W. P. Carey School of Business Arizona State University Autumn 2025
Dean’s Letter
In the last issue, we shared our growing efforts to focus on redefining real estate education thanks to a generous gift from the W. P. Carey Foundation. I am excited to share that we have made great strides in this area, with the official launch of our newly expanded W. P. Carey Center for Real Estate and Finance, led by Executive Director Tom Johnston. Furthermore, this fall we welcome the first students into our new bachelor’s degree in real estate and applied finance program, building on the legacy of success in our Master of Real Estate Development program.
We continue to find new ways to advance the future of business education by fostering innovative partnerships with W. P. Carey alumni. One of our newer collaborations we’re excited to showcase in this issue is the McKenna Life Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship Program — made possible by a generous gift from alumni Mark (BS Marketing ’02) and Sheri McKenna (BS Marketing/Finance ’02). This new interdisciplinary course of study bridges life sciences and business education to equip students with the tools to lead the future of health care.
We also recently launched the W. P. Carey Undergraduate Co-op Program, offering a pathway for students to apply their academic knowledge through an intensive six-month experiential learning opportunity. Initiated by alum Chuck Michaels (BS Finance ’83), this program creates an avenue to expand employer partnerships, strengthen talent pipelines, and enhance student success. We look forward to seeing how this program grows over the next few years.
Finally, in collaboration with the wider ASU community, we celebrate the start of the Changing Futures campaign. Focused on impact, this initiative uplifts and reaffirms our commitments as a university through our charter. We invite you to learn more about Changing Futures through this issue and discover how you can help us shape a world of opportunity.
None of these initiatives would be possible without you — the W. P. Carey community. I look forward to continuing our growth and impact as the largest and one of the best business schools in the nation.
Regards,
Charles J. Robel Dean
Professor and W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business
W. P. Carey School of Business
Arizona State University
Overheard From Faculty, Students, and Alums
Nila Charles
I was incredibly happy with my decision to go to W. P. Carey, and a decade later, I continue to be grateful. Not just because famous people are third-degree contacts, but because it taught me to think differently.
Rod Boden
As a graduate of the Full-Time MBA program and the Master of Real Estate Development program at the W. P. Carey School of Business, as well as an advisory director at the W. P. Carey Foundation, the gift that the Foundation pledged to ASU to build the real estate program is particularly meaningful. It was a great honor for the W. P. Carey Foundation to be recognized at ASU Founders’ Day as the 2025 Philanthropist of the Year, and I am very proud to have been included. Looking forward to seeing how the W. P. Carey faculty and my former professor, Mark Stapp, transform the W. P. Carey Center for Real Estate and Finance. Great things are coming!
Albert Bui
I had an opportunity to return to ASU and present to a class in the same classroom I used to sit in years ago. It was fun to talk to graduating seniors and reassure them that you don’t have to have it all figured out. I certainly don’t, and I take it day by day. Looking forward to doing it again.
Logan Weissman
I’m proud and grateful to be a part of such a top-ranked institution, surrounded by talented peers and faculty who continuously inspire innovation, excellence, and leadership.
W. P. Carey Magazine Volume 13, Issue 1, Autumn 2025 Masthead
Volume 13, Issue 1, Autumn 2025
Ohad Kadan
Dean, W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business, Charles J. Robel Dean
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
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Shay Moser
Senior Creative Director
Tim Debevec
Photographer Principal
Shelley Valdez
Staff contributors
Perri Collins, Langston Fields, Raquel Harris, Renee Joseph, Sharon Liu, Molly Loonam, Kasey McNerney, Tiana Morgan, Isys Morrow, Hannah O’Regan
Contributors
Aimee Levitt, Betsy Loeff, Teresa Meek, Sam Mittelsteadt, Marshall Terrill, Jennifer Daack Woolson
Senior Managing Editor
W. P. Carey School of Business
Arizona State University
PO Box 872506
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DEPARTMENTS
- Alums turn a simple idea into a thriving coffee shop focused on connection, impact, and entrepreneurial balance.
