1970s
Bill Frisco (MBA ’73) has joined UBS as a Private Wealth Advisor and Senior Portfolio Manager in Houston. Frisco brings more than 40 years of experience advising high-net-worth clients on investment management and financial planning.
Erroll G. Williams (MBA ’75) was reelected as Orleans Parish assessor, winning 61% of the vote in a four-candidate race. Williams has served as assessor since 1985.
1980s
Michael A. “Casey” Herman (BSM ’86) was elected to the CenterPoint Energy Board of Directors. Herman brings decades of experience in audit, governance and finance strategy in the electric and gas utility industries. A former senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he spent 10 years leading the firm’s U.S. Utility & Power Sector and Sustainability practices, where he led complex audits and provided consulting and strategic advisory services to utility and energy companies. Herman has also served as a C-suite advisor and held leadership roles on several utility industry-related boards, including as chair of the Electric Power Research Institute’s Advisory Committee and as a member of the Edison Electric Institute’s Wall Street Advisory Group.
Patrick Sweeney (BSM ’86) has been appointed chief executive officer of AutoRABIT, a provider of enterprise-grade Salesforce DevSecOps solutions. He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across cybersecurity, networking and enterprise software. Sweeney most recently served as global head of Cloudflare Area 1 Security, where he led integration and go-to-market strategy following Cloudflare’s acquisition of Area 1 Security. He previously served as president and CEO of Area 1 Security and CEO of Talari Networks, guiding the company to its acquisition by Oracle in 2018. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Dell Security Group, SonicWALL, Silicon Graphics and Apple Computer, with a focus on product strategy, growth and organizational scaling.
Thom Lachman (E ’85, MBA ’89) has been appointed to the board of directors of Howard Hughes Holdings as an independent director. Lachman currently serves as chairman and CEO of Duracell, a Berkshire Hathaway company and one of the world’s leading battery brands, with operations in more than 90 countries. Lachman joined Duracell in 2016 as North America president following the company’s acquisition from Procter & Gamble and was promoted to chairman and CEO in 2018. During his 33-year career at Procter & Gamble, he worked on several globally recognized consumer brands, including Gillette, Tide, Old Spice, Pampers and CoverGirl.
1990s
Claudio Torres (MBA ’90) was appointed as chairman of the board of Sadot Group, a global agri-food supply chain company headquartered in Burleson, Texas. Torres joined the board in February 2025 and most recently served as vice chairman. He previously held leadership roles at Syngenta, Advanta Seeds and Monsanto.
Cynthia Wolff (BSM ’90) has been named general counsel and chief compliance officer of Adell, Harriman & Carpenter, where she oversees policies, regulatory compliance and risk management while advising on securities law and industry best practices. In addition to her legal and compliance responsibilities, she assists clients with estate planning and long-term financial strategies. Wolff has built a career spanning financial services, compliance and real estate transactional law through a variety of in-house and compliance roles. She is active in the Houston community, supporting organizations including VICTORY Houston, the Houston Symphony League and the Houston Ballet Guild. In 2025, she was recognized as a Breakthrough Woman by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
Michael Bileca (BSM ’92) was appointed to the Miami Dade College District Board of Trustees. Bileca is chief executive officer of True North Classical Academy and executive director of the Dennis Bileca Character and Excellence Institute. He was previously elected as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 115.
Roger Jenkins (MBA ’94) was elected to the board of directors of Oceaneering International as an independent, non-executive director. Jenkins most recently served as president and chief executive officer of Murphy Oil Corp. from 2013 until his retirement in 2024. He currently serves on the board of Regions Financial Corp. and previously served on the boards of Murphy Oil and Noble Corp.
Max Rangel (E ’90, MBA ’94) was named chief executive officer of PetSafe and appointed to the board of directors of Sally Beauty Holdings. Rangel brings more than 30 years of global consumer products leadership experience, most recently serving as global president and CEO of Spin Master, where he led portfolio expansion and strategic acquisitions. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, the Hershey Co. and S.C. Johnson & Son, overseeing global operations across marketing, general management and supply chain functions.
Najam Chohan (BSM ’96) was promoted to vice president of strategic pricing at Graybar, where he leads companywide pricing strategy using data-driven insights and advanced technology to support profitable growth and customer needs. Chohan joined Graybar in 1998 and most recently served as director of finance in the company’s California District.
Jeff Eckerling (BSM ’97) was appointed to the board of directors of Reimagined Parking as an independent member. He brings extensive experience in growth strategy, digital transformation and executive leadership across the mobility, e-commerce and consulting sectors. Most recently, Eckerling served as chief growth officer at SP Plus, where he led a successful digital transformation, executed strategic acquisitions and contributed to the company’s profitable sale. He previously served as CEO of two e-commerce businesses, both of which he successfully sold, and spent over 20 years in the startup ecosystem, including as part of the pre-launch team at Orbitz. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young in Chicago as an accountant and consultant.
