Alumni & Friends News

January 7, 2019
Tire Business

Nokian names Stephen DeCastro (MBA '06) as finance executive in Americas

Nokian Tyres P.L.C. has hired Stephen DeCastro (MBA '06) as its head of finance and controlling for the Americas region. In his role, Mr. DeCastro will lead North American financial operations from the company's corporate office in Nashville.
December 17, 2018
The Ohio State University

Scarlet and grateful: Austin Ward

Student Austin Ward shares how scholarships have enabled his journey from a rural, blue-collar community to Fisher's campus. The video is part of Ohio State’s Scarlet and Grateful: Scholarship Stories series.
Edwin Jones, Rose Pansick and Emma Yabs pose for a portrait in front of Fisher Hall.
December 17, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Paying forward, one mentor at a time

Edwin Jones (BSBA ’08, MBA ’15) is a husband, new father and client representative for IBM who lives and works in Columbus. He’s also active in the Alumni Undergraduate Mentor Program at Fisher College of Business, which is how he met Rose Pansick (BSBA ’15). 
Jodi Abbate
December 7, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Accounting experience, CPA fuel alumna’s career in finance

For Jodi Abbate (BSBA ’02), serving in a financial reporting leadership role at Nationwide Insurance seems natural, given that she earned a degree from Fisher in finance. But her path to where she is today required a lot of hard work, advice from trusted mentors and one other very important thing: additional coursework in accounting from Fisher. 
Alex Jackson headshot
November 20, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

From the MBLE to DHL — An alumnus’ perspective

Alex Jackson (MBLE ’10) is one of many MBLE alumni working at more than 150 companies in 15 countries. At DHL, Alex helps global companies design supply chains to meet their ongoing challenges. Alex shares his perspectives on his MBLE experience.
November 16, 2018
Fisher College of Business

Brewing their own success story

See how Gavin Meyers (MBA '11) and Tim Ward (MBA '12), founders of North High Brewing, used their Fisher College of Business experience to tap into Columbus’ entrepreneurial support system to successfully launch and expand their business.
2018 Alumni Award Recipients holding their awards
November 6, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Fisher honors 2018 Alumni Award Recipients

Alumni and friends of the Max M. Fisher College of Business gathered to celebrate the 2018 recipients of the college’s Alumni Awards.
A headshot of Nate DeMars in a blue suit and blue tie.
November 1, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Q&A with alumnus Nate DeMars (MBA '11)

Nate DeMars (MBA ’11) is founder and CEO of PurSuit — a business that bloomed out of an entrepreneurship class he took at Fisher during his final year as an MBA student.
October 23, 2018
Fisher College of Business

Entrepreneur and culinary cultural ambassador

As a student at Fisher, Krizzia Yanga (BSBA ’13) discovered her passion for entrepreneurship and realized she’d one day own her own business. Today, she’s a successful restauranteur dedicated to sharing more than delicious food; she also shares her Filipino cultural heritage on Columbus’ vibrant restaurant scene.
October 17, 2018
Fisher College of Business

Impact of Giving: Kate Garrett

As Kate Garrett (BSBA '18, MAcc '18) prepares to embark on a career in accounting, she reflects on her Fisher experience and how donor support made it possible. 
Eric Lenard in suit and tie
October 11, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Eric Lenard honored with Fisher's 2018 Professional Achievement Award

As the 2018 recipient of Fisher’s Alumni Award for Professional Achievement, Eric L. Lenard, CMA, CFM (BSBA '97, MBA '97) has demonstrated outstanding achievement in business, civic involvement and service to the college. He shares a little bit about his time at Fisher and why it is so special.
October 3, 2018
The Ohio State University Alumni Association

The power of possibility

Ida Abdalkhani (BSBA '03, MBA '05) shares how she turned her personal passion for understanding and connecting with people into a successful company, Ability to Engage.
Dadrien Barnes stands next to column outside Gerlach Hall
September 20, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Honing his principled leadership skills