- W. P. Carey recognizes WM President and CEO Jim Fish (BS Accountancy ’86) for his people-first leadership and lasting change on sustainability and the business community.
- ASU celebrates the W. P. Carey Foundation at the 2025 Founders’ Day for its commitment to education and transformative support of the university and business school.
- This year’s Sun Devil 100 and Alumni Hall of Fame recognize standout alums for their leadership, innovation, and lasting contributions to the school and beyond.
70 Years of Impact
With that vote, Pyle elevated the business department to the College of Business Administration on July 1, 1955.
In the decades since, the school has undergone an extraordinary transformation: It has added degrees, established centers, and welcomed a series of deans. What began as a student body of less than 1,000 has become one of the nation’s largest and most promising business schools. As captured in Arizona State College’s 1955 Sahuaro yearbook, the student body’s aspirations were clear: “On our friendly, democratic campus, students from every state in the union seek a source of power and happiness — the gold of knowledge for a richer, fuller life.” While that sentiment remains true today, the business school is now a global community, welcoming students from every U.S. state and 120 countries worldwide.
Arizona citizens passed Prop. 200 in 1958 to make Arizona State College, the state’s first higher education institution, a university. Four years later, the business school secured accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the most prestigious and longstanding accreditation available for business schools. At the time, ASU was one of only 110 accredited colleges of the nation’s 500 business schools, an achievement that recognized the school’s commitment to innovation, connection, and quality education.
Premier Sales Competition Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Win or lose, students walk away with relevant sales career-building 
In the individual role-play competition, students were tasked with selling Canon technology solutions to a university buyer, while students competing in the marketing presentation competition worked in teams of two to propose solutions for a Canon company-wide rebrand. The winners received cash prizes and online training through the Cialdini Institute.
“This competition showcases sales talent and cultivates future sales leaders through experiential learning,” says Clinical Professor of Marketing Detra Montoya. “Win or lose, students walk away with relevant sales career-building experiences.”
Since its founding, the competition has grown from three universities to more than a dozen, signaling its expanding reputation in collegiate sales education.
ASU Prep program turns students into statisticians through sports
Scholars worked on real-world sports projects throughout the program, including developing a new survey to help the Diamondbacks market to a younger demographic and attract more Gen Alpha fans to Chase Field. The class also visited the ballpark to get a behind-the-scenes look at operations and how to better serve the team through the survey.
Student participants described the experience as “eye-opening” and finished the course with a new interest in analytics. The program culminated in scholars presenting their survey findings to the team executives.
“By working on real-world projects like those with the Diamondbacks, these students are gaining hands-on experience that puts them on a path toward future success in college, careers, and the modern data-driven economy,” says Teaching Professor of Marketing Daniel McIntosh.
Where business meets biotech
Established through a generous gift from ASU alums Mark and Sheri McKenna, the MLSBE Program reflects the couple’s shared commitment to advancing innovation in health care. Both are graduates of the W. P. Carey School of Business Class of 2002 — Mark in marketing and Sheri in finance and marketing. Their combined passion for bridging life sciences, business, and entrepreneurship is now paving the way for future generations of changemakers.
The McKennas’ gift supports a bold vision: to equip students with the interdisciplinary tools, experiences, and networks needed to lead the future of health care, which combines academic excellence with real-world experience and industry access. Students earn two bachelor’s degrees — one in finance and one in a natural science discipline, choosing from biological sciences (biomedical sciences), data science, biochemistry (medicinal chemistry), biochemistry, or neuroscience — plus a certificate in entrepreneurship and innovation. The four-year program culminates in a senior capstone project that applies scientific knowledge and business acumen to real-world industry challenges.
Business-minded,
fashion-forward
“I want to share with my students that it all comes down to relationships and a strong network,” says Boonlorn, a faculty associate at ASU FIDM and the founder of Soul Carrier, a travel accessories brand based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
That focus on connection shines through in her work, from mentoring students to launching her Heart Home T-shirt series, which raised funds for people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Boonlorn, who considers LA her second home, believes creativity is most meaningful when serving others.