R. Lewis Ropp (E ’95, MBA ’97) has been elected to the board of directors of Entergy as an independent director. A Louisiana native, Ropp brings to the board extensive experience in finance, capital markets, investor relations and regulatory compliance. He recently retired as senior equity partner and senior managing director at Barrow Hanley Global Investors, where he served as a lead equity portfolio manager overseeing strategies with more than $5 billion in assets under management and was a member of the firm’s executive committee. Ropp also held roles in equity research and investment banking and began his professional journey in the oil and gas industry, including positions with Baker Hughes Co. and Shell Oil Co. He previously served as a first lieutenant in the Louisiana Army National Guard.
Robin Desman Spindt (MBA ’97) published her debut novel, “We’re Screwed,” in September 2026. A character-driven mystery set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the novel follows a college professor drawn into the investigation of a student’s death, an inquiry that uncovers secrets and hidden connections that reverberate through multiple layers of New Orleans society. A lifelong entrepreneur, Spindt managed her own jewelry business and was co-founder of Crush Prom, a high-end designer and marketer of prom and bridal dresses. She also taught design and art history and spent 16 years as a professor of practice at Tulane University. She resides in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband, Paul Spindt, two Shih Tzus, Goldie and Pumpkin, and a cat, Macy.
Richard Tullis (MBA ’97) joined Water Tower Research LLC as managing director & strategist – natural resources. Prior to joining Water Tower, Tullis served as a senior advisor with Al Petrie Advisors and spent 16 years as a senior equity research analyst at Capital One Securities, where he covered exploration and production companies as well as renewable energy firms. Earlier in his career, he held corporate finance and business analysis leadership roles, including serving as North America financial controller and business analyst for Sodexho, and gained more than a decade of operational experience in the energy industry through positions with Texaco and Forcenergy.
Jason Levine (MBA ’98) has been named enterprise-wide chief marketing officer at Hormel Foods. Levine brings more than 20 years of consumer-packaged goods marketing experience, including 19 years at Mondelēz International, where he served as chief marketing officer for North America and oversaw brands such as Oreo and Ritz. He most recently served as CMO of PIM Brands, parent company of Welch’s Fruit Snacks.
Michael McMurray (MBA ’99) has been appointed to the board of directors of ADM, a global leader in regenerative agriculture, food and ingredient innovation, and large-scale agricultural supply chains. McMurray brings more than three decades of financial and strategic leadership experience across major global industrial companies and will serve on the board’s Audit and Sustainability and Technology committees. McMurray most recently served for more than five years as executive vice president and chief financial officer of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., a global plastics, chemicals and refining company. Prior to that, he held multiple leadership roles at Owens Corning, including chief financial officer, and also worked at Royal Dutch Shell. He currently serves on the boards of Flowserve Corp. and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas.
2000s
Geoffrey Stanford (MBA ’00) has been appointed interim chief financial officer of KLX Energy Services Holdings. Stanford joined the company in 2018 as vice president and chief accounting officer and was promoted to senior vice president in 2020. Prior to KLX, he held accounting and financial leadership roles with Amedisys Home Health & Hospice, Willbros Construction, the Shaw Group and Albemarle Corp. Robert Raney (BSM ’01) has joined SouthState as a CRE relationship manager in Houston. He brings 25 years of experience in commercial banking, including more than five years with Veritex Bank, where he specialized in industrial and multifamily properties. Raney was a founding member of The Bank of River Oaks, serving as a lender for 13 years.
Louis “Jeff” Williams (MBA ’01) was appointed chief engineer of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority– East. A New Orleans native, Williams brings nearly 30 years of experience in civil engineering, infrastructure leadership and public service. Williams most recently served as a senior project manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – New Orleans District, where he led the $3.6 billion West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction Project and oversaw key repairs to the region’s storm surge defense system. He has also managed large-scale post-Katrina flood protection initiatives and was recognized with the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award.
Shull Autin (MBA ’02) has been appointed chief maritime officer of Hornblower Group, a global leader in maritime hospitality and transportation. With more than 30 years of experience in marine logistics, offshore operations, safety and environmental compliance, he will oversee maritime operations, advancing strategic initiatives, strengthening key partnerships and reinforcing the company’s commitment to safety and regulatory excellence. Autin previously served as senior vice president at New Fortress Energy and as president and CEO of Odyssea Marine. He also served as a consultant and managing member of Magnolia Logistics Services, where he advised oil and liquefied natural gas sectors on infrastructure design and marine logistics.