Dadrien Barnes (MBA ’17) began his career working in financial accounting. Although he was good at his job and could have easily continued working at a U.S. Department of Energy nuclear power facility near his native city of Knoxville, Tennessee, he realized he was ready for a change.
Brendan St. John
September 19, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Pioneering spirit fuels alumnus’ political aspirations

For as long as he can remember, Brendan St. John (BSBA ’90) has had a deep connection with The Ohio State University. Growing up in the Columbus suburb of Westerville, his earliest memories include his Buckeyes football jerseys and selling soft drinks at Ohio State football games during his elementary school years. In fact, his connection to the university is so strong, it’s part of his identity — starting with his surname: St. John. 
September 17, 2018
Columbus CEO

Nonprofit Spotlight: The Driven Foundation

Roy Hall, a former Ohio State wide receiver, who earned a Fisher College of Business degree in marketing and even had a few years of NFL experience to his credit, could have availed himself of the many opportunities that await a former Buckeye, but that kind of success didn’t interest him.
September 4, 2018
Digital Journal

Transportation company Turnkey DOT welcomes Paul Barash (BSBA '08) as VP, operations & account services

Turnkey DOT, a leading nationwide event management and transportation company, is proud to announce and welcome Paul Barash (BSBA '08) as the company’s VP, operations & account services.
August 1, 2018
Cincinnati Business Courier

Craig Bahner named CEO of Sara Lee Frozen Bakery

Craig Bahner (BSBA '86), who earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and operations management at Ohio State, has been hired as CEO of Sara Lee Frozen Bakery. Bahner is the 2017 recipient of Fisher's alumni award for global business excellence.
Betty Schoenbaum
August 1, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Remembering the legacy of Betty Schoenbaum

The Max M. Fisher College of Business community lost a beloved supporter and friend with the passing of Betty Schoenbaum on July 31, 2018.
Vinessa Burnett portrait
July 26, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Mother's workplace challenges inspire passion for HR

Vinessa Burnett (MHRM ’18) is pursuing a career in human resources because she desires to make the workplace a better place. She shares how her Fisher
July 21, 2018
Education News

Cultivating opportunity: Campus donors look to the heartland to drive "entrepreneurial ecosystems"

The Keenan Family Foundation made a $17 million commitment to the Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business to strengthen the university’s expertise in the field of entrepreneurship.
Drew Riedel (BSBA ’08)
July 18, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Q&A with Drew Riedel

Drew Riedel (BSBA ’08) arrived at Fisher and ultimately underwent a journey of self-discovery as he sought his place in the world. Now an account coor
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The Office of Minority Affairs reached out to prospective students in Southwestern states to promote a culture of diversity, and my high school guidanMeeting others from all walks of life opened the door for my readiness to engage with the world. Fisher College of Business provided interview preparaStart working. I believe the millennial generation wants meaningful work. Then we come face-to-face with available jobs where the meaning is unclear o
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Content provided by The Ohio State University Alumni Association.
Connor Scholars gathered around a conference table
July 13, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

Connor Scholars putting social entrepreneurship skills to work across the globe

Thanks to support from Chris (BA ’78) and Sara Connor and the Connor Family Scholars Fund, 33 Fisher students spent two weeks in Africa, Asia and Europe as part of Fisher’s Global Projects Program: Nonprofit working on challenges ranging from improving outreach for people with physical and mental disabilities in India, to growing a local music incubator in South Africa.
July 12, 2018
PRNewswire

At Home appoints Paula Bennett (BSBA '71) to board of directors

At Home Group Inc., the home décor superstore, has appointed Paula Bennett (BSBA '71), former president and CEO of J.Jill, to its board of directors.
July 2, 2018
Columbus CEO

Succeeding on the homefront

While serving her country, Kimberly Tapia also started the Polanko Group, which has several business lines, and has managed to find the time to earn a Master of Business Operational Excellence degree from Fisher College of Business.
A lecture at the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship
June 25, 2018
Max M. Fisher College of Business

$17M commitment strengthens entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University

A generous commitment of $17 million by the Keenan Family Foundation has enabled The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business to strengthen its commitment to entrepreneurship. The Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship will focus on cultivating students’ entrepreneurial skill sets and create an enriched extracurricular experience around entrepreneurship.