Community also inspired the Paisan and Joyce Boonlorn Memorial Scholarship, which she established in memory of her parents to support W. P. Carey juniors and seniors with financial needs.
I want to share with my students that it all comes down to relationships and a strong network.(BS Marketing ’01)
“I want to open students’ eyes to all that is possible,” she says — whether that’s styling, product development, marketing, or simply following where their soul takes them.”
W. P. Carey Foundation
Named ASU’s Philanthropist
of The Year
Established in 1990 by William Polk Carey, the W. P. Carey Foundation is dedicated to supporting educational institutions to enhance America’s global competitiveness and is guided by Carey’s belief that education is the most powerful tool to improve lives and society. Much of the Foundation’s giving is directed to organizations with longstanding ties to the Carey family, including Arizona State University.
In 2003, the Foundation generously donated $50 million to ASU’s business school — renamed the W. P. Carey School of Business — in honor of Carey’s grandfather, John Samuel Armstrong. Armstrong played a pivotal role in establishing an institution of higher learning in Arizona in 1885, which later became ASU. To date, the Foundation’s investments at ASU have exceeded $100 million, supporting faculty, students, and business education.
Analytics in action
MS-BA students participate in a sponsored applied project working on a real-world data analysis problem with the support of an industry-leading organization.
During summer 2024, a group of MS-BA students worked with electronics company Avnet, which is headquartered in Phoenix and is a long-standing partner of W. P. Carey. The project combined the students’ data modeling and visualization skills with machine learning and artificial intelligence.
“This capstone project truly showcased the value of experiential learning, working with Avnet stakeholders and ASU faculty,” says Kashyap Sanjay Mehta (MS-BA ’24). “I gained hands-on experience applying AI and advanced analytics to supply chain challenges. Beyond technical skills, I learned collaboration, effective communication, and stakeholder engagement are vital to driving innovation and delivering impactful solutions.”
The students were part of the supply chain analytics concentration, one of five distinct tracks available to customize each student’s experience in the MS-BA program. The applied project provides insight into how an actual supply chain operates and what challenges arise, which has been helpful for students regardless of their previous experience.
“Before coming to the United States, I was working at a steel manufacturing company in India,” says Aishwarya Soni (MS-BA ’24). “I had a glimpse of what a supply chain system looks like and how intricate and interconnected it is. But stepping into the W. P. Carey master’s degree program in business analytics, I had no idea how transformative it would be. It was like opening Pandora’s box. Big data, AI, supply chain — it all comes together.”
By the time students finish their applied projects, they have had a firsthand look at the role data analytics plays in business and have work experience that can help them get hired after graduation.
“At the end of the course, what everyone wants is to land a job,” says Abhishek Dengale (MS-BA ’24), who was new to the supply chain industry coming into the program. “I got exactly what I wanted. This experiential learning opportunity, this internship, helped me land a job in the supply chain space.”
(MS-BA ’24)
(MS-BA ’24)
(MS-BA ’24)
See how it all comes together
Watch and be part of it: wpcarey.asu.edu/apply-ai and wpcarey.asu.edu/corporate-partnerships
See how it all comes together
Watch and be part of it: wpcarey.asu.edu/apply-ai and wpcarey.asu.edu/corporate-partnerships
Veterans’ employment needs Inspire new ASU certificate
for HR professionals
“We have a responsibility to ensure our HR professionals know how to assess and develop veteran talent so they can obtain the careers they’re looking for when exiting the military,” says Knott, a human resources administration expert.
“The lack of awareness around military résumés, onboarding, and retention of veterans and military spouses is a chronic issue in our society that we’re striving to improve,” says Ryan Chase, senior director of W. P. Carey Executive Education, Corporate Partnerships, and Lifelong Learning.
