As the school year comes to a close, we’ve reflected a lot on what we’ve achieved as a club. The 2020-21 Exec is proud to show you what we’ve done as a club in ICC’s first-ever Annual Report.
As the school year comes to a close, we’ve reflected a lot on what we’ve achieved as a club. The 2020-21 Exec is proud to show you what we’ve done as a club in ICC’s first-ever Annual Report.
As the school year comes to a close, we’ve reflected a lot on what we’ve achieved as a club. The 2020-21 Exec is proud to show you what we’ve done as a club in ICC’s first-ever Annual Report.
As the school year comes to a close, we’ve reflected a lot on what we’ve achieved as a club. The 2020-21 Exec is proud to show you what we’ve done as a club in ICC’s first-ever Annual Report.
As the school year comes to a close, we’ve reflected a lot on what we’ve achieved as a club. The 2020-21 Exec is proud to show you what we’ve done as a club in ICC’s first-ever Annual Report.
As the school year comes to a close, we’ve reflected a lot on what we’ve achieved as a club. The 2020-21 Exec is proud to show you what we’ve done as a club in ICC’s first-ever Annual Report.
2. 2
Welcome to all Attendees
A Message to Our Isenberg Friends & Corporate Partners
Schedule of Events
Keynote Speakers
Breakout Panel Overview
Breakout Session 1: Panels and Speakers
Breakout Session 2: Panels and Speakers
Breakout Session 3: Panels and Speakers
The Women of Isenberg Planning Team
Our Supporters
3
4
5
6
7
8
16
26
34
38
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
3. 3
Good Morning Attendees,
The Isenberg Women in Business Club (WIB) and the Women of Isenberg Planning Committee are
delighted to welcome you to our third annual Women of Isenberg Conference (WOI). For eleven
years, Isenberg Women in Business has worked tirelessly to promote and unite our female students
and empower them to be strong leaders in the business world. Through WIB, members have had
countless opportunities to perfect their resumes, network with alumni and recruiters, tour corporate
facilities, and attend women’s conferences. Most importantly, WIB has become a community of
aspiring business leaders who support one another in their goals. We look forward to seeing the
endless mentorships and friendships created within our club.
The Women of Isenberg Conference was inspired by a desire to bring together all of our advocates
and club members for one memorable day. After the enormous success of the past two conferences,
the Women of Isenberg Planning Committee knew we had a responsibility to expand this special
assembly. We are excited to have moved to the UMass Campus Center, which allows us to expand
the number of attendees— speakers, sponsors and alumni. We hope you are as excited about this
transformation as we are. With each coming year, we hope to improve the Women of Isenberg
Conference to bring you a day you will not want to miss.
Our committee recognized the current and emerging themes that are relevant to women in the
business world to bring you eleven unique breakout panels, one workshop, a career reception, and
two incredible keynote speakers; Laurie Stroll and Kate Edwards. Our hope for today’s conference
is that you actively participate in all that we have to offer. Most importantly, we hope that you leave
today’s gathering feeling inspired, confident, and more prepared to pave your way to success.
As we kick off today’s events, we would like to express our wholehearted appreciation to our
outstandingly supportive committee members, amazing alumni, and generous sponsors. To our
exceptionally talented student attendees: by choosing to join us in this event, you have already
shown your self-determination and commitment to your future. We are honored to have you here
with us today.
Sincerely,
Women of Isenberg Student Planning Committee
Casey Gover ’16, Diana Ciccolini ’16, Crissy Cavallaro ‘17, Meghan Bates ‘17, Alex Eisenhardt ‘18
Share your experience with us at today’s conference by tweeting and using #WOI2016.
To connect to the wifi, make sure your SSID is UMASS. Open a web browser, and login with:
Guest User Name: 41570777 Password: 46630760
4. 4
A Message to Our Isenberg Friends & Corporate Partners
There are many people who played an integral role in the planning and execution of the 3rd Annual
Women of Isenberg Conference. The Women of Isenberg Planning Committee would like to express
its deepest gratitude to this multitude of people.
We would like to acknowledge our corporate sponsors for the huge impact they have had on our
conference this year. Your remarkable generosity has allowed us to make major improvements to and
build upon our previous conferences, most notably our move of today’s events to a larger venue. Your
generous donations have made it feasible for a group of over 300 Isenberg students, faculty, and alumni
to build relationships on this special day. These numbers will continue to grow into the future thanks to
your incredible support. The array of companies sponsoring us today, from financial services firms to
Fortune 100 companies and campus organizations, inspire us through their commitment to diversity,
awareness of workforce equality, and investment in women’s empowerment. We look forward to
continuing our partnership in the future!
We would like to like to express our thanks to the Isenberg community, without whom we could not have
made today’s event come to life. Many thanks to the Isenberg Women in Business for their partnership and
determination to continue to improve this event, as well as the following Isenberg Departments:
Undergraduate Programs Office, Marketing and Communications, Development, Hospitality & Tourism
Management Department, Technology Support Services, and the Chase Career Center.
A special thanks goes out to Allison Furkey for her assistance in branding this event, and thank you to
Amherst Design and Copy for working with us on the design and printing of the conference marketing
materials. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Nicole Carlson, Judith Bree, Kate Leene, Jennifer
Winkelman, and Tracy Holhut for their support in the planning process. Finally, we would like to thank Dean
Fuller and Dean Shea for their continued support and belief in the mission of this conference.
Warmest Regards,
Casey Gover ’16, Diana Ciccolini ’16, Christine Cavallaro ’17, Meghan Bates ’17,
Alex Eisenhardt ’18, Janie Kaplan ‘79, Kristine Elison ‘93, Meghan Smith
Women of Isenberg Planning Committee
SPONSORED BY
U N D E R W R I T E R : G O L D S P O N S O R S :
B R O N Z E S P O N S O R S :
F R I E N D S O F T H E C O N F E R E N C E :
5. 5
8:00- 8:55 am Registration & Morning Refreshments (Campus Center Concourse)
9:00- 9:50 am Welcoming Remarks by the WOI Planning Committee
Welcoming Remarks by Dean Mark Fuller
Keynote Speaker Laurie Stroll (Campus Center Auditorium)
10:00- 10:50 am Breakout Session 1 - Panels during this session include:
Leadership Styles (Room 165)
Women on the Web (Room 163C)
Provide and Profit (Room 174)
Negotiating (Room 162)
11:00- 11:50 am Breakout Session 2 - Panels during this session include
Startups and Entrepreneurship (Room 162)
Managing Personalities Workshop (Room 163C)
Women in Technology (Room 165)
Media Literacy (Room 174)
12:00- 1:30 pm Luncheon (Campus Center Auditorium)
Presentation by our Underwriter, the Women for UMass Fund
Luncheon Buffet
Networking Panel brought to you by our Gold Sponsors,
Fidelity Investments and Pratt and Whitney
1:40- 2:30 pm Breakout Session 3 - Panels during this session include:
Leadership Styles (Room 165)
Women in Hospitality (Room 174)
Young Professionals (Room 163C)
Negotiating (Room 162)
2:40- 3:10 pm Career Reception
The Career Reception will take place in the Campus Center Concourse immediately
following Breakout Session #3. This is an opportunity for students to connect with
our sponsors regarding career and internship opportunities. Additionally, students
have the opportunity to speak with alumnae.
