{"id":1411,"date":"2026-02-19T16:44:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/?p=1411"},"modified":"2026-05-12T08:57:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:57:39","slug":"2026-alumni-accomplishments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/2026\/02\/19\/2026-alumni-accomplishments\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Alumni Accomplishments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The University of Michigan-Flint School of Management produces the leaders and best in business. Below are some of their recent accomplishments, along with links to congratulate or connect with them on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is there news you would like to share with your fellow alumni? If so, please email Anna Swartz at <a href=\"mailto:annas@umich.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">annas@umich.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">April 2026<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The University of Michigan-Flint School of Management honored <a href=\"https:\/\/news.umflint.edu\/2026\/04\/28\/um-flint-school-of-management-honors-larry-nichols-with-outstanding-alumni-award\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Larry Nichols, &#8217;75, &#8217;86M<\/a>, with its 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/whitmer\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/04\/24\/governor-whitmer-announces-staff-updates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Percivierre Whitmore &#8217;22<\/a> joined the State of Michigan&#8217;s Executive Office of the Governor as a community engagement specialist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">March 2026<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Piston Interiors promoted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/bryan-busha-4b030941_im-excited-to-share-that-ive-recently-taken-activity-7439813845063462912-Q8aI?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAo6-OoBIajR1GDZ4Sd6D_RR0PuT-t1NiyU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bryan Busha, &#8217;16M<\/a>, to director of engineering.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/chelsea-cox-mba-66b0529_newbeginnings-activity-7429651534163947520-npOu?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAo6-OoBIajR1GDZ4Sd6D_RR0PuT-t1NiyU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chelsea Cox, &#8217;12M<\/a>, joined Stellantis as a manager of talent acquisition focused on its contingent workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wilshire Benefits Group promoted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mandy-ford-mba-csfs%C2%AE-cpbs%C2%AE-900b4559\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mandy Ford, &#8217;25M<\/a>, to senior benefits consultant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CWC Textron promoted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/joshuahoeh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joshua Hoeh, &#8217;15M<\/a>, to plant manager.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/elaine-lafavor-32bb4b2b1_newjob-ugcPost-7443447739507470336-fCUr?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAo6-OoBIajR1GDZ4Sd6D_RR0PuT-t1NiyU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Elaine LaFavor, &#8217;24<\/a>, joined Dart Bank as a personal banker.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/olivianorfolk_im-excited-to-start-my-new-role-as-manager-ugcPost-7444857579618340865-Py8i?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAo6-OoBIajR1GDZ4Sd6D_RR0PuT-t1NiyU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Olivia Norfolk-Masson, &#8217;18<\/a>, joined hims &amp; hers as an accounting manager.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Autoliv promoted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/justin-pijaszek_im-happy-to-share-that-im-starting-a-new-activity-7433535842196824064-b_2V?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAo6-OoBIajR1GDZ4Sd6D_RR0PuT-t1NiyU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justin Pijaszek, &#8217;20<\/a>, to senior segment buyer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Randy Wise Automotive Team promoted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/blayne-risher-8a03b126a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blayne Risher, &#8217;25<\/a>, to strategic marketing manager.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce recognized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/steven-treece_tomorrows20-ahcc-auburnhillschamber-activity-7434337924571123713-sMGt?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAo6-OoBIajR1GDZ4Sd6D_RR0PuT-t1NiyU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Steven Treece, &#8217;13<\/a>, among its Tomorrow&#8217;s 20 honorees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/yuyangzhang\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yuyang Zhang, &#8217;14M<\/a> joined Attain Finance as senior manager of loss forecasting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">February 2026<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7442395272565080064\/?originTrackingId=Z%2FUDtMO%2F8diz%2FEy6YnPXBA%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brendon Beed, &#8217;11, &#8217;13M<\/a>, joined AMD as a senior program manager for the developer ecosystem and products.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/jason-briggs-59398858_im-happy-to-share-that-im-starting-a-new-activity-7431809078689005569-JZaY?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAo6-OoBIajR1GDZ4Sd6D_RR0PuT-t1NiyU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jason Briggs, &#8217;19<\/a>, joined Brewtopia 7 Brew Coffee as regional manager.