The 12-hour, self-paced program, which is eligible for SHRM professional development credits, explores strategies and approaches for effectively hiring, onboarding, and retaining top talent transitioning from the military and military spouses. It includes vocabulary tied to rank, roles, and culture, decodes interview behaviors civilians often misread, and applies strategies to develop and retain veteran employees. The course also highlights the unique strengths and challenges of employing military spouses, providing insights to support their success more effectively.
Global Business Meets AI
The W. P. Carey School of Business and Thunderbird School of Global Management are collaborating to offer learners a new concurrent degree program. Degree-seekers can earn an internationally recognized master’s degree in global management, with concentrations in global business or global digital transformation, together with a first-of-its-kind master’s degree in artificial intelligence in business.
Previously, students needed to complete the full requirements for each degree separately. This partnership allows them to share 15 credits between programs, earning two degrees in two years with 64 total credits.
“This is undoubtedly a unique opportunity for students around the world to engage with two world-class schools within the nation’s most innovative institution, combining global management expertise and cutting-edge artificial intelligence curriculum suited for a rapidly changing digital landscape,” says Thunderbird Dean and Director General Charla Griffy-Brown.
W. P. Carey is one of the largest and highest-ranked business schools in the U.S., with a global reputation for its research productivity and distinguished faculty, and Thunderbird’s master’s degree in global management is ranked No. 1 worldwide for international trade. Both institutions are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a designation received by only about 6% of business schools globally. Collectively, they prepare future leaders for rapidly evolving industries.
Empowering Business Growth in the West Valley
Let’s collaborate
Six Months
to Success
(BS Finance ’83)
Launched officially in July 2025 following a successful January pilot, the program allows undergraduate business students to step away from classes for six months and work full time for major employers such as financial reporting firm Equity Methods and medical device company Align Technology.
Known as a co-op — short for cooperative education — the program offers extended, paid work experience beyond a typical internship.
Competitive edge in a crowded market
The program comes when competition for summer internships has intensified. A recent study by career platform Handshake found summer internships have declined more than 15% in the past two years, while applications have doubled. Competition is especially fierce in well-paying fields like technology and finance, where many W. P. Carey students hope to land a job someday.
Real Estate, Real Impact
“It’s a real estate town,” he says. “There’s real estate everywhere. It’s been one of the driving factors of the Arizona economy as long as I’ve lived here.”
Today, Milligan is the CEO and managing partner of UDLR Healthcare, an investment management company that focuses on medical outpatient buildings. He founded UDLR with colleagues after selling their previous company, the publicly traded real estate investment trust Healthcare Trust of America. At the time of its sale in 2022, HTA was the largest owner and operator of medical outpatient buildings in the country; its properties encompassed more than 26 million square feet.
In recognition of his leadership in health care real estate, Milligan will be inducted into the W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame in November 2025.
Clean Returns
Enrolled in a joint MBA program at Thunderbird and ESADE in Barcelona, she was offered an intriguing job at a winery in Spain.
“I almost took it — until I told my banking professor about it,” Domanig recalls. “He said, ‘At least go and interview with some banks.’ ” The professor helped set up interviews in Chicago, her hometown, and she also arranged to meet a Thunderbird friend and classmate working there.
“We met for lunch and he brought one of his buddies with him,” she says. Only afterward did she learn that the “buddy” was the classmate’s boss at Swiss Bank Corporation (now a part of UBS).
ASU Alumni Mark and Sheri McKenna Invest in the Next Generation of Life Science Leaders
For one thing, it’s where the winner of this year’s Alumni Achievement Award met his wife, Sheri McKenna (BS Marketing/Finance ’02), during their first year.
It’s also where he learned the value of applying a multidimensional, cross-disciplinary approach to business operations. That strategy has had a significant impact on his career accomplishments, which include serving as CEO of Prometheus Biosciences, a biotechnology startup that was acquired by Merck in 2023 for $10.8 billion — one of the largest clinical-stage biotech acquisitions in history.
Now, with a generous gift to the university, the McKennas are launching an innovative educational opportunity — the McKenna Life Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship Program — designed to open doors in the modern economy by equipping students with a powerful blend of biotech insight and business acumen. One of the few programs of its kind, it offers a distinctive edge to future leaders in biotech, pharma, and beyond.
