Client Representative, IBM

Gerald Anderson is a former scholarship athlete from Mercyhurst University. He is also a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Katz School of Business, where he earned a master’s in business administration degree in strategy, finance and entrepreneurship. He served as the president of the Entrepreneurship club until graduation. For the past 4 years, Gerald has been working at IBM as a Client Executive servicing NYC Local Government.

Outside of his professional career, Gerald mentors underserved high school students as part of iMentor NYC. He also advises and mentors start-up companies, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. Harrisburg is Gerald Anderson’s hometown.

Investment Banking Associate, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Yaleh Asadi is an Investment Banking Associate at Bank of America, where she focuses primarily on Mergers & Acquisitions. Prior to joining BofA, Ms. Asadi served as an Associate Director at SSA & Company, and worked on consulting engagements across Europe, the UK, and her home-base of NYC. Prior to SSA, she worked at KeyBanc Capital Markets as an Investment Banking Analyst, covering both Financial Sponsors and Consumer & Retail.

Additionally, Ms. Asadi’s interest in Social Business had led her to engage in pro bono work that supported various start-ups, ranging from hydroponic systems for clean water access to sustainable food development with a focus on helping evacuees transition to living in the U.S. She is currently assessing new opportunities across housing and healthcare.

In her free time, Ms. Asadi enjoys marathon running (5x finisher), rock climbing, and trying new restaurants across NYC.

Ms. Asadi received her B.S.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015 and was the recipient of the CBA Alumni Leadership Award. H2P!

HR Director, Surefire Management Group

Alexis Bovalino is the HR Director for Surefire Management Group, LP (a restaurant group known for creating and operating award-winning brands: Burgatory, Shorty’s Pins X Pints and Shorty’s Tap X Taco).

As an HR Department of One, Alexis wears many hats with a focus on hiring, retention, crew engagement, policy, compensation, worker’s compensation, benefits administration, legal and compliance. Alexis grew up in the restaurants and believes the key to operating a successful organization is by taking care of people.

Prior to rejoining the Burgatory team, Alexis worked for Dick’s Sporting Goods at the Corporate Headquarters in merchandising. She credits the organization as a great place to work, filled with incredible teachers, mentors and friends.

In her free time, Alexis fills her evenings with music. She rings in her hometown church’s Bell Choir and sings with Belle Voci, a community-based intergenerational women’s choir focused on connecting song and community through civic engagement. 

Alexis received her B.S.B.A from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 with majors in Marketing and Human Resources Management. Accolades at Pitt include the ‘Share the Vision Award,’ ‘Star of Distinction,’ and ‘Pitt Business Commencement Speaker.’

Ms. Maureen Cable, MBA, PHR, a native Pittsburgher, has helped individuals achieve their goals for more than 20 years. Whether it is assisting people secure employment, volunteering her time or educating others, helping people is a current that flows strong in Maureen.

After Maureen received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington & Jefferson College, she attended the University of Pittsburgh, Katz Graduate Business School achieving an MBA in marketing strategy. A technology early-adopter, Maureen began her career selling computer hardware, software and desktop solutions to individuals, businesses and schools.

Currently, Maureen holds the role of HR Generalist at Automated Health Systems, Inc. (“AHS”). Leading the talent acquisition team, she leverages her extensive sales and marketing experience to make a real difference in other people’s lives. Combining her technical expertise with thorough analytical thinking, Maureen is instrumental in developing, implementing and managing the AHS social media recruitment program.

In addition to her impressive education and work background, Maureen volunteers her time on the board for the Katz Capstone Management Simulation Course, with Tree Pittsburgh fostering a greener region, and with the Crisis Center North helping vulnerable people find much-needed assistance.

With a mission on earth to serve others and help them live better lives, Ms. Cable, is well-equipped to fulfill that mission. In her role at AHS, Maureen helps people get the jobs that provide medical services management assistance for the most vulnerable populations across the country. For her, the rewards are endless and so is the satisfaction.

Dean of Business and Technologies at CCAC, Community College of Allegheny County

Sara Conroy brings a combined 15 years of professional and academic experience to her role as Dean of Business and Technology at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), a position she started in January 2022.

