W. P. Carey Autumn 2023 logo

W.P. Carey Autumn 2023

20th Anniversary
Autumn 2023
W. P. Carey Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
The W. P. Carey School of Business acknowledges the 22 Tribal Nations that have inhabited this land for centuries. Four of Arizona State University’s campuses are located in the Salt River Valley on ancestral homelands of many Indigenous peoples, including the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa), whose care and keeping of these lands allows us to be here today and provides a guide for our relationship with these lands in the future. W. P. Carey acknowledges the sovereignty of these tribal nations and seeks to foster an environment of success and possibility for American Indian students, and to work alongside Indigenous people in business practices and knowledges that support Native experiences and prosperity.

Dean’s Letter

To the W. P. Carey community,
Ohad Kadan posing for a photo
It’s hard to believe a year has passed since I began my position as dean of the W. P. Carey School. I have learned so much over that time, and I am incredibly grateful to the Sun Devil community for welcoming me and working alongside me to further strengthen and grow the school.

Even more amazing is the 20 years that have passed since our landmark naming gift from the W. P. Carey Foundation. From historic enrollment to rankings excellence, the support we receive from the W. P. Carey Foundation is crucial to our ongoing success. The story and celebration of that partnership are the focus of this issue of W. P. Carey magazine.

While this issue takes an in-depth look at the past 20 years, we also pull out our telescope to the future. Learn more about some of our new programs, including the exciting new School of Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship launching at ASU’s West campus. And read about the impacts our alumni are creating across industries and geographies. With more than 120,000 graduates, the W. P. Carey School of Business has a far-reaching network of influence and support across the globe.

I am honored to count you as part of the W. P. Carey community and hope to see you soon.

Regards,

A digital signature mark of Ohad Kadan
Ohad Kadan, Dean
W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business
Charles J. Robel Dean’s Chair
W. P. Carey School of Business
Arizona State University
P.S.
Coincidentally, this is also the 20th edition of W. P. Carey magazine. Tag us on LinkedIn and let us know what you enjoyed in this issue.

Overheard From Alumni

Members of the W. P. Carey community share their pride in the school.
Editor’s note: Posts have been edited for length and clarity

Corinne (Weyrens) Windett

(BS Operations/Production Management ’60)

W. P. Carey is well known in the world of colleges and business, so I’m proud that I earned a degree from ASU. I returned for the 50th reunion and was surprised at how much the campus and the business school have grown. I am proud to be a Sun Devil!

Debra (Moran) Burson

(BS Management ’77)

ASU is a very progressive school, and it’s come a long way since I was there. Both my son and daughter were also business majors. The classes were fantastic. I’ve always thought very highly of ASU; it’s a great school.

Craig Thomas Johnston

(BS Marketing ’80)

I went to ASU knowing they had a good business school. There were several professors who I admired. The W. P. Carey School opened my mind to different thoughts and points of view. The marketing degree helped me in my pursuits within business. It gave me the background to pursue sales and marketing. I went into marketing about 40 years ago. I’m a director of marketing for a company now.

Joel Calandreli

(BS Finance ’01)

W. P. Carey was well known around the country as one of the top business schools, so it was a very easy choice to select. I have two brothers, and we all graduated from W. P. Carey in 2001. It was a big deal within the family at that time. It was a cool experience because my brothers and I could take some of the same classes at the same time. We were able to leverage and learn from each other.

Paul “Jason” Burke

(BS Finance ’07, MBA ’13)

There’s an incredible amount of camaraderie among ASU graduates. There’s a sense of pride when I hear that W. P. Carey is one of the top MBA programs in the country.

Justin clement

(BS Supply Chain Management ’11, MBA ’20)

My dad took most of his undergraduate business classes in the Business Administration building while the BA C-Wing (BAC) was under construction. I took most of my undergrad business classes in BAC while McCord Hall was under construction. I returned several years later to earn my MBA in McCord.

w. p. carey logo
W. P. CAREY MAGAZINE
Volume 11, Issue 1, Autumn 2023

Ohad Kadan
Dean, W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair
in Business, Charles J. Robel Dean’s Chair

Colin Boyd
Executive Director, Marketing and Communications

Sarah Allender
Director of Alumni Engagement

Theresa Shaw
Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

W. P. Carey Alumni
wpcarey.asu.edu/alumni

Facebook
facebook.com/wpcareyschool

LinkedIn
wpcarey.asu.edu/linkedin

Managing Editor
Shay Moser

Senior Creative Director
Tim Debevec

Photographers
Shelley Valdez,
W. Scott Mitchell,
Max Riehn,
Terri Glanger

Staff Contributors
Emily Beach, Perri Collins, Langston Fields, Ellen Grady, Molly Loonam, Hunter McCormick, Kasey McNerney, Tiana Morgan, Holly O’Marah, Hannah O’Regan

Contributors
Joe Bardin, Claire Curry, Melissa Crytzer Fry, Jane Larson, Betsy Loeff, Theresa Meek, Sam Mittelsteadt, George Spencer,
Jennifer Daack Woolson

Editorial correspondence
should be addressed to:
Managing Editor
W. P. Carey School of Business
Arizona State University
PO Box 872506
Tempe, AZ 85287-2506

Changes of address and other
subscription inquiries can be emailed to:
editor.wpcmagazine@asu.edu

W. P. Carey magazine is a publication of
the W. P. Carey School of Business
at Arizona State University © 2023

Send editorial submissions and letters to: editor.wpcmagazine@asu.edu

UPFRONT

FEATURES

14
People Power

This alum says people skills are the common thread in his company’s growth and longevity.
18
Winning Moves

Meet the alum using forward momentum to help the next generation of W. P. Carey students.
22
From Teller to Banking Exec

Get to know this alum who built her career beginning in high school.
26
Flamingos, zebras, and accounting—oh, my!

Far more than a numbers analyst, this alum spearheads expansion and promotes the vision for the Phoenix Zoo’s future.
30
Friends For Life

Adults who want to widen their circles of support should heed this advice from seven W. P. Carey alums.
42
W. P. Carey turns 20

Celebrating two decades of change that was possible only with a $50 million endowment—the second-largest gift ever to a U.S. business school and the largest gift to ASU at the time.

DEPARTMENTS

38
Crunching the numbers

20 years of W. P. Carey at a glance
52
Research

Drilling down the postpandemic world oil market; why label mismatch makes change hard; the unwelcome economic effects of climate policy; understanding pleasure from material goods vs. experiences
60
Class Notes

How one alumna found strength in numbers; ideas on what to get friends and loved ones for the holidays; solutions to navigating diversity, equity, and inclusion at work
72
Behind The Scenes

A glimpse into how this issue came together—from the kickoff meeting to photo and video shoot outtakes
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Introducing the School of Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

Introducing the School of Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
W. P. Carey’s ninth academic unit launched on ASU’s West campus this fall
As part of a university-wide focus and expansion on ASU’s West campus, W. P. Carey launched a new academic unit—the W. P. Carey School of Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (TIE). The new interdisciplinary school houses undergraduate and graduate degree offerings, several research and activity centers, and faculty from various disciplines.

New undergraduate degrees meet West Valley business needs

New undergraduate degrees at the school include a Bachelor of Arts in applied business and technology solutions and a Bachelor of Arts in entrepreneurial leadership. The applied business and technology solutions degree at TIE, also offered through ASU Online and on the Polytechnic campus, is a highly customizable program where students learn foundational business skills while simultaneously applying insights through expanded internship credit opportunities.