The power of place
How real estate shapes our everyday lives.
e make our buildings, and afterward they make us,” said U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill when he urged the House of Lords to rebuild the House of Commons exactly as it was before being bombed in World War II. Churchill prefaced these words by saying, “There is no doubt whatever about the influence of architecture and structure upon human character and action.”
Plenty of scholarly research has proven him right.
One study found that ceiling height influences how people solve problems: Those in rooms with 8-foot ceilings tend to focus on details, while those in rooms with 10-foot ceilings demonstrate more expansive and creative thinking. Another research project found that patients in dark hospital rooms used more painkillers and had higher mortality rates than those in sunny rooms.
Fueling Arizona’s future
Changing Futures Starts Here
Changing Futures Starts Here
What happens when a university decides that excellence shouldn’t be exclusive?
Now, through ASU’s Changing Futures campaign — the university’s second schoolwide fundraising effort under Crow’s leadership — that mission is gaining momentum to address today’s most urgent global challenges.
“Our mission was to change the world,” Crow says, “and now, we’re accelerating that mission. Together, we must transform global education, inspire tomorrow’s game changers, reshape our relationship with the planet, empower community resilience, build the future of health, and advance technology for good.”
As the largest business school in the U.S. at America’s most innovative university, W. P. Carey is aligning its strengths with these six commitments — showing what business education makes possible.
REimagining Real Estate
(BS Finance ’05, MRED ’07)
From graduate to groundbreaker
Tanner’s path to reshaping the U.S. housing market began in the classrooms of W. P. Carey. As a finance major and later a student in the Master of Real Estate Development program, he immersed himself in the mechanics of capital markets, development strategy, and community impact.
“W. P. Carey’s MRED program put principle into practice for me,” Tanner says. “It helped me understand capital allocation and different types of development — and it introduced me to people who have been a lifelong blessing. That foundation played a big role in building Invitation Homes.”
Now, W. P. Carey is building on that same foundation to prepare the next generation of real estate leaders.
Associate Professor of Economics
The Hidden Hurdles
to Going Green?
“There are many reasons, but one people often overlook is timing — someone may not invest in an energy-efficient feature today, but they’re willing to buy a house that already has it a few years later,” says Associate Professor of Economics Kelly Bishop. “So, people can bundle these decisions.”
Timing and trade-offs
As more cities across the country push to adopt sustainable housing and technology initiatives, Bishop and Kiribrahim-Sarikaya’s model provides insights that can help policymakers understand how, when, and why households invest in energy-efficient technology while highlighting barriers to investing in green tech, including a lack of information on its benefits, investment-related risks, anticipation of lower prices in the future, and nonmonetary risks such as stress, time, and hassle.
While researching the adoption of solar panels in Arizona, Bishop and Kiribrahim-Sarikaya found that income is the No. 1 factor preventing homeowners from investing in it.
The Ripple Effect
“We look at marketing research not only as research that can benefit companies, but also one that can benefit consumers, communities, and, frankly, the world,” says Mende. He and Scott believe that it starts on the individual level, where they are hoping to help consumers adopt more environmentally friendly behaviors by encouraging others to become prosocial ambassadors.
As opposed to a typical brand ambassador, prosocial ambassadors are motivated by promoting the greater good rather than by financial or personal gain. It’s a concept used by for-profit brands like MTV and consumer advocacy groups to encourage voting, empower youth, and promote other prosocial behaviors.
The power of ‘we’
They put that theory to the test with four real-world engagement experiments. Their research paper, published in the Journal of Marketing, found that the ambassador role activates a collective identity, which does indeed drive more prosocial behavior.
From Swordfish to Soda
Associate Professor,
Morrison School of Agribusiness
wake-up call
led to
breakthrough research
on sugary drinks.
Shortly afterward, on a trip to California, Shaw Hughner learned that swordfish and tuna were among the fish that pregnant women and children under 6 should avoid because their mercury levels can be detrimental to developing brains. However, California was the only state that kept parents informed by posting warning labels at fish counters.
