Lubar 25

Nadia Adams

Senior
Marketing

Nadia Adams believes in the power of business to drive positive change. This is one reason she started a marketing freelance business through which she provides marketing, content creation, and business development services to small non-profit and minority-owned businesses. “I aspire to play a pivotal role in fostering positive change and sustainable growth for these impactful entities,” she says. Nadia is enrolled in the Lubar College of Business Accelerated Master’s program in marketing, earning both her BBA and her master’s degree in marketing. After graduating, she plans to gain corporate experience in addition to growing her consultant business, hoping to contribute to a business landscape “where success is measured in the positive influence a company exerts on the communities it serves.” Highly involved on campus, Nadia is a Lubar Brand Ambassador, a member of the Lubar Black & Gold Committee, and a Community Involvement Intern. Committed to the broader community, she has done volunteer work for Penfield Children’s Center and is a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Sydney Braun

Senior
Information Technology Management & Marketing majors

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, Sydney Braun wasn’t completely surprised to find that the entrepreneurial spirit is “alive and booming” in her. Working in her father’s manufacturing business since the age of 12, she says she learned a lot about the heart and commitment it takes to run a business. Last semester, she was selected for the college’s Entrepreneur Internship Program, where she interned with Breakthru, a business coaching and leadership company focused on building up other entrepreneurs. In addition, Syndey and her brother are working to develop a startup to help people fight the stigma surrounding mental illness and to live their lives to the fullest extent. With a near perfect grade point average, Sydney has been named to the Dean’s List each semester of her academic career. A double major in marketing and information technology management, she is considering a career in marketing analytics or marketing research focused on human behavior in the marketplace.

Zachary Calabro

Senior
Finance and Supply Chain & Operations Management majors; Honors College

Zachary Calabro took a pivotal point in his academic journey and turned it into a huge success for himself and others. He says that math had always been a formidable challenge for him, so when he enrolled in Quantitative Math for Business, he committed himself to overcoming this hurdle. And overcome it he did, with the highest grade of his academic career, a 102%. To celebrate and share his success, he became a Supplemental Instructor for the course the following semester and found joy in helping fellow students conquer the content and gain confidence. Working for the Student Success Center, he was designated a Master Level Tutor and was recognized as Outstanding New Supplemental Instruction Leader and Outstanding New Tutor. “The sense of accomplishment in fostering a supportive learning environment is unparalleled, making this leadership role a far more fulfilling and rewarding experience than any award,” he says. Currently working at GE Healthcare in an operations management internship, Zachary aspires to a career in healthcare operations.

Giorgia Cavestro

Senior
Accounting & Information Technology Management majors

As an NCAA Division 1 athlete named to the Academic All-District Team and within a hair of a perfect grade point average, Giorgia Cavestro’s high level of motivation and competitiveness serve her very well. But as a member of the Panthers women’s tennis team, she’s also learned how to serve others well. When she first joined the team, she saw how a more senior team member was able to inspire the others and decided she wanted to do the same, both on the court and in her personal life. She says she discovered that the most effective way to influence the people around her was to lead by example, to show that she holds herself to high standards and to encourage the rest of the team and her friends to do the same.” “The way I measure my success as a leader is by noticing how the way I act or what I say makes a difference and positively impacts the people around me.”

Eylee Corcoran

Junior
Marketing major; International Business certificate

In addition to being a top student at the Lubar College of Business, Eylee Corcoran has also developed as a student leader. As a Lubar Brand Ambassador, she leads tours and participates in information sessions for prospective students to the college, sharing her experiences and knowledge of business studies at UWM. She is also working to revive a dormant student organization on campus, Best Buddies, which has a mission to ensure that individuals with physical and mental disabilities feel included and welcome on campus. “College can be an extremely stressful transition, and I love that I’ve been able to be a part of reinvigorating an organization that benefits so many,” she says. Eylee is close to completing her bachelor’s degree in marketing, with an added certificate in international business. An avid traveler, she’s enrolled in the business study abroad program to Paris this summer and is looking to a potential future career in resort and vacation destination marketing. She is also planning to pursue a master’s degree in business at UWM.