3:20- 4:00 pm Keynote Speaker Kate Edwards
Closing Remarks by the WOI Planning Committee
Closing Remarks by Associate Dean and Professor Linda Shea (Campus Center Auditorium)
SCHEDULE
OF EVENTS
6. 6
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
LAURIE STROLL, ‘83
Laurie has been a prevailing presence in the hospitality industry starting off in
contract food service and then shifting to the hotel business where she held vari-
ous management positions in catering, sales, and marketing. She joined Newport
Hospitality, Inc. in 1992, and became the President and Owner of the company in
2004. Laurie led the company to be the first and only accredited DMC in Rhode
Island by the Association of Destination Management Executives International.
Laurie and her team were selected as the exclusive North American DMC for
the Around the World Volvo Ocean Race for its Newport stopover in May 2015.
Recently her team was recognized with an International Gala Award from Special
Events Magazine for Planning Events for the Volvo Ocean Race in Newport. In
2014 Laurie was awarded the Stephen Elmont Distinguished Alumni Award from
UMass Isenberg School of Management, Hospitality & Tourism Management.
Laurie has held leadership positions on many boards including the DMC Net-
work, LLC, Discover Newport, the RI Hospitality Association and Meeting Profes-
sionals International. She is also a long-standing member of the Association
of Destination Management Executives International, the International Special
Events Society, MPI and the Women Presidents’ Organization. Laurie graduated
from the Hospitality Management program at UMass Amherst in 1983 and has
been working in the hospitality industry her entire career.
KATE EDWARDS, ‘89
Kate Edwards built her consulting business in 2007 and since then has worked
with some of the biggest names in the hospitality industry. Her client list includes
NYC favorites (il Buco, Brooklyn Fare, Le Cirque and the Rainbow Room) and
timeless hotels including the Viceroy Anguilla, The Essex House and The Plaza
Hotel; among others. Her company has been hired to create service and training
programs for various customer-focused businesses (Nutrisystem, ?What If!
Innovation) and Kate works as an executive coach to help entrepreneurs, chefs,
and managers develop their ideas, accomplish their goals, and realize their full
potential. Since 2008 Edwards has been an instructor at the Institute for
Culinary Education, and since 2015 she has been an educator at Journee
in NYC. A contributing writer for both The Huffington Post and Restaurant
Hospitality Magazine, Edwards has also been quoted in magazines and blogs
as varied as Amex OPEN, AdWeek, Shape, Haute Living, First For Women, and
Fast Casual. Edwards just completed her first book, “Hello! And Every Little
Thing That Matters” (Palgrave Macmillan); the customer service book that will
transform your business. Edwards and her chef husband live in New York.
7. 7
BREAKOUT PANEL OVERVIEW
Breakout Session 1 10:00- 10:50 am
Leadership Styles - Room 165 Page 8
Negotiating - Room 162 Page 10
Provide and Profit- Room 174 Page 12
Women on the Web - Room 163C Page 14
Breakout Session 2 11:00- 11:50 am
Media Literacy - Room 174 Page 16
Startups and Entrepreneurship - Room 162 Page 18
Women in Technology - Room 165 Page 20
Managing Personalities Workshop - Room 163C Page 22
Luncheon Panel 1:00- 1:30 pm
Networking - Campus Center Auditorium Page 23
Breakout Session 3 1:40- 2:30 pm
Women in Hospitality - Room 174 Page 26
Leadership Styles - Room 165 Page 28
Negotiating - Room 162 Page 29
Young Professionals - Room 163C Page 32
8. 8
BREAKOUT SESSION 1, 10:00-10:50AM
Leadership Styles (Room 165)
Leadership style is unique to everyone, but the best leaders are self-aware. Taking time to reflect on
this is key to sustaining and expanding your career. By doing this, one can highlight their strengths
and improve on their weaknesses. During this panel, you will learn about each panelists experiences
in leadership roles. Panelists will speak about their mentors in leadership, how they have adapted
their leadership style over the course of their career, and how women specifically can develop into
successful leaders.
Rita Lei, ‘96
Rita Lei is Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Engine &
Environmental Control Systems at UTC Aerospace Systems. Class of 1996,
Rita joined UTC through the UTC Financial Leadership Program right after
graduation. She has 20 years of experience in accounting, financial planning
& analysis and finance management. Rita has a bachelor’s degree in
accounting from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a MBA
from Carnegie Mellon University. Rita also has completed Executive
Education at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, INSEAD
Global Leadership Development Program, and ASCENT Leadership
Program at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Lindsay Antonowicz
Lindsay Antonowicz is a Manager of Inbound Sales for Fidelity Institutional
Asset Management, a division of Fidelity Investments. Fidelity Investments is
a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfo-
lio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing, and other financial products
and services to more than 20 million individuals, institutions, and financial
intermediaries. In her current role, Ms. Antonowicz is responsible for leading
a team of Investment Sales Associates located in Smithfield, RI. Currently,
her team is focused on offering investment management products, including
Fidelity Advisory Funds, Variable Insure Product (VIP) Portfolios, systematic
investment plans, institutional money market funds and a comprehensive
line of retirement products and solutions to investment professionals, plan
sponsors and consultants at institutions nationwide. Prior to her current posi-
tion, Lindsay spent 5 years at Fidelity in various roles across the sales desk.
She joined Fidelity in July 2010 as an Inbound Sales Representative, and
transitioned in 2011 to an Internal Wholesaler covering Financial Advisors
in the Western New York territory within the Broker Dealer channel. Prior to
managing the Inbound Sales Team, Lindsay spent 7 months as a Sales
Effectiveness Manager coaching Internal Wholesalers across the Sales Desk.
9. 9
Colleen Cauley-Ritacco, ‘13
Immediately following completion of her Bachelor of Science in Business
Management, Colleen accepted a commission in the United States Marine
Corps as a Second Lieutenant. Colleen served four years on active duty in
the Marine Corps including one deployment to Kuwait and Iraq, acting as a
Company Executive Officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Colleen re-
signed from active duty in 2004 as a Captain. In the years following Colleen
has worked in growing project management positions at Pulte Homes, Bose
and the United States Census Bureau. After two years of study, Colleen
received her MBA from the Isenberg School of Management in 2013; she is
currently employed at BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. in Merchandising.
Melissa Baker
Dr. Melissa Baker is an Assistant Professor in the Hospitality and Tourism
Management Department. She received her B.S. from Cornell University
and her M.S. and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. Prior to becoming a professor,
she worked for Brio Bravo Restaurant group as both a manager and recruiter.
She teaches courses on Leadership in Foodservice Management, Restau-
rant Management, Service Experience Management, and Human Resources
Management. Her research focuses on service failure, service recovery, and
appearance and impression formation.
It was one of the most rewarding experiences that
I participated in during my freshman year. Whether
it was meeting with successful alumnae or learning
about women equality in the workplace; I found
every aspect helpful and motivating.
– Shannon Murphy ’17
10. 10
Negotiating (Room 162)
Negotiation skills in any role are vital to both personal and professional success. Whether it be in regard
to your own salary or coming to agreement with a client, negotiating is essential to any job. Panelists
will discuss how they’ve used their negotiation skills to advance their careers. What are the challenges
associated with negotiations? How do you initiate the conversation of negotiating your salary? This panel
will provide attendees with practical knowledge about useful negotiation tactics.