The entrepreneurial leadership program, offered exclusively on the West campus, gives students a broad foundation in business and focuses on starting, leading, and managing entrepreneurial organizations. Potential career paths include working in entrepreneurial-minded roles in existing organizations as well as creating or joining new ventures and small businesses of all types.

RSVP for alumni events

Learn what’s coming up and register: wpcarey.asu.edu/calendarofevents
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DANNY
ZOLLARS

DANNY ZOLLARS
Sports Business Enrichment Fund uplifts scholars
When Danny Zollars (BS Marketing ’02) died of colorectal cancer at age 40 in 2020, he left a legacy of hard work, perseverance, and selflessness.

In his 20-plus-year career, Zollars set sports industry trends with the Arizona Coyotes, Washington Wizards and Mystics, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Kings and Galaxy. But he is most widely known for his selfless commitment to others.

Bob Zollars (BS Marketing ’79) says his family has heard from countless people whose lives his son positively impacted.

“We always knew Danny had many friends and helped their development in the industry,” he says. “But when he passed away, the outpouring of love for him and stories of how he helped so many people were remarkable.”

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FULL-
CIRCLE
MOMENTS

Full-Circle Moments

In addition to serving as a mentor to ASU Full-time MBA students, Bruce Gilmore (BS Purchasing/Materials Management ’89) is a W. P. Carey School of Business alumnus and faculty associate in the highly regarded Department of Supply Chain Management.

Gilmore became a reentry student at ASU when he left the Air Force. “I found a wonderful mentor here, a professor of practice named Harry Wiggins,” he says. “I studied supply chain management—it was called ‘purchasing’ back then—and began my career in the semiconductor industry after I graduated.”

Wiggins helped Gilmore decide his career trajectory. “He gave me real-life advice, not just classroom advice, which was really important.”

Years later, in a full-circle moment, Gilmore’s son Eric received a scholarship named for Wiggins while studying supply chain management at W. P. Carey. “He impacted so many people, including me and my family,” Bruce says. “That experience cemented my feeling of how I would want to invest back to ASU.”

Gilmore is proud to give back as a mentor. “Executive Connections is a key, strategic part of the Full-time MBA program,” he says. “I have been very impressed by the caliber of the mentors and students that I get to know. I benefit from mentoring and building a network of all these people with impressive backgrounds.

“Engaging with the future of industry gives me great hope,” he adds. Visit wpcarey.asu.edu/bruce-gilmore to learn more.

W. P. Carey talked to 10 mentors and Full-time MBA alums about the Executive Connections program, their careers, leadership, and more. Head to youtube.com/wpcareyschool to explore a new story monthly through January 2024.

Featuring:
Bruce Gilmore, David Greenberg, Terri Tierney Clark, Megan Hucek, Chikezie Anachu, Robert Maloney, Kalyan Subramanian, Joann Praise Emmanson, Lawrence Taylor, Giovanni Pieve

Career transition resources for alumni

Alumni seeking support through a career or job change have several tools available through the school, including ongoing career training, free educational programs, and assistance to make graduate school more attainable.

“At W. P. Carey, we are committed to being a place ‘Where Business is Personal,’ ” says Ohad Kadan, Charles J. Robel Dean and W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business. “Reaching out to alumni, making sure they know we are there for them in good times and bad, is an expression of that identity.”

One-on-one career coaching and on-demand career resources are just two of the benefits available to W. P. Carey graduates. Alumni in a career transition are encouraged to reach out to wpcareyalumni@asu.edu to schedule an appointment.

“Our goal is to support alumni individually, knowing that each person has different needs and goals,” says Joseph Kimes, executive director of the W. P. Carey Career Services Center.

Visit wpcarey.asu.edu/career-moves to learn more.
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Societal Impact at the New Governance Lab

W. P. Carey’s new lab focuses on interdisciplinary efforts in ESG
The W. P. Carey New Governance Lab is a multidisciplinary research-meets-practice effort to reinvent for-profit governance. Part of broader industry-wide conversations on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, the New Governance Lab brings together multiple disciplines to lead positive change inside the classroom and boardroom.

Supported by ASU President Michael Crow and Provost Nancy Gonzalez, and led by Rusty Lyon Chair in Strategy Amy Hillman, the lab is a way to consolidate all ESG efforts across the school and a key facet of the school’s strategic plan. W. P. Carey is home to more faculty researching corporate governance than almost any other university.

The goal is to translate the lab’s research findings into practical, nuanced, and accessible ways for organizations to implement better ESG programs. To this end, the lab plans to create and maintain a database of governance research and best practices for private, for-profit firms. Additionally, the lab hopes to involve corporate partners in a Director’s Council of public and private for-profit directors. Council members will guide research and devise ways to gather and disseminate knowledge continuously.

Daniel Hernandez headshot

W. P. Carey student awarded Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship

In a first for ASU and one of only 12 students honored annually, W. P. Carey senior Daniel Hernandez (BA Business Administration/Health Care ’24) received the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship.

“I’m very proud to be the first ASU student who has received this award,” Hernandez says. “I’m really excited, especially as someone who has done research specifically on Frederick Douglass before; this is a great way for me to learn more, especially about ways that I can come back here and apply what I’ve learned.”

Offered by CIEE, an international study-abroad organization, the fellowship launched in 2017 to increase access to study abroad for students in underrepresented groups. It was inspired by the 1845 meeting between 27-year-old abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the Irish reformer Daniel O’Connell in Dublin. In addition to a $1,500 grant, Hernandez completed a three-continent journey to Washington, D.C., Cape Town, South Africa, and Dublin over the summer for a comparative study of social-justice leadership.

Hernandez hopes to employ all he has learned and empower others to take control of their health through education and advocating for equitable, quality care for everyone. “I want to be that person who cares for others,” he explains, and to support his community by giving them the tools and education to understand their health.

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Eddie Davila smiling in a suit

Highly Ranked Supply Chain Management Department Thrives

The pandemic put the supply chain in the global spotlight. As shortages loomed, the topic quickly became a household name. But it wasn’t always this way. When Assistant Chair and Principal Lecturer Eddie Davila started teaching at W. P. Carey more than 20 years ago, convincing students to major in the subject was tough.

“I was trying to sway people into supply chain and tell them that it was a viable option—that it was a real thing with real jobs that pay pretty well,” he says. “Nowadays, I don’t have to worry about that.”

A lot has changed since the early 2000s. Not only has supply chain become a hot topic, but the W. P. Carey Department of Supply Chain Management consistently ranks in the top three nationally for undergraduate and graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report. Faculty members are globally recognized for their expertise, and the department’s research is crucial in advancing global supply chain management.

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Launching
the SMB
Lab

Launching the SMB Lab

Small and medium-sized businesses form over 95% of companies and generate over 60% of the jobs in Arizona. Gopalakrishnan Mohan, senior associate dean of faculty, calls small and medium businesses (SMBs) “the engine of the economy.” When SMBs were being hit hard during the pandemic, he says, it became clear that they needed a lifeline.

Mohan and Hitendra Chaturvedi (pictured above), supply chain management professor of practice, identified a problem: There needed to be a clear way for SMBs to connect to ASU, and they were missing out on critical resources the university could provide. Chaturvedi contacted 30 local SMBs to ask how ASU could help them.

