1970s
Joseph F. Toomy (A&S ’71, MBA ’73) has been elected by the board of commissioners of the Port of New Orleans to serve as board chairman. Toomy worked as an insurance broker from 2000 until 2016 and served in several administrative capacities with Delgado Community College beginning in 1981, including vice chancellor for administrative affairs. He was a member of the Algiers Development District Board from 2014 to 2018 and served as chairman of the Gretna Redevelopment Committee from 2017 to 2018.
John R. Runningen (MBA ’77) received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who, the world’s premier publisher of biographical profiles. Runningen is a seasoned investment banker and venture capitalist and founder and principal of Commenda Capital and the Commenda Group of Companies in Atlanta. Having focused heavily on several industries, including health services, medical devices, telecommunications, and manufacturing and distribution, his success has garnered him access to private equity and venture groups throughout the nation, including investment banking and merger and acquisition transactions for over 40 different companies valued at over $18.5 billion.
1980s
Ben Joel (MBA ’81) has been selected by Forbes for its Best-in-State Wealth Advisors for Georgia list for the fifth year in a row. Joel is managing director of RBC Wealth Management.
Jace Schinderman (MBA ’82) works as a consultant in the educational space from Pre-K through post-graduate. She will complete her MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University in May 2025.
Steve McClanahan (MBA ’83) was named chief financial officer of Martin Supply, a leading provider of OEM tailored solutions for maintenance, repair, operation and production supplies. McClanahan brings a wealth of experience to his role, having spent the past 25 years at ANConnect (formerly Anderson Merchandisers), an $800 million wholesale distribution company. McClanahan held several executive management positions at ANConnect, including CFO and COO, and played a pivotal role in overseeing 13 merger and acquisition projects with a combined estimated value of $350 million.
Stephen J. Bordes (BSM ’84) has joined the executive leadership team of Maritime Partners, a leading provider of maritime financing solutions primarily focused on Jones Act vessels. Bordes, who has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of finance and fund management, will serve as the firm’s chief financial officer. Prior to joining the company, Bordes served as CFO for New York-based American Industrial Partners, a middle-market private equity firm that invests in industrial businesses.
David M. Mussafer (BSM ’85) became chair of the Board of Tulane, the university’s main governing body, on July 1, 2024. Mussafer is chairman and managing partner of Advent International Corp., a global private equity firm focused on buyouts of companies in Western and Central Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia.
David Slayton Meale (MBA ’88) was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh. Meale is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. Prior to his nomination, Meale served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Beijing and he previously served as deputy chief of mission in Dhaka. He joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1992 and holds the rank of minister-counselor.
Avinash Gupta (MBA ’89) has been appointed as an independent director of Stove Kraft Ltd., a leading manufacturer of kitchen appliances. Gupta currently serves as managing director and CEO of Dun & Bradstreet – India. Prior to joining the company in 2021, Gupta served as managing director of Rabo Equity Advisors. Over the years, he has held leadership positions including head of Deloitte India’s Financial Advisory Services business, and he has worked in senior positions across geographies and products with companies including HSBC, UBS, Barings, Citibank, Falcon Capital and Alpen Capital. In his early years in the U.S., he also worked as an equity analyst covering the Oil Services sector at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles and Howard Weil in New Orleans.
Phil Rubin (MBA ’89) has been appointed to the board of directors of in/PACT, an Enterprise SaaS Social Good Loyalty Leader with the mission to enable purpose driven brands and their loyalty members to connect with and donate to thousands of local charities across the country. Rubin will assist the board in crafting its marketing strategy and vision and will help the company grow relationships with the largest and most impactful brands and customer loyalty programs. Rubin has over 25 years of senior leadership experience with a focus on customer loyalty, data-driven marketing and driving profitable organic growth for leading global brands. He recently founded Grey Space Matters, a firm that helps companies accelerate growth through innovation, strategy, M&A and GTM execution. Previously, he was executive vice president, Global Insights and Strategic Partnerships, at Bond Brand Loyalty, which acquired Rubin’s company rDialogue, a leading independent loyalty strategy and analytics firm.
