the Isenberg School of Managemnt in 2014. While attending UMass, she was an executive board member of the Protect Our Breasts Organization. Alexis educated women on the potential endocrine disrupting chemicals found in our everyday products, and how they can make safer choices to foster a healthy lifestyle.
diversity lead for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the Boston, Massachusetts office. She is responsible for the development and implementation of market strategies that promote diversity and foster inclusion in the workplace. Allyson is a frequent facilitator for training sessions on cultural dexterity and unconscious bias at PwC. PwC is among the leading the professional services network in the work with offices in 157 countries and more than 208,000 people helping organizations and individuals by delivering quality in assurance, tax and advisory services. Allyson graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a B.S. in Business Management. She is also a certified Professional of Human Resources and volunteers her time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the Boston community.
a B.B.A. in Operations and Information Management from the Isenberg School of Management. During Alyssa’s time at UMASS, she was a member of the UMASS Equestrian Team where she served as Captain and Treasurer from 2014-2016. Additionally, Alyssa had the opportunity to study abroad at the Copenhagen Business School in Spring 2015. Upon graduation, Alyssa was offered a full-time position within Ernst & Young, LLP’s Advisory Services group in Boston. Now in her 2nd year, Alyssa works on the execution of IT-related audit procedures over business and IT processes in support of financial statements audits and reporting on internal controls. Alyssa works primarily within the Oil and Gas, Pharmaceutical, and Retail sectors.
Vice President within the MassMutual U.S. Insurance Operations. She has responsibility for serving 2.2 million policyholders within the Client Servicing team, issuing $2 billion of Annuity sales and Strategic Projects.
Starting her career at MassMutual within Women’s Marketing, Amanda sought out challenging roles in Distribution, Babson Capital in Product Development & Client Management, Corporate Strategy and Finance before joining Insurance Operations. Amanda specializes in strategic finance, mergers and acquisitions, strategy development and transformational execution.
Amanda received her MBA from University of Connecticut with a specialty in Finance and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts. During her time at MassMutual, Amanda has been a recipient of the Working Mother of the Year award.
Amanda lives in Tolland, Connecticut with her husband and four children. When she has free time, she drives her kids to swim class, referees small children, sleeps, watches Frozen, referees small children, and laughs, a lot.
graduated in Dec 1989. She was recruited from UMASS into Pratt & Whitney’s Financial Leadership Program, which is now UTC’s Financial Leadership Program.
Angela is currently the Controls and Compliance Manager for Operations Finance at Pratt & Whitney. Over her career, Angela has held various leadership positions within the Commercial Engines Finance organization, the Controller’s department, and most recently in the Manufacturing Operations organization at Pratt & Whitney. Over her 25 years with Pratt & Whitney, she has managed teams responsible for various functions within Financial Planning and Analysis, Commercial Accounting, and Commercial Engines Consolidations and Reporting. Additionally, she was a Group Controller for Pratt & Whitney foreign subsidiaries in Switzerland, China, Singapore, and Israel.
between corporate training, executive coaching and teaching Leadership Communication at Wharton. She recently relocated from Delaware to Connecticut and is happy to be back in New England. A native Bostonian, Barbara holds a Master's degree in Psychology from Northeastern University and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is a former collegiate rower and still has the calluses to prove it. Finally, and most importantly, she is a proud member of Red Sox Nation.
the Fraud Investigations and Dispute Services practice at EY’s Boston office. Bianca graduated from UMass Amherst in 2016 as a Jack Welch Scholar, with a double major in Operations & Information Management and Computer Science. While at UMass, she was involved with Protect Our Breasts, assistant teaching, research projects, and studied abroad in Ireland. In her current role at EY, Bianca focuses on data analytics projects relating to bribery, corruption, employee misconduct, and consumer complaints. Additionally, Bianca has experience working on anti-money laundering initiatives at major banks. Bianca also participates in recruiting activities with EY.
Assistant General Counsel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She Bobbi-Sue started her career as General Counsel and Director of Human Resources for the family of life sciences companies under the New England Cryogenic Center umbrella. In between NECC and the Bucs, she was associate corporate counsel for Granite Telecommunications, a billion-dollar telecom company just outside Boston.
A graduate of the UMass Sport Management undergraduate program, and Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law, Bobbi-Sue’s career path was anything but a straight line. After law school, she waitressed and took on small matters while licensed as an attorney due to the economic crash. As an early adopter of Twitter (@bobbisue), she credits her usage of the platform for opening the doors that lead to not just one of her positions but two (NECC and Bucs).
