Awards
A major initiative of the Pamplin Society is the alumni awards program. As Pamplin has a long-standing tradition of honoring its outstanding alumni, the society will capitalize on this custom in the growing alumni awards program. At present, the Society has established the Ut Prosim Service Award, Rising Young Alum Award, Philanthropy Award, Corporate Ambassador Award, Mentorship Award, Entrepreneurship Award, and Graduate Alumni Award.
For questions, please contact Crystal Jefferson and/or Caitlin Camire.
Nominations are now open until
March 6, 2026
Award Descriptions
The recipient must be an alum for a minimum of 5 years. They should have distinguished himself/herself in rendering service to the community, and demonstrated a proven track record in the spirit of Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim, for a prolonged period of time (i.e. 2-3 years).
Recipients must be graduates of the past 10 years, and typically under the age of 35. Each should have distinguished himself/herself professionally in his/her career or in rendering service to the university since graduating. When nominating, please include specific examples of how nominee serves as a champion of Pamplin and/or Virginia Tech within their community, company, or organization in supporting Pamplin’s priorities, and/or contributing in the classroom and Pamplin student organizations.
The recipient is an individual who consistently embodies the spirit of mentorship of Pamplin students, graduates, and of those in their local community who are not necessarily involved with Pamplin/Virginia Tech. This can be demonstrated through one-to-one mentoring, one-to-many mentoring, serving as a conduit for opening new corporate recruiting relationships, and direct support and participation in Pamplin mentorship programs. Specific examples of impact are important in strengthening a nominee’s case.
The recipient is an alumna/alumnus recognizing their generous and meaningful financial support of Pamplin and Virginia Tech.
The recipient is a company that has demonstrated prolonged support of Pamplin’s mission and its students. Demonstrated via extended recruitment programs, academic partnerships, student mentorship, guest speaker programs, etc.
The recipient is an alumna/alumnus innovator who creates successful ventures, drive economic growth, and inspire others through vision, courage, and ethical leadership.
The recipient is an alumna/alumnus who exemplifies outstanding dedication to their field, has made significant contributions to the business industry and demonstrates a strong commitment to community service. Pamplin graduates that have received MS, MBA, MSBA, MIT, and Ph.D. degrees are eligible to be nominated for this award.
Past Award Winners
Eight Pamplin College of Business alumni were honored for their outstanding professional and community engagement at the 2023 Pamplin Awards banquet on April 26, 2023, at the Westin Arlington Gateway. Also recognized was the financial services organization Freddie Mac, which received the Corporate Ambassador Award for its prolonged support of Pamplin’s mission and its students.
André Davis
Virginia Tech Athletics
Director of Student-Athlete Support and Community Engagement
André Davis was an athletic and academic All-American, while at Virginia Tech, graduating with a degree in Housing, Interior Design and Resource Management. In the 2002 National Football League (NFL) draft, André was selected in the 2nd round with the 47th overall pick by the Cleveland Browns. He also played for the Patriots, Bills and Texans during his 9-year career. Davis obtained many successful achievements during his playing career, holding 2 NFL records, one as a wide receiver (longest TD reception- 99 yds) and as a kickoff returner (2 KO Return TDs in one game). In 2012, André was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
Although André, his wife, Janelle, and 4 kids (Daylen, Bryce, Laila & Noelle) live in Delaware, he takes time to give back to his alma mater, Virginia Tech, by serving as the Director of Student-Athlete Support & Community Engagement in the athletic department. While caring for the student-athletes, he also cares about his university and volunteers his time as a board member on the Virginia Tech Alumni Association and the Pamplin Advisory Council (PAC) in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech.
Because of his work with his alma mater and Africa New Life in Rwanda, André was recently selected as recipient of the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference UNITE Award. The award was created to honor individuals affiliated with the league who have made an impact in the areas of racial and social justice.
André currently sits on the board of Africa New Life; whose goal is to transform lives and communities in Rwanda. We accomplish this through caring for the whole child by providing educational sponsorships, a growing faith, community development and a healthy body.
Todd Rowley
Old Dominion National Bank
Director of Business Development
Todd Rowley has over 40 years in the banking industry, most recently as the Director of Business Development with Old Dominion National Bank where he is responsible for commercial loan and deposit growth for Virginia and the Washington D.C. Metro region.