“One of the biggest things we heard was, ‘We have major problems, and right now, we can’t pay for an expensive consulting company,’ ” he says. ‘We would love to brainstorm with some of your faculty.’ ”

Kaitlyn (Mulhollan) Fondano headshot

Building healthy, interconnected living communities

The Master of Real Estate Development program strongly emphasizes ethically and socially minded development, which is a passion for Kaitlyn (Mulhollan) Fondano (MRED ’16). In her current role with Specialized Real Estate Group, Fondano focuses on creating healthy homes in the communities it serves in Northwest Arkansas.

“We build homes connected to the community in which they were built—our projects emphasize knowing your neighbor, access to outdoor amenities including parks, trails, and conservation areas—and served by the surrounding local businesses.”

Fondano believes this work strengthens the fabric of the community. “The development of vacant land allows our residents to have easy access to community services, workplaces, and transportation—that access and quality of life is what we’re all striving toward,” she says. “Connecting people with local businesses, nature, and each other is a great opportunity, and I think that’s relevant in any city where you’re developing.”

Since the MRED program launched more than 15 years ago, the connections forged through classes and team projects have become an engaged and supportive alumni network.

Visit wpcarey.asu.edu/mred-stories to read more about Fondano and other MRED alums.
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AZNext

AZNext

Meeting employer and employee needs through workforce training
Across every industry sector, the conversation is about the shortage of talent. Reskilling and upskilling programs are imperative for employers as they attempt to alleviate labor and talent shortages.

Meeting the needs of an ever-changing economy requires an innovative approach to workforce development that taps into existing institutional knowledge but directly engages with public, nonprofit, and private sector stakeholders.

The W. P. Carey School of Business is responding with a focused effort on executive and continuing education, including launching programs such as AZNext, a public-private partnership designed to create a workforce development ecosystem that addresses the need for more skilled workers in IT, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing roles.

Where access meets EXCELLENCE

The W. P. Carey School recognizes that practicing inclusive excellence is not something you say but something you do. The W. P. Carey Inclusive Excellence Council (IEC), formed in 2020, is now a vital school function and a core initiative in the strategic plan. From dedicated career resources for multicultural communities to impactful research, work is underway to deliver on W. P. Carey’s promise to be a place where access meets excellence.

Led by Jeffrey Wilson, the associate dean for research and inclusive excellence, the council focuses on collaboration. Wilson brought three IEC directors on board to represent the school’s primary constituent groups: faculty, staff, and students. “We decided to hire a student director for the IEC because we knew that was the best way to truly understand students’ unique needs,” he says.

Several initiatives reflect these broad commitments. A new AZNext business program developed for veterans by veterans launched earlier this year. The school’s partnership with Grambling State University is growing diversity in real estate. And W. P. Carey hosted an inaugural IEC research summit to elevate cross-disciplinary research.

a group of ASU students using a hand symbol for a photo
Visit wpcarey.asu.edu/iec to learn more.
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Rajanikant Gajera,
(MBA ’24)
Jeanette Uddoh,
(MBA ’24)
Rishabh Kakkar,
(MBA ’23)

Home away from home

International MBA students find a welcoming community at W. P. Carey
Going abroad to pursue your education is a huge decision, and moving to a new country without knowing anyone can be daunting. We greet international students in the MBA program at W. P. Carey with an open, inclusive community that helps them feel at home at ASU.

“Everybody has been kind,” says Jeanette Uddoh (MBA ’24). “People are willing to offer you help anywhere … that collaboration and support helps, especially for an international student like me trying to settle into a new country.”

Building professional and personal connections with classmates and faculty is important for all students, especially those from other countries. Rajanikant Gajera (MBA ’24) will use the knowledge he’s gained in his first year to help incoming students with their W. P. Carey experience as an MBA Ambassador and a leader within the Consulting Club.

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Program innovations set MACC alumni apart

ASU graduates taking a group photo
Improvements to the Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MACC) program—including data analytics training, hands-on group projects, electives, and CPA exam prep—are paying off for MACC alumni.

Bethany Lares’ (BS Accountancy ’20, MACC ’22) senior staff members recognized her data analytics expertise in a recent performance evaluation by her employer. “My seniors are coming to me asking for help on Alteryx, which is crazy because they have more experience than me. But guess what I have? Knowledge of this program.” When colleagues ask how she knows about all this, Lares has three words, “ASU master’s degree.”

The MACC curriculum has incorporated data analytics training since 2018, thanks in part to its partnership with KPMG, a global professional services firm, and a recent doubling down on technology in the curriculum gives graduates valuable expertise.

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ASU graduate student with big graphic behind stating "#ASU GRAD"

Continuing the journey at W. P. Carey

In an increasingly competitive job market, a postgraduate degree can be the difference maker when getting hired. Business degrees can be versatile and useful in countless career paths, which is why many ASU students continue their education at W. P. Carey.

“I decided to continue at W. P. Carey over joining the workforce because I knew the program would allow for better opportunities after graduating,” says Evan Cone (BS Supply Chain Management ’22, MS-BA ’23). “I also knew that the experiences I would have during my time in the MS-BA program would make me a more valuable employee.” During his master’s degree program, Cone met with potential employers through school-hosted job fairs, setting him on a path to success after graduation.

Joshua Pardhe (MS-FIN ’23) earned his bachelor’s degree from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, but his interest in the finance industry led him to W. P. Carey. “My goal to move from engineering to finance was to specialize in a specific field at the intersection of both careers,” he says. “Moving directly from my undergraduate degree into the MS-FIN program allowed me to complete my educational goals while only requiring one additional year of academia.”

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Students with laptops attending a lecture

Transform on your terms

W. P. Carey Executive Education is building innovative, custom educational programs with business and industry partners.

How is W. P. Carey‘s approach different? The W. P. Carey School of Business is “Where Business is Personal.” It collaborates with partners to discover their learning goals, co-create learning programs tailored to their needs, and deliver programs that measurably enhance performance.

Imagine a custom program created for you and delivered to your expectations. W. P. Carey provides an exceptional, contextualized learning experience—by working with you to focus on the application and mastery of learning that drives next-level performance excellence. W. P. Carey‘s results include a custom program that improved the performance of professionals, leading to performance outcomes that included more than $2 million in verifiable value creation achieved through a 50% productivity increase among participating employees.

WPCPROFILE
Key to growth and longevity

People Power

People Power
By joe bardin

People Power

People Power
Key to growth and longevity
By joe bardin
Ask Bill Kent (BS Business Administration ’79) to list the types of stores his company owns, and he has to think about it. Not surprising, perhaps, considering Kent has grown his business to 130 store locations in seven states, operated by 1,500 employees, with $1 billion in sales annually.

But ask him the common thread that ties it all together, and he doesn’t hesitate: “People skills, it’s what makes it all work,” Kent says. “People who can work with others, grow others, motivate them, develop them, and provide a vision of career paths. That’s what has made us successful.”

In case you’re wondering, the Kent Companies includes convenience stores, truck stops, trucking, wholesale fuel, food service, ice cream, check cashing, urgent care, a sign company, a tire store, automotive services, car washes, and ranching. The convenience stores and travel centers, which sell fuel, are the largest business he owns and operates.