Conroy began her academic career at CCAC in 2012 when she was hired as a full-time accounting instructor. She was the first woman to hold this position at CCAC’s South Campus. During the past 10 years at CCAC, she has earned tenure, been promoted multiple times to her current rank of associate professor, chaired the business and accounting disciplines at South Campus, won the prestigious NISOD national teaching excellence award in 2017, won Advisor of the Year in 2014, started the Accounting and Business Club, and launched and coordinated the successful new first-year experience course, College Seminar.

Prior to making a career change to academia in 2012, Conroy worked in public accounting at Global Tax Management (GTM) as a Senior Tax Analyst before being promoted to Contracting Senior Tax Analyst. Before GTM, she started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, specializing in compliance and provision tax consulting services as well as accounting systems integration and support to corporations in the communications, manufacturing, and oil and gas industries. She was a member of a national “fly-in team” and named one of the firm’s top 25 associates during her second year.

Conroy recently earned her PhD in Instructional Leadership and Management (IML) from Robert Morris University (RMU) in spring 2022. For her dissertation research, she conducted a quasi-experimental study about the impact of training on faculty teaching self-efficacy at two-year colleges. She also holds an MS in Taxation from RMU, and earned her BS in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, holding a major in Accounting, minor in Management Information Systems, and a certificate in Leadership and Ethics.

Conroy resides in Freeport, PA with her husband (John), son (Finn), dog (Darcy), and three cats (Mishka, Saiorse, and Elysia).

Partner, HKA Global, LLC

David Duffus is a Partner in the Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages practice at HKA Global, LLC. He has more than 30 years of experience providing complex litigation, forensic accounting and valuation services for businesses ranging from start-up entities to Fortune-100 companies. David frequently testifies as an expert witness, and has also served as an arbitrator/neutral accountant in post-acquisition and valuation-related disputes. He earned his BA in Economics and Political Science, and his MBA in Accounting and Finance from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Accredited in Business Valuation, Certified in Financial Forensics, and is a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Director of Gift Planning, South Dakota State University Foundation

Ned Gavlick joined the South Dakota State University Foundation in January 2016, where he works as the Director of Gift Planning. Ned works with alumni and friends of South Dakota State University to make a difference in the lives of students and faculty, and to help create legacy gifts at SDSU.

As an undergrad at Pitt, Ned had the opportunity to intern with the Pittsburgh Penguins front office, which led to a 6-year stint in minor league front office work with a minor league hockey club in Glens Falls, NY, and minor league baseball teams in Scranton, PA and Sioux Falls, SD. Ned then transitioned back to college life, joining the SDSU Athletic department in 2008.

Ned has had the opportunity to work with nonprofits for over 15 years. He has helped grow giving in annual funds, corporate support, and major/planned gifts. With the SDSU Foundation, he is part of a development team that raises over $70 million annually.

Ned graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2001 with a dual degree in Business Administration and Political Science.

Ivana Goossen is the Director of Kunsthalle Praha, a privately established not-for-profit international center for modern and contemporary art located in a former electricity substation in the historical center of Prague (Czech Republic). Open to the public since early 2022, Kunsthalle Praha is a leading art venue in the Czech capital offering visitors a wide range of exhibitions and educational programs, cultural events and social activities.

Ivana has an Executive MBA from the Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, USA (2009) and an M.A. in International Economic Relations from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia, Bulgaria (1996). She is a member of the international honor society Beta Gamma Sigma.

Prior to joining Kunsthalle Praha in 2015, Ivana worked for five years as the Director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Executive MBA Program and Center for Executive Education for Europe based in Prague. Prior to that, she worked for a global management services company and ran her own management consultancy firm.

Ivana is of Czech-Bulgarian descent with long-term interests in business management, psychology and the visual and performing arts. She lives in Prague with her husband Henk and their two sons, Alex and Max.

Shareholder, Babst Calland

2nd VP, BAA

Mary Binker is an associate in the Corporate & Commercial and Energy & Natural Resources groups of Babst Calland. Binker’s practice focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, negotiation and drafting of contracts, and advising on real estate matters.

Binker received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007, earning a B.A. in economics and political science. She received her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and her M.B.A. from the Katz School in 2010.

While completing her graduate degrees, Binker worked for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division and the Insurance Fraud Section.