John Silbernagel (MBA ’88) retired from the Freeman School in June 2024 after 36 years at Tulane. From the beginning of his tenure as a student worker in the admissions office to his most recent role as assistant dean for graduate programs, he held various roles in admissions, financial aid, student services, curricular development and program management. He will remain in New Orleans and welcomes contact from Freeman alumni at jsilber@tulane.edu.
1990s
Francis Colt deWolf (BSM ’90) was appointed to the board of directors of FOXO Technologies Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to improving human health and longevity through the development of cutting-edge technology and product solutions for various industries, including life insurance. DeWolf brings to the company over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector. He currently serves as president of Colt Capital, a Florida-based firm whose principal activities focus on advising emerging market companies on private and public financing strategies. Prior to founding Colt Capital, deWolf was a senior vice president at Oppenheimer & Co., where he oversaw a variety of financing activities. DeWolf also served as vice president at Prudential Securities and as a bond broker for Tucker Anthony.
Vinay Piparsania (MBA ’90) has been inducted onto the advisory board of LML Emotion Pvt. Ltd (LML), an emerging force in India’s electric vehicle landscape. Piparsania is the principal and founder of MillenStrat Advisory and Research, an automotive and mobility industry consultancy in Gurgaon, India
Adrienne Joseph (MBA ’92) has been named CEO of Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. Joseph had served as chief operating officer of Houston Methodist Baytown since 2020 and has more than 30 years of healthcare experience in both academic and community settings.
Louis Schott (MBA/JD ’92) was appointed to the board of directors of Kidpik Corp., a New York-based kids’ clothing subscription box company. Schott was also appointed to the board’s recently formed Strategy and Alternatives Committee. Schott has over 25 years of legal and business experience, including an extensive background in restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, public company regulations and requirements, title, energy finance, business development, general negotiations, and real estate. Since 2017, Schott has served as principal of Fides Energy, an oil and gas, real estate, green energy solutions, insurance, annuities and settlement company. Since 2020, Schott has served as a co-principal of Insurance Securities and Union Title Guarantee Co., a company in the oil and gas and real estate investment industry.
Deborah M. “Debbie” Settoon (MBA ’92) began a four-year term as a member of the board of commissioners of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East in July 2023. Settoon, who represents East Jefferson, was appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards and confirmed by the Louisiana State Senate. In this role, she will help manage a $14 billion hurricane and storm damage risk reduction system. Settoon is a registered professional civil engineer and environmental engineer and has over 30 years of experience in engineering and construction supervision, facilities management, quality assurance and financial planning.
Anthony Nyberg (MBA ’93) was profiled in Authority Magazine as part of a series in which prominent HR and business leader were asked which benefits and perks have been most successful in their organizations. Nyberg is a professor of management at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and the faculty director at the school’s Center for Executive Succession.
Mike Pompian (MBA ’93) is founder and chief investment officer of Sunpointe Investments in Clayton, Missouri. The firm recently opened a Kansas City office and surpassed $4.0 billion in assets. Pompian adds that his son, Nick, just graduated from Babson College and works in New York for Cliffwater, a private credit firm.
James (Jay) Winford ( MBA ’94) has been appointed as an independent director of Astec. Winford will also serve as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the board. Winford is president of Prairie Contractors, a privately held asphalt producer and highway contractor located in Opelousas, Louisiana. The company specializes in the production and construction of hot-mix asphalt pavements and operates fixed-based asphalt plants and aggregate distribution facilities in south central and southwestern Louisiana.
Guillermo Rodriguez (MBA ’95) earned a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Florida. His dissertation was entitled “State-Owned Enterprises and Stock Returns: Evidence from Emerging Markets.” Rodriguez, who currently serves as head of Latin America and US Offshore with WisdomTree Asset Management, credits former Freeman School Professor Prem Jain with sparking his interest in academic research.