Activate your career

With a master’s degree in supply chain from the No. 3-ranked school in the country.
supply chain dock with shipping containers
The rapid pace of change in the world requires thinkers with technical depth and leadership and communication skills to match. To meet the world where it’s going, the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management (MS-SCM) from the highly ranked W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU trains future leaders to steer their network of providers—to develop and run supply networks that best benefit the consumer and the company.

With demand for supply chain leaders expected to remain exceptionally high, the MS-SCM program prepares you to create solutions and rethink what’s possible—for your life and career.

The W. P. Carey School of Business ranks No. 3 for best supply chain management MBA program by U.S. News & World Report, 2024, ahead of Ohio State University, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Texas. Leverage our industry-leading research, instruction, and insights to advance your career.

WPCPROFILE

Winning Moves

Winning Moves
Using forward momentum to give back and help
By Jennifer Daack Woolson
Using forward momentum to give back and help
By Jennifer Daack Woolson
Chris Zajic (BS Management ’03) has quickly risen to the top in the corporate world, most recently appointed as vice president of finance for NextEra Energy Resources. So, it may be a surprise that he didn’t choose ASU for its business school—in fact, he didn’t start as a business student at all. “My path has a bunch of twists and turns,” Zajic admits. “When I went to ASU, I originally wanted to major in broadcast journalism. As a huge sports fan, I wanted to be the next SportsCenter anchor.”

That love of sports is what led him to ASU: Being part of the exciting athletic environment of a PAC-10 school was a priority when selecting a college. In the fall of 1999, the Los Angeles-area native enrolled in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. But in one of his first-year classes, he found out that when he graduated, he could expect to cover small-town high school sports for about $18,000 a year—not exactly a network anchor salary.

“The key is in not spending time, but in investing it.”
– Stephen R. Covey

“The key is in not spending time, but in investing it.”
– Stephen R. Covey
Campus building balcony with W.P. Carey School of Business sign
This year—the 20th year since the W. P. Carey investment in the school—has us looking back. Is it that long ago?

But looking at each milestone that’s passed since makes it clear: If you don’t stop to reflect and tell the world what’s changed with you, nobody may ever know!

So, do yourself a favor. Share a Class Note. It’s a little investment of time that’s sure to go a long way.

This year—the 20th year since the W. P. Carey investment in the school—has us looking back. Is it that long ago?

But looking at each milestone that’s passed since makes it clear: If you don’t stop to reflect and tell the world what’s changed with you, nobody may ever know!

So, do yourself a favor. Share a Class Note. It’s a little investment of time that’s sure to go a long way.

ASU W. P. Carey School of Business logo

A LOT HAS CHANGED AROUND HERE

What’s new with you?
Vintage photo from 1950's of students in campus lounge
With more than 100,000 graduates in your network, you’re part of one of the country’s largest and most active alum groups. Log in and update your contact information so we can keep you informed. And while you’re there, let us know what’s new with you.
With more than 100,000 graduates in your network, you’re part of one of the country’s largest and most active alum groups. Log in and update your contact information so we can keep you informed. And while you’re there, let us know what’s new with you.
ASU W. P. Carey School of Business logo
WPCPROFILE

From teller to banking exec:

Alum built career beginning in high school
By Claire Curry
Heather Bronson, wearing a blue and pink paisley-like patterned dress under a blue blazer stands beside the glass balcony of a well lit building, smiling at the camera

The culture at Bank of America is what has kept Bronson at the company for nearly two decades.

Graduating from business school in 2008, in the throes of the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, would seem a rocky start to any career—especially one in the financial services industry.

But that wasn’t the case for Heather Bronson (BS Finance ’08), who unknowingly began laying the groundwork for a successful career in banking during her senior year of high school when she applied for a full-time teller job at a Bank of America Financial Center in the Phoenix metro area.

“I really enjoyed that job,” says Bronson, senior vice president of credit services at Bank of America. “We were a fairly large center, so we had more than personal banker-type roles; we had small business and investment banking, and they sat on this premier section of the center.”

MBA students talking amongst each other

The MBA for what’s next.

With 20+ ways to tailor your MBA to your goals and interests, the W. P. Carey MBA at Arizona State University will prepare you for your next step and your entire career. You’ll have support every step of the way with 1:1 career coaching, mentorship from senior executives, and generous scholarships.

Full-time MBA

  • GMAT or GRE waivers available
  • Innovative, focused curriculum
  • 96% employment within 90 days of graduation (2022)

Online MBA

  • No GMAT or GRE test required
  • Five-week classes taken one at a time
  • Areas of emphasis highlight current strengths or build new ones

Evening MBA

  • No GMAT or GRE test required
  • Customize your MBA with concurrent degrees, certificates, and 40+ electives
  • Built for busy working professionals

Executive MBA

  • No GMAT or GRE test required
  • The MBA for senior leaders with 10+ years of management experience
  • International practicum and an optional health care concentration
Best Grad Schools U.S. News & World Report Business Full-Time MBA 2023-2024 badge
#7
Online MBA Programs
Ahead of University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, UArizona, Rice University

#17
Executive MBA programs
Ahead of Georgetown University, University of Southern California, Indiana University

#33
Part-time MBA programs
Ahead of University of Colorado-Boulder, UArizona, UC San Diego

#35
Full-time MBA programs
Ahead of Penn State, University of Wisconsin-Madison, UArizona

 
U.S. News & World Report, 2024

Executive MBA

  • No GMAT or GRE test required
  • The MBA for senior leaders with 10+ years of management experience
  • International practicum and an optional health care concentration
Best Grad Schools U.S. News & World Report Business Full-Time MBA 2023-2024 badge
#7
Online MBA Programs
Ahead of University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, UArizona, Rice University

#17
Executive MBA programs
Ahead of Georgetown University, University of Southern California, Indiana University

#33
Part-time MBA programs
Ahead of University of Colorado-Boulder, UArizona, UC San Diego

#35
Full-time MBA programs
Ahead of Penn State, University of Wisconsin-Madison, UArizona

 
U.S. News & World Report, 2024

Arizona State University W. P. Carey School of Business logo
To learn more visit
Arizona State University W. P. Carey School of Business logo
To learn more visit
Arizona State University W. P. Carey School of Business logo
To learn more visit
WPCPROFILE
By George Spencer

Flamingos, zebras, and accounting – oh my!

Zebras. Bonnie Mendoza (BS Accountancy ’89), the chief operating and financial officer of the Phoenix Zoo, loves zebras. When asked why, she first gives the answer one expects from an accountant. “Things are often black and white in how I see them. I’m not a big fan of gray areas,” she says.

But when told that another zoo’s website calls zebras “sturdy, spirited … a study in contrasts—willful and playful, social and standoffish, resilient and vulnerable,” Mendoza, 55, opens up. “All of that captures elements of myself. I am reserved and have a thoughtful, deliberate approach,” she says. “I have a ‘pick myself up when knocked down’ attitude.”

That grit has served her well over two decades of increasing responsibility at one of the nation’s largest nonprofit zoos, an institution that is home to 3,000 animals, has 1.4 million annual visitors, and saw nearly $45 million in 2022 revenues. Since starting as the zoo’s controller in 2003, Mendoza has faced and mastered challenges ranging from solving budgetary woes, crushing a COVID-19-induced financial crisis, and helping conduct layoffs during the 2008 financial crisis.