Prior to joining Babst Calland, Binker worked in the corporate and real estate business group of a mid-sized regional law firm.

Binker was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2011. She is a member of the Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Bar associations. Binker is a member of the Associate Board of HEARTH and Board of Directors for the Business Alumni Association of the University of Pittsburgh. She also is active with the Junior League of Pittsburgh.

Barry is a Director/Vice President in the Work Dynamics Group at the corporate offices of JLL in Pittsburgh.  Currently, he serves as the Americas Region Lead for Transactions on the Teva Pharmaceutical Account (Teva) focusing his efforts on Teva’s portfolio throughout North and South America. Additionally, he is a Senior Transaction Manager on the United Healthcare Account (UHG), where he oversees the disposition of excess leases within their clinical portfolio. Responsibilities on both Accounts include strategic planning, financial analysis review, overseeing of process, and maintaining client communications.

Barry has over thirty (30) years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. He has represented both Landlords and Tenants and has worked on projects that span the entire spectrum of commercial property types (office, industrial, flex, retail).

Barry earned his MBA in Finance from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as a member of the University of Pittsburgh’s Alumni Association & Business School Alumni Boards. Additionally, Barry mentors college students, is active in the JLL Real Estate Academy through the College of Business Administration and participates in various volunteer activities at Temple Sinai in Pittsburgh.

He lives in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife Beth. Two of his three children have graduated college and the third just finished her sophomore year.

VP of Region Life Cycle (RLC) at Oracle

Sanjeev Khanna has a track record in establishing new products and business models worldwide. Currently, Sanjeev is VP of Region Life Cycle (RLC) at Oracle where he is responsible for selecting and delivering new Cloud Regions. His team has launched tens of new Regions (data centers) to help Oracle establish their global presence. Prior to the current role, he was responsible for transforming Oracle’s HW supply chain to enable transition to the Cloud.

Before joining Oracle, Sanjeev was Senior Director at Microsoft Global Foundation Services (2012-2016), the engine that powers Microsoft’s Cloud Services including Microsoft Azure, Bing, and Office 365. His team was responsible for Strategic Sourcing & Supply Chain of data center infrastructure products and services (power, bandwidth, networking hardware, servers, etc.), and Business Development for new initiatives.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Sanjeev spent 16 years with Intel (1996–2012), where he held a variety of positions in sales, marketing, finance, and operations. At Intel he served as Director of Marketing for the Cloud segment, where he was responsible for Cloud computing marketing and Business Development with the world’s largest Cloud companies and OEMs. From 2003-2008, Sanjeev served as Geography Manager for the Intel Server, Storage, and Embedded Whitebox business in EMEA.

He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. When he is not delivering Cloud solutions, he enjoys traveling, playing golf and spending time with his nieces and nephews.

Max Kneis is a Project Leader with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), based out of Atlanta, GA. He is currently on educational leave as he pursues his MBA at The Wharton School.

In his role, he has worked on a number of projects across industries and topics including retail, transformation, travel & tourism, pricing, loyalty, and strategy. He has also supported BCG’s Chief Marketing Officer and Global Client Team Chair during a stint as part of BCG’s CEO Ambassador Program. Max earned a degree in finance and accounting from Pitt Business in 2018.

As an undergraduate at Pitt, Max was active in a number of student organizations, including the Student Government Board, Phi Beta Lambda, and Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He had the opportunity to serve as the 2017-18 Student Government Board President, working with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni across campus to enhance the student experience.

Since graduation, Max has stayed connected to Pitt, serving on the Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Council and is heavily involved with the Atlanta & Philadelphia Pitt Clubs. He enjoys mentoring students interested in consulting and helping to guide them through the recruiting process. Additionally he spent his MBA summer internship in 2023 at Pitt, serving as a Strategic Planning Assistant for the Office of the Chancellor.

Senior Corporate Counsel, Harsco Corporation

Koreny earned her MBA from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. In her role as Senior Corporate Counsel at Harsco Corporation, Koreny works closely with management, the business development team, and the business unit teams on domestic and international acquisitions, joint venture, divestitures, corporate governance, executive compensation, and public company disclosure and NYSE listing matters. Her MBA education, in addition to her experience working as a corporate attorney at a national law firm, enables Koreny to serve as a valuable and trusted resource throughout the organization by providing creative solutions to help the organization achieve its business objectives in a legal and ethical way. In addition to her position on the Business Alumni Association, Koreny is the chair of the Pitt Business Alumnae Council.

