Strategic Industry Connections for MBA Success
Our MBA program is enriched by a network of advisory councils, featuring over 200 industry leaders from the MCOB Executive Advisory Board and department-specific boards. These professionals, representing top employers and innovators in their fields, actively engage with our faculty and students. They help shape our curriculum to ensure it's relevant to today’s business landscape, Facilitating opportunities for experiential learning, mentorship, and practical business projects. Whether through executive guest lectures, virtual industry panels, or one-on-one mentoring sessions, their involvement provides you with valuable insights and real-world connections, setting you up for success in your career.
The Mitchell College of Business has almost 200 constituents that serve the College as members of our advisory councils. We feature their names in each edition of the Mitchell Magazine but have not done so to date in the Mitchell Report. We would like to acknowledge their leadership and thank these individuals who invest their time, efforts, and knowledge into making us who we are.
▼ Executive Advisory Council
| Executive Advisory Council |
|---|
| Alan Alexander Attorney Helmsing Leach Attorneys at Law |
|
Jay Alexander |
| Alexis Atkins Principal Budweiser Busch |
| Celia Mann Baehr President & CEO Mobile Symphony Orchestra |
| Clarence Ball President & CEO Ball Healthcare Services |
| Gavin Bender, Sr. President Bender Real Estate Group |
| Wiley Blankenship President & CEO Coastal Alabama Partnership |
| Allen Carroll Wilkins Miller |
|
Holly Champan |
| Joe Denton Executive Vice President & CFO Mobile Infirmary |
| Walne Donald Owner Mobile Fixture and Equipment Company |
| Jay Dorris President & CEO PCI Gaming Authority |
| Elizabeth Freeman President Long’s Human Resource Service |
| Cedric Hatcher Senior Vice President Hancock Bank |
| Janet Hayes COO Leavell Investment Management |
|
Brian Kane |
| Donald Keeler Vice President Human Resources Austal |
| Allen Ladd Vice President Thames Batré |
| Russell Ladd, III Retired Thames Batré |
| Jerry Lathan The Lathan Company |
| Jim Lauder CEO Global Index Advisors, Inc. |
| Kate Luce President & CEO Mississippi Export Railroad |
| Bruce McCrory Operations & Business Development Nations Roof |
| Chris Melton Chairman & CEO The White Oak Group |
| Abraham Mitchell Owner Mitchell Brothers |
| Melissa Morrissette Vice President - Owner LLB&B, Inc. Real Estate |
| Andy Newton President Uniti Fiber |
| Edward H. O’Gwynn Market President BB&T Bank |
| David Padgett President Davison Fuels & Oil |
| Wendy Robertson General Manager Operations APM Terminals |
| Rhett Ross President & CEO Continental Motors |
| Michael Sanders Project Manager Sanders Hyland Corporation |
| Tim Shearer Managing Director PriceWaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services |
| Bill Sisson President Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Tim Smith Managing Partner Smith, Dukes & Buckalew, LLP |
| Frank Southall VP & Controller, Principal Accounting Officer Ruby Tuesday |
| Bill Stejskal Senior Vice President, Human Resources SMS Holdings |
| David Trent Site Director Airbus |
| Richard Weavil President The Weavil Company, LLC |
▼ Department of Accounting
| Accounting Advisory Council |
|---|
|
J.D. Baxter |
| Earl Blackmon CPA Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore, PC |
| Skip Brown CPA Russell, Thompson, Butler & Houston, LLP |
| Richard D. Buntin Vice President Hancock Bank |
| Matt Chambless CFO CPSI |