Rowley holds an MBA with honors in Finance and Operations Research/Management Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) Pamplin College of Business, and a Graduate Degree in Banking Finance from the University of Delaware Stonier Graduate School of Banking with honors. He also has a personal interest in information technology, Cloud Computing and Cyber security, and as a means to address this interest, in 2019, Rowley completed an Associate of Science degree in Information Systems Technology (Summa Cum Laude) and an Associate of Applied Science in Cloud Computing: Infrastructure and Services in 2021 (Summa Cum Laude), and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Cybersecurity in 2023 (Summa Cum Laude), each conferred by the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). Rowley’s undergraduate degree is from Adrian College where he earned degrees in both Business Administration and Speech Communications.
In addition to serving on the board and former Chair of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Rowley has a long history of involvement in community engagement. In support of addressing the need for increased Cybersecurity professionals, Rowley recently has been asked to Chair both the NOVA Future of Work Business Advisory Council and the Virginia Tech BIT-Cybersecurity Advisory Committee in a joint initiative between NOVA and VT.
On a national basis, Rowley serves as one of the 40 members of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond 5th District advisory council, which includes Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Jim Hatch
Retired Corporate Controller
Wachovia Corporation
Jim Hatch of Richmond, VA is retired from the financial industry, but he maintains close ties and is actively involved with his alma mater, specifically Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business.
Currently, he is a member of the Pamplin Advisory Council, on which he has served as president and cabinet chair. He also founded and serves as Chair of the Pamplin Community for Leadership and Engagement (PCLE) and served as Honorary Chair of Pamplin’s first Engagement Summit. Hatch was a member of the national campaign steering committee and chair of the Pamplin steering committee for The Campaign for Virginia Tech: Invent the Future.
Hatch received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award during the University’s commencement ceremony in 2018. In 2010, he received Pamplin’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, which honors alumni for outstanding career accomplishments and contributions to the college.
From 2011 to 2015, Hatch was advisory board chair for the Department of Accounting and Information Systems. He is a member of Virginia Tech’s 1872 Society, the Pylon Society, and the Ut Prosim Society President’s Circle. Hatch also is a two-term member of the Virginia Tech Foundation Board of Directors.
Hatch is a certified public accountant who worked for Arthur Andersen & Co., First Union Corp., and Wachovia Corp. He retired in 2004 as corporate controller and principal accounting officer at Wachovia.
Hatch has a bachelor’s degree in management from Lynchburg College and in 1972, he earned a master’s degree in accounting from Virginia Tech.
Lauren Prociv
Ogilvy
Group Strategy Director
Pay it forward. The day Lauren learned this ethos, from the formidable Donna Wertalik, was the day everything made sense. And it was the day Lauren learned to welcome mentorship and never hesitate to give it. She credits strong role models and a strong support system as her inspiration in life and a career defined by doing what she loves with people who inspire her. Named one of The Drum’s Trailblazing Women in Creativity who has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world as a strategic planner at A-List agencies, Lauren firmly believes creativity is a muscle. A passionate champion for young talent, Lauren speaks at Tech every semester to spread this word. “Too often I hear “I’m not creative enough for advertising. Well, you couldn’t drop and give me 100 push-ups if you’ve never done push-ups before either, right? You can do both those things if you work hard and have the right people in your corner.” Find that person or be that person. Ut Prosim.
Negar Jamshidimehr
Ernst & Young LLP (EY)
Tax Senior Manager
Negar Jamshidimehr is a Tax Senior Manager with Ernst & Young LLP (EY), where she focuses on serving Financial Services Organization (FSO) clients. Negar joined EY in 2013, after completing both her Masters and undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Information System and Finance from Virginia Tech. In her role at EY, Negar leads teams of professionals in meeting the Tax compliance and Tax provision needs of large public clients within the banking and capital markets sector of FSO. An active alumna in the Pamplin community, Negar serves on the Pamplin Community for Leadership and Engagement Board of Directors, is a member of the ACIS Advisory Board, and the Chair of the ACIS Emerging Leaders Board.
Pranay Bhargava
Humano Custom-Built Contractor Services
CEO
Pranay Bhargava (MGT ‘15 - EIT track) was born in New Delhi, India, and moved to the United States as a seven-year-old kid when his mother, who applied for and received a scholarship to The George Washington University to pursue an MBA in hopes of a better future for her family. Pranay always had dreams of passing forward this privilege of gaining better opportunities through education, and thus worked to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, with a pipedream of moving to San Francisco after graduating.
In San Francisco, prior to starting his own ventures, Pranay consistently finished as the top sales representative and received numerous awards at ADP, Ironclad, and Revv. His passion resides in building businesses and nonprofits that better the human condition.
Pranay has co-founded Soma International 501c3, which builds rural learning centers in Tanzania. Soma helps increase literacy and provides entrepreneurial and vocational training to women and children. On the for-profit side, he has founded/co-founded Humano Insurance, Humano Consulting, Defensive Insurance Services (insurance cluster) all in the construction space, Humano Security, Ukuwaji Traders (Tanzania-based land acquisition, mining, farming, and digital asset hedge fund), and an offshore company that provides US businesses with women marketing hires.