ASU W. P. Carey School of Business logo
a manufactured pond on the ASU campus

Retirement assets and charitable planning

Fall is when many people begin to think about tax planning and taking year-end required distributions from their retirement accounts. Fortunately, Congress has passed legislation to help taxpayers minimize their taxes and support their favorite nonprofits.

One actionable idea gaining traction: qualified charitable distribution (QCD)

Make an impact through your IRA today

If you are 70½ or older, you can support the W. P. Carey School of Business by making a QCD through an IRA. These gifts can minimize income tax and support our students and programs—expanding our impact worldwide.

The benefits of IRA rollover gifts:

  • Satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.
  • Reduce your taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions.
  • Avoid taxes on transfers of up to $100,000 from your IRA to W. P. Carey.
  • Make a gift not subject to the deduction limits on charitable gifts.

Questions?

Erin Gage
Executive Director of Advancement
W. P. Carey School of Business
979-575-2423

Learn more about other estate and gift planning options: asufoundation.org/resources/waystogive.html

WPCLIFESTYLE

How to Make, and Keep, Friends for Life

How to Make, and Keep, Friends for Life typographic title; collage of people being friendly
By Betsy Loeff
This year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy made headlines by calling loneliness and isolation a public health crisis, saying lack of connection poses risks comparable to daily cigarette smoking.

Friendships matter—they lift our spirits and lengthen our lives. But they’re harder to make as we move away from childhood dodgeball games with neighborhood pals, school projects, and other activities where friendships naturally grow.

If you’re wondering how to widen your circle of support, consider this advice from seven W. P. Carey alums.
;

Give it time

Does society value friendship enough? “I would say no, it doesn’t,” Irwin Sheinbein (BS Business Administration ’72) replies. “I’m saying that because often people don’t take the time to develop a friendship.”

This is from a man who still sees his best friend from high school and ASU daily because he married her 52 years ago. Sheinbein also makes a distinction between his friends and acquaintances. The people who are with you through good times and bad earn the sparingly given designation of “friend” in his heart.

He points to friends he and his wife have known for decades: a couple they met through their synagogue, then shared the joy of watching children celebrate a bar or bat mitzvah, partied, laughed, and, when the other couple’s son died of a heart attack on Mother’s Day at the age of 22, wept together. “Those are the experiences that define what friendships are,” Sheinbein says.

WPCCRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

The Life of W. P. Carey 20 Years at a Glance

The Life of W.P. Carey 20 Years at a glance typography
In 2003, William Polk Carey announced a $50 million gift from the W. P. Carey Foundation to ASUs College of Business. In the same year, the W. P. Carey School initiated the Executive MBA program in Shanghai in partnership with the Shanghai National Accounting Institute. In 2004, the Master of Science in Information Management (MS-IM) program started on campus with 40 students, and the Online MBA program launched with 48 students, making it one of the first at a top business school. Additionally, in 2004, the graduating Class of 2003 presented a bronze likeness of Wm. Polk Carey as a gift to the W. P. Carey School. 03 and 04 typography with illustration of woman on computer sitting on books  In 2006, KnowledgeatW. P. Carey was launched, featuring over 150 faculty members quoted in research articles relevant to the business community. Today, W. P. Carey News continues to connect people with faculty research, alumni profiles, student stories, and more. In the same year, the Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program welcomed its first students. In 2005, in honor of Pat Tillman (BS Marketing 97), W. P. Carey initiated the Tillman Scholars Leadership Through Action program, encouraging students to make a meaningful difference in the world while upholding Pat Tillmans legacy. 2007 The Hispanic Business Alumni chapter celebrates 25 years of providing tuition waivers and cash award scholarships to hundreds of students attending the W. P. Carey School of Business. 2007 The W. P. Carey Leaders Academy begins offering distinct resources and programming for high-achieving and honors business students. In 2008, the Full-time MBA program rapidly climbed to a top 25 ranking in the U.S. just 17 years after its inception. The same year, the W. P. Carey School introduced a new Bachelor of Arts in Business degree program with interdisciplinary concentration options, collaborating across university colleges. Also in 2008, the School of Global Management and Leadership from ASUs West campus became part of W. P. Carey. In 2009, local entrepreneur Morton Fleischer and his wife, Donna, presented the school with a $1.3 million statue named Spirit, symbolizing the strength of political and economic freedom and the American entrepreneurial spirit. 2009 W. P. Carey integrates the Morrison School of Agribusiness at the Polytechnic campus—the only agribusiness school in the world that is part of a top 30 business school.udents. Illustration of woman sitting at desk with globe behind her 2010 With generous support from Morton and Donna Fleischer, theb W. P. Carey School of Business launches Fleischer Scholars — a comprehensive, one-week bridge program for high-achieving high school juniors who are facing multiple barriers. In 2012, Wm. Polk Carey, after an illustrious 60-plus-year career in the finance industry, passed away at the age of 81. In 2011, the W. P. Carey School introduced a minor in real estate. Also in 2011, the school commenced the construction of McCord Hall, a cutting-edge facility for graduate students, funded by $20 million in donations, including a significant lead gift from Sharon Dupont McCord and her late husband, Bob McCord. Timeline Graphic 2012 The W. P. Carey Online MBA is among 14 named to the inaugural U.S. News & World Report “Honor Roll” for online graduate business programs— and proceeds to rank in the top 10 every year since. 2012 W. P. Carey partners with ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering to launch an innovative concurrent degree program in economics and engineering management. 2012 The Doctor of Business Administration degree program is established with the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In 2013, several notable initiatives were launched: the Executive Connections mentoring program for Full-time MBA students began, the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MS-BA) program started with 54 students, and the bachelors degree program in business entrepreneurship commenced with an enrollment of 113 students. 2013 McCord Hall opens, featuring state-of-the-art classrooms, computer labs, specialized industry spaces, team rooms, and study areas. 2013 Amy Hillman becomes the first woman dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business (and one of only a few across business schools nationwide). In 2013, McCord Hall opened its doors, offering modern facilities including advanced classrooms, computer labs, specialized industry spaces, team rooms, and study areas. The following year, in 2014, the W. P. Carey School responded to market demand by introducing two new graduate degrees: the Master of Science in Finance (MS-FIN) with 34 students and the Master of Science in Global Logistics (MS-GL) with 28 students. Additionally, in collaboration with Starbucks, ASU launched the College Achievement Plan, while the W. P. Carey School met demand for business degrees by introducing 100% online versions of its popular bachelors degrees and a new business degree in retail management. 2014 McCord Hall earns gold certification for sustainability from the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2015, the W. P. Carey School marked its 60th anniversary, commemorating six decades of impacting lives through business education. Additionally, the Economic Club of Phoenix celebrated its 30th anniversary in the same year. In 2019, W. P. Carey achieved a remarkable milestone by being ranked in the top 25 of 30 undergraduate and graduate business programs and disciplines by U.S. News & World Report. This achievement marked the most top 25 rankings of any business school. In 2017, the school reached another milestone by earning top 25 rankings for both its Full-time MBA and undergraduate business programs for the first time, as recognized by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, in 2017, Melvin Montenegro became the 100,000th graduate of W. P. Carey. In 2015, the L. William Seidman Research Institute celebrated its 30th anniversary. In 2019, the W. P. Carey Foundation gifted $25 million to the W. P. Carey School of Business, allocating $15 million to expand the W. P. Carey Career Services Center for students and alumni, and $10 million to establish two W. P. Carey Distinguished Chairs to attract top professors. This led to the appointment of the first Distinguished Chair, Dean Ohad Kadan, in 2022, with Olivia R. Liu Sheng becoming the second Distinguished Chair in the Department of Information Systems in July 2022. Illustration of a heart with coins 21 and 22 typography In recent years, W. P. Carey achieved several significant milestones, including the launch of the Online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management in 2020 and the expansion of the partnership with EGADE Business School in 2021 to deliver a dual-degree Executive MBA program. Ohad Kadan was welcomed as the new dean in 2022. In 2023, W. P. Carey initiated an ambitious strategic plan, expanded the MS-SCM program on ASUs West campus, and launched its ninth academic unit, the School of Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, as part of the West Valley Forward initiative.