Evelyn Curiel

Senior
Marketing and Supply Chain Management majors, Spanish Business Concentration minor, International Business certificate

Senior Evelyn Curiel has exhibited a commitment to academic excellence, student involvement, the community, and her family. A Dean’s List student majoring in marketing and supply chain management, she has held two leadership positions in the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. In addition to leading the planning and executive of the organization’s events, she has worked with the chapter on advancing ideas to promote a more inclusive and supportive environment. She has supported the broader community through involvement with Make a Difference Day, volunteerism at a local food pantry, and participating in fundraising events at her church. Recently, Evelyn worked with her father to develop plans for a hotel in his hometown in Mexico, contributing to the project through marketing ideas and interior design concepts. She plans to be involved in supporting her parents’ business in the future while pursuing a career in sourcing or production coordination, merging her professional goals with her strong commitment to family.

Zaher Haidar

Senior
Economics, Finance, Information Technology Management, majors; Real Estate certificate

As most good chess players do, Zaher Haidar is looking multiple moves ahead to reach his ultimate career goal of founding a company and becoming its chief data officer. His strategy has included pursuing a triple major in IT Management, Finance, and Economics, building a skill set that includes proficiency in navigating complex data systems and analytics tools, financial acumen, and a broad economic perspective on external factors influencing businesses. He has consistently been recognized for his academic success on the Lubar College Dean’s List. As Executive Director of UWM’s Chess Club, Zaher is developing leadership skills by organizing meetings and tournaments, broadening membership to attract both novice and seasoned players, and cultivating stronger bonds with the community through outreach efforts, such as with the Milwaukee Open and Midwest Regional Championships. Zaher is also involved in the International Academy of Chess, a scholastic chess coaching group that offers grade school and high school students the chance to enhance their problem-solving skills and connect with fellow chess enthusiasts.

Gabriel Heller De Messer

Senior
Accounting major, Conservation & Environmental Science minor; Honors College

Gabriel Heller De Messer has a lot of passion projects. He is pursuing a unique academic combination of accounting and environmental science, with the goal to work in the audit or data analytics sector for client companies with a commitment to sustainability issues. An Honors College student, Gabriel has conducted two research projects through UWM’s SURF (Support for Undergraduate Research Fellow) program. In his freshman year, he worked on a study of the genomes for kelp harvesting for biofuel technology. Currently, he is working with accounting professor Aaron Mandell to study a niche-non-GAAP accounting practice called Master Limited Partnerships. His wide-ranging interests have led to the incorporation of a business providing “boutique” pavement striping to add artistic value and serve the Milwaukee community, where he is submitting two designs for artistic crosswalks through Milwaukee’s “Paint the Pavement” initiative. Gabriel is also active in a host of social justice initiatives. He says, “Actively participating in my community has instilled a core value of servitude to those who face intolerable injustices, to use my powerful voice to lead social equity.”

Sara Jochims

Junior
Accounting major, Spanish Business Concentration minor; Business Scholars

Sara Jochims has hit her stride, both as an accounting student and as a member of the UWM Panthers women’s cross country and track & field teams. A student in the Lubar College’s Business Scholars program, Sara is used to an academic challenge, which she has met with a near-perfect cumulative GPA. Impressively, she’s also active as a student leader, both as co-treasurer of honors organization Beta Alpha Psi and treasurer of the Women in Business organization. Sara has found special meaning and purpose through community service projects she’s engaged in at UWM, such as volunteering at Milwaukee Public Schools cross country meets, Frieden’s Empty Bowls, Bradford Beach cleanups, and Milwaukee’s Make a Difference Days. “The best part of being involved in so many different campus activities is the opportunity I have had to give back to UWM and the community.” Upon graduation, Sarah will pursue her master’s degree in professional accounting at UWM and sit for the CPA exam.

Riley Kenney

Senior
Marketing major, International Business certificate

Riley Kenney has been a leader most of her life, attending her first leadership conference in fifth grade and being captain of each team she was on in high school. Her leadership record has grown at UWM. She has served in multiple leadership positions in the Alpha Omicron Pi fraternity, as vice president of finance for the Panhellenic Council, and most recently as Panhellenic president. Riley says she’s an outgoing person, but she recognizes that some people are afraid to speak up or pitch their own ideas. That’s where the leader in her comes forward. “It is about involving everyone, hearing everyone’s ideas, and making them feel welcome,” she says. “But most importantly, it’s about working together to create the best outcome possible.” As lead Lubar Ambassador, Riley also extends a welcoming hand to high school students visiting the Lubar College and has recently organized a Networking 101 event for other Lubar students. Last summer, she put her interest in the fashion industry to work as an intern at a fashion startup. She hopes to one day work in marketing for a major fashion label.