He is currently the Chairperson of the Management Recent Alumni Board and sits on PCLE and PAC as a recent alum representative for the Management School.
Chaimaa Fekkak
Accenture
Finance Manager
Chaimaa Fekkak is a Finance manager at Accenture, specializing in providing financial analysis, deal shaping and pricing, and deliverables for proposals throughout a variety of portfolios within the commercial sector in North America.
Chaimaa graduated from George Mason University (GMU) in 2013 with a double degree in Finance and Management, and a minor in economics. She then completed her M.B.A. at Virginia Tech in 2016.
As an active alumna to both of her schools, Chaimaa also serves as a board member for the GMU School of Business Alumni Chapter, and on the Virginia Tech MBA Advisory board. She was also honored as part of the 2014 20 Prominent Patriots in Business class at GMU and has been nominated to Loudoun’s 2023 Women Hall of Fame for the Loudoun Coalition on Women and Girls.
Taylor Watts
Wealth Enhancement Group
Financial Planner
Taylor Watts graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2017 with a dual degree. He received a BS in Finance and a BS in Accounting and Information Systems. After college, Taylor moved to Charlotte, NC where he began his career in financial planning at Carroll Financial as an investment analyst. During his time as an investment analyst, he was responsible for trading and research for $2.5B in client’s assets.
After 5 years in that role, he moved into a pure financial advisor role where he manages $300 million of client’s assets. He focuses on planning for the long-term through retirement planning, tax planning, college planning, and investment management. He works closely with his clients to craft a plan that fits their ever-evolving financial needs.
Following graduation, Taylor has continued to serve Virginia Tech and the Pamplin School of business. He is currently the treasurer of the Charlotte Alumni Chapter and sits on the Recent Alumni Board (RAB) as the committee head for initiatives. He recently stepped down as the President of the Young Alumni Committee (YAC). Taylor enjoys going back for as many football games as he can each year and cheering for the Hokies.
Freddie Mac
Freddie Mac’s mission is to make home possible for families across the nation. We promote liquidity, stability, affordability and equity in the housing market throughout all economic cycles. Since 1970, we have helped tens of millions of families buy, rent or keep their home. With pathways to advance our employees’ careers, a diverse and inclusive culture, and benefits that support their total well-being, Freddie Mac is home to more.
Learn more at FreddieMac.com.
Brian Cook
Brian J. Cook is chair of the Board of Directors for the National Safety Council, the leading safety advocate for preventing unintentional injuries and death. He is also an Executive Advisor with Challenger, Gray and Christmas, a Chicago-based global career transition firm, helping executives define their personal career goals and implement job search strategies to achieve those goals.
He retired as executive vice president and chief administrative officer of USG Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance building systems. Cook was responsible for the Employment Law, Human Resources, Corporate Communications, Corporate Services, and Environmental, Health & Safety functions. He served on the board of the USG Boral Building Products joint venture and as President of the USG Foundation, which provides grants to organizations that support housing, education and human services in communities in which USG employees live and work.
Cook is an advisory board member for the Pamplin Advisory Council in Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business. He has also served as an adjunct instructor in the MBA program at Loyola University of Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business teaching a class on managing and motivating in the workplace.
He is a former board member and Chairperson Emeritus of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, which helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters, and a former director of the HR Policy Association’s Center on Executive Compensation, an organization dedicated to promoting principled pay and governance practices to serve the best interests of shareholders.
Cook attended Virginia Tech, earning a bachelor’s degree in management and finance, as well as an MBA. He earned his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law.
William "Bill" Foster, Jr.
Bill is a 1965 Finance graduate of Virginia Tech. Professionally, he has held senior management positions at commercial banks in Virginia and Florida, at an investment banking firm on Wall Street, and as a board member at a New England financial institution. Bill’s experience is in the fields of investments, banking, securities trading systems, asset/ liability management, and strategic planning. He has experience across a broad range of investment instruments and also co-authored Mortgage-Backed Securities, published in both English and Japanese.
Bill served two consecutive terms on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, is a former member of the Pamplin Advisory Council, and a member of the Ut Prosim Society. He is a former Chairman of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation which owns and operates “Historic Smithfield,” the 1774 home surrounded by the Virginia Tech campus. Bill has been active in a number of civic activities including chairing the Industrial Development Authority, Economic Development Authority, two school bond referendums, and the Planning Commission in the City of Fairfax, Virginia.
