted to manager. Behymer, who has more than 11 years of consumer finance experience and works in the audit department, has a bachelor's degree in accounting and management information systems from Wright State University.

Shannon Grissom (B.S.B. ’08 & MBA ’10)

Shannon recently accepted a position as Senior Marketing Operations Specialist at Luxottica Retail. It is the parent company for LensCrafters, Pearle Vision and similar optical stores. Shannon works in the vision insurance department called EyeMed, supporting the sales team in benefit package bids. Shannon received her bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing from Wright State University as well as her master’s degree in business administration.

Lea Ann Stevenson (B.S.B '86)- Operations Management

Larry Meyers (MBA '06)- Business

Beth Ney (MBA '08)- Business and Rich Anglin (B.S.B '82)- Accounting

Richard Kaiser (B.S.B '10)- Marketing

Paul Brennan (B.S.B '89)- Accounting and Finance

Tom Wamsley (MBA ’09)

Tom Wamsley joined the School of Information as director of development and alumni relations in January. An experienced development professional with six years in higher education fundraising, Wamsley most recently was director of development for the Raj Soin College of Business a Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Prior to joining Wright State, Wamsley had been vice president of institutional advancement at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio and director of development, East Coast Region, for the University of Dayton. He has also worked in development for the AIDS Resource Center and as a political fundraiser in Dayton.
In 2008 he was named one of Dayton’s “Forty-Under-Forty” by the Dayton Business Journal. He holds a BA in political science from Ohio University and an MBA from Wright State University.

Sundaram Nagarajan (MBA '03)- Management
Source: pr-usa.net, August 6, 2010

Illinois Tool Works Inc. announced that its board of directors has elected Sundaram Nagarajan ("Naga") executive vice president, with responsibility for the company's global welding businesses.
Nagarajan, 47, has been with ITW for 19 years and has held a series of engineering and management roles within the company's welding businesses. Most recently, he served as group president, welding international. He holds a bachelor of science degree from South Gujarat University, India, a master of science and Ph.D. from Auburn University and an MBA from Wright State University.
"I am pleased to welcome Naga to ITW's senior leadership team," said David B. Speer, chairman and chief executive officer. "His proven management and leadership skills will serve him well in his new role, especially as ITW's welding business continues to grow and expand its global footprint."
With $13.9 billion in 2009 revenues, ITW is a multi-national manufacturer of a diversified range of value-adding and short-lead time industrial products and equipment. The company consists of nearly 800 business units in 57 countries and employs approximately 59,000 people.

L. Tarlton Thomas III (B.S.B. ’93 Finance)
Source: Dayton Business Journal, July 12, 2010

CareSource has promoted L. Tarlton Thomas III to chief financial officer. Thomas previously was vice president of finance and interim CFO. He has more than 17 years of financial leadership experience. Prior to joining CareSource in2007, he was part of the finance team at Standard Register. Thomas is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Wright State University.

Bill Budde (MBA ‘06)- International Business & Finance
Source: Assembly Magazine, October 21, 2010. An excerpt follows of an article on “Budde on Assembly Automation: What Makes a Good Specification?”

A 20-year veteran of the assembly automation industry, Bill Budde is regional director for corporate business development at Assembly & Test Worldwide Inc. in Dayton, OH. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Kettering University and a master's degree in international business and finance from Wright State University.

Mariesa Stock (B.S.B. '11 MIS & Management)
Source: Dayton Daily News- Online, October 21, 2010. An excerpt follow of an article on "Volunteer, Organizer Eager to Raise Funds to Fight Cancer"

Mariesa Stock is the chairwoman of the upcoming American Cancer Society Bark for Life mini-relay fundraiser. The event is a pet friendly spin off of the Relay for Life and features dogs and their owners walking a mile route to earn money for the American Cancer Society.

“I learned to volunteer, because my mother did a lot of volunteering,” Stock said, who worked in accounts payable at WorkflowOne for four years before leaving to study management information systems and management at Wright State University. “My goal is to work for a nonprofit organization after I graduate.”

In 2009, Stock decided to recruit friends and coworkers to walk in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life after reading a brochure about the event. Her team raised more than $1,000 during the 24-hour fundraiser.

Christopher Moyer (B.S.B. ’86) – Operations Management
Source: Dayton Business Journal, January 29, 2010

Christopher Moyer, professor of business administration at Thomas More College, recently joined the board of Wright State University’s alumni association and was appointed president of the Greater Cincinnati Wright State University Alumni Network.

Rob Rutherford (B.S.B. ’91) – Financial Services
Source: Dayton Business Journal, June 18, 2010

DayMet Credit Union Inc. has appointed Rob Rutherford as chief lending officer. Rutherford has more than 18 years experience in management, business development, consumer and business lending. He has a bachelor’s degree in financial services from Wright State University.