Jennifer Merton
Attorney Jennifer Merton is a Senior Lecturer and a long-time member of
the Isenberg community, serving as the Coordinator of the Law Faculty
within the Management Department. Attorney Merton also practices law
in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, focusing on business planning and
succession issues, estate planning and probate, and elder law. Her
academic interests include negotiation and conflict resolution, with an
emphasis on gender bias issues. Additionally, Attorney Merton directs her
research and teaching attention to the areas of ethics, corporate governance
issues, along with corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability
perspectives, social entrepreneurship and business planning, and
environmental law.
Sarah Marsan, ’08
Sarah Marsan graduated UMass Amherst in 2008 with a B.A. in Marketing
from the Isenberg School of Management. She was a member of the UMass
varsity women’s rowing program from 2004-2008, and captained the UMass
team from 2007-2008. After graduating, Sarah began working for the TJX
Corporation in the Merchandising Development Program, a buyer train-
ing program. She is currently a Ladies’ Apparel buyer for TJX. The most
motivating and exciting part of this position is forming strategic visions for
product categories, and seeing those ideas come to fruition. She appreci-
ates developing relationships with her vendor community, which allows her
to negotiate positive outcomes that benefit her organization, as well as her
vendors. Sarah enjoys traveling, running, yoga, and baking in her spare
time.
11. 11
Megan Kingston, ‘14
Megan Kingston, an Experienced Associate in the Risk Assurance practice
at PricewaterhouseCoopers, began practicing her negotiation skills during
college as a bargaining committee member of the RA union. During her
junior year, she successfully negotiated $1.3 million raise on a $5.8 million
contract, including up to 37% increase in wages, and an enhanced discipline
policy. During her time at the Isenberg School of Management, Megan
worked at State Street as a Processing Analyst, interned at PwC, was an RA
in Southwest, and was on the Board of Trustees for the UMass system. After
graduating in May 2014 with a degree in accounting, Megan started full
time at PwC. Megan is experienced in applying the negotiation skills she
learned as an RA union member and a Trustee on the Board to her
professional role at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
My biggest challenge every
day is to be a great mother
and a great businesswoman.
- Tory Burch
12. 12
Provide and Profit (Room 174)
It is becoming increasingly more important for Millennials to consider the triple-bottom line when
conducting business. This panel will help you better understand how you can become a steward of
sustainability and encourage your organization to consider the implications of its work on the
environment. Alumnae will discuss how they have helped integrate social responsibility practices
into a company’s core values.
Cynthia Barstow
Cynthia Barstow is the Founder/Executive Director of Protect Our Breasts,
an interdisciplinary communications initiative sharing scientific discoveries
and safer alternatives to everyday toxins found in products on grocery
store shelves that contribute to breast cancer. She teaches sustainability
marketing, fundamentals of marketing and consumer behavior as well as
the interdisciplinary Endocrine Disruptors in the Marketplace seminar (with
biology) at the UMass Isenberg School of Management. Barstow is the
President of Seed to Shelf: Marketing for Sustainability, a marketing
consulting firm for the natural and organic industry. She is the author of
The Eco-Foods Guide (2002 New Society) and a frequent industry speaker.
Meghan Beaudry, ‘07
Meghan Beaudry is an Associate Director of Counterparty Management at
Babson Capital. She majored in Finance at the Isenberg School of Manage-
ment and graduated cum laude in the fall of 2007. She is currently working
on her MBA through Isenberg’s online program. Prior to working at Bab-
son Capital, Meghan worked as an Investment Research Analyst at Private
Financial Design, a wealth management firm. Meghan is involved in many
community and philanthropic initiatives, including the Women for UMASS
Amherst Steering Committee. She has also served on the Board of Direc-
tors for the YWCA for the past 3 years and has been active with Habitat for
Humanity and Read Aloud programs for the Springfield Schools.
13. 13
Kimberly Dinicola
Kim DiNicola is Managing Director and Head of University Relations for
North America at State Street Corporation. In this role, Kim is responsible for
the strategic development of State Street’s On-Campus recruitment activities
that include professional development programs for graduates and under-
graduates, internships and Co-Ops. In addition, Kim serves as a subject
matter expert in college workforce trends and provides the firm with creative
and innovative approaches to campus recruitment. Before joining State
Street, Kim was Vice President of College Relations for Fidelity Investments.
In this role, she was responsible for leading Fidelity’s college recruitment
efforts and oversaw the management of the firm’s targeted school relation-
ships at more than 90 colleges and universities nationwide. At Fidelity,
Kim also served as was a principal staffing consultant managing recruitment
strategies for Fidelity’s marketing, branch office and brokerage businesses.
Prior to Fidelity, Kim spent 13 years as a senior human resource generalist at
Putnam Investments. Kim earned her BA from Wheaton College in Norton,
MA. She is an active member of the National Association of Colleges and
Employers (NACE.) She also serves on employer advisory board at The F.W.
Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College
The speakers
were truly
inspiring and
informative!
- Christina Monte, Director of
Student Enrollment and Success
14. 14
Women on the Web (Room 163C)
Since 2005, social media has been at the forefront of marketing for all types of businesses. Social me-
dia marketing has become a main source of personal, professional, and international relations. Personal
branding enables us to appeal to a wider range of employers in any field, as well as maintaining a pro-
fessional, digital life. During the panel, you will learn how panelists have leveraged the web to promote
their personal brands, build their businesses, and advance their careers.
Kristen Ciccolini
Kristen is the Chief Account Manager and Editor at Metter Media,
specializing in brand development, communications, and messaging for
local restaurants and other small businesses. She graduated from Suffolk
University in 2009 with a BA in Journalism. Previously, she helped found
Bakepedia.com as its Marketing Director, and has regularly contributed to
business publications focused on digital marketing, SEO, and social media.
I always did something I was a little not ready
to do. I think that’s how you grow. When
there’s that moment of, ‘Wow, I am not
really sure I can do this,’ and you push through
those moments that’s when you have a
breakthrough.
– Marissa Mayer
15. 15
Tiffany Lopinsky
Tiffany Lopinsky is the founder and editor of Boston Foodies, a popular blog
featuring restaurants and food brands from the Boston area. Tiffany is also a
senior at Harvard, where she is majoring in Government. At Harvard, Tiffany
has served on the board of a number of student organizations including
Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business, the Harvard College Health
Advocacy Program, and the Harvard chapter of Smart Woman Securities.
When she’s not studying or food blogging, Tiffany does research alongside a
survey scientist at the Mongan Institute for Health Policy in Boston. Tiffany is
pursuing a career in market research after graduation this May.
Allison Furkey
Allison Furkey is the Communications Manager in the Marketing & Commu-
nications Office at Isenberg. She manages the school’s social media as well
as content strategy, video production, email marketing, website content,
promotional collateral creation, and probably a few other things she’s
forgetting. Prior to arriving at Isenberg, she was a graphic designer at Simon
& Schuster in New York and the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office in
Boston, and a marketing manager for a digital music marketing company
based in L.A. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Criminal Justice (really)
from Elmira College and an M.S. in Advertising from Boston University. In
her spare time, Allison is currently working on becoming an Isenberg alum
herself in the Online MBA program. Go Class of 2019!
