Alumni & Friends News

Meet the Fisher graduates whose principled leadership and positive impact in business and beyond have distinguished them as the 2021 Alumni Award recipients.

Meet the students and young alumni navigating one of the tightest job markets in history — and the OCM services that helped them thrive.

First impressions matter. Lori Castillo wasn’t anywhere near Ohio when Fisher showcased its commitment to student diversity, equity and inclusion. That lasting impression heavily influenced the Texas native’s decision to become a Business Buckeye.

Pursuit is adding an NFL team to its list of sports partnerships. The Columbus-based suit retailer, which was created by Fisher alumnus Nate DeMars (MBA '11), was tapped to create custom jackets for the inaugural class of the Cincinnati Bengals' Ring of Honor.

Reuben Klamer (BSBA '44) developed an estimated 200 toys and other items, including a phaser rifle for “Star Trek.” But his best-known product was a game for “literally everyone on earth.”

Aisha Allen (BSBA '99, EMBA '14), vice president of culture, engagement and inclusion and chief diversity officer at OhioHealth, discusses her experience leading change management efforts within the diversity, equity and inclusion space.

Alumnus Mark Duhon (BSBA ’88) is putting his business degree to work leading a Chicago nonprofit organization that is successfully bridging the economic and educational gap for first-generation college students.

As an undergraduate student, Rachel Hartley (BSBA ’19) made sure global experiences were integral to her education at Fisher. Now, lessons learned from those experiences are continuing to pay off for her in the global software industry.

Two graduates of the Dean's Leadership Academy share how the program has impacted their development as business professionals.

During his professional career that has now spanned more than 12 years, Bill Curry (BSBA '08) has had the opportunity to work with countless individuals and families navigating them through financial opportunities that have set them up for security well into the future.

Meet Aisha Allen (BSBA '99, EMBA '14), OhioHealth’s new vice president of culture, engagement and inclusion/chief diversity and inclusion officer, and learn about the more than 20 years of experience she brings to the new role.

A scholarship fund created by alumni affiliated with Deloitte, as well as the Deloitte Foundation is helping to advance diverse undergraduate and graduate accounting students and programming at Fisher.

An idea hatched among friends sparked Travis Smith (BSBA '99) to consider a new way to build wealth while helping anyone build a portfolio. The idea? Tribevest, a Columbus-based group-investment platform that launched in 2018 to help groups of investors create their own limited liability company (LLC), open a bank account, interact, vote and invest all within 48 hours.  

Women of the Wayuu culture in La Guajira, Colombia, have an advocate with a head for business, a heart for service and a love of fashion. The benefits sparked by Amber Hammond (BSBA '15) are rippling out within their community.

 As a student, Josh Meyer (BSBA ’13) completed a global internship experience at a small company in Australia. Eight years later, he was promoted to CEO. What’s his secret? Kaizen.

Sarah and Bryan Martin dispel an accounting myth, dispense advice to Fisher students and reflect on the impact Fisher’s Accounting Honors program had on their personal and professional lives.

Fisher helped Grace Figliomeni find her future in business by showing her how she could combine her passions and create an entirely new direction for her career. She credits scholarship support for giving her access to Fisher’s programs and learning opportunities that shaped her degree and her future.

Sean Whited (MBA '19) and Addison Brown (MBA '20) met in Fisher's MBA for Working Professionals program, where they hatched a plan for made-to-order ice cream sandwiches. The idea has given way to S’wich Social, which opened in March at 869 N. 4th St., and is built around customizable combinations of two beloved tastes – ice cream and cookies.

A new initiative aims to generate $1 million in increased sales to Columbus-area Black-owned businesses, including one owned and operated by Renard Green (MBA '06).

Harley Blakeman (BSBA '17) discusses the creation of Honest Jobs and its pivot from job-hunt training services to a full tech platform that matches candidates with criminal records with employers.

Receiving the 2021 Pace Setters Executive Award gave Elicia Azali (BSBA ’05) an opportunity to reflect on the way Ohio State and Fisher impacted the story of her personal and professional growth.

As Melinda Whittington (BSBA ’89) transitions from CFO at La-Z-Boy Inc. to become the company’s next CEO, learn how her experience as a top finance officer shaped her outlook on issues including social responsibility, the COVID-19 pandemic and ethics.

Harley Blakeman (BSBA '17), founder and CEO of Honest Jobs in Columbus, founded the job-matching service two years ago in Columbus, and through the pandemic rebuilt the technology and shifted its target market to state agencies from individual employers.