Class Notes: Fall 2025

1960s

Michael Repass, ’68 MHRIR, recently established the Michael J. Repass Scholarship for undergraduate students with financial need, in gratitude for the school and professors that helped him build the foundation for his success, and to make an impact on deserving students. After graduation, Repass spent two years in the Volunteers in Service to America program in Georgia, and seven years with the U.S. Department of Labor evaluating employment and training programs out of Boston and Seattle. He then embarked on a successful real estate career primarily focused on apartment buildings in the Seattle area until his retirement in 2022. Repass encourages fellow alumni to join him in generously supporting Carlson and its students.

1980s

Jeffrey Marentic, ’88 BSB, is stepping into a new role as president of International Markets Group at Ford Motor Company.

Jeffery Weirens, ’88 BSB, started a new role as a vice chair of strategy and transaction at Deloitte Consulting. 

1990s

Scott Jameson, ’92 BSB, launched Jameson Advisory and serves as its founder and chief executive officer.

Dave Davis, ’93 MBA, started a new position as president and chief executive officer of Spirit Airlines.

Rich Lee, ’94 MBA, has launched a new venture, OntheSide, a new sports platform that went live in May 2025. OntheSide helps athletes monetize their expertise by connecting directly with fans and sponsors.

Astrid Benedetto, ’95 BSB, earned the SHRM-Senior Certified Professional certification.

Sean Murphy, ’98 BSB, started a new position as board member at Aspen AI LLC.

Aaron Keller, ’99 MBA, started a new role as investor and advisor at Byggr.ai.
 

2000s

Tom Hayes, ’02 MBA, started a new position as managing director, senior equity analyst at ROTH Capital Partners.

Christopher Hunder, ’02 MBA, was recognized by Marquis Who’s Who for his expertise in consumer electronics and business portfolio management. He is currently a business strategist focused on market intelligence at Torchlight LLC. 

Avanish Vellanki, ’04 MBA, was appointed president and chief executive officer of Garuda Therapeutics. Vellanki previously co-founded and led Rain Oncology. 

Carver Anderson, ’05 MBA, started a new role as chief executive officer at Suggestic. 

Priya Priyadarshini, ’05 MBA, started a new position as HR vice president for the Experience and Devices (E+D) business at Microsoft. 

Tyree Boze, ’06 MHRIR, started a new position as employee relations advisor at U.S. Bank. 

Navneet Narula, ’06 MBA, started a new role as chief sales officer at Motivus. Brad Pogalz, ’06 MBA, started a new role as chief financial officer at Donaldson

Elizabeth Ward, ’06 BSB, ’11 MBA, started a new role as senior program manager consultant at Inspire Medical Systems. 

Ajay Kumar, ’07 PhD, was appointed chairman of the Union Public Service Commission. Kumar is the former secretary of the Ministry of Defense, India. 

Leah Larson, ’07 MBA, was appointed group president, air movement and heat at Madison Air. Larson will lead Big Ass Fans, Roberts-Gordon Infrared Heating Solutions, and Reznor LLC, driving innovation and growth across the brands. 

Fredrik Eliason, ’08 MBA, started a new role as director of business development—processed foods at Neogen Corporation, where he will lead strategic initiatives and growth in the industry. 

Maggie Manteuffel, ’08 BSB, ’13 MBA, started a new position as product manager for the federal government. 

Jacek Zengteler, ’09 MBA, was appointed president of the management board at Yareal Polska.
 

2010s

Bru Mutebi, ’10 MBA, started a new position as senior director, product marketing at Indeed. 

Nick Pilger, ’10 BSB, joined the board of directors of the Rosenau Family Research Foundation, supporting research and advocacy for Krabbe disease and cystic fibrosis. 

Peter Frisch, ’11 BSB, ’14 MBA, is now senior director—retail/retail marketing and demand generation at Seagate Technology, a promotion from senior director—demand generation, global marketing. 

Vladimir Vano, ’11 MBA, has been named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Individuals From Slovakia on Linkedin by Data On Steroids. The Vienna Executive MBA program alum is also listed as fourth Most Influential Finance Professional, by the same organization. Vano is an economic executive and consultant, who has worked in banking, government, and international economic policy. 

Alex Armbruster, ’12 MBA, started a new position as vice president, U.S. Finance & Global Commercial Operations at BD. 

Hannah Cairns, ’13 BSB, started a new role as director in institutional equities at Piper Sandler. 

Matthew Bellamy, ’14 MBA, started a new role as chief executive officer at Bibliotheca. 

Olivia Grev, ’15 BSB, is now operations lead, reality labs at Meta. 

KC Glaser, ’16 MBA, is now the president of the Betty’s Family Pride Network at General Mills. 

Dane Stimart, ’16 MBA, started a new position as chief executive officer at AdvancedCPR Solutions. 

Kelly Breeggemann, ’17 BSB, ’23 MBA, started a new role as associate director, ULE UHC MA product experience UCard planning & implementation at UnitedHealth Group.