16. 16
Allison Butler
Allison Butler, PhD is a Lecturer and Advisor in the Department of
Communication at the University of Massachusetts, where she also directs
the Media Literacy Certificate Program. Butler has written many articles and
two books on media literacy, including Media Education Goes to School
(Peter Lang, 2010), Majoring in Change (Peter Lang, 2012); most recently
she has contributed the chapter “Policy, Participation, and Practice:
Assessing Media Literacy in the Digital Age” for Frechette and Williams’
edited text Media Education for a Digital Generation (Routledge, 2016).
Butler co-runs the grassroots organization Mass Media Literacy, which
supports legislation, develops curriculum and conducts teacher training
in media literacy across the state of Massachusetts.
Emily Lindin
Emily Lindin is the author of the new book “UnSlut: A Diary and a Memoir”
and founder of The UnSlut Project, an online community where survivors of
sexual bullying and “slut” shaming can share their stories, and where girls
who are currently suffering can find support and solidarity. Her crowd-funded
film, “UnSlut: A Documentary Film” is currently screening at universities,
community centers, and theaters around North America. Emily has been
featured sharing her story and speaking out against “slut” shaming on
ABC with Katie Couric, CNN with Brooke Baldwin, The Doctors, Al Jazeera
America, NPR, and in many magazines and blogs including Women’s Health
Magazine, Glamour UK, Salon.com, The Telegraph, The New Statesman,
This Magazine, The Huffington Post, and The Observer.
BREAKOUT SESSION 2, 11:00-11:50AM
Media Literacy (Room 174)
In today’s word, advertisements and the media contort the image of women which can deflate young
girls’ self-confidence. Media literacy is the ability to analyze media to better understand the complex
messages we receive from television, radio, internet, etc. In this panel, panelists will discuss the
ways in which media portrays women and how we as a community can evaluate these portrayals.
We will also discuss the ways in which the media portrayal of women affects how they are viewed
in a business setting.
17. 17
Lynn Phillips
Lynn Phillips, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer and Chief Undergraduate Advisor
in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts at
Amherst. A social and developmental psychologist by training, she teaches
courses in media and critical cultural studies, with a particular focus on issues
of race, class, gender, and sexuality; media impacts on children’s wellbeing,
and the health and environmental impacts of consumer culture. Her
publications include Flirting with Danger: Young Women’s Reflections on
Sexuality and Domination, which was the basis for a 2012 Media Education
Foundation film. Her research explores issues of consent and coercion in
adolescents and young adults’ sexual experiences, and she has consulted
with groups ranging from Planned Parenthood to local high schools on
issues of sexual assault and “hookup culture.” She has appeared on several
national news programs, and her research has received front-page attention
in the Washington Post and other national and international news
publications. A passionate teacher, she has received the New School
University’s Distinguished University Teaching Award and the UMass Social
and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award. She received her
Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1995.
You may not always have a comfortable
life and you will not always be able to
solve all of the world’s problems at
once but don’t ever underestimate
the importance you can have because
history has shown us that courage
can be contagious and hope can take
on a life of its own.
– Michelle Obama
18. 18
Startups and Entrepreneurship (Room 162)
“A startup is a company working to solve a problem where the solution is not obvious and success is not
guaranteed,” says Neil Blumenthal, cofounder and co-CEO of Warby Parker. Entrepreneurship is an
exciting journey that often creates some of the greatest success stories. Starting your own business
can be both enticing and difficult. The alumnae on this panel will offer unique insight on what inspired
them to start their own ventures, while others will share what it has been like working for startups. What
skills are necessary to succeed at a startup? What are some of the tradeoffs associated with working for
a startup over an established company? What are the challenges faced with creating a startup? All of
these questions and more will be answered by these seasoned professionals in the startup world.
Britt Cole, ’08
Britt Cole graduated from UMASS Amherst in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree
with an Individual Concentration in Social Justice and Global Economy.
During her time at UMASS she worked on an organic farm in Ecuador with
WWOOF and attended the Institute of Central American Development
Studies in Costa Rica. Following graduation, Britt traveled extensively, and
later returned to her home in Massachusetts and began working in the
hospitality and event services industry. Currently Britt lives on the North
Shore of MA where she founded an event production firm.
Lauren Metter
Lauren Metter founded Metter Media in 2013 because she wanted to help
local businesses reach new customers where they are: on their phones.
Metter Media LLC is a Boston- based social media management company
that implements community- based, localized social engagement strategies
for small businesses and corporations alike. Metter currently runs the social
media for 40+ businesses, including restaurants, hotels, salons, insurance
companies, and high tech companies like Microsoft.
19. 19
Sarah Beth Hill, ’10
Sarah Beth Hill is the CEO and Founder of Perfect Strangers, a fast growing
roommate matching company servicing New York City. Ms. Hill graduated
from UMass Amherst in December of 2010, majoring in BDIC with a
concentration in Real Estate and Entrepreneurship. Apart of her major she
took many Isenberg business classes, studied abroad, received her real
estate license and interned in NYC. Quickly upon graduation Ms. Hill moved
to NYC for a job offer and experienced the difficulties a young adult faces
when relocating on a budget. This ultimately led her to start Perfect
Strangers in 2013. To date, Ms. Hill has helped over 350 people find new
housing, has been featured in numerous publications, and a realty TV
show about her unique service is in the works.
Natasha Clark
Around age eight Natasha Clark was told it was a woman’s job to take care
of the home and since then she has built a career out of telling women they
can do whatever the hell they want. Cofounder of Lioness, the leading
digital magazine for female entrepreneurs, the former news reporter has
created a platform to educate, elevate and support female entrepreneurs.
In addition to publishing and hosting events for women, Natasha enjoys
spending time with her teenage son, Shaun.
What an engaging and inspiring event! I
enjoyed the choice of panels to attend and
the speakers ranged from so many industries
that every attendee could walk away with
a new wealth of knowledge. Great job,
Isenberg WiB!
– Laurie Kamenetsky, Class of 2016
20. 20
Women in Technology (Room 165)
Have you ever gone a day without technology? Most likely not because technology is integrated into
every part of our lives - especially within the business world. Demand for tech careers is high and con-
tinually growing with the advent and introduction of “new tech.” Panelists will discuss their career in this
field, how they developed the knowledge necessary to succeed in tech, and why it’s important to be
tech savvy in any and all industries in business.
Galina McDonnell, ‘11
Galina graduated from UMASS in 2011 with a degree in Accounting and
Information Systems and a minor in Psychology. Upon graduation, Galina
was offered a full-time position within EY’s Advisory Services group. Now in
her 4th year, she is a Senior with a focus on leading teams of 2-4 people for
clients within the Technology, Pharmaceutical and Retail sectors. The teams
are responsible for executing procedures to assess the effectiveness of
business and IT Processes and controls in support of financial audits.