“I gasped,” Shaw Hughner remembers now. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve been giving my kid swordfish thinking I was doing something good for her!’ ”
Associate Professor,
Morrison School of Agribusiness
Valley Coffeehouse Brews Up Community Connection
Valley Coffeehouse
brews up community connection
Colburn, who works as an agricultural industry specialist with Foothills Bank and currently serves on several boards, including the Arizona Agricultural Education / FFA Foundation, a youth organization that prepares members for leadership and careers in agriculture, education, and medicine, remembers the exact moment he heard the idea.
“I laughed. ‘A coffee shop? I don’t even drink coffee!’ ” he recalls. But something about the idea lingered. “Neither of us knew anything about coffee. But we love community and understand how to create that space.”
Class Notes
1960s
1970s
Bryan Neville (BS Accountancy ’74) is celebrating his retirement after 20 years as chief flight instructor, pilot examiner, operations inspector, and accident investigator for the Federal Aviation Administration. A master-level scuba diver and divemaster, he recently earned his commercial drone pilot certificate and became a certified hot air balloon and airline transport pilot. Neville and his wife welcomed their 16th grandchild in 2024. He lives in West Jordan, Utah.
Linda Dausend (BS Marketing ’79) is a leadership development consultant with more than 40 years of experience in talent management, coaching, and organizational development. She served as a senior consultant and account manager at FlashPoint Leadership Consulting from 2010 to 2023, when she retired. She continues to support leaders through coaching, training, and team development, and recently renewed her Certified Professional in Talent Development credential through 2027. She lives in Peoria, Ariz.
Read On About Dressing For Success
“I was the person who didn’t think about the consequences of what I wore to work and meetings,” says Ruggiero. “That changed when a customer suggested I spend my next paycheck on professional clothes. Don’t be someone who has the knowledge but doesn’t look the part — this book will help you make a strong impression, even on a budget.”
While geared toward students preparing for career fairs, interviews, and internships, Ruggiero’s insights apply to anyone looking to refine their professional presence. Whether you’re mentoring young professionals, stepping into a new leadership role, or simply refreshing your wardrobe, this book provides tools for aligning your style with your goals.
Ruggiero shares how to:
- Decode dress codes across industries.
- Build a versatile, cost-effective wardrobe.
- Communicate your brand through what you wear.
- Use personal style to project confidence and leadership.
“One thing I really liked throughout the book was how the professor included personal stories and examples from her life,” says Kailyn Thai (BS Marketing, BA Sports Business ’26). “It made the information feel more real and relatable and showed that she was speaking from actual experience, not just giving general advice.”
In Memoriam
-
2022
Zachary M. GuinnBS Supply Chain Management -
2020
Jessica L. CarterBA Business Administration -
2014
Nicholas T. KearnsBS Supply Chain Management -
2003
Theresa L. NiemeyerBS Business Administration -
2002
Kiley R. HolmanBS Marketing -
1999
Richard M. GarlandBS Real Estate -
1996
David M. AmariBS Management -
1994
David L. TowleBS Computer Information Systems -
1993
Craig L. ArnwineBS FinanceElizabeth J. GillelandBS Finance -
1992
Donald L. Moden Jr.BS Computer Information SystemsKimberly A. RollinsBS Accountancy, MRED ’22 -
1991
Richard V. GistBS ManagementWendell W. Rote IIIBS FinanceAnthony J. Valencia Sr.BS Finance, MBA ’13 -
1990
Carolynne D. SelzerBS Accountancy -
1989
Mark W. HaneyBS Business AdministrationStephen P. VanderbeckBS Computer Information Systems -