Taehun Kim

Junior
Accounting major, Economics minor; Business Scholars

With a strong sense of responsibility as an international student from South Korea, Taehun Kim gives his all to his studies and to others. A Business Scholar majoring in accounting and minoring in economics, Taehun has earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout his Lubar studies. Keenly interested in helping others, he served as UWM’s only tutor for macroeconomics in 2023, and currently holds a Citizen Data Science Badge Program Assistant position with Odai Khasawneh. Taehun has also volunteered through UWM’s Accessibility Resource Center as a course note-taker for students needing accommodations, and schedules special additional tutoring hours just for these students. With his top grades and tutoring experience, Taehun is considering a career as a university professor. He already has an academic research project with accounting professor Laura Swenson under his belt, and says he has been inspired by the faculty who have helped him on his journey.

Madaline Krall

Senior
Human Resources Management and Marketing majors; Honors College; Business Scholars

Madaline Krall chose human resources management as her major because she envisions herself in a profession where she can help people advance in their careers. This builds on a personal ethic to help others that she has cultivated through involvement in her church and in the Milwaukee community, including being part of a prom event for those with mental or physical disabilities and volunteering for Kinship Community Food Center in the Riverwest neighborhood. Academics are a high priority for Madaline, who is part of UWM’s Honors College as well as the Lubar College’s Business Scholars program. She says that she enjoys going out of her “comfort zone” to find new challenges. One of those was participating in the business study abroad program to Paris, something she says she never saw herself doing but later realized it was a “fantastic opportunity for me to learn about international business in an international setting.” She serves in leadership roles with the student organizations Supply Chain Management Association and Cru, a campus ministry program.

Benjamin Leipzig

Senior
Accounting and Finance majors; Economics minor

Before college, math was not Benjamin Leipzig’s best subject. When he got to college, he decided to “unwind the thinking patterns that I was bad at math.” He worked hard and excelled, so much so that he is majoring in both accounting and finance. Benjamin says the experience imparted a lesson beyond academics and became a catalyst for him inside and outside the classroom. “In my eyes, success is knowledge and understanding of subject matter, the relationships I build in the process, and the journey of failures and success.” Last summer, Benjamin interned at Johnson Controls where he enjoyed participating in the company team’s performance objectives, in addition to working for an organization dedicated to minimizing carbon emissions. This experience increased his industry knowledge, as well as an understanding of accounting standards and principles. Benjamin is looking forward to further development this summer as an Embark Scholar intern at KPMG. Benjamin will complete a master’s degree in professional accounting after earning his BBA and hopes to work in public or corporate accounting before potentially launching his own accounting firm or consultancy.

Ruby Loeffelholz

Senior
Accounting major; Honors College

Once she decided to major in business, Ruby Loeffelholz quickly found her niche in accounting studies and has excelled in the classroom and in extracurricular involvement ever since. After earning one of the top grades in the accounting program’s gateway course, Ruby knew she “earned her spot” in the major. “From this class, I learned that the toughest obstacles produce the best development in my education.” She currently serves as vice president of fundraising for the Beta Alpha Psi honors organization, which she joined last fall and has been actively involved in Women in Business. Through the Honors College, she joined the Alternative Spring Break Club, which travels to New Orleans each spring break to do service projects for the community through Hands On New Orleans, which was formed after Hurricane Katrina. Ruby and the club also volunteer for service projects in Milwaukee such as river cleanup, community gardening, and refurbishing local parks. After interning for EY early next year, she will pursue an accounting master’s degree at UWM and then embark on a career in public accounting.

Juan Lopez

Junior
Finance and Information Technology Management majors

As a first-generation college student, Juan Lopez views his college education not merely as a personal accomplishment, but as a way to honor his immigrant parents’ sacrifices. This has meant seeking out challenges and opportunities beyond his classroom studies in information technology management and finance that have expanded his academic acumen and equipped him with the skills and mindset to succeed in college and his career. He calls his IT internship at Hydrite a defining experience, as he has been entrusted to spearhead training initiatives, strengthening his confidence as a leader. On campus, he serves as senior vice president of Delta Sigma Pi, contributing to the fraternity’s growth and developing new student leaders. To help affect positive change, Juan volunteers in a wide set of community service initiatives, helping build homes with Habitat for Humanity, assembling food boxes for seniors with Hunger Task Force, and teaching children about clean water at Discovery World. He aspires to a career in fintech with the goal to democratize access to financial services and create pathways to financial stability for underserved communities.