Bobbi-Sue is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association (SLA), the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), Women in Sports and Events (WISE), and Women in Sports Law (WiSL). She is a strong advocate for mental health wellness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness, having personally lived with diagnosed depression and anxiety since she was a child. In addition, Bobbi-Sue is launching a podcast, called Leveling the Playing Field, where she conducts casual, conversational interviews with women working in sports. The podcast is the result of Bobbi-Sue’s passion for advancing the number and recognition of women in business and leadership roles, especially in sports. You can follow the podcast on Twitter at @LTPFPod for updates on its launch and upcoming episodes.
2009 with a BA in Accountancy. She works at Grant Thornton LLP, where she served as an auditor for eight years after graduating, and is currently enjoying a two year rotation as an Experienced Manager in the firm's national Accounting Principles Group. Carolyn is passionate about women in leadership, and is involved in creating and delivering training on leadership both to internal audiences through Women@Grant Thornton, and external audiences in the business community, including student groups. Carolyn has also spent time living and working in Bangalore India, where she provided training and support services to new auditors in the firm’s office there. In her free time Carolyn loves to travel, swim, drink great beer, and relax at home with her cat Luna.
Assistant Dean & Chief Marketing Officer of Isenberg School of Management and a candidate in Isenberg’s Online MBA program. She leads a cross functional team that supports many of the school’s most important strategic initiatives, and spearheaded the development of the “We Drive the Driven™” branding campaign.
Before joining Isenberg in June of 2013, she developed and implemented successful marketing and communications plans for a variety of well-known companies and brands including Kraft Foods, Kao Brands, Unilever, Cadbury-Adams, Diageo, Merrill Lynch and more. Her nearly 20 years of experience working in New York, London and the Midwest has run the gamut of consumer marketing: from shooting beauty ads with celebrities to launching complex financial and pharmaceutical products.
Chris has a BA in English, Women’s Studies and Political Science from Villanova University.
Ernst & Young (EY) as a senior in the Information Technology Risk Advisory practice. Her clients are within the financial services sector and she focuses specifically on the insurance, banking and asset management industries. She graduated from UMass Amherst in May 2015 with a BBA in Operations and Information Management, and has been working at EY full-time since July 2015. Colleen is currently pursuing a masters degree in accounting and is planning to sit for the CPA exam.
SVP, Client Partner at Essence, a global digital-first agency who's mission is to make advertising more valuable to the world. As the strategic business lead for the Google account in North America, Danielle oversees the team responsible for Google's digital advertising strategy and has worked on many large product launches, including the Pixel Phone, Google Home, and YouTube Red. Danielle is passionate about coaching young leaders and helping them focus on developing a strong team culture in addition to producing business results.
Before taking on the client partner position in Feb of 2016, Danielle held roles at Essence as Global Client Director for Google Entertainment (YouTube and Google Play) and Director of Investment for North America, leading key strategic projects for clients and overseeing large scale negotiations with top media publishers. Prior to that, Danielle directed the client service (engagement) team at the IPG Media Lab working with agencies, publishers and brands to drive innovative ad experiences in the marketplace. Danielle's other past credentials include management of digital planning and buying for Sony Network Entertainment & Sony Corporate at UM and integrated communications planning on Gillette at Carat.
Danielle earned her B.A. from Vassar College and when not working, she is a skater and the Vice President of Gotham Girls Roller Derby, a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to developing and promoting the physical and mental strength and independent spirit of amateur female athletes. Danielle lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their dog, Ripley.
senior Human Resources executive with over 25 years of global experience at Fortune 500 top branded companies across multiple industries. She is known for designing and implementing innovative talent strategies and solutions to drive profitable growth, enable business transformation, and grow a world class talent culture. Most recently Ms. Holman was the Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer for Athenahealth, based in Watertown, MA. At athenahealth, she oversaw all aspects of human resources (HR) for the company, including culture, talent management, total rewards, HR operations, HR business partnering, employee engagement, and learning and development (athenaUniversity), as well as enterprise technology and facilities across all locations.
She was working to scale athenahealth’s fast-paced growth while maintaining and strengthening the company culture, employee engagement, and career development. She has also held leadership and management positions at Capgemini in Paris, Wolters Kluwer, Raytheon, General Electric, and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst and a Masters of Business Administration from Western New England University. She has served as an adjunct professor in graduate management studies at Western New England University and currently sits on the University of Pennsylvania CLO Advisory Board and the i4cp Chief Talent Officer Board, which she co-founded.
specializing in civil, business and real estate related litigation and became the first woman partner in her law firm. After thirty five years Ms. Cohen now focuses on providing strategic advice to high visibility individuals in their personal, business and philanthropic matters as their personal legal counsel, confidential advisor and gatekeeper. She serves individuals in sports and entertainment.