During her time at Pitt, Koreny spent time in both China and India and she continues to travel as often as possible.

VP Programs and Partnerships, International Space Station US National Lab

Christine Kretz is the Vice President of Programs and Partnerships for the International Space Station (ISS) US National Lab. Christine’s role is to identify opportunities for leveraging the facilities of the ISS to enable science and technology research that will benefit life on Earth while maximizing taxpayer investment in the ISS. Christine’s team helps interested organizations determine how to best to approach work on the Station and work through the process to accomplish the desired objectives.

Prior to joining the ISS, Christine worked for IBM, joining them in 1998 as a manager in the Research Division, where she had responsibilities including IT security for eight labs globally. From Research, Christine took a corporate position and was named the Global Operations Manager for IBM Life Sciences, an emerging business area for IBM at that time. Christine has also held the positions of Healthcare Solutions Executive on the IBM Global Healthcare Industry team, and roles as a Client Executive and Complex Opportunity Manager in Healthcare / Life Sciences. Most recently she managed the Research Division Healthcare and Life Sciences organization.

Christine holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA in Operations from Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh where she is a member of the Business School Alumni Board and a member of the board of the Citrus Council of Florida Girl Scouts. 

Corporate Audit Specialist, Covestro Germany

Emil Lampe has worked with Covestro Germany since September 2015. As a Corporate Audit Specialist of business functions since January 2023, Emil is responsible for the preparation, conduct and follow-up of internal audits within the Covestro Group, as well as taking responsibility as the lead auditor for the audit results and the team‘s success.

Emil received his Masters of Business Administration from Katz in 2021 and a Bachelor of Arts in Management and International Studies from Fachhochschule der Wirtschaft, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany in 2018.

Emil currently resides in Cologne, Germany avidly cheering on his Pitt Panthers at every opportunity possible.

Audit & Assurance Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Bill Martin is a financial services industry professional with over 20 years of experience in public accounting and prudential regulation specializing in banking, capital markets, and financial technology institutions. Bill provides professional services to institutions of various sizes and complexity and has significant experience dealing with complex accounting, reporting, regulatory, and operational matters.

Bill was a Professional Accounting Fellow at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in Washington D.C. from September 2013 through July 2015. As a Professional Accounting Fellow, his responsibilities included assisting with policy development for the supervision of national banks and federal savings associations, as well as providing subject matter expertise on accounting and other regulatory matters. Prior to rejoining Deloitte in December 2015, Bill was a VP, Accounting Policy at The PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Bill and his wife Karen (also a Pitt Alum) have two amazing young boys that are huge Pitt fans and reside in Northern Virginia.

Managing Director, Valuation Advisory, Stout Risius Ross, LLC

Jasmeet Marwah is a Managing Director in the Valuation Advisory group of Stout Risius Ross (“Stout”). He has close to 15 years of experience providing valuation analysis and reports for clients globally for financial reporting, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and tax restructuring purposes under U.S. GAAP and IFRS. His experience includes corporate finance advisory, business and equity valuations, valuation of intangible assets, fairness and solvency opinions, portfolio valuations, and trust & estate valuations. Marwah has served public and private enterprises in a broad range of industries. Prior to joining Stout, he worked at PwC and Ernst & Young in the valuation, strategy, and business modeling groups.

Marwah has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Delhi (India). He is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder and an active member of Financial Executives International Detroit.

Ashby McGarry is a Portfolio Leader at Philips, overseeing Philips’ respiratory portfolio and the strategy of its global marketing. In this role, McGarry is responsible for the diversification, innovation, and expansion of Philip’s respiratory solutions. Previously, for Prodigo Solutions, a UPMC Enterprise company focused on hospital supply-chain technology, McGarry established a competitive marketing department and was the architect of Prodigo’s foremost sales and retention objectives. McGarry has specialized, thus far, in the healthcare industry, with an emphasis on population healthcare, supply chain technology, product and program development, and growth strategies. In parallel with these healthcare-related corporate activities, Ashby also operates as the VP of a family-run real estate investment firm that currently maintains $1MM+ in residential equity; her primary role is the lead manager of all renovation projects and vendor interface with an eye towards business development.