Santos Luciano

Senior
Accounting; Business Scholars

As an Army veteran, Santos Luciano says his military experience not only instilled in him discipline and resilience, but also fueled his commitment to his further education upon transitioning to civilian life. Now an accounting major at UWM, he has excelled in his studies, and attributes his military background with developing his time management skills, adaptability, and a strong work ethic. Santos is also a co-owner and CEO of a soap company, where his leadership role includes strategic decision-making, business development, and day-to-day operations. His business actively supports veterans by supporting initiatives that empower and uplift the veteran community. Santos says he has found meaningful avenues to channel his efforts toward community enrichment through his church and as a Freemason, including contributing to Black-owned churches and gyms specifically. “This underscores my dedication to supporting minority-owned businesses and fostering community empowerment.” He is serving his fellow veterans at UWM as well, initiating financial literacy classes with the Veteran Upward Bound program. Santos plans to work in public accounting after graduation and eventually to own his own accounting firm.

Julia Maas

Senior
Marketing major, Journalism, Advertising & Media Studies minor, International Business certificate

Julia Maas says she was drawn to marketing because of the creative opportunities that abound in this facet of the business world. “I strive to establish a distinctive perspective where creativity, strategic thinking, and technology innovation come together to drive compelling brand narratives and engage diverse audiences.” It makes sense, then, that she is especially interested in social media marketing, where she’s already acquired experience in strategy, content development, and analytics. As an intern at Johnson Financial Group last summer, Julia assumed responsibility for the company’s careers page, lending her creative mind and further developing her leadership skills through collaborative work with other interns. Julia has also been a marketing assistant in the Lubar College the last three years, helping to shape and execute social media strategies that positively represent the college’s brand. Outside of school and work, she is an active member of Women in Business at UWM, where she also contributes as event planner, inspiring her fellow members toward achieving their shared goals, including service to the community such as Make a Difference Day.

Ella Manssen

Senior
Accounting major; Business Scholars

As a student in the Lubar College’s Business Scholars program, Ella Manssen has taken advantage of the opportunity to build a rich portfolio of academic, co-curricular, and professional achievements. “The program has helped me build strong business competencies, as well as enhanced my communication and quantitative skills while in a connected group of peers,” she says. Building professional experience is also a top priority for Ella. She has worked for the last year and a half as a financial planning support intern at Northwestern Mutual and will soon be moving on to two other Milwaukee business powerhouses for accounting internships, Baird and Deloitte. Despite her busy schedule, she volunteers as an accounting tutor through the honors organization Beta Alpha Psi, where she enjoys leading students in need of help by tailoring a plan to help them realize their potential. She’s also an active member of the Women in Business organization. Graduating in December, Ella will return to UWM for her master’s degree in professional accounting before beginning her public accounting career.

Geri Otto

Junior
Human Resources Management major; Honors College; Business Scholars

Geri Otto says that being involved in two distinguished programs at UWM has pushed her to strive. A student in UWM’s Honors College, she’s developed critical thinking and effective reading, writing, and speaking skills. In the Lubar College Business Scholars program, she says she is constantly challenged and especially values the collaboration she experiences with her peers. Her efforts have led to a near perfect grade point average, but beyond that, Geri comments that her academic achievements “fill me with excitement as I look forward to continuing my journey.” One of the goals of that journey is become a human resources professional driven by the belief that organizational advancement should benefit both the company and its employees. She also hopes to foster a workplace culture that celebrates differences and values inclusion. As vice president of Women in Business, Geri is already working to motivate others, develop strategies to serve the community, and ensure that all members of the organization are actively gaining valuable experience and knowledge.

Nathan Schultz

Junior
Accounting and Finance majors

Nathan Schultz will be the first to admit that he wasn’t always serious about school, but once he got to college that changed. During a gap year in between high school and college, he attended basic training for the Wisconsin Army National Guard and “came back with a burning flame of motivation inside me.” A double major in finance and accounting, Nathan is working toward a career in public accounting after he completes his master’s degree and CPA exams. He’ll be able to bring a lot of unique experience to his future employer. In the National Guard, Nathan is not only gaining new skills but is developing as a teacher and leader of others. He completed a Designated Leadership course to earn his sergeant rank and continues to be offered new leadership responsibilities that he knows will translate well into the world of business. Nathan is also a small business owner, operating a pressure washing business during the summers. “I have had the opportunity to effectively evaluate risk, monitor revenue and expenses, maintain a social medial presence, and satisfy my clients.”