Now retired to Montgomery County, he has served as Chair of the Planning Commission and currently serves as Vice Chair. Bill is also a member of the Board of Directors of Virginia Civics Education, Inc., a statewide, non-partisan organization that promotes constitutional literacy, critical thinking, and civic engagement.
Willis and Mary Blackwood
Mary Nolen Blackwood, a native of Washington, D.C., has left an indelible mark on her community and alma mater, Virginia Tech. Graduating with a degree in Psychology in 1973, Mary's academic journey paved the way for a career dedicated to service and leadership.
Her professional tenure with the Commonwealth of Virginia saw her navigate crucial roles in healthcare planning and mental health administration. Mary's contributions extended beyond bureaucratic responsibilities; she engaged as a faculty member in psychiatry departments at institutions such as Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia.
Following her impactful career, Mary devoted herself to family and community. Alongside her husband, Willis, she raised two children while actively participating in various charitable organizations and boards. Notably, her commitment to Virginia Tech remained steadfast. Mary's involvement with the College of Science Roundtable, the Virginia Tech Foundation Board, and her induction into the College of Science Hall of Distinction exemplify her enduring dedication to her alma mater.
Willis P. Blackwood's journey from Loudoun County to success as an entrepreneur mirrors that of his wife, as it is one of determination and civic engagement. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Business Management, where he was – in his words – a “very undistinguished college student,” Willis spent a short time in the U.S. Navy. Upon honorable discharge from the Navy, he joined the Richmond Division of Safeway Stores in the Real Estate Department. This is where he developed much of his real estate knowledge as well as his passion for all facets of real estate and development.
In 1981 he opened the Richmond office for S.L. Nusbaum Realty, a Norfolk-based regional real estate company, where he was involved with property management, leasing, and new developments of more than one million square feet of retail space. He rose to be a partner in the firm.
In 1988 Willis founded Blackwood Development Company, which has developed many shopping centers in the counties of Henrico, Hanover, and Chesterfield and the cities of Colonial Heights and Portsmouth. The firm has also redeveloped older shopping centers, performed historic rehabs on older properties, and been a preferred developer for Wawa Convenience stores.
Beyond his professional achievements, Willis's philanthropic endeavors echo his commitment to community betterment. Serving on numerous boards and committees, including the Metro Richmond Chamber, Chesterfield Business Council, Richmond Real Estate Group, several country clubs, Virginia Tech Foundation, and Pamplin College of Business PAC. He has also served on numerous county committees on behalf of the real estate development community.
Together, Mary and Willis Blackwood embody a legacy of service, philanthropy, and support for Virginia Tech. As pillars of the Virginia Tech family, the Blackwoods continue to exemplify the university's motto: Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).
Karen Scott
Director of Marketing, Federal
Denodo
Karen Scott is a seasoned public sector marketing leader with more than 20 years of experience helping high-tech companies propel government missions forward. She currently serves as the head of federal marketing at Denodo, the leading software provider for data management and integration. She is responsible for building successful marketing strategies through creative and integrated marketing plans that drive revenue and ensure government agencies are reaping the benefits from their data assets. Before Denodo, Karen led marketing teams at Software AG, Informatica, Coursera, DataRobot, and several other technology companies where her in-depth knowledge of product and services branding, communications, and strategic planning has increased the company’s competitiveness, market share, and profitability.
A relative native to the Washington, D.C. metro area, Karen lives in Falls Church, VA. She is a proud mom of two daughters, both currently pursuing IT degrees, and she is an active champion of adult education, English literacy, and women in data. Karen is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business with degrees in Finance and Marketing. She and her husband can often be found in Blacksburg, VA for football games whenever they can get away!
Caitlin Deets
Caity Deets is a 2017 graduate of the Howard Feiertag Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management. While at Tech, she was an active member of Pi Beta Phi (fraternity for women) and Pi Sigma Epsilon (marketing fraternity). After graduation, Caity piloted the Manager in Training program for OTO Development. During her time with OTO, she worked in some of their top performing hotels in Washington, DC and National Harbor, MD. In 2021, Caity took on her first General Manager role with HMP Properties in Woodbridge, VA, becoming one of the youngest General Managers in her field. In 2023, Caity joined Donohoe Hospitality Services to lead the team at the Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria Old Town National Harbor.
For the past 10 years, Caity has been an active volunteer with Virginia DECA. DECA is an association for high school marketing students. She has taken the time to speak in high school classes, assist students in preparing for competition and judges regularly at the district and state level. DECA regularly helps high school students gain real life skills such as: public speaking, creating marketing and ad campaigns, thinking critically, developing problem solving plans and more. Caity enjoys being able to work with these students and regularly gets inspired by the work ready skills they display year after year.