Jeff Lightner (B.S.B ’96) - Marketing
Source: Dayton Business Journal, February 5, 2010

Jeff Lightner has become a principal of the Brower Insurance Agency LLC. Lightner joined Brower as a property and casualty insurance agent in 2004 and has 15 years experience in the industry. A graduate of Wright State University, Lightner sits on the Wright State University Foundation Board, is a member of the Professional Insurance Agents Association, Society of Certified Insurance Counselors and the Dayton Rotary Club.

Brian Minchew  (MBA ’02) - Marketing
Source: Dayton Business Journal, April 2, 2010

Lastar Inc. has promoted Brian Minchew to director of sales for its newly launched SI-VAR sales division. This group will pursue business with AV and IT systems integrators and resellers. Minchew previously grew Lastar’s audio- video sales team and expanded distribution channels for Lastar’s Cables to Go business unit. Minchew has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Dayton and a master’s degree in business administration from Wright State University.

Joseph Drayer  (B.S.B. ’04) – Business Economics
Source: Dayton Business Journal, December 11, 2009

The December Generation Dayton Professional of the Month is Joseph Drayer. Drayer is a wireless broadband account executive for P&R Communications. Drayer is involved in Generation Dayton, Knights of Columbus, A Special Wish Foundation, Church of the Incarnation High School Religious Education and its young adult ministry. Drayer is a past volunteer for the Washington Township Fire Department, as well as the Bacchanalian Society of Greater Dayton

Mohammed Khalil (B.S.B. '10) - Accounting & Finance
Source: Dayton Business Journal, March 16, 2011

Brady Ware has hired Mohammed Khalil as staff accountant. Khalil has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Wright State University.

David Schwinn -(MBA '71) - Management

Lynn Donaldson (MBA '82) – Accountancy
Source: Dayton Business Journal, April 15, 2011

The city of Dayton has promoted Lynn Donaldson to deputy director of the law department. Donaldson has worked 21 years for the city, including four years as a senior city attorney. He has a bachelor's degree and master's degree in business administration from Wright State University and a law degree from the Ohio State University.

Michael Freeman (MBA '00) – Business Administration
Source: Dayton Business Journal, April 22, 2011

Mercy Siena Retirement Community in Dayton has hired Michael Freeman as executive director. Freeman has 18 years of long term care experience and 11 years in the nonprofit sector. He has an undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and a master's degree in business administration from Wright State University.

Sgt. Richard Albers (B.S.B. ’89) – Marketing
Source: Dayton Business Journal, April 22, 2011

The Ohio State Patrol has promoted Sgt. Richard Albers to the rank of lieutenant. Albers will transfer from the Wapakoneta Post to be commander at the Piqua Post. He has a bachelor's degree in marketing from Wright State University.

L. Tarlton Thomas III (B.S.B. ’93) – Finance
Source: Dayton Business Journal, April 22, 2011

Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley has added L. Tarlton Thomas III to its board of trustees. Thomas works at CareSource where oversees regulatory reporting, financial forecasting and projections. He has 18 years of financial leadership experience, including 15 years with the Standard Register Co. Thomas has bachelor degrees in accounting and finance from Wright State University.

David Schwinn -(MBA '71)- Management

David Schwinn is a full-time professor of management at Lansing Community College and a part-time consultant in the college's Small Business and Technology Development Center. He is also a consultant in systems and organizational development with InGenius and INTERACT Associates, and an associate of PQ Systems (www.pqsystems.com)

Schwinn worked at Ford's corporate quality office and worked with Dr. W. Edwards Demind beginning in the early 1980's until Deming's death. Schwinn is a professional engineer with an MBA from Wright State University.

Irene Patterson -Marketing
Source: Dayton Business Journal, June 11, 2011

Shook National Corp. has hired Irene Patterson as a marketing intern. Patterson will be responsible for assisting the business development group with its marketing. Patterson has an associate's degree in business administration from Sinclair Community College. She is a senior at Wright State University studying marketing.

Jack Turner (B.A. '07) -Communication Studies
Source: Dayton Business Journal, June 11, 2011

Turner Property Services Group Inc. has hired one and made several promotions. Jack Turner has been promoted to assist in the property management division. Turner, who joined the firm three years ago in the maintenance division, is a graduate of Wright State University.

Mohammed Khalil (B.S.B. '10) - Accounting & Finance
Source: Dayton Business Journal, March 16, 2011

Brady Ware has hired Mohammed Khalil as staff accountant. Khalil has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Wright State University.