| Neil B. Christopher VP of Finance and Operations Mobile Chamber of Commerce |
| Jackie Clackler Operations Controller Evonik Degussa Corp. |
| Kristina L. Davis Director Infirmary Health Systems, Audit Services |
| Chris Goodrich CPA FEDCorp |
| William Jamar, Jr. Manager Alabama Dept. of Revenue |
| Jason L. Jones Controller The SSI Group, Inc. |
| M. Stacy Lassiter Regional Controller Nations Roof |
| Cindy B. Rathle CPA Crow Shields Bailey, P |
| Kelli Kichler Reid Finance Director City of Daphne |
| Jim Robertson CPA Robertson, Andreoli & Covington, PC |
| Jason L. Saulters CPA Horne LLP |
| Christy Taylor Controller Austal USA, LLC |
| T. J. Vice Manager Mostellar & Shreve, LLP |
| Micah Wheeler CPA Wilkins, Miller LLC |
▼ Department of Economics, Finance and Real Estate
| Economics, Finance and Real Estate Advisory Council |
|---|
| Allan Crow Chief Financial Officer Robert J. Baggett, Inc. |
| Mark Davidson Director of Investments Cornerstone Investment & Management Consulting |
| Edward Ferniany, Jr. Senior Vice President Trustmark National Bank |
| Mark Fillers South Alabama Market President Renasant Bank |
| Caresse Fincher Managing Director Strategic Wealth Specialists/Guardian Life |
| Jason Gregory Managing Partner Willis Towers Watson Insurance |
| David Hagan Wright Transportation |
| Richard Harvey Senior Vice President Regions Bank - Institutional Trust |
| David Luckie |
| Bob McGough Associate Appraiser Cushman and Wakefield |
| Mignone Perry Material Program Financial Specialist Austal USA |
| John Pisarkiewicz |
| Erling Riis III Vice President Lyon Fry Cadden Insurance Agency |
| Jennifer Ryder Financial Advisor Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. |
| John Thompson Managing Principal - Senior Financial Advisor Thompson Wealth Management & Life Planning, Inc. |
▼ Department of Management
| Management Advisory Council |
|---|
|
Adam Bourne |
| Jennifer Busby Human Resource Manager White-Spunner |
| Joe Calagaz President, Printing Calagaz Group |
| David Chilelli Senior Advisor/Portfolio Advisor Merrill Lynch Wealth Mgt/Thompson Grp |
| Ken Daigle Department Chair Davidson HS - Career Technical Education |
| Garin Danner Director of Human Resources The Ren Group, Inc.. |
|
Kristan DeGraeve |
| Edward Dismukes Owner Wilson Dismukes |
| Tiphanie Evans HR Coordinator Bass Pro Shops |
| Anna Marie Gilchrist Owner/Agent Farmers Insurance – Gilchrist Agency |
| Sonsherraye Gowder Regional Human Resources Manager Southeast Toyota Finance (WOFC) |
| Jason Holston Assistant Director HR Alta Pointe |
| Abbey Huguley Talent Develpment and Attraction Manager Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Susan Jacobs VP Human Resources & Administration Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Shana Jordan Founder - Lead Strategist Oyster Shell Strategy |
| Tarah Keech CEO Tara Keech Coaching |
| Sarah Kyser Director of HR AAA USA, an affil. of Drakkar Aerospace & Ground Transportation |
| Andre McCoo HR Business Partner AAA USA, an affil. of Drakkar Aerospace & Ground Transportation |
| Eunice C. Mingo Licensed Professional Counselor ECM Counseling Services |
| Jay Stubbs Gulf Coast Director Providence Partners |
| Laura Taylor-Roske Talent Acquisition Specialist SA Enterprise Holdings |
| Cheryl Williams Licensee/Owner Spherion Staffing Services |
▼ Department of Marketing, Quantitative Methods and International Business
| Marketing, Quantitative Methods and International Business Advisory Council |
|---|
| Judith Adams Vice President, Marketing Alabama Port Authority |
| Leslie Beard General Manager C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. |