Erica El Hilali, ’17 MBA, is now an author with the release of her new book, Soul Capitalist: How to Take Back Your Power and Change the World, which was published on February 28. The book explores how individuals can integrate purpose and passion into their work, businesses, and consumer decisions to create meaningful change in the world.

 Juhyun Kwon, ’17 BSB, started a new role as the director of product management–EMRge MMM+ at Ovative Group. 

Katie Larson, ’17 BSB, is now director of supply chain at Gainful, a promotion from senior manager, supply chain. 

Kristen Resman, ’17 BSB, started a new position as senior manager, business development at Walmart. 

Ben Weir, ’17 BSB, is now a senior manager, member experience at Recuro Health. 

Kelly Grout, ’18 MBA, promoted to partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). 

Natalia Kluis, ’18 BSB, started a new role as director at Optum Advisory within Optum. 

Kaia Nordgren, ’18 BSB, started a new role as senior associate brand manager at Post Consumer Brands. 

Adam Vander Poel, ’18 MBA, was selected as a member of the 2025 Minnesota and National Young American Leaders Program cohort.

Dhivya Nagasubramanian, ’19 MSBA, was recently recognized by Marquis Who’s Who for her expertise in AI and machine learning. She is the lead AI solutions architect and vice president of AI transformation at U.S. Bank. 

Melissa Markay, ’19 BSB, is now the assistant director of donor relations and development communications at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. She credits the class Philanthropy and Professional Fundraising Strategy, championed and supported by Linda and Mike Fiterman, ’70 BSB, and taught by Senior Lecturer Anne Cohen, for setting her on this path to success in professional fundraising. 

Alec Wosepka, ’19 BSB, started a new role as a senior accountant at Koch Companies.

2020s

Maria Andrew, ’20 BSB, started a new position as a summer counseling intern and is pursuing a master’s degree in Art Therapy at Adler Graduate School. 

Elizabeth West, ’20 BSB, started a new role as senior account executive at Gardner. Jason Butina, ’22 BSB, started a new position as associate, M&A, at beBright. 

Zach Tucker, ’23 MBA, started a new role as a part of the Finance Leadership Development Program at The Cigna Group. 

Eric Mueller, ’24 MBA, launched Alliance Strategy Consultants, a strategy consulting firm focused on helping small and start-up businesses achieve their growth goals. 

Michael Wallace, ’24 BSB, started a new special assignment as continuous improvement analyst at Lunds & Byerlys.
 

Women We Admire in Minnesota

In July 2025, these distinguished Carlson alumni were recognized among the Women We Admire in Minnesota:

Bailey Bassett, ’13 BSB 

Kasey Beeler, ’11 MBA 

Heather Gilbertson, ’01 MBA 

Sarah Johnson, ’07 MBT 

Janet Roller, ’11 MBA 

Lindsey Ryan, ’14 MBA 

Aline Schellhas, ’07 BSB 

Sheryl Wallace, ’96 BSB

In Memoriam

1940s

Tom Swain, ’42 BSB, died in March 2025 at the age of 103. He was a longtime supporter of many areas of the University of Minnesota, especially the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Swain was known for his dedication to public service, his advocacy for climate action, and his lasting impact on the University community. 

 

1960s

Bob Kierlin, ’64 MBA, died in February 2025. Kierlin was the founder of Fastenal, which grew into a multibillion-dollar global company, and he also served in the Minnesota Senate from 1999 to 2007. He served on Carlson’s Board of Advisors and was a longtime supporter of the school and the College of Science and Engineering. He was a champion of his hometown and supported many causes in Winona, Minnesota.

Gary Andrew, ’65 MBA, died in December 2024. 
 

1970s 

Daniel Latham, ’78 MBA, died in November 2024. 

Margaret McMillan, ’78 BSB, died in June 2025.
 

2000s

James Splinter, ’02 BSB, died in January 2025.
 

2010s

Mark Hortman, ’11 MBA, was killed in June 2025, alongside his wife, Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman. Mark had a distinguished career, most recently with nVent, and previously at Digital River and John’s Auto Parts. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Mark was a man of diverse interests, including mountain biking, pocket billiards, homebrewing, and woodworking. He and Melissa met as volunteers through a mentorship program in the Washington D.C. area. They shared a love for travel and volunteered with Helping Paws, training service animals.

 

Mergers & Acquisitions

Manu Narayanan, ’13 BSB, and his wife, Dharmisha, welcomed their son, Vihaan, in April 2025.

Raaj Vyas, ’17 MBA, and his wife, Bhavna, welcomed their son, Jay, in March 2025.

Jack Farnen, ’18 BSB, married Kylie Picek in April 2025.

Samantha Hovland, ’19 MBA, and her husband, Steve, welcomed their daughter, Rowan, in July 2024.

Michael Short, ’20 MBA, and Morgan Short, ’23 MBA, welcomed their son, Benjamin, in November 2024.

Amanda Unruh, ’20 MBA, and her husband, Jeremy, welcomed their son, Neil, in April 2025.

Elizabeth Williams, ’20 BSB, married Nicholas Winklbauer in August 2024.