Marshall Farrer (MBA ’98) was appointed to the board of directors of the Duckhorn Portfolio Inc., a North American luxury wine company with eleven wineries 10 state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, eight tasting rooms and over 2,200 acres of vineyards spanning 38 estate properties. Farrar became Brown-Forman’s first chief strategic growth officer in 2023 and transitioned to the role full-time in early 2024. He has served on Brown-Forman’s board of directors since 2016 and is a fifth-generation Brown family shareholder.
Bradley Hill (BSM ’98) has been promoted to president and chief investment officer of Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc., a leading multifamily real estate investment trust. In this expanded role, Hill will continue his oversight of MAA’s development, acquisition and disposition activities while also assuming responsibility for asset management, property management and information technology operations. Hill joined MAA in 2010 and has over 20 years of real estate experience in the areas of transactions, development and operations. He has most recently served as executive vice president and chief investment officer with oversight of the company’s transactions and development operations.
Will Loughran (MBA ’98) was named chief operating officer of Concord Hospitality, a Raleigh- based hotel company with more than 140 properties. Loughran joins Concord from Evolution Hospitality where he was president and CEO, having joined the company as COO in 2015. Prior to joining Evolution, Loughran was president of Richfield Hospitality where he oversaw hotel operations in more than 30 countries. He also spent six years at Sage Hospitality Resources as vice president revenue, spearheading the creation of the first Sage Sales and Revenue Summit. Loughran started his career at Marriott International where he held multiple leadership positions over his nearly two-decades-long tenure.
Ruben Alvarado Vigar (MBA ’99) has been appointed as CEO of Codelco, a Chilean state-owned copper mining company. Alvarado previously served as general manager of Metro, corporate general manager of Alsace & Express, director of Engineering and Maintenance at LAN Airlines, project manager for the Techint joint venture in Argentina, and general manager of the San Antonio Port Co.
Jeff Gutke (MBA ’99) has been appointed chief administrative officer at Montana Technologies Corp., a developer of AirJoule, a transformational atmospheric thermal energy and water harvesting technology. Gutke had served as CFO of Montana’s predecessor company, Montana Technologies LLC., since 2021. In 2021, Gutke founded Doxey Capital, a private investment and advisory services firm. Prior to founding Doxey, he served as managing director of Talara Capital Management and was a member of the firm’s investment committee. Prior to that, he served as a director of Denham Capital Management and a manager at both J.M. Huber Corp. and Aquila Energy Capital Corp. Earlier in his career, he served as an investment banking associate at Jefferies and an engineer at ExxonMobil.
Amelia Williams Hardy (MBA ’99) was chosen as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Minnesota for 2024. Hardy is chief inclusion and diversity officer and senior vice president of talent acquisition at Best Buy. In this role, she oversees the company’s strategy for creating and sustaining a more equitable environment and workforce, both at Best Buy and in the communities they serve, and is responsible for building an inclusive culture company-wide that is also representative of the customers that they serve. Her responsibilities include ID&E, talent acquisition and ESG coordination.
2000s
Cheryl Gomez-Smith (MBA ’01) was appointed senior vice president of Imperial Oil Ltd. Gomez-Smith previously served as director of Safety and Risk in ExxonMobil’s Global Operations and Sustainability organization in Houston, where she provides strategic leadership and oversight for ExxonMobil personnel and process safety. Gomez-Smith began her career in 1990 as a facilities engineer in Midland, Texas, and has held various technical and leadership roles of increasing responsibility in the United States, Qatar, Russia and Kazakhstan, where she served as lead country manager.
Ramón Cavieres (MBA ’02) was honored by the University of Tarapacá with a 2023 Rectoral Medal. Cavieres is executive director of Activa Research and Activa Perú, as well as Pulso Ciudadano. In addition, he is a founding partner of OpinandoOnline and represents ESOMAR in Chile. Cavieres was also previously director of the Association of Market and Public Opinion Researchers of Chile (AIM), and he currently serves as an honorary member.