Since graduating, Caity has been able to support the HTM department by speaking on panels prior to the Destination Career fair to assist students in finding their path in the Hospitality field. Caity was selected to join the Pamplin Recent Alumni Board in 2021. As an active member of the board, she has enjoyed her time on the student engagement committee. She regularly participates in panel discussions for current Pamplin students covering various topics to help students find ways to make the most of their time at Virginia Tech and how to prepare for post-graduation life.
While reflecting on receiving this award, mentorship is something that comes naturally to Caity. She finds value in shared knowledge. As a leader in her hotel, she understands the value in empowering her teams with the tools and knowledge to reach team success. There have been many people who have supported Caity in her life and career. She finds the best way to honor those people is to continue to pass on the knowledge, wisdom and life lessons that were shared with her.
Mark Collins
Mark A. Collins II, Virginia Tech 2020 graduate, is currently serving as a Senior Defense & Security Consultant at Guidehouse, working closely with various stakeholders across the Department of Defense. His expertise lies in devising comprehensive strategies and implementing solutions that drive mission success, leveraging skills in business analysis, process improvement, and new business development. His success is a testament to the solid foundation prepared by the Virginia Tech Master of Business - Business Analytics Program and the faculty of the Pamplin School of Business.
Prior to his role at Guidehouse, Mr. Collins contributed his analytical acumen as a Product Pricing Analyst at Dawn VME Products, a leading manufacturer of embedded backplane technology solutions for OEMs, Medical Research, Aerospace, Maritime, Defense, and Space customers.
Preceding a career in corporate endeavors, holding a Bachelor of Music Degree from Tennessee Technological University and a Master of Music from Appalachian State University, Mr. Collins served as a K-12 and collegiate music educator. As an educator, Mr. Collins enhanced the lives of countless students across Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia, imparting his knowledge and encouraging academic excellence for all students. Mr. Collins’ commitment to music education extended beyond the classroom, as a clinician, composer, and performer throughout the Southeast and South America. His performances, holding artist endorsements by industry giants such as Innovative Percussion and Sabian Cymbals, were diverse and captivating, showcasing his talent and dedication to his craft. From premiering compositions to collaborating with esteemed artists, Mr. Collins worked to mentor and support students while engaging a common interest – music.
Rebecca Pearson
Mauldin, South Carolina
Bachelor of Science, Pamplin College of Business, HTM, 2014
Industry Leadership Manager, The Coca-Cola Company
Rebecca Pearson is a philanthropist at heart, driven by the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). Instilled with this spirit of service from her time at the Pamplin College of Business, Rebecca has seamlessly integrated this commitment into every aspect of her life. Her educational journey did not conclude in Blacksburg; she pursued further studies, earning an MBA from Georgia Southern University and a PM certification from Cornell University, equipping her to make a significant impact in the professional world.
Her education has propelled her across an impressive career path that includes roles in start-ups, academia, and now, within a global corporation at The Coca-Cola Company. In her current position, Rebecca not only excels in her responsibilities but also expands her commitment to service to the broader industry, participating on multiple International Foodservice Manufacturers Association committees and acting as a scholarship judge for the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
Rebecca's dedication to service extends well beyond her career as she generously donates her time, talents, and treasures to both her local community and beyond. Her hands-on involvement with preschoolers at Fellowship Greenville is a testament to her devotion. Additionally, Rebecca actively engages with her alma mater to make an impact — from her previous role as the advisory chair for the Fashion Merchandising and Design Advisory Board to mentoring students, engaging fellow alumni through various events and volunteer activities, and her ongoing participation on the Student Affairs Alumni Advisory Board. Her passion is further highlighted by her support for initiatives such as The Market at Virginia Tech, which strives to alleviate food insecurity by providing healthy food options to students in need.
As a third-generation Hokie, whose legacy was initiated by her grandfather, Harvey Pearson, class of 1950, Rebecca's connection to Virginia Tech is both deeply personal and a symbol of her family's enduring commitment to the university. Her Hokie Spirit, cultivated through decades of family tradition, she hopes to influence and inspire for many generations to come, perpetuating a legacy of service and community involvement.