McGarry received her undergraduate degree at Roanoke College earning a B.A. in Business Administration, with an emphasis on Global Business. She then received her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business Executive MBA Program in 2019. McGarry is also heavily involved with the tri-state equestrian rescue and rehabilitation network in the Pittsburgh area, and in her free time, enjoys riding as a lead Whip of the Sewickley Hunt.

Abhishek founded Blue Lotus Investment Fund (BLIF), an India-focused public equities investment firm, in 2015. Holding a concentrated portfolio of stocks, BLIF seeks to invest in companies with competitive advantages at reasonable valuations. Prior to founding Blue Lotus Investments, Abhishek was an investment director at Brandywine Trust Group, a $10 billion NY-based multi-family office, where he led investments across asset classes and geographies. Prior to Brandywine, Abhishek was the interim head of investment office at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, a NY-based foundation. He received a B.S. in Finance, with honors, from the University of Pittsburgh.

Abhishek serves on the UK board of the Deccan Heritage Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Visitors and Endowment Committee of Shady Side Academy, a K-12 preparatory school. He is a member of the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Global Advisory Committee and the University’s Business Alumni Association Board. Previously, Abhishek served on the board of directors of New York City’s Film Forum, where he chaired the investment committee.

Vice President & Finance Manager

Born and raised in the Caribbean, came to Pittsburgh, PA for College and Graduate School.

Rosalie is a graduate of Point Park University, with a dual Bachelor of Science Degrees in Accounting and Business Management. Upon graduation, she joined the US Army Reserves. After training, she returned to Pittsburgh to pursue her MBA at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz graduate school of business and enlist in ROTC at University of Pittsburgh. She is also a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®.

Upon graduation and completion of ROTC, she was assigned to an US Army Reserve Unit, and started work at Mellon Financial Capital Markets. In pursuit of further career aspirations, she moved to Alcoa Inc. During her tenure at Alcoa, Rosalie worked as a Senior Financial and Business Processes Auditor and Senior Financial Analyst. She traveled and audited various domestic and international manufacturing and outsourced business locations. In July 2009, she joined PNC Financial Services as a Finance Project Manager supporting the HR Organization in management of financials, budgeting, and capital projects. Currently, Rosalie is a Vice President and Finance Manager, managing the Financials and Budgets of PNC CFO (Finance) Organization. Additionally, she is PNC’s Co-Chair of the African American Affinity Group – Community & Customer Outreach Committee and other leadership positions over the years and is active with the other Affinity groups and the Finance Diversity & Inclusion council.

Over the years and currently, Rosalie has represented both Alcoa and PNC in various conferences, recruiting activities, diversity initiatives, and providing Financial Literacy training to NABA college/high school students and the Chuck Cooper Foundation graduate school scholarship recipients. In her spare time, she is an active Katz Alumni and member of Pitt Black MBA Network Board, PBAN, and Board Member and Finance Chair of Fund for Advancement of Minorities through Education (FAME). In addition to being an active Soccer, Girls Scouts, and Orchestra Mom of a fourteen-year-old daughter.

Kazunobu (“Kazu”) Nakao was born and grew up in Itami, Hyogo, Japan. In 1988, he earned a Bachelor of Sociology in journalism and sociology from Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan. He started his career as a human resources (HR) magazine editor, an HR communications consultant, and a training/HR development specialist with Kansai Employers’ Association (which was then a major HR-related economic organization in Osaka, Japan, and is now incorporated into Kansai Economic Federation).

In 1994, he earned a Master of Business Administration in strategic planning and organization/human resources management from the Katz School. Upon graduating, he returned to Japan and served as a chief consultant and a director at HR management consulting firms in Osaka for several years. In 2000, he accepted the position of manager, HR Strategies Group, at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, starting in Tokyo. A year later, he was transferred to New York City, where he was responsible for providing HR strategies consulting to Japanese companies in the United States. In 2004, he left Deloitte and started his own consulting business (Nakao International Human Resource Consulting) based in Fort Lee, N.J. He provides general HR strategies consulting for Japanese companies operating in the United States as well as their headquarters in Japan.