Tayte French Lutz (BSM ’02) has been elected chairman of the board of the French Oil Mill Machinery Co., a leading manufacturer of hydraulic presses, rubber mixers, and oilseed and polymer processing equipment. This new appointment comes shortly after her election as vice chair and CEO of the family-owned business, which is headquartered in Piqua, Ohio.
Dennis Mitchell (MBA ’02) was promoted to vice president of development & construction at OTO Development, a private hospitality company that develops, owns and operates upscale select-service hotels throughout the continental United States. Before joining the company in 2007, Mitchell spent 10 years as a design engineer in the microelectronic industry, focusing on high-purity water systems, chemical and gas delivery systems, and waste treatment systems with a global client base in Asia, the United States and Europe.
Bruce Larsen (MBA ’03) participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Minot State Severson Entrepreneurship Academy entitled “The Entrepreneurial Perspective: Stories from the Bakken.” Larsen, president and CEO of Kraken Resources, has 25 years of oil and gas exploration and production experience specializing in leadership, business development, resource identification, geologic modeling, reservoir characterization and operational geology. Kraken Resources is a top 10 producer of oil and gas in the Williston Basin and one of the region’s most active operators over the last six years, having drilled nearly 350 new wells.
John Cullen ( MBA ’04) was named chief financial officer of Compassus, a leading national provider of integrated home-based health care services. Prior to joining Compassus, Cullen served as corporate vice president of Corporate Development at Scripps Health, leading significant growth and merger initiatives. His extensive background includes transformative leadership roles in the home health and hospice sector, driving enhancements in clinical quality, compliance and operational efficiencies, significantly improving financial performance.
Benjamin Hamawy (MBA ’04) was appointed chief financial officer of Upward Health, a risk-bearing, in-home medical group. Hamawy most recently served as region chief financial officer for Humana Inc., where he was responsible for the profit and loss statement of $10 billion in operational premium covering 700,000 lives. In his new role with Upward Health, he will leverage his experience to lead and oversee all financial operations, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, and treasury functions. He will also play a key role in the company’s strategic planning and decision-making processes.
Holly May (MFIN ’04) has joined Petco Health and Wellness Co. as chief human resources officer. Prior to joining Petco, May served as executive vice president and global chief human resources officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance for over two years, where she led all aspects of the organization’s global HR and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) functions. Previously, she held executive leadership roles at Starbucks, Abercrombie & Fitch and Visa.
Allen Satterwhite (MBA ’04) was named president of Energy Exploration Technologies Inc., an energy technology company whose mission is to become a global leader in the renewable energy transition. Satterwhite joins the company from Chevron, where he spent nearly 30 years of his career. Satterwhite most recently served as president of Chevron Pipeline & Power. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of Asset Development for Chevron’s entire IndoAsia Business Unit, vice president of Heavy Oil for the IndoAsia Business Unit, and vice president of Finance & Planning for Chevron’s Natural Gas business among other roles.
Luis Yance (BSM ’04) was named head of Mexican variable income and Latin American investment strategies by Santander Asset Management. Yance will direct the Mexican variable income business and also be responsible for regional Latin American investment. Prior to joining Santander, Yance was a partner and Mexico CIO with Compass, a leading independent Latin American asset manager.
Rod West (L ’93, MBA ’05) has been elected to the board of directors of Essential Utilities Inc. West is group president, utility operations, at Entergy Corp., a Fortune 500 electric production and distribution company located in New Orleans. His portfolio includes strategy development, operational and financial performance for all five of Entergy’s operating companies, which serve three million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. He oversees the company’s electric and natural gas distribution, customer service operations, the utility’s engagement with state and local regulators, and regulated retail commercial development and innovation.
Jacky Wu (TC ’04, MBA ’05) was appointed as an independent director of Charge Enterprises Inc. The appointment expands Charge Enterprises’ board to 10 members, six of whom are independent directors. Wu currently serves as executive vice president and chief financial officer of DigitalBridge Group Inc., a global digital infrastructure investment firm.