With a keen understanding of issues facing women today, she is often asked to advise women in transition, especially those who are breaking gender barriers. She is an advisor to several women and non-profit organizations among them: the players of The All American Girls Professional Baseball League (made popular in the movie “A League of Their Own” starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis). She is a special advisor to the Boston Red Sox in their all women's baseball fantasy camp.
Ms. Cohen received her BA in Communication Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (‘78) and her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School (‘81) where she was elected to the Phi Delta Phi Honor Society.
She supports and is an advisor to numerous charitable causes and sits on the board of several non-profit organizations including the Museum of Fine Arts Textile and Fashion Arts Council, University of Massachusetts Sport Leadership Advisory Board and the Commonwealth Honors College Advisory Board.
Although she resides elsewhere, she calls Field Box 59 at Fenway Park, home.
UMass Amherst in 2013 with a BBA in Marketing from the Isenberg School of Management. She was the President of the Isenberg Marketing Club from 2011-2013. After graduating, Emily began working at another retailer as an Assistant Store Manager of Human Resources. Emily joined TJX in January 2015 in the Merchandising Development Program to become a buyer for the organization. She currently works in Planning and Allocation with a team of analysts to ensure a great assortment of Ladies Apparel are in TJ Maxx stores across the country. Emily completed her MBA in August 2017. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, McKenzie, working out, and shopping.
Isenberg and MBA from Western New England University. Her specialty in Consumer Relationship Marketing at the LEGO Group provided opportunities to "Inspire and Develop the Builders of Tomorrow" working with colleagues around the world, and to partner with respected brands like Disney. She enjoys reconnecting with UMASS friends and mentoring Isenberg students.
Mutual Fund Specialist at Eaton Vance with a demonstrated history of working in the Investment Management Industry since graduation. In her daily role, Jaclyn supports broker dealers, assisting them in processing transactions and related trading functions. Jaclyn graduated from UMass Amherst in 2016 with a BS in Resource Economics. Since graduation, Jaclyn passed her Series 7 and plans to take the Series 65 exam. Jaclyn is a dedicated member of Eaton Vance’s Women’s Leadership Exchange, whose mission is to recruit, engage, and develop a talented and diverse workforce. Aside from work, Jaclyn also volunteers for the Young Financial Professionals Expect Miracles Group, a group that is dedicated to advancing the fight against cancer.
SVP of Human Resources & Training – Jane leads the human resources and training function for Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) the largest credit union in New England. Reporting directly to the CEO, she is responsible for overseeing all Human Resources functions including Talent Management, Benefits Administration, Organizational Development, Payroll, Compensation, and Training.
Jane possesses over 25+ years of human resources experience in a variety of organizations including the healthcare, insurance and business services sectors. She holds a BS and MS degree from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI; a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree from St. Joseph’s College in Standish, ME and an MBA in Organizational Development from Upper Iowa University. Jane is certified by the Society of Human Resources Management as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and is the Vice President for the Human Resources Association of Central Massachusetts.
Twenty+ year veteran of the Hospitality Industry currently serving as Regional Director of Sales- Hotel Contract Sales for Encore Event Technologies. In this role Jane is responsible for securing contracts for Audio Visual and Technology services with hotels throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Prior to joining Encore, Jane was Director, National Accounts at the Boston Convention Marketing Center. In this role Jane was responsible for key account development and strategy leading to revenue generation from Citywide Conventions into Boston from the Northeast through Mid-Atlantic markets. Jane has also managed Exhibitor Services for CDS, a leading Registration and Exhibitor Services company. She led her own Advisory Firm specializing in assisting hotels with maximizing sales results, sales and leadership training, and crafting strategic and tactical sales plans to achieve improved results. As an advisor in Sales and Leadership initiatives, Jane has helped many organizations from Langham Hotels to Harvard Business School Executive Education Programs improve results and focus on continuous service improvement.
Jane began her career in Hotel Sales and held Sales and Marketing leadership positions in properties across the U.S. with both Meridien and Hyatt Hotels. While with Hyatt she received the Director of Sales of the Year award.
Jane graduated from UMass with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration and serves on the Leadership Board for the HTM School at UMass. She lives in Framingham with her husband and has two wonderful children, one of whom also graduated from UMass HTM and is employed in the hotel industry.