Marcus Brown (MBA ’02) received the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the society’s 2026 Jazz Brunch and Scholarship Gala. A member of the Board of Tulane and the advisory board of the Tulane Energy Law & Policy Center, Brown spent more than three decades at Entergy, rising to executive vice president and general counsel and overseeing legal, ethics and compliance, and other key functions before retiring in the spring of 2026. He also built a substantial record of civic and pro bono service.
Lindsay Ditlow (BSM ’03) joined Seward & Kissel as co-head of its Employment Practice. A veteran labor and employment attorney, she brings extensive experience handling litigation under federal and state employment laws and advising on employment matters in corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions. Ditlow comes to the firm from McDermott Will & Schulte, where she helped build and lead the Employment Practice. Her work has included representing clients in matters involving major employment statutes such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act, among others. In her new role, Ditlow will work to expand the firm’s Employment Practice and support clients facing increasingly complex workplace legal challenges.
Zak Laffite (MBA ’04), president of Wonderful Citrus, was interviewed by Blue Book about his role leading one of the nation’s largest citrus producers. Laffite also discussed the future of the citrus industry, innovation in agriculture, and the growing role of AI and technology in farming operations.
Charles Cho (MBA ’05) has been named general manager of Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown. A hospitality industry veteran with nearly 30 years of experience, Cho will oversee operations at the 350-room property and focus on enhancing guest experiences and positioning the hotel as a key destination in downtown Los Angeles. Prior to this role, Cho served as general manager of the Omni San Diego Hotel in addition to holding leadership positions at several major hospitality brands throughout his career.
Arvind Rao (MBA ’05) was appointed head of technology and chief technology officer at GreatAmerica Financial Services. Rao brings more than 20 years of experience leading digital transformation and enterprise data strategy across the financial services and technology sectors. He previously served as executive vice president and chief information officer for consumer digital banking, retail banking and wealth management at Texas Capital Bank.
Lee Haspel (BSM ’06) has been appointed to the Turtle Beach Corp. Board of Directors. Haspel was a partner and executive leader at Blue Torch Capital from 2017 through 2026. He previously served as a portfolio manager at Fifth Street Asset Management and as a trader at Halcyon Asset Management. Benjamin Sullivan (BSM ’06) was promoted to senior vice president at Palisades Hudson Financial Group while continuing to serve as chief investment officer. In this role, he leads a team of portfolio managers overseeing more than $1.8 billion in client assets. Sullivan joined the firm in the Northeast before relocating to Texas in 2016 to open the firm’s Austin branch office.
Benjamin Sullivan (BSM ’06) was promoted to senior vice president at Palisades Hudson Financial Group while continuing to serve as chief investment officer. In this role, he leads a team of portfolio managers overseeing more than $1.8 billion in client assets. Sullivan joined the firm in the Northeast before relocating to Texas in 2016 to open the firm’s Austin branch office.
Jennifer Garcia (BSM/MACCT ’07) has been named chief financial officer of the Houston Zoo. Garcia brings more than 16 years of nonprofit financial leadership experience in Houston, most recently serving as chief financial officer of the YMCA of Greater Houston. In her new role, she will lead the Zoo’s finance division, including accounting, purchasing, and financial planning and analysis. Garcia joined the YMCA of Greater Houston in 2014 and advanced through a series of leadership positions, including assistant controller, controller, vice president of financial operations and controller before becoming chief financial officer in 2020. Prior to the YMCA, she spent four years at Houston public accounting firm Blazek & Vetterling, where she focused primarily on nonprofit clients.
Michael Piper (BSM ’07) has been named head of fixed income at Piper Sandler Cos. He joined the firm through its acquisition of Sandler O’Neill in 2020 and has held leadership roles in fixed income management, sales and trading, where he helped diversify the platform and expand the team. Earlier in his career, he worked at Guggenheim Structured Product Asset Management and Guggenheim Securities in investment strategy. He began his career at Bear Stearns focusing on the CLO/CDO market.
Tom Gerace (MBA ’08) is co-author of “The Generative Organization: AI Playbook for Exponential Leaders,” a new book that offers a clear and practical guide to help organizations leverage AI to innovate faster, smarter and more responsibly. Gerace is president of AI Insights, and the book reflects his long-standing commitment to equipping leaders with the tools needed to navigate and shape a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
2010s
Alan Thomas (MBA ’10) has been appointed to the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station External Technical Collaboration Board. In this role, he will support strategic priorities in applied engineering research, technology transfer and workforce development, helping strengthen collaboration between industry, academia and government. Thomas is chief executive officer of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), a position he has held since 2023. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across coatings, manufacturing, technology integration and nonprofit management, including prior roles leading Gridiron LLC, launching Array Coating Technology, and serving in senior executive positions in global nonprofit organizations.
