 Cheryl Valentine (BS'86) As the Vice President of Rock Promotion at Epic Records, Cheryl Valentine has become a force for bringing bands, such as Korn, Incubus, Mudvayne and Chevelle, into the mainstream. The dream job for any metal head in college, Valentine always knew this was what she wanted.
She started out as the metal director for radio station WWSU. “It was all part of my plan to work in the music business,” said Valentine. Interviewed by phone from her office in New York City, she vividly remembers her first trip to music-industry central.
“I went to New York for a New Music Seminar,” Valentine recalls, “and met as many record company folks as I could. Then I moved here just to make sure they knew I was serious. So when someone would ask me, ‘When can you start?’ I could say, ‘Right now!’”
Valentine’s love of rock and roll, and metal bands in particular, blossomed at home at an early age. “I guess it started with my brother, blasting out the speakers in our living room playing Black Sabbath. I remember listening to albums in the farthest room in the house, so I wouldn’t drive everyone crazy,” she says. “And I was so distracted by the music, my mom always had to call me to dinner.”
She credits her years at Wright State with much of her success today. “The biggest thing college allows you to do is make all your mistakes early,” said Valentine. “You can screw up and fall on your face, and still be okay.”
But what could Wright State possibly teach anyone about a career in the high-powered music industry? “First of all, organization. Second, people skills. If I can’t relate to a program director, how can I get them to spin a record?”
Today, Valentine arranges “meet-and-greets” for her clients, and ticket giveaways for radio stations across the country. “Touring is a big part of this business,” she said, “but the main idea is getting records spun – and then getting them spun some more.”
She loves bringing new groups to the public’s attention, but she still has time for the older metal bands. In January, she spent two weeks squiring Judas Priest’s lead singer, Rob Halford, on a six-city publicity swing before joining his band mates for their European tour. Immediately afterward, Mudvayne’s new album debuted, keeping Valentine – as always – happily distracted by the music.
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 David R. McSemek (BS'82) is a senior vice president of investments in the Dayton office of Smith Barney, the nation’s second largest retail brokerage firm. A Certified Financial Planner, McSemek previously served as resident manager of Smith Barney’s Dayton Branch until 1996. He also is a member of the firm’s Alchemist Club, a group of leading investment management consultants. Away from work, McSemek has served on the board of trustees of United Rehabilitation Services, and also is active in the Dayton Boys/Girls Club. McSemek was recently inducted into the WSU Hall of Fame for his tennis prowess. He remains involved with Wright State, fundraising for the new Raj Soin Trading Center for the School of Business. McSemek and his wife Sandy reside in Beavercreek with their four children. | |
 Mandi McKinley (B.S.B'03,M.Acc'04) is a financial specialist for the Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She was hired as a full-time employee with AFRL in January 2005 after completing a co-op for the organization that began in April 2004.
McKinley’s responsibilities include working on special projects related to the headquarters’ financial management of the research labs, gathering data to be sent to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, and distributing information to the technical directorates regarding obligations and expenditures.
AFRL is a full-spectrum laboratory, responsible for planning and executing the Air Force’s entire science and technology budget, basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development. AFRL’s partners include the Air Force major commands that operate and maintain the full spectrum of Air Force weapons systems
Mandi and her husband of three years recently moved back to their hometown of New Carlisle, where they enjoy being close to family and getting involved in the community.
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 Stacey Barhorst (B.S.B.'02,M.Acc'03) experienced what it would be like to work for the largest independent certified public accounting firm in Dayton as a intern at Battelle & Battelle during her senior year at Wright State. The job helped focus her career goals, and spurred her on to pursue a Master of Accountancy degree from WSU. She proved to be on the right track: upon graduation she was offered a full-time position with Battelle as a staff accountant.
Stacy explains that the firm provides accounting, auditing, taxation, and various business consulting services, while her duties involve primarily assisting with audit engagements. “I have experience with tax engagements as well,” she says. “My Wright State education undoubtedly prepared me for a successful future in the accounting profession.”