Kathleen Dean
Kathy Dean is Senior Vice President of Fidelity Investments, Workplace
Investing, responsible for the Defined Benefits and Health and Welfare
benefits technology platforms for corporate clients. In addition, Kathy leads
the technologists responsible for the implementation of all Workplace
customers and their employees onto Fidelity’s platforms. Kathy is based in
Fidelity’s Smithfield, Rhode Island campus, leading a team of technology
associates around the world. Since joining Fidelity in 1987, Kathy has served
in many different technology roles. During this tenure, Kathy has had
responsibility for all aspects of application development and support, with
many different technology stacks, including both digital and non-digital
channels. She has closely coordinated with her partners in product
development to deliver solutions to exceed customer expectations.
Under her leadership, two standalone flagship products, Fidelity.com and
NetBenefits, were integrated to allow crossover customers a seamless
customer experience. Kathy received her Bachelor’s degree from Smith
College, and a Masters of Business Administration from Babson College.
She lives in Franklin, Massachusetts, and has two sons.
21. 21
Michelle Sellke, ’10
Michelle Sellke has spent her career exclusively in the technology industry,
starting immediately upon graduating at EMC in the Business Operations
Leadership Development Program, and supporting Latin America and then
the Global Channel strategy across various roles, from Pricing Analyst to
Program Manager. In 2014, she made the jump into software sales, which
she considers the biggest but most rewarding risk in her career thus far.
Leaving EMC for a smaller startup at Rapid7, a data security & analytics firms
in Boston, she forged a successful new career in sales and was promoted to
Team Lead, and has become a top Account Executive in the company. Since
joining Rapid7, the organization has filed for IPO in the Summer of 2015, has
made two technology acquisitions, and has experienced hyper-growth in the
hot industry of cyber security. Michelle enjoys mentoring other young
professionals, and has personally invested in other females looking to
become future leaders in the male dominated career path of sales.
Elizabeth Morgan, ‘83
Elizabeth is a partner for the IBM Global Business Services Business Analytics
and Optimization service line focused on digital marketing and social
media. She was previously the Vice President of Business Development
at Visible Technologies. At Visible, Elizabeth also served as VP of Client
Services responsible for Account Management, Data Analytics reporting
services and customer support. Her clients included American Express,
Sprint, Xerox and Dr. Pepper Snapple. Elizabeth holds an MBA from the
University of Washington (2001) and a B.B.A in Finance from the University
of Massachusetts Amherst (1983).
22. 22
Managing Personalities Workshop (Room 163C)
No matter which path in the business world you choose to follow, one thing is certain - you will work
in a team. Teamwork is the best way to accomplish tasks, execute projects, and create the newest
innovations. Equipped with their own unique set of skills and qualities, people handle both teamwork
and conflict in different ways. Learn how to manage the personalities of others on your team in this
hands-on and audience-engaging workshop!
Melissa Baker
Dr. Melissa Baker is an Assistant Professor in the Hospitality and Tourism
Management Department. She received her B.S. from Cornell University
and her M.S. and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. Prior to becoming a professor,
she worked for Brio Bravo Restaurant group as both a manager and
recruiter. She teaches courses on Leadership in Foodservice Management,
Restaurant Management, Service Experience Management, and Human
Resources Management. Her research focuses on service failure, service
recovery, and appearance and impression formation.
Someone once told me growth
and comfort do not coexist. And
I think it’s a really good thing to
remember.
– Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM
23. 23
Women for UMass Presentation
Mission: WFUM is a network established to educate, encourage, and inspire women to be avid
supporters and philanthropic leaders engaged with the university. WFUM is led by a steering
committee of women donors who want the opportunity to advise the WFUM initiative.
Victoria Vega, ‘88
As Vice President of Operations and Sales for Unidine’s Corporate &
Education Culinary Groups, Victoria Vega brings extensive contract
foodservice experience to her role. An active member of the Society for
Hospitality & Foodservice Management, Vega currently serves on the
association’s Board of Directors, with additional responsibility as Treasurer,
and was an original member of the Women’s Council Steering Committee.
She received the prestigious Richard Ysmael Distinguished Service Award
for her dedication to onsite dining and was named one of the 26 most
influential women in hospitality in 2015 by Total Foodservice Magazine.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Vega is currently
supporting the HTM Department on the Leadership Board and as an
Executive Mentor. She returned to campus this fall as Professor for a Day
lecturing on Disaster Recovery and Hospitality Trends. She participates
annually in the Women of Isenberg Conference and is a member of the
Steering Committee of Women for UMass. She has been profiled among
distinguished alumni in the university’s magazine for her contributions
to the hospitality industry.
LUNCHEON: CAMPUS CENTER AUDITORIUM
24. 24
Networking Panel
According to the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 70% percent of all jobs are found through
networking. It is more important now than ever to develop this craft. This panel will focus on learning the
importance of networking, including stories of how alumnae have leveraged their own network to find
career opportunities. Alumnae will share their best practices for how they have kept in touch with alumni
and former co-workers. Be prepared to leave this panel feeling like a networking expert!
Melissa O’Doherty, ‘99
Melissa is Principal Talent Acquisition Consultant for Fidelity Institutional Asset
Management (FIAM), a division of Fidelity Investments. Fidelity Investments is
a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio
guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing, and other financial products and
services to more than 20 million individuals, institutions, and financial interme-
diaries. Melissa is responsible for providing full lifecycle recruitment and talent
acquisition strategy planning. Currently, her primary area of focus is to
influence business leaders and ascertain top talent for the Sales, CAO, Risk/
Compliance and Marketing divisions of FIAM, particularly the Intermediary
Distribution business. She has covered many of the different Fidelity business
in her almost 10 year tenure with the firm. After graduating with a BA in
Sociology and a minor in Psychology from UMass Amherst in 1999, Melissa
first worked for Harvard Medical School in the office of Resource
Development. She then transitioned to start her career in HR/Recruiting in
the software sector where she worked for PTC – Parametric Technology
out of Needham, and Cognos/IBM out of Burlington over a course of 8 years.
Sabrina Harris, ‘07
Sabrina is Manager for Fidelity Stock Plan Services, a division of Fidelity Invest-
ments. Fidelity Investments is a leading provider of investment management,
retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing,
and other financial products and services to more than 20 million individuals,
institutions, and financial intermediaries. Sabrina manages a team of phone
associates, who assist customers with Equity Compensation Plans. Her team
focuses on placing trades, discussing tax implications and financial planning.
Prior to her role in Stock Plan Services, Sabrina held a number of Sales roles in
Fidelity’s Retirement Investment Services Group and their Investment Services
Groups. She acted as both a technical resource and worked with customers to
develop financial plans.
25. 25
Susan Keegan, ‘92
Sue Keegan is Senior Director, Financial Planning & Analysis for United
Technologies Corporation. In this position, Sue provides development and
oversight of UTC’s financial planning and measurement process, including
management of the annual financial plan and analyzing the performance of
significant investments that are presented to UTC’s Board of Directors.
Sue also has responsibility for reviewing the financial metrics of UTC’s
commercial business units and managing the communication of such
information to UTC’s Chief Financial Officer. Sue began her career with
United Technologies at its Pratt & Whitney division and has held positions
of increasing breadth and responsibility including Finance Manager of
Development Programs for its Pure Power family of engines prior to joining
the corporate office in 2013. Sue received her Bachelor of Business
Administration in Finance from the University of Massachusetts in 1992
and an MBA from Rensselaer at Hartford in 1996.