| John Bush Branch Manager CPC Office Technologies |
| Anita Clarke Brand Ambassador C-Spire |
| Pamela Denham Owner Pamela Denham & Associates |
| Mary Lee Gay Senior Marketing Manager ASM Global |
| Todd Henderson Mobile Market President The First, A National Banking Association |
| Duncan Millar Sales Manager McKibbon Hotel Management |
| Dean Minto Regional Manger Sherwin Williams |
| Kayla Morgan Manager, Marketing & Research Economic Development Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Michael B. Neely Principal Perimeter Solutions Group |
| Nathaniel Patterson President Patterson Marketing Group |
| Pamela Ramos-Brown CEO The Ramos Group, LLC |
| Jeff Robbins Sales Leader State Farm Insurance Companies |
| Lynn Robinson Professor Emeritus University of South Alabama |
| Tiffany Slater Business Development Manager Landscape Workshop Gulf Coast |
| Shellie Brooks Teague Executive Director Mobile Arts Council |
▼ Center for Real Estate and Economic Development
| Center for Real Estate and Economic Development Advisory Council |
|---|
| James Andrews Capital One |
| Gavin Bender President Bender Real Estate Group |
| Michael Berson Mobile Bar Attorney Mobile Bar Association |
| Wiley Blankenship State Director of Alabama on SEDC Board of Directors Coastal Alabama Partnership |
| Harry Brislin Manager of USA Technology & Research Park University of South Alabama |
| Tony Brown CCIM The Pelican Group Inc. |
| Rich Campbell Executive Vice President 22nd State Bank |
| Kelly Cummings Realtor and Broker-Owner The Cummings Company LLC. |
| Reid Cummings Alabama Real Estate Commissioner The Cummings Company LLC. |
| Daniel Dennis President Roberts Brothers Inc. |
| Sheila Dodson Chief Executive Officer Baldwin Realtors |
| Duane Graham Partner Armbrecht Jackson LLP |
| Jim Grodnick Managing Broker JW Properties Inc. |
| Nathan Handmacher Senior Sales and Leasing Executive Stirling Properties |
| Bill Harbour Geographic Information Systems Coordinator Baldwin County Public Schools |
| Kim Hastie Revenue Commissioner Mobile County Revenue Commission |
| Sheila Hodges Owner 21 Century Meyer Real Estate |
| Libba Latham Real Estate Agent LLB&B |
| Robert Matthews Partner Burr Forman |
| Jeremy Milling Partner/CCIM Milling Commercial Realty Inc. |
| Abe Mitchell Mobile Bar Attorney Mobile Bar Association |
| Spence Monroe Board of Directors on The Public Building Authority Ashurst & Niemeyer |
| Ron Moore Project Manager Alabama Chemical Growth Initiative |
| Skeeter Morris Real Estate Appraiser Courtney & Morris Real Estate |
| Melissa Morrisette Co-Owner LLB&B |
| Kerry O'Connor Senior Vice President Bancorp South |
| David Rogers Vice President of Economic Development Mobile Chamber of Commerce |
| Page Stalcup Partner and Founding Shareholder Wilkins Miller |
| Josh Tanner President and CEO BHGRE Generations |
| Richard Weavil Real Estate Agent, Broker, and Realtor Weavil Co. Inc. |
| Stephanie White CEO Mobile Area Association of Realtors |
| Tim Wilkes Loan Officer Magnolia Mortgage Co. |
| Bob Wood Professor of Finance University of South Alabama |
▼ Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
| Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Advisory Council |
|---|
| J Hunter Adams Attorney at Law J. Hunter Adams, Attorney |
| Hayley Van Antwerp Board Innovation PortAL |
| Raymond Bell Shareholder Maynard, Cooper, and Gale |
| Harry Brislin Director Technology and Research Park, University of South Alabama |
| Will Bruce Owner William Bruce Business Sales & Acquisitions, LLC |