Lauren Percherke
(Soon to be Lauren Percherke Bignotti as of October 4th, 2024)
Microsoft
Account Director
Lauren Percherke (MGT '19 - MCA Track, Leadership Minor, Presidential Global Scholar Honors College), grew up in Ashburn, VA and was beyond excited to complete her undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech. Lauren always had dreams of "paying it forward" to Hokies after graduation due to so many alumni helping her throughout her early career. She graduated Summa Cum Lalude after four amazing years in Blacksburg. In her senior year, Lauren was the awardee of the MGT Outstanding Student Award (For Highest GPA) as well as the MGT College Service Award. Lauren was very involved during her time at Virginia Tech. Although being a MGT student, she was a TA for the BIT school as part of the federal work study program she qualified for. She was active and held leadership roles in Collegiate Women in Business, Pamplin Leadership Development Team, Management Society, and several others. Her favorite memories include being the Sisterhood Chair of Alpha Chi Omega, Epsilon Tau her junior year (where she won the Chapter Sisterhood award) as well as studying abroad with the Honors college her sophomore year while conducting/publishing undergraduate research on Human Trafficking of adolescent women in European nations. Lauren was also a proud member of Campus Crusades for Christ during her Freshman/Sophomore year and went on to lead a Bible Study her Junior/Senior year that she created while overseas in Switzerland. Lauren won the Pamplin Elaine Caravati Award her junior year as well as several scholarships for the Presidential Global Honors College Program overseas. Lauren's favorite professor at Virginia Tech was Stephen Skripak (who has now retired).
Lauren moved to Washington, DC after graduation and started a career in Big Tech at IBM. Lauren was invited to join the MGT RAB team after graduation where she proudly got involved right away to start helping Hokies in anyway possible - whether that was speaking at classes, coming to career fairs, vouching for student applications in Big Tech, reviewing resume, as well as providing feedback to the school of business for ways to innovate. Lauren also became involved with the local DC chapter of Alpha Chi Omega Alumni on their executive team and helped mentor the Virginia Tech Epsilon Tau chapter executive board in her free time. Lauren graduated from IBM's renown Global Sales School at the top of her class which led her to accelerate into a promoted opportunity as an account executive for IBM Data Science / AI Solutions supporting the Federal Government. After a few years at IBM, Lauren was presented with an opportunity at Microsoft that she could not turn down. This led her to switch over to Microsoft for the opportunity to support the Department of Defense Fourth Estate Team as an Account Director. At the beginning of 2024, Lauren made a strategic switch to the Navy & USMC teams to dive deeper into a Low/No-Code Microsoft Solution called Power Platform. At the end of 2023, Lauren was selected as the new Vice President of the MGT RAB team - where she now serves happily running the Mentorship Program. Lauren enjoys visiting Blacksburg as much as possible to spend time with MGT students and help promote Women in Tech wherever she can. She equally enjoys any remote help she can provide while on the executive board at Microsoft "Hokies at Microsoft." Lauren is a proud mentor to several hokies today and aims to get as many Hokies into Big Tech as possible. She is getting married in the Fall of 2024 in Leesburg, VA to her College Sweetheart and hopes to one day serve on the MAB team when she gets older.
Jay Tucker
Jay M. Tucker is a dedicated community member and entrepreneur residing in Blacksburg, Virginia. He is a 2014 graduate of Virginia Tech who earned a BS in Marketing Management with a minor in Leadership and Social Change.
During his time at Virginia Tech, Jay discovered the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships and the power of building a community. Elected freshman year to serve in a lifetime capacity as the Class of 2014 President, Jay’s leadership skills were recognized early on. He was awarded the Freshman Leader of the Year Award via the Student Government Association. Later in his college career he was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Gavel Leadership Honor Society. Jay served on the Virginia Tech Alumni Board, Commission of Student Affairs, Commencement Committee, and was an instructor for the inaugural year for the Thrive Living and Learning Community.
In his professional career, Jay has played a role in fostering growth and economic development in the New River Valley. After spending eight seasons with the now Washington Commanders, Jay took a leap of faith to start the Pest Management Services, Inc (PMSI) team in Blacksburg. They serve as the Official Pest Control Partner of the Hokies and swiftly gained recognition being honored as the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce New Business of the Year in 2019 and the Small Business of the Year in 2020. Jay was also recognized as a member of the Montgomery Country Chamber of Commerce 40 under 40 in 2024. While he is largely recognized through his building of PMSI, Jay is a visionary leader with a prowess in branding who continuously strives to innovate and build thriving enterprises. He has invested in/partnered with or started several other brands including: Aspire Marketing Agency, Ewing Building & Cabinetry, Red Beards Gutters and a variety of real estate ventures.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Jay is actively involved in philanthropic initiatives. He serves on two non-profit boards as well as serving as a mentor for a handful of student organizations at Virginia Tech striving to create a better future for his community.