Paul Lux (BSM ’06, MFIN ’07) was named vice president of sales for the Distilling Solutions segment of MGP Ingredients Inc., a leading producer of branded and distilled spirits as well as food ingredient solutions. Lux had previously served as president of Meier’s Beverage Group since 2013. Prior to that, he was director of strategic development at Luxco Inc. after working as a state sales manager and then supply chain manager. Additionally, he served as vice president of sales and marketing at Meier’s Wine Cellars Inc. He began his beverage alcohol career with Glazer’s Wholesale Distributors in 2007.
David Hudson (MBA ’07) has been named chief executive officer of Elemental Recycling, a Houston-based company that produces high-purity graphene and hydrogen from mixed and contaminated plastics and other organics. Hudson is a veteran of the sustainability and circular economy space, with more than 20 years of experience shaping sustainable solutions across diverse industries. Most recently, he founded and operated Circulus Holdings, a recycling company that transforms post-consumer plastics into high-quality resins for commercial and industrial applications. He has also held key executive positions at companies such as Ara Partners, Avangard Innovative, Recology, and Strategic Materials Inc. In these roles, he consistently drove revenue growth, optimized operations, and contributed to the organizations’ environmentally responsible missions.
Sean Spicer (MBA ’07) has been appointed to the advisory board of Alchemist Mining Inc. Spicer is currently senior vice president for digital technology with ADNOC Group, the state-owned oil company of the United Arab Emirates. As an entrepreneur and innovator with 25 years of experience, Spicer has an accomplished record of commercializing leading-edge technology in the exploration and production and financial sectors.
Seda Erdem Yılmaz (MBA ’07) was a speaker at the New HR Summit 2023 in Istanbul. Yilmaz is chief human resources officer with ATP, a leading enterprise IT solutions provider operating in Turkey, China, Asia Pacific and the EMEA region.
María Gabriela Herrera Millan (MGM ’09) was appointed senior director of human resources for the Andean, Central America, Caribbean and Chile regions of Mondelēz International, an American multinational confectionery, food and beverage company based in Illinois. Millan previously served as human resources director for Brazil for Diageo.
Pablo Andrés Paredes (BSM ’09) has been named general manager of Kavav in Chile, just a year after the Mexican startup began operations in the country. Kavav sells used cars through its e-commerce platform as well as a network of brick-and-mortar hubs.
2010s
Kelly Buck (BSM/MACCT ’10) has become a partner in the Audit & Assurance Services department of Windes, a premier California-based accounting and advisory firm. Buck joined Windes in 2015, and her practice focuses on audit and consulting services for privately held businesses and nonprofit organizations. She is a board member of the Long Beach Young Professionals and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, and she serves as treasurer of the Skid Row Running Club.
Shawn Barney (MBA ’11) has joined the board of directors for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. Barney is managing director CLB Porter Development, a real estate development firm, and co-founded the Campaign for Equity New Orleans, conversations for systems leaders and influencers about racial equity. Barney has served on various civic boards, including the New Orleans Startup Fund and the New Orleans Arts Council. Currently, he is a board member of Prospect New Orleans, U.S. Triennial. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute, where he was nominated to the Public Private Partnership Council.
Leonardo González (MBA ’11) has returned to Antofagasta PLC as general manager of Minera Zaldívar. Gonzalez previously served as general manager of Antucoya, general manager and operations manager of Zaldivar, and mining superintendent of Minera Dona Ines de Collahuasi.
Beau Bourgeois (BSM ’13) has been named a partner at the law firm Kean Miller. Bourgeois practices in the firm’s commercial litigation and construction litigation groups. He is listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for 2023 and 2024 and in The Best Lawyers in America as a One to Watch for 2023 and 2024, and he is a frequent contributor to the Louisiana Law Blog on construction law and litigation topics.
Joey Laine (MBA ’14) has joined the Seattle Seahawks as the team’s new vice president of football administration. Prior to joining the Seahawks, Laine served as salary cap analyst for the Green Bay Packers and, before that, spent seven seasons as the Chicago Bears’ director of football administration, where he worked as the team’s chief contract negotiator while also overseeing the salary cap and strategic planning and ensuring CBA compliance.