Alexander Valenzuela Casiquez

Junior
Marketing major, Cultures and Communities certificate; Business Scholars

In addition to being class valedictorian in high school, Alexander Valenzuela Casiquez got a jump start on college during his senior year by simultaneously enrolling in college courses. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that he jumped right into the demanding Business Scholars program in his first year on campus, another signal of his passion for academics. That passion extends to academic co-curricular involvement in the Lubar College’s Emerging Leaders Program and Multicultural Mentoring Program, where Alexander feels grateful for his exceptional mentor. He is also a part of the Lawton Scholars program, where he has been accepted to become a Lawton Advocate. “This puts me in the position to be a mentor to other first-year students to help guide them and offer assistance in their college careers.” Alexander has volunteered extensively with the Urban Ecology Center on various environmental initiatives and is frequently volunteers through UWM’s Office of Student Experience and Talent. He aspires to a career in digital marketing management.

Morgan VanderMissen

Senior
Finance and Human Resources Management majors; Business Scholars

Morgan VanderMissen is a straight-A Business Scholars student who works hard for her academic accomplishments. That said, her focus is not only on her own success, but also on helping others to succeed. As a Peer Mentor Coach at UWM, she oversees 13 peer mentors who each mentor 100 first-year students, with a leadership style she has developed based on respect, caring, open communication, and confidence. Morgan participates in a variety of community service activities through her business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, but she says it’s through her daily approach to service where she finds most meaning. “Community service means approaching each day with the mindset of helping and encouraging others in my community.” She lives this out by being helpful to students in her classes who may be struggling, supporting her fraternity brothers, and of course leading fellow peer mentors on campus. Morgan plans to continue helping others in a career in financial services or investments, where she wants to help people become comfortable and confident in their finances.

Alaina Whitson

Senior
Marketing major, Cultures & Communities and Entrepreneurship certificates

While most students were relaxing during winter break 2022, Alaina Whitson launched a business. Afiyana Apparel is an online venture that celebrates the strength of black women through apparel. In fall of the same year, she was accepted to the Ignite Startup Incubator (a partnership between the Lubar College of Business and the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center) which is an 11-month program through which she gained essential entrepreneurial skills and mentorship. Admission to the program is competitive, with only ten startups accepted each year. During this time, Alaina’s passion for entrepreneurship expanded further as she established a new student organization, Minority Women in Entrepreneurship. “This initiative was born from my own experience navigating the sometimes solitary path of entrepreneurship, compared with the invaluable moments of support I received that inspired my determination to create a safe and inclusive space for others.” Alaina’s next objective is to gain corporate experience in the field of marketing. “My ultimate aspiration is to establish a successful business that makes a positive impact on the community, leveraging my passion for supporting others.”

Emily Yang

Senior
Human Resources Management major

A Dean’s List student in the Lubar College of Business, Emily Yang started her college career at MATC before transferring to UWM in Spring 2023 to study human resources management. Once here, she jumped right into involvement, becoming director of corporate relations for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In this role, she leads networking and learning opportunities for student members, including the development of corporate partnerships with companies including Northwestern Mutual and Baird. Emily is also highly involved in the Hmong community, with a focus on education and career development. Through UWM’s Southeast Asian American Center, she served on panel that spoke to incoming freshmen from the Hmong American Peace Academy. She has volunteered at the same school as a teacher assistant for younger grades, helping with reading and math. She especially values this experience because “it helps to grow and guide the younger generation of Hmong Americans to become successful contributors to society.” Upon graduation, Emily will pursue the SHRM Certified Professional credential and continue to positively impact others through a career in human resources.

Sarah Zehms

Junior
Marketing major

Sarah Zehms values the fact that her college experience has been well-rounded – the perfect blend of challenging academics, real-world experience, and involvement. A senior majoring in marketing, Sarah was already interning during her sophomore year at a firm that specializes in the growth of small business. There, she worked on a rebranding project that involved a website redesign. Currently, she is a marketing intern with the Wealth Solutions Group at Baird, where she’s applying her classroom knowledge about accounting and finance to help refine the websites that financial advisors use to promote their services to clients. Sarah joined the Women in Business organization as a freshman and was elected as vice president for her sophomore year. The sudden departure of the club’s president at the beginning of that year thrust her into the president’s role, and she’s been thriving there ever since, growing membership four-fold and expanding the number of board positions to provide leadership opportunities for others. The organization also has a mission to serve the community, including a fundraiser for PEARLS for Teen Girls. Sarah says, “I have received more than I give through these efforts because I have gained a deeper appreciation and empathy for the needs of others.”