Brooke Johnson, ‘02
Brooke Johnson graduated from UMASS Amherst in 2002 with a BA in
Finance and received her MBA from Carnegie Mellon in 2008. Brooke is
currently Manager, Investor Relations at United Technologies (UTC) where
she is responsible for communicating with analysts and investors who cover
UTC. Brooke is also co-lead of the UTC Finance Women’s Forum, a group
of about 120 individuals who support the retention and advancement
of women at UTC. Prior to Investor Relations, Brooke worked at Pratt &
Whitney, a division of UTC, in various roles in finance for 10 years, including
FP&A, Campaigns and Programs Finance. In her free time, Brooke enjoys
watching sports and spending time with her family.
26. 26
Jane Pritzker Goldstein, ‘79
Jane Pritzker is Director, National Accounts at the Boston Convention
Marketing Center with responsibility for sales strategy and implementation
leading to revenue generation from citywide conventions into Boston. Jane
is a results focused professional with proven abilities to engage internal and
external clients and achieve targeted goals with an innovative, creative and
collaborative approach to building relationships and partnerships. Prior to
joining the BCMC, Jane held sales and marketing leadership positions in
hotels across the U.S. and was named Director of Sales of the Year with Hyatt
Hotels. She led her own consulting company specializing in sales and leader-
ship training, strategic consulting and analytics, and sales and marketing
planning with a focus in the hospitality industry. As a developer, facilitator and
advisor in leadership and sales initiatives, Jane has helped many organiza-
tions improve revenue results, organizational climate and focus on continuous
service improvement. Jane graduated from UMass with a business degree in
Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration. She has forged her way through
the hospitality industry while maintaining a family life and raising two wonder-
ful children, one of whom also graduated from UMass HTM and is employed
in the hotel industry.
Linda Enghagen
Linda Enghagen is the Interim Department Chair of the Department of
Hospitality & Tourism Management in the Isenberg School. Her teaching
interests are in the areas of hospitality and business law as well as professional
ethics. An early entrant into distance education, she became the first woman
awarded the Outstanding Instructor Award from National Technological
University in addition to being the recipient of three outstanding teaching
awards from the University of Massachusetts. Professor Enghagen’s early in-
volvement in distance education led to her work related copyright compliance
in educational settings. In addition to regularly delivering conference presen-
tations related to copyright issues, Professor Enghagen is a frequent speaker
at workshops, seminars and symposia on copyright law in higher education.
BREAKOUT SESSION 3, 1:40-2:30PM
Women in Hospitality (Room 174)
Spanning across hotels, restaurants, airlines, and all facets of tourism, hospitality is a multibillion dollar
industry. While females dominate this particular workforce, staggering statistics show the enormous
disproportion of women to men in leadership positions. Panelists will detail their experiences and
professional journey as a woman in hospitality. What are the benefits and drawbacks of working in this
industry? What is it like to face the “glass ceiling” in pursuit of C-level positions? Panelists will discuss
these important topics, among many others.
27. 27
Susan Callender, ‘86
Susan Callender has come to be known as the Star Maker by profession-
als whose trajectory has soared under her tutelage. As a 1986 HRTA (HTM)
graduate, Susan built her reputation for cultivating a polite society and
gracious living in her post graduate roles, which included a campus to career
position with Stouffer Hotels, followed by a stint at the Hynes Convention
Center in Boston, and then as the founder and CEO for “Best of Boston”
award-winning Boston Unique Events In her current role as CEO of OH
My Gauche!. She has been commended for helping clients to achieve
new heights of success and personal magnetism in professional, academic
and social settings. Susan’s rise in international etiquette and professional
protocol has made her a trusted and recognizable expert. She has been
included as an arbiter of good taste and style in a myriad of publications and
compiled an enviable list of credentials, including being a featured commen-
tator for CNN’s Airport Network, seen in 48 airports nationwide. She is an
instructor of western business etiquette and interpersonal skills for a myriad
of corporations and universities, and conducts private and semi-private
programs for professionals, from junior associates to seasoned executives
who wish to develop a level of confidence, charisma and professional
presence which sets them apart in crowded, competitive fields.
Lisa Mayer, ‘10
Lisa Mayer is a Corporate Events Planner and has been working in the
hospitality industry for over nine years. Currently Lisa is working at The
Madison Square Garden Company in New York City as Manager, Corporate
Events. She formerly served as the department Coordinator and Assistant
and began as an intern within the department in 2009. Lisa graduated
UMass Amherst in 2010 with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism
Management with concentrations in Event & Food and Beverage
Management. Lisa presently lives in Astoria, New York.
28. 28
The conference helped me better understand
how challenging it must be for women to enter
male-dominated fields, like business. It was an
enlightening experience that every man should
have to go through.
–Alex Brown ‘15
Leadership Styles (Room 165)
Leadership style is unique to everyone, but the best leaders are self-aware. Taking time to reflect on this
is key to sustaining and expanding your career. By doing this, one can highlight their strengths and im-
prove on their weaknesses. During this panel, you will learn about each panelists experiences in leader-
ship roles. Panelists will speak about their mentors in leadership, how they have adapted their leadership
style over the course of their career, and how women specifically can develop into successful leaders.
Victoria Vega, ‘88
As Vice President of Operations and Sales for Unidine’s Corporate &
Education Culinary Groups, Victoria Vega brings extensive contract
foodservice experience to her role. An active member of the Society for
Hospitality & Foodservice Management, Vega currently serves on the
association’s Board of Directors, with additional responsibility as Treasurer,
and was an original member of the Women’s Council Steering Committee.
She received the prestigious Richard Ysmael Distinguished Service Award
for her dedication to onsite dining and was named one of the 26 most
influential women in hospitality in 2015 by Total Foodservice Magazine.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Vega is currently
supporting the HTM Department on the Leadership Board and as an
Executive Mentor. She returned to campus this fall as Professor for a Day
lecturing on Disaster Recovery and Hospitality Trends. She participates
annually in the Women of Isenberg Conference and is a member of the
Steering Committee of Women for UMass. She has been profiled among
distinguished alumni in the university’s magazine for her contributions
to the hospitality industry.
29. 29
Carrie Smith, ’01
Carrie Smith graduated from the Isenberg School of Management with a
BBA in Marketing in 2001. She began her post graduate career in
hospitality and sales management. Carrie began her recruiting career at
Enterprise Holdings in 2009, where she worked to develop, led and
implemented college recruitment strategies for entry level and internship
programs. There she also achieved a professional milestone of passing her
Professional in Human Resources certification in January of 2014. Carrie
took on a new challenge as a Strategic Recruiter at MassMutual Financial
Group in January of 2015 and is currently leading the recruitment efforts
in various areas of the business including the Data Science Development
Program and the Actuarial Leadership Development Program.
Kathryn Ciccolini, ‘07
Kathryn Ciccolini is an alumnus of University Massachusetts Amherst School
of Nursing. Graduating in 2007, she began her career in healthcare in
Boston then moved to New York City to work at a top rated Cancer Center
specializing in the field of Oncodermatology. Alongside her deep commit-
ment to clinical care, she is also a leader within her hospital and various
professional nursing organizations. She has led large-scale projects on an
international level and has adopted a mixed leadership style throughout her
years which has proven to have successful outcomes. Kathryn has always
found the nursing field and required systematic nursing process to bolster
her leadership skills and establish a robust mindset when leading projects of
any scale in and outside of the healthcare system.