Senior Lecturer and a long-time member of the Isenberg community, serving as the Coordinator of the Law Faculty within the Management Department. Attorney Merton also practices law in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, focusing on business planning and succession issues, estate planning and probate, and elder law. Her academic interests include negotiation and conflict resolution, with an emphasis on gender bias issues. Additionally, Attorney Merton directs her research and teaching attention to the areas of ethics, corporate governance issues, along with corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability perspectives, social entrepreneurship and business planning, and environmental law.
Senior Manager in the Business Tax Services practice of KPMG LLP, based out of the firm’s Boston office. During her more than 12 year career with KPMG, Jenn has provided tax compliance and planning services to clients across a variety of industries, including corporations, partnerships and high net-worth individuals. In her current role, she works within KPMG’s Tax Business School group, developing instructor-led and digital learning training programs for the firm’s Tax practice.
Jenn holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Babson College, a Master’s of Science in Taxation from Suffolk University, and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Massachusetts. Outside of work, Jenn is active with alumni programs at Babson College, serving as a Director for the Babson Alumni Association, Admissions Interview Ambassador, and coach for the school’s Coaching for Leadership & Teamwork program. She currently resides in Easthampton, MA.
Event Production department at ESPN. Six months into her job, she was given the chance to audition on-air with ESPN. What started as a few segments quickly transitioned to her covering Super Bowl's, hosting red carpet events, and interviewing countless athletes. She covered the Red Sox as an on-field reporter for NESN during the 2012 and 2013 Championship season. In June 2014, Jenny joined CBS Sports’ NFL and College Football coverage as a sideline reporter. In the football off-season, she hosts "Campus Eats" on Big 10 Network.
led IdentityForce to receive its first Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for Credit Monitoring Services in 2006, and another GSA BPA for “Tier One” Government Wide Identity Protection Services in 2015. With Judy, IdentityForce has also earned a 95% customer satisfaction rating, a 98% renewal rating among its members, and a 100% success rate in restoring the identities of confirmed identity theft victims. Thanks to her commitment to members and their families, IdentityForce is the only identity protection provider to earn the Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal. A passionate world traveler and a dedicated volunteer, Judy also supports the Alzheimer’s Association, Mazie Mentoring Program, and Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue. Judy sits on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committeeof the Better Business Bureau for Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont. She’s also a proud mother of two grown daughters and two rescue dogs.
Partner and Director of Project Management for a Boston-based IT consulting firm. The fast-paced, solutions-oriented work environment is a natural fit for her skills and personality. Julia began her career in non-profit fundraising and marketing, and continues to be involved with non-profit, volunteer, and philanthropy groups, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and Women for UMass Amherst. In her free time, Julia also enjoys writing, hosting friends, and weekend getaways.
senior leader within the Strategic Partnership Group at Liberty Mutual, a global fortune 100 company. Over the past 17 years, she has held many roles at the organization and helped Liberty become a leader in the marketplace. Kara holds a BA from Boston College and MBA from Bentley University. She and her 2 sons, Ben and Charlie, reside in North Reading, MA.
post-acute sector of the health care industry since graduating from UMass with a BS in Exercise Science in 1979. She earned her Master’s in Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) from Clark University/University of MA Medical School in 1991, and has been a licensed nursing home administrator for over 26 years. In addition to serving as the Administrator for several skilled nursing facilities during her career, Karen has held also worked in specialty programs like Adult Day Health and Dementia Care units, created and operated both a Medicare certified Hospice program and a Hospice Residence, and served as the CEO/Executive for several tax exempt several organizations, including a multi-service human service organization and a multi-service post-acute/LTC provider, before joining Notre Dame Health Care Center, Worcester, as the Chief Executive Officer in 2015. Her experience has been primarily in not-for-profit organizations, which has afforded her the opportunity to develop a specialty in non-profit management and governance, and she completed the merger of two tax exempt entities in 2009, including the transfer of significant assets. She has also served on numerous boards and advisory committees. In her current position, Karen oversees the operations of a non-profit entity with a number of programs, including a skilled nursing facility, an assisted living residence, a community based Hospice program, a care management practice, a pediatric palliative care and hospice program, and an educational center for the organizations employees and community based students.
Chief Executive Officer of The NPD Group, a global provider of information and advisory services. NPD combines unique data assets and solutions with industry expertise, working with the world’s leading brands to support better business decisions and deliver a winning advantage. NPD was named one of the Top 100 companies to work for in New York State.
Karyn has over 30 years of experience in the market research field, and has led NPD’s strategic expansion with the introduction of analytic solutions and new types of data. Prior to being named CEO, Karyn was President and Chief Operating Officer of NPD.
Passionate about coaching others to greater levels of achievement, Karyn is also the author of Mom.B.A. Essential Business Advice from One Generation to the Next, a practical guide on everything from effective first impressions and workplace politics to relationship development, skill-building, and priority-setting. The book is based on the real-life business lessons Karyn amassed during her career.