A major initiative of the Pamplin Society is the Pamplin alumni awards program. As Pamplin has a long-standing tradition of honoring its outstanding alumni, the society will capitalize on this custom in the growing alumni awards program. At present, Pamplin has established 5 awards: the Ut Prosim Service Award, Rising Young Alumni Award, Mentorship Award, the Philanthropy Award and the Corporate Ambassador Award.
Mike Cartwright
Mike Cartwright is a two-time graduate of Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business, earning a BS in Management Science in 1988 and an MBA in Marketing in 1992.
Professionally, Mike has spent his career in project management and has led large Project Management Offices at Nextel, Sprint and Mckesson. He spent a decade delivering projects and programs in the Professional Services consulting space focused on data science, analytics and data platforms at both Teradata and Snowflake.
Mike represents Ut Prosim in his service focused on helping young people who need a hand-up. In Blacksburg, he is part of the leadership team of the Epsilon vs Hexaton Golf tournament, an annual event of the alumni of the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, that has donated nearly $200,000 to Special Olympics of SW Virginia.
Closer to home in Atlanta, GA, Mike is now in his fifth year on the board and second year as Board Chairman for Family Promise of Forsyth County – an organization dedicated to the support of families and children experiencing homelessness. As a hands-on leader, Mike can be just as frequently found building furniture, spending time with families in the program, representing the organization at community events or speaking on behalf of Family Promise.
Mike is also a member of the Rotary Club of Lanier Forsyth, an organization that donates to and supports more than a dozen local non-profits, and is a former Vice Chair of Peachtree Parkway Improvement District. Mike’s wife, Nancy, is also a Pamplin graduate, earning her BS in Finance in 1988. Mike and Nancy supported Pamplin’s Center for Business Intelligence and Analytics and are partners in Virginia Tech’s Beyond Boundaries Scholarship program. While Mike and Nancy both grew up in Springfield, VA, they have lived in Atlanta, GA with their family for more than 30 years.
Stacie Castro
Controller
Hurt and Profitt
Stacie (Coates) Castro is a 1999 graduate of the Pamplin College of Business, earning a degree in Accounting. Originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, Stacie started her career in Bethesda, MD, and moved to Los Angeles, California soon thereafter to work as an assistant controller for the Australian Company Westfield Shoppingtowns. While in LA, Stacie also volunteered to do accounting and work with local middle schoolers for a church plant in Hollywood and West LA called Kairos.
Stacie and her husband felt the draw back to Blacksburg and returned home in 2005. She is currently the Controller at Hurt and Profitt, an engineering and survey company in Blacksburg. She has been with Hurt and Profitt and their affiliate companies since 2006.
No matter where she has lived it has always been important to Stacie to find ways to invest in her community and help out where she can. She has volunteered with local non-profits including the Montgomery County Christmas Store and Mosaic Blacksburg, and was a member of the board of Christiansburg Institute. She currently sits on the board of Micah’s Caring Initiative and Sequoia Housing Partnership.
In what little free time she has, Stacie wants to see as much of the world as possible, and pack in as many musicals as she can along the way.
Chris Shean
Chris Shean is a retired executive of Liberty Media Corporation where he oversaw accounting and treasury functions for numerous media and entertainment holdings, including Sirius XM Radio, QVC, and the Atlanta Braves Baseball Club.
Shean received a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1987. Upon graduation, he began his career with KPMG in Norfolk. He became a partner in the assurance practice before joining Liberty Media Corporation in 2000.
Shean, who lives in Castle Rock, Colorado, is a prominent university leader. Shean has been a strong advocate and foremost benefactor with outright capital support for the Global Business and Analytics Complex initiative. Shean serves on the Pamplin Advisory Council Cabinet and the Virginia Tech Foundation Board. He has hosted events to help strengthen relationships with college senior administrators and prominent alumni.
Robert Cummings
Former Managing Director & Chief Technology Officer
Falfurrias Capital Partners
Before retiring in 2023, Rob was formerly a Managing Director & Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Falfurrias Capital Partners, a Charlotte-based private equity firm that acquires or invests in middle-market businesses. As an MD at Falfurrias Capital, he provided management oversight and guidance to Falfurrias’ portfolio companies, as well as led various strategic technology initiatives for the businesses. Rob also co-founded DealCloud, a software-as-a-service deal management platform that is now in use at over 2,000 firms participating in merger and acquisition transactions. Rob built and led DealCloud over an 8-year period before selling to strategic acquirer and public company, Intapp, in 2018.
Rob remains active in the early stage venture community in Charlotte serving as both an investor and advisor. He is deeply passionate about mentoring college students and serves as the Executive in Residence (EIR) at the Apex Center for Entrepreneurs at Virginia Tech, as well as an Adjunct Professor at UNC Charlotte, where he teaches an Entrepreneur MBA class. He also guest speaks at various local Universities including UNC Chapel Hill, Queens University, Wake Forest, and Johnson & Wales.