Jamie Griffin (MBA ’11) was appointed chief people officer at Shake Shack, where he leads the company’s people strategy and oversees key areas including talent acquisition, leadership development and team member experience. Griffin brings more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry and is the founder of the advisory firm Consult to Grow. Prior to joining Shake Shack, he held several leadership roles at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, ultimately serving as senior vice president.
Dylan Blackford (BSM ’12) has been promoted to managing director at Lime Rock Partners, where he will join the senior leadership of the firm’s investment team. Blackford has played a leadership role in the sourcing, evaluation and execution of exploration and production and oilfield service opportunities at the private equity firm for more than a decade. Prior to joining the firm, he was an analyst in the Energy Investment Banking Group at Raymond James, where he worked on financial advisory and debt and equity offering transactions.
Alejandra Guzman (BSM ’12) was promoted to chief operating officer of LSU Health Foundation New Orleans, where she oversees administrative operations, business development, real estate management and public-private partnerships. Previously, she held senior leadership roles with the New Orleans Business Alliance and directed major real estate, affordable housing and disaster recovery initiatives across the Americas. Guzman has been recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers and currently serves as board chair of the Louisiana Urban Land Institute.
Ross Lafont (MME ’15) has joined Altus as vice president, corporate development and FP&A. In this role, he is responsible for sourcing and executing acquisitions, supporting strategic transactions, and conducting financial analysis to advance the company’s long-term growth objectives. Prior to Altus, Ross worked in corporate development at Poolcorp and Vortex Cos., where he completed numerous M&A transactions and supported broader strategic growth initiatives.
Bill Bae (MBA ’16) has been named chief commercial officer of Radicle Science, where he will lead commercial and strategic initiatives as the company continues to expand its leadership team. Bae brings extensive global experience in commercial strategy and marketing across the nutrition, health and wellness, life sciences, and biotech sectors, with prior leadership roles at ADM, Thermo Fisher Scientific and BP.
Adam Laurie (SSE ’12, MME ’16) has been appointed chief financial officer of the Port of New Orleans. He brings extensive experience in strategic finance, capital investment and revenue growth across infrastructure, private equity and professional services organizations, including leadership roles with Macquarie Infrastructure, IMTT and a major New Orleans law firm. A U.S. Navy veteran, Laurie also completed advanced flight training and managed complex logistics operations. He is active in the New Orleans community, serving on several nonprofit and educational boards.
Mitch Kirkland (MBA ’17) joined the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – West Board of Commissioners after being appointed by Gov. Jeff Landry. A civil engineer and former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot, he served on active duty from 1999 to 2008, including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, and later retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 2021. Kirkland has contributed to major regional infrastructure projects in New Orleans, including the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal surge barrier and the new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Lauren Keating (BSM/MACCT ’18) has been promoted to director of financial planning and reporting at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. In her new role, she will oversee strategic financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, performance analysis and financial reporting, helping guide the organization’s long-term financial direction. Since joining the Convention Center in 2023, Keating has advanced through several leadership roles, most recently serving as director of property accounting. She previously worked at Ernst & Young, where she led financial audits for a range of clients.
Robert A. Mahtook Jr. (MBA/JD ’18) has been appointed City-Parish Attorney for Lafayette, Louisiana. A managing partner with Mahtook & Lafleur, he brings more than four decades of legal experience to the role. His practice has focused on complex litigation, public-sector representation, and advising governmental and institutional clients on risk management, regulatory matters, and dispute resolution.
Thien Ninh (SSE ’15, LAS ’15, MD/MBA ’20) has been appointed to the North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital Medical Executive Committee for 2026 as a member-at-large. Board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Ninh joined the North Oaks medical staff in 2024. He earned both his medical degree and MBA concurrently from Tulane University and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation through Baylor College of Medicine and The Institute of Rehabilitation and Research at Memorial Hermann in Houston.
2020s
Hailey Roberti (BSM ’23) is officially licensed and working with New York Life in New York City. She has been enjoying meeting clients, learning the industry from the ground up and helping people feel confident about their financial futures.
Sion James (BSM ’24) was selected with the 33rd overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2025 NBA Draft after finishing his college basketball career at Duke University. In addition to beginning his rookie year in the NBA, James recently joined Son of a Saint as an ambassador. James previously served as co-CEO of Ryan’s Giving Tree, a New Orleans nonprofit focused on community health, housing and economic outcomes.
Harrison Bond (MBA/JD ’25) joined the Corporate Practice Group at Jones Walker in New Orleans as an associate. Prior to his legal career, Bond worked as executive assistant to the CEO of a New Orleans-based hospitality group and completed an internship with a national private equity firm.