30. 30
Negotiating (Room 162)
Negotiation skills in any role are vital to both personal and professional success. Whether it be in regard to
your own salary or coming to agreement with a client, negotiating is essential to any job. Panelists will discuss
how they’ve used their negotiation skills to advance their careers. What are the challenges associated with
negotiations? How do you initiate the conversation of negotiating your salary? This panel will provide
attendees with practical knowledge about useful negotiation tactics.
Megan Costello
Megan Costello grew up outside of Boston in Reading, Massachusetts. She
came to Boston in 2005 to attend Suffolk University, where she earned a degree
in Sociology: Health and Human Services. Her passion has always been in
politics and government, especially ensuring that women’s voices are heard
and included. In 2009, she worked on Setti Warren’s campaign in his first run for
mayor of Newton, MA. When Warren won, Megan managed his transition and
then joined him in the Mayor’s Office, first as his executive assistant and then
his director of community engagement. In 2012, she joined President Barack
Obama’s reelection campaign as a regional field director in the swing state of
Iowa, where she was responsible for delivering votes for the president in 21 of
its 99 counties. After returning from Iowa, Megan worked to elect Edward
Markey to the U.S. Senate, as his statewide volunteer director. Shortly after
Senator Markey’s election, Megan joined Marty Walsh’s campaign for mayor
as his campaign manager. After working on his transition team, she joined the
Walsh Administration to pursue her passion to advance women in politics
and government as the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Women’s
Advancement (MOWA). The Office of Women’s Advancement is a voice for
women and girls on many issues, with a focus on economic equity, health and
safety, and providing research and data to inform policy decisions that impact
and improve the lives of women and families in Boston. MOWA has two
advisory committees: The Boston Women’s Workforce Council, where Megan
serves as a senior advisor and the Boston Women’s Commission, which she
chairs. She also sits on the board of NARAL Pro-Choice America’s Political
Action Committee and on the External Advisory Board of the Center for
Women in Politics and Public Policy (CWPPP) at UMass Boston. Megan lives
in Dorchester.
31. 31
Jane Miller
Professor Jane K. Miller holds a doctorate in Industrial and Labor Relations from
Cornell University. She currently teaches negotiation and serves as Chair of
the MBA faculty in the Isenberg School. She has professional experience in
negotiation through her work as a mediator and labor conciliator for the state
of Kansas and 25+ years of consulting experience with the international labor
organizations in Washington, D.C.. She was formerly president of the UMass
faculty union and participated in collective bargaining for several contracts. She
has taught numerous workshops on negotiation to professional audiences. She
has also conducted research and published several articles on negotiation,
impasse resolution and organizational justice. Her most recent publications can
be found in the International Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Managerial
Psychology, Management and Organization Review and the Negotiation Journal.
Donna Cohen, ‘78
Ms. Cohen started her career as a litigation associate specializing in civil, business
and real estate related litigation and became the first woman partner in her law
firm. With 35 years experience as a litigation attorney, Ms. Cohen now focuses on
providing strategic advice to high visibility individuals in their personal, business
and philanthropic matters as their personal legal counsel, confidential advisor
and gatekeeper. She serves individuals in sports and entertainment. With a keen
understanding of issues facing women today, she is often asked to advise women
in transition, especially those who are breaking gender barriers. She is an advisor
to several women and non-profit organizations among them: The All American
Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association (made popular in the movie
“A League of Their Own” starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis). She recently
became a special advisor to the Boston Red Sox in their first all women’s baseball
fantasy camp. Ms. Cohen received her BA in Communication Studies from the
University of Massachusetts, Amherst (‘78) and her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk
University Law School (‘81) where she was elected to the Phi Delta Phi Honor
Society. She supports and is an advisor to numerous charitable causes and sits on
the board of several non-profit organizations including the Chancellor’s Advisory
Council and the Commonwealth Honors College Advisory Board. Although she
resides elsewhere, she calls Field Box 59 at Fenway Park, home.
Shelly Gould
Shelly Gould is the western Massachusetts, Connecticut, Albany and Rhode Island
District Sales Manager for Exeter Finance. She has been in the automotive industry
for over 20 years, getting her start as a salesperson with Ford, then moving up to
Financial Manager then Financial Director, and later ending that part of her career
as a General Sales Manager. Shelly grew up in Mildford, MA, but now lives in
Worcester, MA with her wife, son, and youngest daughter; her oldest daughter
is sophomore at UMass.
32. 32
Young Professionals (Room 163C)
Interested in learning more about what life will be like after graduating from Isenberg? Hear from recent
graduates on what the transition from college to the working world was like for them. How did their
financial situations influence decisions? What steps did they take to secure a job before graduating?
How did internships and their first jobs differ from one another? This panel aims to give undergraduates
a better understanding of what lies ahead after graduation.
Ariel Methe, ‘10
Ariel Methe has a B.B.A in Finance & Operations Management from the
University of Massachusetts, Isenberg School of Management and an MBA
from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. After graduating, she joined United
Technologies (UTC) Finance Leadership program, a two-year rotational
program with 4 different roles across UTC’s business units. Upon completion,
she become a Commodity Controller for Global Supply Chain Finance and
currently works in Operations Finance doing financial planning & analysis,
supporting the Global Supply Chain Organization.
Libby Johnson, ‘10
After graduating in 2010 with my MBA from Isenberg, Libby secured a
job in a technology project management role with Fidelity Investments.
After three years in the technology group with Fidelity, she applied and
was accepted into the General Management Apprentice Program, a
two-year rotational program in which every six months Libby changes
positions in the company and locations in the country. Libby completed
the program in June 2015 and landed a permanent role in Fidelity’s Asset
Management division running a cross-company compliance program.
33. 33
Saba Nejatain, ‘09
Saba is currently a Planning Manager at Williams Sonoma Inc, overseeing
retail textiles at West Elm. She joined West Elm in July of 2015. She received
a B.B.A. in Finance & Operations Management (with a minor in Information
Technology) from Isenberg in 2009. Saba started her career in merchandise
planning at J.Crew in 2012. She began in women’s knits and eventually
managed women’s footwear and accessories. She worked in Financial
Planning & Analysis at both EMC and The Monitor Group before moving
to New York City. She is from Newton, Massachusetts and currently resides
in New York.
Michelle Alter, ‘11
Michelle has been with Target for the past five and a half years after
graduating from the Isenberg School of Management. She started her
Target career completing the Executive Team Leader Internship in between
her junior and senior year. After graduation, she became the Executive Team
Leader of Hardlines in Millbury MA followed by taking on the role of
Executive Team Leader of Human Resources in Westborough MA. Her
passion for developing talent and leading a team to exceed financial and
operational results led her to her current role as the Store Team Leader of
the Hooksett New Hampshire Target. Thank you to the WOI Planning Team
for creating such a fantastic event; it is great to be back at UMass!