In addition to serving as the EIR of the Apex Center at Virginia Tech, Rob is an active member of the Pamplin Advisory Council where he channels his passion for mentoring students through the Student Experience Committee. On July 1st, aligning with the start of the University’s new academic year, he will assume the role of Board Chairman for the Apex Center.
Rob graduated from Virginia Tech (Pamplin, Management Science) in 1990 and later earned an MBA from Seton Hall University in 1996.
Philip Brown
Senior Manager of Analytics Products
Hilton
Philip is a distinguished product leader and data strategist, recognized for his innovative contributions to the hospitality industry. As a Senior Manager of Analytics Products at Hilton, Philip has led the development of data-driven product lines, generating over $150 million in business value within his first year. His achievements earned him Hilton’s Global Innovation Team Summit Award, reflecting his exceptional ability to bridge the gap between advanced analytics and practical business implementation.
Philip’s journey exemplifies the innovative Hokie spirit. While serving overseas on Active Duty in the U.S. Air Force, he simultaneously earned his Master’s in Information Technology at Virginia Tech along with a Graduate Certificate in Data Mining and Business Analytics. His visionary leadership modernized the Air Force’s analytics infrastructure, introducing Tableau as a primary platform and revolutionizing data accessibility for operational decision-making Air Force-wide, demonstrating his ability to drive systematic change in one of the world’s largest organizations.
A proud second-generation Hokie following in the footsteps of his mother, Linda Pincham (EdD, Virginia Tech), Philip’s commitment to Ut Prosim extends beyond professional success. After returning from overseas, he eagerly reconnected with the Virginia Tech community, volunteering at Pamplin’s Hospitality Career Fair and Belonging in Business night. He finds genuine joy in mentoring students, sharing real lessons from his journey, and helping young professionals shape their career paths.
Philip’s influence extends beyond his professional achievements. His unwavering pursuit of excellence and innovation inspired his spouse to pursue her own educational journey at Virginia Tech, continuing a meaningful family legacy of Hokie pride. Today, he remains passionate about supporting the next generation of leaders and making a lasting impact through innovation and service.
For Philip, “The journey is the goal,” reflecting his belief in continuous learning and innovation. Now back in the United States, he looks forward to finding more ways to engage with Pamplin’s College of Business and sharing his Hokie Pride with the world.
Kashi Nikore
Technical Success Manager
Qualtrics
Kashi Nikore graduated from Virginia Tech in 2022 with a degree in Marketing Management (Digital Marketing Strategy). She began her professional career working for Chef José Andrés, managing digital marketing for his 35+ restaurants worldwide. She is currently a Technical Success Manager at Qualtrics, specializing in enhancing customer experience. As an alumna, Kashi immediately after graduation served as the Marketing Chair for the DC Young Alumni Committee. She now serves as Chair of the committee, continuing to inspire and engage local alumni. Kashi also returns to Blacksburg for Homecoming and Alumni Weekends, managing Virginia Tech’s social media channels to showcase how much the university has to offer even after graduation.
Sudharsan Sriram
Vice President
Stonepeak
Suddy Sriram is the child of immigrants from India who came to the U.S. in their early 20’s. He grew up in Northern Virginia just outside Washington, D.C., inspired by his parents’ work ethic and careers, his mother launching a top-rated dental practice and his father leading a dynamic tenure as an economist at the IMF. This led Suddy to pursue his passion for business at Virginia Tech, graduating in 2018 with a double degree in Finance and Accounting and a minor in Psychology. At Virginia Tech, he helped lead Commodity Investing by Students (COINS) as Professional Development Chair and senior analyst for cocoa and sugar.
Suddy began his career as an investment banker on Wall Street for Bank of America Merrill Lynch where he specialized in debt origination - highlighted by a $13bn offering for Occidental Petroleum, the largest energy bond deal of all-time. There, he led the Virginia Tech recruitment team, hiring 20+ Hokies and elevating the college’s status to target school.
Currently, Suddy is a Vice President at Stonepeak, a leading global infrastructure investment firm with $70bn+ in AUM. Suddy was hired to help build the Capital Markets group at Stonepeak, responsible for the debt structuring and capital needs for the firm’s new and existing investments. In January 2025, he transitioned to the London office to help spearhead the firm’s capital markets efforts for EMEA and APAC.
As a proud, lifelong Hokie, he currently serves on the Pamplin Finance and COINS advisory boards.