Karyn received the 2016 Long Island Brava Award, which recognizes high-impact female business leaders, and was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Women of the Mid-Market for 2017, 2016 and 2015 by the CEO Connection®. She is also a recipient of the 2017 Legacy Award from Women in Consumer Technology, an organization that promotes the advancement of women in the consumer technology industry.
Karyn currently serves on the advisory board of The Resolution Project, a nonprofit organization that develops socially-responsible young leaders. Karyn has also served on the boards of directors of Civic Science and CASRO, the Council of American Survey Research Organizations. She regularly teaches classes in leadership and developing client relationships and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, summa cum laude, Karyn and her husband live in Woodbury, NY. They enjoy the beach and spending time with their adult children.
management professional who enjoys helping individuals, businesses, and organizations reach their professional goals. Katherine joined MassMutual Financial Group in 2014 as the University Relations Manager and currently, serves as the Director of the Cyber Solutions Support Team, a team of security information consultants.
Previously serving as the Director of the Full-time MBA at the University of Massachusetts--Amherst, Katherine’s professional experiences include management roles in sales, customer service, and marketing—all with companies servicing student and young professionals’ needs, including Kaplan Test Prep and EF Education First.
Katherine earned her MBA in 2004 from the Isenberg School of Management and has a BA in Communications from the University of New Hampshire. She has traveled extensively to more than 20 countries in Latin America, Asia and Europe, developing her cultural understanding in professional and personal contexts.
Founder and CMO of Market Me Too. Her entrepreneurial and marketing career has spanned over (20) years and has been focused on technology and start-up companies in a variety of industries. She is well regarded for her extensive global marketing leadership and partner marketing acumen, and has been sought after for her innovative, collaborative and strategic thinking style by companies such as Constant Contact, Dell/EMC, Hitachi, Staples as well as a number of mid-size companies. Her highly creative problem solving and entrepreneurial approach to growing companies has served her well in dynamic, fast-paced environments. She has mastered the art of building “best-in-class” marketing teams, bridging sales and marketing teams and is an expert in the area of Performance Outcome Coaching for Executives and Sports teams. Kathleen credits her family lineage of inventors and entrepreneurs for shaping her career path.
new and recent college graduates land their first professional jobs. Kim brings nearly 20 years of corporate and academic counseling experience to help her clients explore their career goals, assess their skills, and develop essential career tools. Prior to starting her own practice, Kim coached and counseled professionals in a variety of corporate technology and financial services settings at companies such as Teradyne and BNY Mellon Financial. She has also counseled students of all ages and backgrounds at many local college and universities, including Babson College, Boston University, Boston College and most recently at UMass Lowell, where she taught a Professional Development Seminar to help students prepare for co-op and the world of work.
She holds an MBA from Boston College, an M.Ed. in Counseling from Boston University, and a BBA from UMass Amherst. She lives in Lowell, MA, with her husband and 2 school-aged children.
Isenberg in 2010 and has been working at TJX ever since. She was in a planning role for five years and has been a buyer for TJX for almost three year. Professionally, Lauren is motivated by having to solve challenges, thinking outside the box, and working with a team. Personally, she enjoys discovering new places, exercising, and cooking. Lauren’s favorite perks working as a Buyer for TJX is the ability to travel and opportunity to grow.
Advertising Account Manager at Allen & Gerritsen in Boston, Massachusetts where she works on both B2B and B2C clients like Boston’s Museum of Science and Waters Corporation. She began her career at Forge Worldwide where she worked on the Isenberg School of Management and helped launch the school’s We Drive the Driven campaign.
Originally from Bolton, Massachusetts, Lauren graduated from the Isenberg School of Management with a Bachelors Degree of Business Administration in Management. During her time at UMASS Amherst, Lauren served as the co-president of the Isenberg Women in Business Organization and was one of the founders of the Women of Isenberg Conference.
Outside of work, Lauren is a Big Sister in the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston and is training to run her first marathon in Boston this coming April for the 26.2 Foundation.
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) in April 2011 and is currently the Senior Vice President of Finance at the credit union. Laurie is a Board member of DCU Realty, fiVISION, DCU Insurance, DCU for Kids and Axuda which are all affiliated with DCU. Before joining DCU, she was in public accounting for 13 years, eight of them was with McGladrey and Pullen, LLP, where she concentrated on auditing and consulting credit union clients. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a double-concentration in Accounting and Finance at Merrimack College. She is a certified public accountant in Massachusetts and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
multi-family apartment projects valued over $150M, creating and improving almost 900 homes as both a Redevelopment and Development Manager for AvalonBay Communities. As an Asset Team Leader, Mary Kate works cross functionally, uniting teams with competing goals to ensure business objectives are met while keeping residents satisfied. Mary Kate is a 2008 Civil Engineering graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and a 2015 MBA graduate of Isenberg at UMass Amherst.