34. 34
WOMEN OF ISENBERG PLANNING TEAM
Casey Gover
Casey Gover is a senior Isenberg student studying Hospitality and Tourism
Management. Since her freshman year, Casey has been involved in Women
in Business and was honored with the opportunity to this year serve as
co-President. She can honestly say that planning this conference has been
the toughest and most rewarding experience she has had while at school.
She truly looks forward to seeing its growth in the coming years. Outside of
school, you can find Casey with her nose in a cookbook, spending time with
her wonderful sisters, or planning her next adventure. Casey looks forward
to a career with Marriott International post-graduation.
Diana Ciccolini
Diana Ciccolini is a senior Accounting Major in the Isenberg School of Man-
agement. Diana has always been passionate about women’s success in the
workplace and has been involved with Isenberg Women in Business since
she joined Isenberg her sophomore year. This year, Diana serves as
Co-President of the club and is so grateful to hold this position. Being
involved in the planning of this conference is one of the most prestigious
opportunities she has ever had and she cannot wait to finally show what the
committee has been planning since the last conference! After her internship
in Assurance with EY last winter, Diana accepted a full time position in Bos-
ton, MA with the firm starting after she graduates. She credits everything she
has learned in Isenberg Women in Business and this conference with helping
gain the skills necessary to land a full time job a year and a half before she
graduates. When she’s not in school, you can find Diana at a Red Sox game,
spending all her money at Sephora, or hanging out in Boston!
Crissy Cavallaro
Christine Cavallaro is a junior Isenberg student studying Marketing and
minoring in Studio Arts. Her involvement on the Women of Isenberg
Conference planning team for the past 2 years has truly been the most
influential and rewarding experience. Aside from her role in Women in
Business, Crissy is president of the Isenberg Honors Council and a member
of UMass AdLab. Outside of Isenberg, she is either getting lost in artwork in
the studio, running, or planning her future endeavors in advertising. Starting
tomorrow, Crissy cannot wait to get started planning next year’s conference!
35. 35
Meghan Bates
Meghan Bates is a junior Isenberg student pursuing a dual degree in Finance
and Economics. She began her involvement with the Women in Business
club during her freshman year and has since become deeply inspired by
strong female leaders. This year, she joined the Women of Isenberg
Conference planning committee and is very excited to be a part of such
an amazing event. Meghan will be interning in PwC’s Risk Assurance
department this summer—she can’t wait to be living and working in
Boston! When she’s not busy planning the conference, Meghan enjoys
exercising, traveling, and trying new foods.
Alex Eisenhardt
Alex is a Sophomore Marketing major, with a minor in Women’s Studies. She
has been a business owner since she was seventeen years old, and has been
working in brand development for the last 9 months. Her business focuses
mostly on small businesses and blogs; she hopes that she can work in brand
development post-graduation. In addition to her work with Women in
Business, Alex also works the opening shift at UMass Campus Recreation.
36. 36
The energy and ideas exchanged at the
Inaugural Women of Isenberg Conference
were empowering. It was also fabulous
to see former students who are shining
stars in their careers!
- Professor Anna Nagurney
Jane Anne Kaplan (Janie)
University of Massachusetts, Amherst - Women of Isenberg Conference,
Alumni Advisor (2013-present); Women for UMass, Steering Committee
(2015-present). University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Isenberg School of
Management, BBA, Finance, 1979. Thirty-three years as an Analyst and
Project Manager for an international Information Technology and Systems
Consulting firm - CGI Inc., formerly known as American Management
Systems. Roles included: Business Systems Analyst and Project Manager
on custom system development projects across many vertical markets and
industries; Marketing and Public Relations Manager; and Account Executive
overseeing the firm’s long standing clients.
Kristine Elison
Kristine Elison has been Isenberg’s Assistant Director of Development since
2014. She works on behalf of the Dean’s Office to offer opportunities of
engagement to Isenberg alumni. In 1995, Kristine founded Portabella Fine
Foods & Catering in Amherst, serving the business, personal and academic
community of the Pioneer Valley for close to 20 years. She is a 1993
graduate of Isenberg, residing in South Amherst with her husband
and two sons.
ALUMNA PLANNERS AND MENTORS
37. 37
Dean Linda Shea
Dr. Linda Shea is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and
Professor in the Isenberg School. She completed her Ph.D. in Marketing
from the University of Colorado Boulder and has taught marketing-related
courses in both marketing and hospitality departments for more than 40
years. She earned international recognition as a recipient of two teaching
awards: The Association of Graduate School Awards for Excellence in
Teaching and Innovative Graduate Program Development and the John
Wiley & Sons Award for Innovation in Teaching. Her research interest is in
Services Marketing and her research has been published in leading
hospitality journals and she served as editor of the Journal of Hospitality
and Tourism Education from 2000-2007 and is currently co-editor of the
Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research. She is also co-editor of the
book, “Pioneers in the Hospitality Industry, Lessons from Leaders, Innovators
and Visionaries (2009).” Since becoming the undergraduate Dean in
Isenberg 5 years ago, the Undergraduate Business School Ranking
(Bloomberg Business Week) has risen from 72nd to 36th in the nation
overall and 14th among public institutions.
Meghan Smith
Meg has been the Director of Undergraduate Programs and Operations in
the Undergraduate Programs Office in the Isenberg School of Management
since 2012. Meg manages the student aspect of the Isenberg Scholarship
Program, the on-campus transfer application process, New Student
Orientation and academic scheduling in addition to planning events such
as the Isenberg Senior Celebration. In addition to Meg’s role in the Isenberg
Undergraduate Programs Office, she is a Delegate Council member of the
Professional Staff Union (PSU/MTA/NEA) at the University. Also, Meg is a
member of the Student Code of Conduct Hearing Board through the Dean
of Students Office. Meg is an alumna of the University of Massachusetts
Amherst, earning a M.Ed. in Social Justice Education from the School of
Education.
FACULTY
41. 41
P&W Sponsors 3 $5,000
Annual Scholarships for
UMASS Finance &
Accounting Students
Summer internship offered
to scholarship recipients
Host events on P&W
Campus for UMASS
Finance & Accounting
Students
Career Opportunities
*Manufacturing Accounting
*Financial Planning &
Analysis
*Commercial Engine
Finance
*Military Engine Finance
*Operations
*Aftermarket
UTC Financial Leadership Program
*Two year rotational program
*Four, six-month assignment
*Diverse functional rotations
*Multiple geographic locations
*Exposure throughout UTC business units
*Interaction with all levels of management
*Extensive educational opportunities
UTC CPA Sponsorship Program
CT CPA Certification - 4Es
Education 120 working hours required to sit for exam
150 credits required to become certified
Exam Audit & Attestation (AUD)
Business Environment & Concepts (BEC)
Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)
Regulation Exam (REG)
Experience 104 weeks (2 years) effort with a supervisor who is CPA Certified
Ethics Must obtain a minimum of a 90% score on the CT ethics exam
***UTC will reimburse up to $5,000 (includes books, prep-course, and exam fees)***
Finance
&
Accounting
Opportunities
44. 44
Special Thanks to our Friend of the Conference the Isenberg School
of Management Hospitality & Tourism Management Department
To connect to the wifi, make sure your SSID is UMASS. Open a web browser, and login with:
Guest User Name: 41570777 Password: 46630760
Share your experience with us at today’s conference by tweeting and using #WOI2016.