He serves on the Pitt Business Alumni Board of Directors and is the representative for the KGSB Japan Alumni Network. He is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Nakao is a true cosmopolitan, having traveled to approximately 65 countries on business or for pleasure. He is also an avid sports fan, particularly the Pittsburgh Steelers, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football and basketball teams, Japan’s Hanshin Tigers (baseball), and the Olympics.

VP, Business Analytics Lead at PNC Bank

Anita Nilkant is a finance professional with 30+ years of experience across multiple industries. As VP, Business Analytics Lead at PNC Bank she collaborates closely with partners in finance and the business, to implement meaningful change and process improvements. Conceptualize, develop, and continuously optimize solutions for operations and management to drive data driven decision making. Prior to joining PNC, she was the Senior Director, Financial Planning and Analysis at Robert Morris University where she managed the institution’s operating budget and capital plan, and analysis in support of strategic initiatives. Anita’s diverse experience also includes working in industries such as: software development / global supply (FreeMarkets, Inc.), manufacturing (Medrad, Inc.) and shipping/package delivery (Roadway Package System, Inc.).

Anita has a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Bangalore University, India and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, Katz Graduate School of Business. She is a volunteer in the Pitt Business Alumnae Council and is passionate about helping young adults achieve their full potential.

Andrew Reichert is co-founder and CEO of Birgo, a Pittsburgh-based private equity real estate firm, and is primarily responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction to the organization. Andrew is passionate about improving lives through real estate–Birgo’s mission statement. His vision echoes in his deep care and intentionality for serving each of Birgo’s stakeholders, as he oversees the company’s 90-employee team, 2,900 units, and approximately $280 million in assets under management.

Andrew began his career at PNC Bank’s healthcare technology group, where he developed and sold innovative financial products and data solutions for the healthcare industry. A summa cum laude graduate from Pitt, Andrew serves on the BAA board, along with other local nonprofit boards. Andrew lives on the North Side of Pittsburgh with his wife and three daughters.

Chief Financial Officer, Vision Benefits of America, Inc.

Aaron Risden is chief financial officer at VBA where he is responsible for accounting and finance, human resources, information technology, and EDI processing. Risden previously was a controller for a privately held company and a senior manager at a U.S. top 25 accounting and consulting firm in Pittsburgh, where he specialized in providing audit, accounting and consulting services to private businesses in a variety of industries. Risden was the 2022-23 President of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and has previously served the Pittsburgh chapter of the PICPA as the 2012-13 President. He is also a Council member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Risden received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from the University of Pittsburgh.  He lives in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.

Founder and President of Tri-Sector Advisors LLC

William Sapon is a visionary leader with over 11 years of experience in the energy and sustainability space. As the Founder and President of Tri-Sector Advisors LLC, a minority-owned, small business he is dedicated to driving positive social and environmental change through cross-sector collaboration.

William’s expertise in the public, private and non-profit sectors, combined with his deep knowledge of sustainability and clean energy issues, make him a sought-after advisor for organizations seeking to advance their sustainability goals. He has worked with a wide range of clients, including Federal & State government agencies, corporations, utilities and non-profits, to develop and implement strategies that reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and developing innovative business models. William is known for his ability to develop tailored solutions that drive positive social and environmental outcomes and for his coalition building skills.

As a minority business owner, William is deeply committed to promoting diversity and equity in all aspects of his work. He believes that entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for positive social change and is passionate about using his platform to support underrepresented communities.

William’s vision, leadership, and commitment to sustainability and equity have earned him numerous awards and honors. He is an influential speaker and thought leader on a range of energy topics and continues to inspire others to join the movement towards a sustainable and more resilient economy.

Previously, William served as the Interim Director of Business Development at Peoples Natural Gas, a division of Essential Utilities, a publicly-traded water, wastewater and gas utility. He has also worked with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Conservation International and the Penn State Institutes for Energy and the Environment.

William holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business. His passion for community service extends beyond his professional career and he serves on multiple non-profit boards, including the University of Pittsburgh’s Business Alumni Association (BAA) and the Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities (PRCC), the designated regional organization for all U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities initiatives. William is also a vital figure to the foundation of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Sustainable Business (CSB).