by the decade

  • 2003

    Students = 4,388
    Programs = 9 undergraduate degrees, 7 master’s degrees, 7 doctoral degrees
    Faculty = 184
    Alums = 57,724
    Average base salary + average bonus for a Full-time MBA graduate = $85,000

  • 2013

    Students = 10,619
    Programs = 22 bachelor’s degrees (BA, BS), 10 master’s degrees and MBA programs
    Faculty = 252
    Alums = 81,451
    Average base salary + average bonus for a Full-time MBA graduate = $101,012

  • 2023

    Students = nearly 20,000 students from 100-plus countries
    Programs = 32 undergraduate degrees, 20 online undergraduate degrees, 5 MBA programs, 10 master’s degrees, 8 PhD degrees, 15-plus STEM-designated programs
    Faculty = 366
    Alums = 120,000-plus alumni live and work in more than 160 countries
    Average base salary + average bonus for a Full-time MBA graduate = $146,719

WPCCOVER STORY
Like most big birthdays, this one provides an opportunity to reflect on where we were, what we did, how we grew and transformed—and consider what it all means.
By JANE LARSON

W. P. Carey Turns 20

W. P. Carey Turns 20 typographic title
Celebrating Two Decades of Change typographic title
In 2003, William Polk Carey made the second-largest single donation to any U.S. business school and the most significant philanthropic investment in ASU’s history at the time.

Carey, the chairman of the New York-based real estate investment firm W. P. Carey & Co., announced a $50 million endowment, which transformed the College of Business into the W. P. Carey School of Business and set the school on a transformative trajectory to become the largest and among the top-ranked business schools in the country.

The New York real estate investor had family ties to Arizona’s history and had already donated to ASU’s law school. His grandfather John S. Armstrong introduced the bill in Arizona’s Territorial Legislature in 1885 that established Arizona Territorial Normal School, which eventually evolved into ASU.

WPCRESEARCH

Drilling down

The World Oil Market Post-Pandemic

When the world shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, oil demand dropped drastically. People weren’t commuting because offices were shut down and stores and restaurants were closed. With people hunkered at home rather than on the road, gas, ethanol, and oil all experienced a massive slump in demand.

Troy Schmitz, director and professor at the Morrison School of Agribusiness, and his collaborators, Andrew Schmitz and Charles B. Moss, professors in the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida, decided to look at the effects. The result was “The Economic Effects of COVID-19 on the Producers of Ethanol, Corn, Gasoline, and Oil,” published in late 2020 in the Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization.

That paper used data from January to May 2020, and then the researchers projected how 2020 would compare to 2019 if oil prices had stayed roughly the same as the average of those first five months.

WPCRESEARCH
Amanda Sharkey
Amanda Sharkey reading in a chair
books

Label Mismatch Makes Change Hard

LABEL MISMATCH
MAKES CHANGE HARD
It turns out bookworms aren’t much different from consumers of computers, cars, and cereal. They view new products—books—through a lens of familiarity: What did the producer create before? How does the new thing compare to the old?
Aside from using their personal experience of an author’s previous work to decide if they want to read a new book, avid readers also rely on category labels, with genres such as science fiction, romance, mystery, and fantasy guiding their purchase decisions.

“When considering buying any product, the first thing people typically do is try to categorize it,” says Amanda Sharkey, associate professor of management and entrepreneurship. “It’s human nature.” And not to be overlooked: Categories and labels help guide sales.

WPCRESEARCH
Michael Barnett in gray suit in front of large globe
Michael Barnett

The Unwelcome Economic Effects of Climate Policy

The Unwelcome Economic Effects of
Climate Policy
As concerns about climate change grow, policymakers are increasingly voicing support for stricter fossil fuel legislation, while their discussions and proposals raise questions for the oil and gas industry currently supplying most of the world’s energy needs: What form would new regulations take? How far-reaching would they be? When would they take effect? Would an alternative infrastructure be built in time to make them realistic?

Right now, there are no definite answers to these questions. And this ambiguity is driving oil and gas producers to react in ways policymakers may not intend, says Assistant Professor of Finance Michael Barnett. Barnett’s research demonstrates how the uncertainty surrounding future climate legislation could cause severe economic harm and increase carbon emissions in the near future.

“Expectation about future risk matters,” he explains. “To understand climate policy, you can’t just take a hopeful, optimistic view—you need to consider the potential negative outcomes, too.”

WPCRESEARCH

… But will it make
You Happy?

Can’t buy me love,” sang The Beatles. “Say you don’t want no diamond rings. … Tell me you want the kind of things that money just can’t buy.” But the Fab Four might have been wrong about what makes people feel good, according to Evan Weingarten, an assistant professor of marketing who wants scholars to reexamine recent scholarly conclusions about happiness.

Thanks to the boom in wellness and self-care in recent years, research into happiness has become popular as well. Many studies have found that people get more life satisfaction from experiences, not material goods—things like vacations, the research says, make people feel better than jewelry.

The complexity of happiness

Weingarten, however, doubts that is universally true. His research leads him to conclude that happiness from material and experiential are challenging to compare. “Does the material quality of a swimming pool mean it brings less happiness than an immaterial beach vacation? Is a cruise superior to a snowmobile, and a pedicure more enjoyable than a new gadget?” he asks in his paper “What Makes People Happy? Decoupling the Experiential-Material Continuum,” which was published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology earlier this year.
Landscape photograph of 2022 W.P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame members (from left to right) Harvey Jabara, Lorron James, Michelle Cirocco, Craig Krumwiede all smiling and posing for a picture together with dean Ohad Kadan plus another woman as the members hold their award plaques
Class Notes typography in white

Honoring Alumni, Celebrating Legacies

Honoring alumni,
celebrating legacies
The annual W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame induction recognizes exceptional members of our community
Since 1977, W. P. Carey has honored exceptional alumni with a place in its Alumni Hall of Fame. The current list of 105 inductees ranges in profession from an NFL president to Fortune 500 executives, with graduation years from 1947 to 2015. Each honoree is an example of business excellence and has also led the way in changing their communities and displaying our values of excellence, integrity, impact, and community. The Hall of Fame tells a story of distinction spanning the school’s history.