Outside of work, Mary Kate volunteers at the international level for her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, as a Regional Collegiate Coordinator of new chapters, locally with Let’s Get Ready, and serves on both the WPI Civil Engineering Board of Advisors and the WPI Women’s Impact Network. Mary Kate works in Boston, is a native of Worcester, and resides with her UMass alum husband Tom (CNS ‘07) and their two dogs in Dedham.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, in the Isenberg School of Management, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is an award winning teacher focusing on service experience management, human resources management, and restaurant management. Her first main stream of research focuses on service failure and recovery while her second main stream of research focuses on appearance and impression formation. Dr. Baker’s research has been published in top tier marketing and hospitality journals.
Business Administration, Asset Owner Business and Global Relationship Executive. Melissa is serving in a dual role within the Asset Owner business, as a trusted Global Senior Relationship Executive supporting several premier Corporate and Endowment clients as well as Head of Planning and Business Administration. As a Relationship Executive, Melissa is responsible for understanding and addressing strategic objectives while serving as an advocate within the company.
Through fostering longterm relationship growth and effective client advocacy. Melissa influenced product development and helped direct strategic priorities to promote trust and loyalty with BNY Mellon clients. Since joining BNY Mellon as a Globa Specialist, Melissa has received several promotions within the Operations Groups and Client Service Delivery (CSD). In 2011, Melissa was selected to be honored as a Chairman Circle Recipient in addition to other accolades such as Client Team and Premier Achievement Awards.
Melissa mentors associates in BNY Mellon's CSD Evolution Program and Summer Analyst Program and volunteers within her community. She was actively involved in the gubernatorial elections of 2010 and 2014. Melissa received her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1988. She lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts. along with her husband and two sons.
is a Vice President in the Structured Lending and Investments group within Citi Community Capital (CCC), a department within Citi Municipal Securities Division responsible for the bank’s community development lending and investing activities.
Since joining CCC in 2014, Melissa had been involved in the origination, structuring and closing of various structured debt and equity financing solutions specializing in multifamily affordable housing finance. She works closely with for-profit and nonprofit developers, city and state agencies and low income tax credit syndicators to structure and close transactions totaling more than $1.2B in debt originations.
Prior to this role, Melissa was a Vice President in Citigroup’s Global Retail Banking Finance group where she worked with the global and regional CFOs and business heads to drive strategic initiatives. She was an equity research associate at Susquehanna Financial Group covering the Managed Care and Hospital & Facilities sectors prior to rejoining Citigroup. Melissa started her career at Citigroup in 2009 as a financial analyst in Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions where she analyzed and executed divestitures, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring opportunities across all geographies and business segments on behalf of the firm.
Ms. Lockett was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Plymouth, MA. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BBA in Finance & Operations Management. She is also registered with FINRA with Series 7, 52, 63, 86 and 87 and securities licenses.
Associate Director of Commercial Engine Services Finance at Pratt & Whitney. She started her career within the UTC Financial Leadership Program, and upon graduation has held various Finance roles with increasing responsibility within Pratt & Whitney and UTC Aerospace Systems. She has her Master’s degree in Business Administration from UMass Amherst, and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Finance from Seton Hall University. Outside of work, she enjoys spending family time with her husband and two young kids and reading.
CPA – Senior Vice President - Human Resources, The NPD Group
As NPD’s Head of Compensation, Benefits, HRIS and Payroll, Melissa Sparr is responsible for leading the Global Compensation (including Executive Compensation programs) and HRIS functions along with the US and Canadian Benefits and Payroll teams. In addition, Melissa manages the budgeting and forecasting of HR departmental expenses, as well as some corporate expenses such as bonuses, 401k contributions and the US Health and Welfare plans.
Prior to joining the NPD Group, Melissa was the Financial Director – Shared Services for Essence , In Style and Real Simple magazines at Time Inc. Before that, Melissa had a 25 year career at Time Inc. holding numerous positions in Corporate Finance, as well as at Time, People and Real Simple Magazines. Upon graduation from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst with a BBA , Melissa worked as an Auditor for Ernst & Whinney.