1987
Tamra J. FucciBS General Business AdministrationCamilla R. PerezBS General Business AdministrationJames A. RoseneBS Advertising -
1985
Peggy A. AllisonBS AccountancyJohn L. CalenderBS ManagementCharles M. GullordBS AgribusinessSuzanne E. HolmesBS Finance -
1984
Matthew HarrisBS AccountancyLisa A. RansomBS Accountancy -
1983
Timothy Q. CorcoranBS ManagementRobert W. LaidlawBS FinanceBarbara K. MertzBS Business Administration -
1982
Martha O. LoubertBS Management -
1981
Sidney E. AndersonMBASteven L. CourtnageBS AccountancyDenny J. PentecostBS AccountancySusan C. SchirmBS Marketing -
1980
Thomas S. ParrotMACC -
1979
David E. AasenBS Marketing, MBA ’80Janet M. BrendemuehlBS Business AdministrationLeo J. FollmarBS Environmental Resources AgricultureKenneth L. JonesBS MarketingMichael J. Martinell IIIBS AccountancyJeffrey A. NickMBARobert D. WilesBS Economics -
1978
Thomas E. BeatheBS AccountancyFrank D. MurilloBS Accountancy, MBA ’81 -
1977
Gary J. DarnellBS AccountancyTerry M. FinigianBS ManagementCharles R. KranzMBA -
1976
David F. GardnerMBAGordon K. WhitingBS Agribusiness Industry -
1975
Donald P. RogersBS Management -
1974
John W. BearBS AccountancyJack A. ColaricBS AccountancyJohn S. HensleyMBAMichael A. KensmoeBS AccountancyPaul S. McGinnisBS Agricultural Production & ManagementDennis A. WestBS Marketing -
1973
Andrew H. DerschBS ManagementWilliam J. MurrayBS ManagementHenry F. OttoBS Management -
1972
William H. BonsallBS FinanceConnie L. BoothBS Office AdministrationRichard J. CiaccioBS Business AdministrationJoseph A. CusackMBASamuel MartinezBS Insurance -
1971
Thomas F. HarperBS ManagementHarold W. Johnson Jr.BS Business AdministrationJimmy R. NelsonBS MarketingJohn N. WrightBS Marketing -
1970
Bill W. BoylesBS FinanceRobert P. KailherBS Accountancy -
1969
Gerald L. BernerBS AccountancyMel C. HauganBS Business AdministrationJames P. VeresBS Real Estate -
1968
James L. KlotzBS Advertising -
1967
Edmund E. GearyBS EconomicsFred W. HoffmeyerBS Agricultural BusinessPaul T. KatsenesBS InsuranceBarbara J. WulbrechtBS Operations/Production Management -
1965
Seth L. FranzmanMBARobert W. McClamrochBS Business Administration -
1964
Donal T. DraceBS Finance -
1963
Albert T. SmithBS Finance, MBA ’70 -
1962
Duane L. GroceBS Business Administration, MS Management ’64Robert K. PaulsonBS Real Estate -
1961
Charles A. DitschBS Accountancy, MBA ’80 -
1959
Annette J. NapolitanoBS Management -
1958
Alva N. Etz IIBS Economics -
1956
Edward W. GrayBS Management -
1955
James J. DwightBS Accountancy -
1954
Mark A. Larkin Jr.BS Economics -
1952
Harry PappasBS Accountancy -
1950
Roy G. HiltsBS Marketing -
1949
Alveena M. MoirBS Economics
Honoring Excellence,
Past and Present
As we honor these trailblazers, we also look ahead to the 2025 Hall of Fame class, which will include five new inductees, including another young alumni honoree and the second recipient of the Bill Carey Award. Their names and stories will be shared in the next issue as we continue celebrating the remarkable achievements of W. P. Carey alums shaping business and society worldwide.
78 W. P. Carey alums among
ASU’s fastest-growing
business leaders
Hosted annually by the ASU Alumni Association, this prestigious awards program honors the fastest-growing alumni-owned or -led organizations. The class includes entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers across various sectors, including architecture, construction, information technology, legal services, health care, marketing, public relations, nonprofit organizations, and real estate.
The 145 organizations in this year’s group reported a combined $70.7 billion in revenue for the 2023 fiscal year, employing nearly 257,000 full-time professionals across 14 states and two countries. The class includes representatives from 12 ASU colleges with 239 degrees, underscoring ASU’s interdisciplinary mission as outlined in the Charter.