In 2022, W. P. Carey inducted four new members into the Hall of Fame, in addition to one young alumni inductee:

Portrait headshot photograph of Craig Krumwiede smiling in a dark grey suit and light sky blue dress shirt underneath with a multi-colored striped tie (yellow, red, black, and white)

Craig Krumwiede

(BS Accountancy ’77, JD ’80)
President and CEO,
Harvard Investments
Portrait headshot photograph of Paul Cutler smiling in a dark navy blue suit and light sky blue dress shirt underneath with a multi-colored striped tie (red and dark navy blue)

Paul Cutler

(BS Finance ’81)
Retired treasurer,
NextEra Energy
Portrait headshot photograph of Harvey Jabara smiling in a dark black suit and white dress shirt underneath with a multi-colored striped tie (red, black, and white)

Harvey Jabara

(BS Accountancy ’88)
Managing member,
Olive Management
Portrait headshot photograph of Michelle Cirocco smiling in a dark navy blue dress vest and wearing shiny bronze colored earrings and a necklace

Michelle Cirocco

(MBA ’08)
Chief social responsibility officer, Televerde; CEO, Televerde Foundation
Portrait headshot photograph of Lorron James smiling in a dark navy blue suit and a white dress shirt underneath with a multi-colored striped tie (white and blue)

Young Alumni Inductee:

Lorron James

(BS Marketing ’05)
Co-owner and CEO,
James Group

This year, we induct our 2023 Alumni Hall of Fame honorees, including:

Fred Van Etten (BS Business Administration ’77)
President,
Midland Equipment Finance
(a division of Midland States Bank)
Chuck Michaels (BS Finance ’83)
Retired vice president of wealth management,
Goldman Sachs
Dallas Tanner (BS Finance ’05, MRED ’07)
Founder and CEO,
Invitation Homes
Ning Zhang (DBA ’15)
Chairman and founder,
Red Avenue New Materials Group

Young Alumni Inductee:

Josh Elizetxe (BS Computer Information Systems ’13)
Founder and CEO,
Snow Oral Care
WPCCLASS NOTES

1960s

Charles “Nap” Lawrence (BS Marketing ’62) donated $1 million to Sun Angel Collective, a booster-led collective supporting ASU student-athletes.

Gregory Pearson (BS Management ’65) has been a State Farm Insurance agent since 1965 and is based in Austin, Texas.

Jim Skelton (BS Economics ’68) served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia from 1970 to 1972, then earned a law degree and practiced law for more than 46 years, specializing in international transactions. He’s traveled widely and written several books, including a memoir, a legal textbook, and two anthologies.

1970s

Robert Edward Wolfe (BS Insurance ’72) is retired and says, “One of my best memories was of Professor Lester I. Tunney. He was my insurance professor and a survivor of the Bataan Death March. Professor Tunney cared about his students. He even arranged for a recruiter to meet with me at his home on University. That has stuck with me all this time. Go, Devils!”

Marvin Lozano (BS Business Administration ’74) co-authored 2020’s The U.S.-Latino Entrepreneurs Guide to Balancing Business, Family, and Culture.

Remembering
Jessica Pye

Jessica Pye Headshot
Jessica Pye, assistant professor of information systems (IS), passed away on Friday, July 28, after a hard battle fighting a rare disease. She was 38.

After earning her master’s degree in economics and a doctorate degree in IS at Georgia State University, she came to W. P. Carey. Her research investigated the business value of IT in large institutional settings undergoing regulatory change. In her work, she drew on a diverse set of theories to investigate how firms use IT capabilities to achieve simultaneous outcomes that are in tension, while also experiencing change in their institutional environment. Her research has been published in leading peer-reviewed scholarly journals, including MIS Quarterly and Journal of Medical Internet Research.

According to her students, she was “extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter and found unique ways to help us understand the new concepts we were learning. She was always super responsive, and took her time to help with any questions.”

“Jessica had a great heart, maintained a positive attitude, and was always willing to help both within the department and in the IS field,” says Pei-yu Chen, chair of the Department of Information Systems. “She organized a happy hour for junior faculty in the IS department to share and support each other, she helped mentor many undergraduate and graduate students, and was an enthusiastic leader in the doctoral student college programs at the Association of Information Systems. Her services have been greatly appreciated by everyone in the department and in the IS field. Jessica will be deeply missed.”

Pye is survived by her husband, Justin, and a son, Ethan.

In Memoriam

  • 2020

    Justin T. Federici
    BA Business (Communication)
  • 2019

    Garrett L. Rodrigo
    BA Business (Communication)
  • 2017

    Curtis R. Bain
    BS Accountancy, MTax ’19
    Robert J. Heslin
    BA Business (Sustainability)
  • 2015

    Matthew W. Charnell
    BS Supply Chain Management
  • 2010

    Patrick R. Borzone
    BS Accountancy
  • 2009

    Matthew Rodgers
    BS Management
  • 2008

    Robert D. Bredeson
    BS Supply Chain Management
    Robert J. Stalo
    BS Computer Information Systems
  • 2007

    Abbas J. Anable
    BS Marketing
  • 1998

    David R. Dick
    BS Finance
  • 1997

    Edward U. Bond III
    PhD Business Administration
    Paul T. Vo
    MBA
  • 1995

    Mark C. Alevizon
    BS Management
    James M. Laughlin
    MBA
  • 1994

    Jerri J. Gholson
    BA Business
    Kirk M. Warrior
    BS Computer Information Systems
  • 1992

    Scott McMarrow
    BS Purchasing/Logistics Management
    Leonard Pameditis
    BS Management
  • 1991

    John W. Balzic
    BS Purchasing/Materials Management
  • 1990

    Raymond L. Kilgo
    BS Finance
    Bryan E. Stagles
    BS Real Estate
  • 1989

    Allan C. Johnston
    BS Management
  • 1988

    Mark L. Fousek
    BS Management
  • 1987

    Edward E. Marin
    BS Finance
    Janice L. Semmel
    BS Accountancy
    Scott S. Wakefield
    BS Accountancy
  • 1986

    Scott J. Ballor
    BS Management
    Paul D. Brinck
    MBA
    John F. Toutloff Jr.
    BS Business Administration
  • 1985

    Allan P. Dean
    BS Management
    Brian P. McMahon
    BS Business Administration
  • 1984

    Gregory Dusseaux
    BS Real Estate
    Steven M. Haas
    BS Finance
  • 1983

    Roger L. Fife
    BS Accountancy
    Georgia E. Tench
    BS Accountancy
  • 1981

    David E. Flake
    BS Accountancy
    Gloria P. Olsen
    MBA
    Kenneth J. Stein
    BS Real Estate
  • 1976

    Timothy L. Recht
    Accountancy, MBA ’80
  • 1975

    Jon Nochta
    BS Accountancy, MBA ’80
  • 1961

    Don B. Stout
    BS Business Administration
Close-up photograph perspective of a person seated down in a small dark burgundy chair with a white open book in his fingers with the front cover reading "Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations: Cases and Professionals' Perspectives for Self-Development and Group Study"

DECODING DEI

Professor offers solutions to navigating diversity, equity, and inclusion at work

As society progresses, so too does the workplace (or so we hope).

Eldar Maksymov, associate professor of accountancy, and Ken Bouyer, director of inclusiveness recruiting at EY Americas, are the co-authors of Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations: Cases and Professionals’ Perspectives for Self-Development and Group Study.

They say their new work may sound like a textbook written for the professional world, but it’s suitable for self-study or group discussion.