MassMutual for 10 years, her current role is an AVP Continuous Improvement within the Investment Management division. In this role she guides Sr. Executives to evaluate, plan, and deploy lean management principles and increase the value delivered to customers and reduce the waste within operational processes. Michele coaches leaders on transformation management, change management, data analytics and lean foundations such as capacity & demand management, skill development & work flow improvements.
Early in her career Michele sold software solutions and consulting services to fortune 100 corporations in multiple regions of the country. Michele is a proud mother of two children, Joseph 14 and AnnaRose 5 and enjoys time with Chris & their family in Saratoga Springs New York. Currently Michele is a CFA Level 1 Candidate, she obtained her MBA at Isenberg School of Management in 2013 and a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Colorado State University in 1995.
PhD, MBA is the Isenberg Director of Diversity and Inclusion and an Associate Professor in both the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management and Isenberg’s MBA program. She completed both her BA and MBA from Stetson University and her PhD from the University of Florida. Her research interests are women in leadership and developing diverse and inclusive cultures. Dr. Walker has over 40 international publications and presentations. Dr. Walker considers herself a scholar and advocate working towards inclusive sport cultures. She currently serves on the espnW College Advisory Panel. Previous leadership roles include UMass Athletic Council member, Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee for the North American Society for Sport Management, Faculty Advisor for the Association of Diversity in Sport, member of the UMass Amherst Stonewall Center Advisory Board, and Vice President for Inclusion and Social Justice for the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports. Her work has been mentioned on espn.com, espnW.com, TIME Sports, and other sport news outlets. Please contact Dr. Walker at https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/people/nefertiti-walker, nwalker@isenberg.umass.edu, or Twitter: @nefwalker
Principal at Frumtak Ventures, leading international growth, brand and marketing initiatives across the Frumtak Ventures portfolio. She has extensive experience working with startup companies from the US, Israel and Iceland on brand, business development, marketing and public relations strategies internationally. Paula has worked with and advised startups at the Board of Directors, CEO and CMO levels. Prior to these appointments Paula owned PEG PR, a boutique PR firm at the intersection of IT and entertainment, where she advised and nurtured the growth of clients ranging from social media, video and gaming platforms to a full cell manufacturer and notable award-winning artists.
Assistant Professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst in the Isenberg School of Management in the Operations and Information Management Department. She received her PhD from the College of Business at Florida State University in Management Information Systems. In recent years, Renée has been a Fulbright Grant Scholar Award recipient conducting research exploring the post-adoption behaviors among electronic medical records in German hospitals. In addition, alongside co-authors, she has produced an IBM Report on the participation and implementation of open innovation in technological ecosystems through healthcare case studies. Her research has appeared in MIS Quarterly Executive, Cutter IT Journal, Information Systems Journal, Journal of Information Technology, and Information Systems Journal of Education, among others.
Director of espnW Video Production at ESPN where she oversees all video from highlights and event footage to features and profiles as well as develops original content and social media video campaigns for espnW.com. She is also the Executive Producer of espnW's Free Cookies podcast which focuses on sports, wellness and pop culture. Prior to this position, Sara was a Studio Director at ESPN where she directed live and taped studio shows as well as remote shows for a decade.
Outside of her day job, Sara serves as Content Chair for ESPN EQUAL, ESPN’s employee resource group (ERG) focused on the LGBTQ community which has become an essential part of the business. Through building a strong foundation with supportive leadership and developing relationships with executives and content leaders, Sara has worked to build a culture of inclusion within ESPN’s walls as well as outside by ensuring that all sports stories in the LGBTQ space are told in a respectful, accurate and appropriate manner. As Content Chair, Sara is responsible for previewing LGBTQ content for ESPN’s TV, Digital, Audio and Print platforms. This has helped ESPN to avoid potential pitfalls and has helped to produce award-winning content – content that builds LGBTQ fan loyalty and drives the bottom line.
communication is at the heart of business. As an Executive Coach, facilitator, and Principal of Move Breathe Explore Stacey helps professionals speak more naturally, connect better with clients and colleagues and boost overall job performance. From formal presentations to client meetings to leading and motivating others, if it relates to verbal communication, that's when Stacey gets involved.
Stacey is a member of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, the Human Resource Leadership Forum and Toastmasters International. She was named a “40 Under 40 Emerging Leader” by the South Shore Stars in 2011 and holds M.Ed. and B.A. degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
An expressive person at heart, Stacey is currently living out her childhood dream to become a singer. She takes voice lessons at the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, MA and recently sang solo at her first voice recital.