Sustainability champion and alum honored as W. P. Carey Executive of the Year
“My goal is to help WM’s more than 61,000 employees feel good about working for this company, feel that their mission and job matters, and feel that our leadership values their opinions,” Fish said during an Economic Club of Phoenix event where he was honored as the W. P. Carey School of Business 2025 Executive of the Year for his contributions to superior organizational performance and leadership, hallmarks of the honor.
“Our people-first philosophy is not just a couple of words on a page — it’s truly what I believe.”
Under Fish’s leadership, WM has emerged as a leader in sustainability, becoming a leading environmental solutions provider and the largest recycler in North America. The organization has received multiple honors for its green and employee-centered initiatives, including being named one of the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere.
W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business and Charles J. Robel Dean Ohad Kadan introduced Fish at the ceremony and reflected on meeting him for the first time last year.
Fish is the 42nd leader to receive the award for contributions to the business community. To commemorate the honor, Kadan sat down with Fish for a fireside chat where Fish shared anecdotes on leadership, the WM Phoenix Open’s impact on the company, and his most prominent achievement at WM.
“My greatest accomplishment is that I’ve been at least partially successful (in making WM a great place to work). Overall, I think people like working for WM. It has a collegial atmosphere, people enjoy what they do, and they contribute to our society,” said Fish. “That has been my greatest contribution.”
The Wild Side of Real Estate
The Wild Side of Real Estate
- Want to own a home in paradise? Get ready to pay for it — Hawaii is the most expensive state to own a home, with a median price around $808,000. On the flip side, if you’re looking for affordability over island vibes, head to Iowa, where the median home price is around $227,500.
- Single women in the U.S. are outpacing single men in homeownership: As of 2023, they own about 2.72 million more homes than their male counterparts. That’s 11.14 million homes for single women versus 8.42 million for single men. This trend holds in 47 out of 50 states, with only Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota seeing more single male homeowners.
- The most expensive ZIP code in the U.S.? That would be 94027 — Atherton, California, where the median home price is $7.9 million. Tucked in Silicon Valley, it’s the go-to neighborhood for tech billionaires.
- Long before Amazon, Sears — the original online retailer, but in catalog form — was shipping entire houses across the United States. From 1908 to 1940, you could order a complete DIY home kit from the Sears catalog, and everything you needed (pre-cut lumber, nails, windows, and even paint) would arrive by train. Buyers added land and sweat equity. Many of the more than 70,000 homes built still stand today!
- Paranormal activity isn’t just a spooky story — it’s a real factor influencing the housing market. The supernatural plays a surprising role in real estate decisions, from selling homes because of hauntings to buyers seeking out these properties.
- Do you think the Mall of America is all stars and stripes? Surprise — it’s Canadian-owned! The Triple Five Group, a family-owned company based in Edmonton, runs the Minnesota mega-mall.
- The famous Hollywood sign was a real estate stunt in 1923 to advertise a fancy housing development called Hollywoodland. The plan was to keep the sign up for just 18 months, but the city never took it down — and now it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, all thanks to marketing.
- The world’s largest home is in Mumbai, India. Antilia is a 27-story skyscraper mansion owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani. The place is massive — around 400,000 square feet — and packed with over-the-top features including a snow room, a ballroom, a movie theater, and a garage with 168 cars. It’s like a luxury hotel, except one family lives there — home goals, redefined.
- A home in San Francisco listed for just $488,000? It sounds like a steal until you read the fine print: You can’t move in until 2053. The current tenant has a rock-solid lease at just $416 a month, and she’s not going anywhere for the next 30 years. So, unless you’re cool being a long-term landlord with zero access, this deal’s more “time capsule” than a dream home.
- While Japan doesn’t legally require homeowners to demolish houses after 30 years, many choose to replace them due to rapid depreciation, evolving safety standards, cultural preferences, and postwar construction practices.
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