Maksymov spoke about the new book, their findings, and how to navigate a career in harmony with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles.

heart beat

Health care in the palm of your hand

Alum’s virtual platform makes health management easier than ever
Seth Merritt headshot
In the spring of 2020, Seth Merritt (MBA ’21) was halfway through his Online MBA program and preparing to launch Welby Health, a remote patient monitoring platform, when COVID-19 transformed the health care industry. The nation’s stay-at-home orders significantly affected the telehealth product’s growth.

“It was odd that we were going out to market and all the providers realized they couldn’t rely on in-person care for patients,” Merritt says. “It reinforced the need for what we were doing.”

Though Welby Health is Merritt’s first major entrepreneurial venture, he’s no stranger to the health care scene; he has spent his career in corporate health care, where he noticed few resources for physicians to encourage patient success outside the clinic. Merritt wanted to create a product that allowed physicians to monitor evolving patient health needs while enabling patients to better navigate the health care system without sacrificing the quality of care or cost.

Strength in numbers

Bethany Lares portrait
On the first day of Bethany Lares’ (BS Accountancy ’20, MACC ’22) master’s degree program, her mother died of breast cancer.

Lares didn’t know what to do. She met with a program administrator who walked her through some options: Stay, request time off, or take a formal leave of absence. As Lares weighed them, she could hear her mother’s voice urging her not to quit.

“I knew I couldn’t take the year off,” she says. “My mother would be very upset if I did that.” She moved forward, finding a support system in the Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MACC) program’s students and faculty, mainly clinical professors Janet Samuels and Gregory Dawson.

“All my professors knew,” Lares says. “Janet and Greg kept tabs on me to ensure I was doing well.”

Dawson describes Lares as “joy personified,” while Samuels says Lares was one of the top students in class despite the early obstacles she had to overcome, which included being raised at times by her older sister and being homeless at age 17 due to financial difficulties within her family. Lares’ good grades in high school earned her a full ride to ASU, and she took advantage of a program allowing students to move into their dorms early.

A W. P. CAREY GIFT GUIDE

Are you at a loss for what to get your friends and loved ones for the holidays? We’re highlighting a few alumni-owned and -led companies from past and current W. P. Carey Sun Devil 100 winners.

  1. Give the gift of beautiful skin by treating your loved ones to customized laser and skin care treatments at Derma Health Skin & Laser, a medical aesthetic provider. President and CEO Trish Gulbranson (BS Accountancy ’88) is a repeat Sun Devil 100 honoree. Learn more: dermahealthinstitute.com
  2. Whether you need wines to delight holiday guests or unique gifts for the wine lover, Brooks Winery could be the answer. Managing director and repeat Sun Devil 100 honoree Janie Brooks Heuck (BS Accountancy ’89) took over the winery after her brother Jimi’s unexpected passing in 2004 to carry on the family legacy. Learn more: brookswine.com
  3. For your friends and family who love a good cup of joe, there’s Press Coffee. Consider a coffee subscription if your loved ones don’t live in town. Co-owner Jason Kyle (BS Marketing ’94) is a repeat Sun Devil 100 honoree. Learn more: presscoffee.com
back of students graduation caps with ASU's logo

Now you’re talking

Alums share their thoughts on the value of their degrees
W. P. Carey partnered with Publishing Concepts Inc. (PCI) to capture alums’ thoughts on the value of their degrees. PCI contacted alums by phone, email, or mail in spring 2022, requesting participation in the project. Here are a few alums who shared their experiences:
Alan Wald headshot
  1. Alan Wald (BS Management ’83), membership development manager at Associated Builders and Contractors of Southern California, was Sparky the Sun Devil for three years, implementing the pushups and wearing a jersey with Sparky on the back. “The reputation of the W. P. Carey School carries even more weight now because it is one of the top schools in the country,” Wald says. “It makes me feel good that the value went up. I am proud to know that the school I attended is well known and recognized—that carries validity for other opportunities.”

What’s Tired, What’s Wired?

white stars
What's Tired, What's Wired? typographic title
white stars
Here’s a look back at defining moments in pop culture then and now.
Fun Fact:
The Pantone Color of the Year was aqua sky in 2003, and viva magenta in 2023.
Tired 2023 typographic heading
Wired 2023 typographic heading
Apple launches iTunes store.
Spotify leads the music streaming giants with more than 517 million users worldwide.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent is the year’s biggest-selling album.
One Thing at a Time by country singer Morgan Wallen is in the lead.
Michael Jordan plays his last game in the NBA.
LeBron James becomes the all-time leading scorer in the NBA.
Barry Bonds becomes the first player in MLB history to reach 500 career home runs and 500 steals.
MLB begins using a pitch clock.
5-Hour Energy products hit the marketplace.
The energy drink market has grown to $22.7 billion.
LinkedIn launches.
LinkedIn implements ChatGPT to help users with profiles and job postings.
Skype launches.
Zoom is the top teleconferencing app.
Hustle culture, or working long hours at the office with little time off, is pervasive.
Employees expect more flexibility with hybrid and remote options to achieve work-life balance.
Starbucks debuts its Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL).
PSL is Starbuck’s most popular seasonal drink, selling over 600 million (as of last year) since its introduction.
Tired 2023 typographic heading
Wired 2023 typographic heading
Apple launches iTunes store.
Spotify leads the music streaming giants with more than 517 million users worldwide.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent is the year’s biggest-selling album.
One Thing at a Time by country singer Morgan Wallen is in the lead.
Michael Jordan plays his last game in the NBA.
LeBron James becomes the all-time leading scorer in the NBA.
Barry Bonds becomes the first player in MLB history to reach 500 career home runs and 500 steals.
MLB begins using a pitch clock.
5-Hour Energy products hit the marketplace.
The energy drink market has grown to $22.7 billion.
LinkedIn launches.
LinkedIn implements ChatGPT to help users with profiles and job postings.
Skype launches.
Zoom is the top teleconferencing app.
Hustle culture, or working long hours at the office with little time off, is pervasive.
Employees expect more flexibility with hybrid and remote options to achieve work-life balance.
Starbucks debuts its Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL).
PSL is Starbuck’s most popular seasonal drink, selling over 600 million (as of last year) since its introduction.

Social Media Specialist Perri Collins plays along with Photographer Principal Shelley Valdez’s test shot shenanigans.

A busy day of Zoom meetings (as usual) for Colin Boyd, executive director of Marketing and Communications.

Managing Editor Shay Moser reviews the magazine for the gazillionth time!

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes typography
It’s all fun and games, until the magazine is printed.

Thanks to alums, faculty, staff, and the marketing and communications team, we’ve been able to produce the W. P. Carey magazine since 2013. In the decade since our first issue, we’ve captured the school’s history, one cover at a time. To celebrate our 20th edition, we want to introduce a new column. From now on, we’ll feature some of our work in pictures to show a little of what goes on behind the scenes, highlighting the people (and sometimes animals) who help put the publication together.

Social Media Specialist Perri Collins plays along with Photographer Principal Shelley Valdez’s test shot shenanigans.

A busy day of Zoom meetings (as usual) for Colin Boyd, executive director of Marketing and Communications.

Managing Editor Shay Moser reviews the magazine for the gazillionth time!

W. P. Carey Autumn 2023 logo
Thanks for reading our autumn 2023 issue!