| Sean Bryant Corporate Development Brett / Robinson Real Estate and Development |
| Jeff Carter Chief Operating Officer Frios Gourmet Pops |
| Michael Chambers Assistant Vice President, Research Innovation USA - Office of Research and Economic Development |
| Bill Coffeen Retired Mobile Gas |
| Melissa Cross President McAleer's Office Furniture |
| Mary Lee Gay Senior Marketing Manager ASM Global |
| Michael B. Neely Principal Perimeter Solutions Group |
| Mike Dow President and CEO Coastal Strategic Services |
| Caroline Doyle Partner New York Life Insurance |
| Lee Hammons Managing Director Oakworth Capital Bank |
| Anne Hetzel VP, CRA Officer and Data Impact Manager United Bank |
| Clark Kelly Retired L & M Welding Supply |
| Jeff Mackin Application Sales Manager Oracle |
| Jeff Marcus COO and Co-Founder Shipshape Urban Farms |
| Claire McCarron Private Banker Hancock Whitney |
| Melinda McGhee Mortgage Banker Renasant Bank |
| John Nix Attorney at Law John R. Nix, LLC |
| Dean Parker Entrepreneur Vita Capital |
| Monique Pettaway Signature Academy Specialist Williamson High School |
| Jeff Schock CFO ASF Logistics |
| Dennis Sherrin Managing Shareholder Hartmon, Blackmon, & Kilgore, PC |
| Ron Sivak Business Editor Lagniappe Weekly |
| Mel Washington Regional Director Small Business Development Center |
| Vickie Wyatt Vice President Wonderland Express, Inc. |
| William Kelly Regional Director AIM Group |
| Zane Patterson Account Manager Shipshape Urban Farms |
▼ Professional Readiness Engagement Program
| Department |
|---|
| Eunice Mingo Blakely Director of Behavioral Health Franklin Primary Health |
| Jennifer Busby Human Resources Manager The SSI Group, LLC |
| David Chilelli Financial Advisor Merrill Lynch |
| Jeremy Doggette Senior Representative, Team Member Relations AM/NS Calvert |
| Mary Caron Downing HR Manager Continental Motors, Inc. |
| Angela Dunn Vice President, Middle Market Banking Hancock Whitney Bank |
| James Foley Managing Partner Fairhope Brewing Company |
| Ramonica Day Gamble Owner/Business Strategist Ramonica Gamble Consulting |
| Cadie Gaut Co-Owner & Operations Manager Payroll Vault |
| Anna Marie Gilchrist Owner/Agent The Gilchrist Agency - Farmers Insurance |
| Jeff Johnston Corporate Counsel Shoe Station |
| Darcy Kaul Managing Director Experiential Design Group |
| Jordan Diaz Ledesma Human Resources Business Partner Chevron Pascagoula Refinery |
| Armondo Love Employee Relations Training Administrator Baldwin County |
| Mark Spivey V.P. Commercial Banking BB&T Bank |
| Jay Stubbs Regional Director First Protective |
| Denson White Client Services APM Terminals Mobile |
| Tim Wills Chief Executive Officer Boys & Girls Clubs |
▼ Jaguar Investment Fund
| Department |
|---|
| Terry Albano Investment Manager University of South Alabama |
| Ralph Anderson Vice President Morgan Stanley Wealth Management |
| Austin Bradford Wealth Management Advisor The Whiting Group, Merrilly Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. |
| Mark Davidson Director of Investments Cornerstone Investment & Management Consulting |
| Richard Harvey Senior Vice President Regions Bank - Institutional Trust |
| Tim Heath Managing Director Strategic Wealth Specialists |
| Bryant MacKellar Area Manager Bank of England Mortgage |
| Dalton Owens N.D. Pitman & Company. Inc. |
| Chip Posey VP, Financial Advisor BBVA Compass Investment Solutions |
| Jennifer Ryder Financial Advisor Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc |
| Scott Weldon VP, Finance & Administration University of South Alabama |
| Doug Whitmore Financial Advisor Wells Fargo Advisors |