Juan Rodrigo Betancur (MMG ’14) has been appointed as general director in the Iberian Peninsula for Galderma, a pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatological treatments and skin care products. Betancur has more than 15 years of experience in the healthcare sector in different multinational companies and in various management and team leadership roles, as well as extensive experience in different countries with regional and local roles.
Taylor Dickerson (MBA ’15) was a recipient of the Waterways Journal ’s 40 Under 40 Award for 2023. The award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to the inland marine transportation industry in a variety of fields. Dickerson was also chosen as one of the Top 20 Women in Maritime based on nominations from readers of the journal. Dickerson is vice president of the Project Management Office & ESG Leader for Kirby Corp., the largest tank barge operator in the United States. In that role, she manages the portfolio of executive level projects in environmental sustainability, technology advancement and innovation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, process improvement and efficiency, analytics, and more.
David Pruner (MFIN ’15) was appointed as the inaugural executive director of the Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy (TEX-E), a first-of-a-kind collaboration among Greentown Labs, MIT’s Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, and universities across Texas. Pruner brings more than 30 years of experience across energy, management consulting, financial services and higher education to TEX-E. Before this new role, Pruner held leadership positions at business management consulting firm Heidrick & Struggles and Wood Mackenzie, as well as other energy firms and in financial services companies including Bridgewater Associates and Manufacturers Hanover Trust.
James C. Fowler (MBA ’16) has been named senior vice president and general manager of Crowley Shipping, which offers design, construction management and operation of a diverse range of vessels, port and offshore energy infrastructure, as well as advanced energy solutions including LNG. Fowler was most recently managing director of marine and stevedoring operations for Cooper Marine and executive vice president for Blakeley BoatWorks, both headquartered in Mobile, Alabama.
Rafael A. Martínez (MGM ’16) stepped down from his position as regional director, Revenue Management & Commercial Planning B2B & White Labels, with Grupo Despegar in Cancun, Mexico, in order to focus on his consulting work. He currently serves as a revenue management expert with TravelX and a principal consultant with DecisionRM. Martinez previously served as senior vice president of revenue management with Best Day Travel Group and as vice president of distribution and revenue management with Aerolineas Argentinas.
Megan Bogner (BSM ’17) has joined Twin Bridge as a senior associate on the firm’s investor relations team. Previously, Bogner was a vice president with Acalyx Advisors, an independent firm that specializes in advisory, private placement and investor relations for alternative asset management firms. She is also a member of the Women’s Association of Venture and Equity (WAVE) and Women Investing for a Sustainable Economy (WISE).
Russell Klinegardner (MBA ’19) has been named president and CEO of the Health and Safety Council ( HASC), a leading provider of training, occupational health services and industry technology solutions. Klinegardner, who previously served as president and COO, will also join the executive committee of the board of directors.
Fernando Vegas Cueto (MBA ’19) has been named country manager in Colombia and director in Central America for Axon, a technology development company for public security. Vegas will be focused on promoting technology solutions, TASER devices, body cameras, evidence management software and real-time operational capabilities with the objective of protecting lives through technology.
2020s
Chris Kornaros (BSM ’20, MANA ’21) is in his third year at General Motors in Austin, Texas, leading the Analytics and Data Engineering for its Global Reporting and Analytics organization, focused on vehicle sales, competitive intelligence, data system architecture and technical culture.
Nicole Miller Regan (MBA ’20) has been appointed as an independent board director by Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, a full-service restaurant chain serving gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere. Miller Regan currently serves as CFO of 7 Brew, a network of drive-thru beverage-only stands recognized for its hospitality model. Previously, she served as managing director and head of the consumer equity research practice at Piper Sandler, a leading investment bank, from 2006 through 2022.
Sam Polisner (BSM ’23) has been hired as an associate with Interra Realty, a Chicago-based commercial real estate investment services firm. Prior to joining Interra, Polisner served as division office manager at Vector Marketing, community manager with Breinfuel and held an internship with Finetica in Tel Aviv, Israel.