In fact, the future has never looked brighter for the Tipp City resident: In November 2003, she passed all four parts of the state CPA exam on her first attempt, placing her 9th in the state of Ohio.
“This accomplishment was the first of many goals that I would like to achieve in the accounting profession,” she says. “Now, as a certified public accountant, I would like to continue advancing my career in public accounting, perhaps ultimately becoming partner of a firm.”
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 JoAnn B. Martin (MBA'83) is the chief financial officer of Summit Insurance Company, a health insurance company that Martin was instrumental in forming and managing. After graduating from Wright State, Martin worked as a financial analyst for Dayton Power and Light, and then as a staff accountant for Children’s Medical Center. In 1983, she joined Upper Valley Medical Center, starting out as a staff accountant and was then promoted to director of accounting services and then controller. As CFO of Summit Insurance Company, which is owned by Upper Valley Medical Center, she currently is responsible for all major fiscal transactions and also for about half of the company’s departments. A contributor to the Raj Soin School of Business, Martin also utilizes the Wright State placement office for potential job candidates due to the high caliber of its graduates. Martin is married and lives in Oakwood with her husband Terry, her nephew Aaron, her niece Liz and her cat Bacall. She is a member of Oakwood United Methodist Church. | |
 M. Randall Thaman (B.S.'77) is the President/CEO of Marketing Research Services, Inc. in Cincinnati. Thaman joined MRSI in 1984 and then purchased the company from the founder in 1989. Under Thaman’s leadership, MRSI has been recognized as one of the fastest growing marketing research firms over the past five years. MRSI’s success is based on its ability to identify business opportunities for our clients through the use of marketing research. The company’s clients include many industry leaders including Kellogg, Eli Lilly, Heinz, P&G, McDonalds and many others. MRSI’s expertise in new product research has helped our clients launch many successful new products. In spring 2005, the company is launching Enfoque, a complete research system to measure the Hispanic marketplace. Prior to MRSI, Thaman worked for Heublein and Burke Marketing Research. Thaman will be one of several alumni participating in Wright State’s Student-Alumni Communications Luncheon in April. He lives in Verona, Kentucky, and is married, has four children and is a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Milton, Kentucky. | |
 Tom Roddy (B.S.'76) is a vice president in the Dayton office of Legg Mason, a national investment management firm headquartered in Baltimore, MD. After graduating from Wright State with a degree in accounting, Roddy worked for Deloitte Touche for ten years, rising to manager in charge of the Dayton/Cincinnati management consulting practice. In 1986, he joined Wright State as the associate vice president for business and finance, i.e., chief financial officer and treasurer. In 1994, Roddy, a certified public accountant, went back into private practice, specializing in investment and financial management services for retirement plans and private clients. At Legg Mason, Roddy was recently honored as a top consultant in the firm’s investment consulting group for fee-based-only business. In 1971, Roddy married Joan Meyerhoefer, also a WSU alumna, and now a partner with the Thompson Hine law firm. The Roddys spend their free time riding horses and Harleys. | |
 Richard Greenwald (B.S.'78) After two years in the Navy, Richard Greenwald enrolled in the College of Business, attending classes at night while working a full time day job, earning his degree in management in 1978. Subsequent career moves included working for Computer Task Group in Houston as a systems development project manager and as a marketing rep at AGS, a large IT consulting firm in Houston.
All the while, he was learning the consulting business, which evolved in 1994 into his own business. Greenwald & Company places contract programmers at companies that need temporary systems development help. Greenwald’s WSU education gave him the confidence, and the knowledge-of marketing, accounting, business law, and personnel management-to price his services competitively, treat people fairly and grow his business. Greenwald does all his own marketing, keeps his own accounting records, and writes his own contracts with his consultants and his client companies. And the contracts always pass muster with attorneys.
Some of Greenwald’s consultants have worked for him since he started, a sign that he practices good personnel management. "I believe that Wright State’s business curriculum is one the most comprehensive and best-taught in America. My education at Wright State is still paying off."
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