Senior Director and Chief Financial Officer, International Aero Engines (IAE) at Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation. In this position, Sue provides financial leadership and oversight of IAE’s financial planning, reporting and accounting processes, including financial support to commercial engine marketing and sales campaign activities. Sue also serves as an executive sponsor for UTC’s Financial Leadership Program as well as UTC’s Finance Inclusion Forum whose mission is to foster an environment of inclusion and engagement for UTC Finance.
Sue has spent her finance career with United Technologies at both Pratt & Whitney and UTC’s corporate office holding various positions of increasing breadth and responsibility within the finance organization, including roles in Commercial Engines campaigns, program finance, and financial planning and analysis. Sue received her Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Rensselaer at Hartford. In her free time, Sue enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her two, teenage children.
1999 with a BS in Sport Management, a member of the women's basketball team from 1994-1999; received MBA in 2006 from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio; entering 5th year working with Alliance Data Card Services, a banking and marketing company supporting private label credit cards for brands such as Victoria's Secret, Ann Taylor, and Express.
Recently completed Project Diversity Cycle 26, a project hosted by the United Way of Central Ohio for high performing individuals in the Columbus, Ohio area who have an interest in learning about non-profit board participation in order to equip minorities with experience and knowledge to address the lack of diversity on those boards.
Serves as Board President for Franklin County Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) a non-profit dedicated to supporting individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide; active participant with Women for Economic Leadership and Development (WELD) and The Women's Fund of Central Ohio. Recently fulfilled a 20-year dream to write and publish a book with Forty Years of Practice: Finding Purpose in Pain which will be released in December 2017.
currently the Vice President of Supply Chain at Applied Industrial Technologies, a $2.6B Cleveland, OH based global distributor of industrial parts. In this position, Tracie is responsible for the strategic oversight of the supply chain operations, including Distribution, Transportation, Compliance, Purchasing, Supplier Development, and Master Data Management. Prior to this organization, Tracie worked in project management and supply chain roles for PPG, Combe, L’Oreal, Playtex Products, Sara Lee, and Caldor.
Tracie earned her BBA with a major in Operations Management from The University of Massachusetts and her MBA from The University of Connecticut. She resides in Solon, Ohio with her wife and two children.
Cross Sector Vice President of Operations for Unidine’s Corporate, Education and Senior Living Culinary Groups, Victoria Vega brings extensive contract foodservice experience to her role. With a goal to support the company vision as the industry leader exclusively providing food and dining management services, Vega joined Boston-based Unidine, in 2013. Her focus is on operational excellence, brand penetration and business development by executing the company's values throughout their growing national portfolio. In 2017 she was the first recipient of the Unidine Operations Excellence Award for her continuous achievement of goals, client retention and drive for innovation. She began her career in the cafeterias and private dining rooms of New York City’s top investment banks and media conglomerates. Her career spans almost 30 years in the non-commercial, outsourced corporate dining industry.
An active member of the Society for Hospitality & Foodservice Management, the preeminent association for workplace hospitality, Vega currently serves on the association’s Board of Directors with additional responsibility on the Executive Committee as President of the organization. Passionate about women in hospitality management, Vega was an original member of the Women’s Council Steering Committee and her platform for 2018 includes the launch of a foodservice industry diversity council to promote inclusion. She received the prestigious Richard Ysmael Distinguished Service Award for her dedication to onsite dining and has been named one of the 50 most influential women in hospitality annually since 2015 by Total Foodservice Magazine.
A graduate of the Isenberg Business School at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Vega is currently supporting the HTM Department on the Leadership Board and as an Executive Mentor. Returning annually to campus as Professor for a Day, she has lectured on Disaster Recovery & Contingency Planning, Leadership Competencies and Hospitality Trends. She participates annually in the Women of Isenberg Conference and has been profiled among distinguished alumni in the university’s magazine for her contributions to the hospitality industry. Vega has also been involved with the Women for UMass Steering Committee and is a member of the UMass Executive Alumni Group of Massachusetts.
Vice President of Finance for United Technologies. Deb has over nineteen years of experience at UTC where she has held positions as the Controller of Otis Elevator (07-14) and Carrier Corporation(98-01), as Director, Shared Business Services(01-03) Director of Internal Audit (03 to 07) and most recently the Vice President of Finance (14 to present). Deb is currently responsible for the implementation of ADP GlobalView in twenty countries around the world for over 185,000 employees.
Deb began her career as an Audit Manager at Mann Judd Landau (82) and moved to Price Waterhouse in (87) as Audit Manager. She also worked in various executive positions at Holson Burnes Group and Stanley Works before she came to UTC in 1998.
Deb is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts where she received a bachelors degree in Business Administration and Management and also received a masters of science degree in Computer Science at Bentley University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor. She and her family live in Essex Connecticut.