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kaylynn-charchan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kaylynn Charchan, &#8217;25<\/a>, joined HF Sinclair as a human resources analytics specialist.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7429651534163947520\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chelsea Cox, &#8217;12M<\/a>, joined Stellantis as a manager of talent acquisition, contingent workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7424451969722851328\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Abraham Dabaja, &#8217;25<\/a>, joined Sports Info Solutions as a baseball data scout.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kenji-griffith-cma-cgfm-5022904b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kenji Griffith, &#8217;11M<\/a>, joined the Michigan Bureau of Investments as a primary trader &#8211; domestic equity and options strategies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The University of Michigan-Flint appointed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7424470264798760960\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Logan McGrady, &#8217;13<\/a>, to interim assistant director of marketing and communications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kevin-o-connor-8890289\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kevin O&#8217;Connor, &#8217;14M<\/a>, joined Syneos Health as a vaccine sales specialist.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7427567259767779330\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gannon C. O&#8217;Reilly, &#8217;12<\/a>, joined 2X as global head of GTM engineering and orchestration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bedrock Detroit promoted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/angelina-wittenkeller-320349aa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Angelina Wittenkeller, &#8217;14, &#8217;20M<\/a>, to senior manager of employee relations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">January 2026<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/laurelkobe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Laurel Kobe, &#8217;14<\/a>, joined No Boundaries Transport as chief commercial officer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stellantis promoted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nick-lagalski-a1a59b2a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nick Lagalski, &#8217;13M<\/a>, to vice president of health care, disability, workers compensation and medical operations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Flint Board of Education elected <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/dylan-luna-mba-15332627_letsget-activity-7419874531273691138-SvFm?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAo6-OoBIajR1GDZ4Sd6D_RR0PuT-t1NiyU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dylan Luna, &#8217;16, &#8217;21M<\/a>, to a fourth term as treasurer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OnConferences named <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7417577956908269568\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Danielle Mauter, &#8217;14<\/a>, a finalist for its 2026 Top 100 Marketer Award.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7418692891696492544\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Steve Mooi, &#8217;05, &#8217;21M<\/a>, joined Ford Motor Credit Company as accounting manager &#8211; technology modernization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jordyn-morrish-555293224\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jordyn Morrish, &#8217;23, &#8217;24M<\/a>, joined Insight as human resources coordinator.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/emmanuel-olupot-mba-14427991\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Emmanuel Olupot, &#8217;23M<\/a>, joined Handshake as an AI fellow annotator.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7422349087687127040\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Acier Rodriguez, &#8217;22, &#8217;25M<\/a>, earned FINRA&#8217;s Series 66 certification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7421626958700048385\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jacob Ross, &#8217;21<\/a>, joined Titan Automation LLC as sales account manager.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/adam-schultz-93a85311\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adam Schultz, &#8217;04<\/a>, joined Sunburst Workforce Advisors as regional director of operations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/robertwidigan_excited-to-join-mike-mcguinness-and-the-city-activity-7417662479029252097-BDZz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert J.F. Widigan, &#8217;14<\/a>, joined the City of Pontiac as finance director.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The University of Michigan-Flint School of Management produces the leaders and best in business. Below are some of their recent accomplishments, along with links to congratulate or connect with them on LinkedIn. Is there news you would like to share with your fellow alumni? If so, please email Anna Swartz at annas@umich.edu. April 2026 March [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":597,"featured_media":1415,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[187,55,1],"tags":[163,33,149,161],"class_list":["post-1411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-187","category-alumni-news","category-uncategorized","tag-alumni","tag-alumninews","tag-school-of-management","tag-som-alumni"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/597"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1411"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1549,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions\/1549"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/som\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}