Technological Thinker and Tinkerer

Currently, Brandon Spires serves as a project manager at Rockwell Automation, owner of Allen-Bradley branded industrial automation solutions. As a member of the business operations and security team, Spires ensures the digital landscape within architecture and software remains a secure and organized environment for the development of the company’s various intellectual properties. He also champions best practices in team collaboration through his role on the company’s SharePoint Governance Council.

At the Katz Graduate School of Business, Spires built on his bachelor’s degree in computer science as a dual degree MBA/MS-MIS student. In addition, he further developed his research and teamwork skills through multiple freelance consulting engagements, which frequently required him to interact with senior leaders of Pittsburgh-based Fortune 500 companies. Today, Spires gives back to Katz through an active role on the Board of the Pitt Black MBA Network (PBAN).

Aside from his career, Spires maintains an interest in chess, screenwriting, and minor visual art projects. He also hones his public speaking, storytelling, and presentation skills as an active member of Toastmasters International.

Vice President, Digital Product Management Senior Manager – PNC Treasury Management Embedded Finance

President, BAA

Matthew Stahl leads Treasury Management Embedded Finance Product Delivery at PNC Bank in Pittsburgh. He enables treasury API and Platform Connection solutions for PNC’s corporate and institutional clients. This allows for our clients to adopt new payment methods, improve accuracy and security of transactions, and to enhance efficiency of legacy systems for making and receiving payments.

In his eleven years at PNC, Stahl has taken on many different roles and has helped the company advance its legacy systems to delivery our customers faster and more efficient banking capabilities, reimagine and rebuild its Retail Digital channels, and make significant progress toward improving the quality of risk management.

Prior to joining PNC, Stahl managed a team that helped to develop and support BNY Mellon’s risk management applications. During that time, he also conducted yearly financial planning and budgeting for BNY Mellon’s Corporate Shared Services Technology Division.

He began his career and spent two years at The Vanguard Group, located in the greater Philadelphia, Pa., region. There he established himself as a lead project manager and a highly sought-after resource.

Stahl holds a Master of Business Administration from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in information technology from Slippery Rock University. Stahl is a native of Pittsburgh and resides in Peters Township with his wife, dog, and two children.

Senior Executive Vice President /Chief Operating Officer, Mid Penn Bank

A financial services professional with more than 15 years of experience, Justin Webb currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Mid Penn Bank, a $4.5 billion community bank with more than 40 financial centers across Pennsylvania. In this capacity, Justin provides executive-level support for the Bank’s administrative, credit approval, human resources, marketing, operations and security/facility functions. Additionally, Justin is responsible for the coordination of the Bank’s acquisition and integration of both bank and non-bank firms. Prior to joining Mid Penn, Justin provided credit risk management expertise in the areas of commercial real estate construction and development, corporate real estate investment, casino gaming and travel leisure at Bank of America.

Justin currently resides in the Harrisburg, PA area with his wife Julie (BSBA ’05) and two children. Both Justin and Julie remain committed to supporting the College of Business Administration, its current students and its alumni network by returning to campus regularly for recruiting fairs, speaking engagements and athletic events.

Global Procurement Manager, HOYA Vision Care

Jason Yu is currently a Global Procurement Manager at HOYA Vision Care, one of the top producers of eyeglass lenses in the world. Prior leadership and/or management roles in Supply Chain span an array of industries and global corporations, including Accenture, Molex, IKEA, and Joy Global (now Komatsu Mining), where he worked in multiple countries.

Jason received dual Master’s degrees from Katz, earning his MBA and Master of International Business, along with dual undergraduate degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, in the form of a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Rhetoric. Additionally, he has 5 professional/academic certifications in Supply Chain, Operations, and Business.

Jason is a native of Pittsburgh, having spent most of his life living in the city and in the Greater Pittsburgh vicinity. He has been living abroad as as an American expat since 2013, primarily as well as currently based in Shanghai, China. In his spare time, Jason wears his Pitt Pride on his sleeve by actively organizing and participating in events for as well as on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh, in a continuous effort to build and to foster a robust alumni coalition outside the U.S.