News & Stories

In other news: August 2024

All in the family

Join the Family Enterprise Center and family business peers at the 11th annual Family Business Forum: “The Power of a Clear Ownership Strategy,” Oct. 10-11 at UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Rizzo Conference Center. Click here to register.

It is designed to help businessowners create a clear and actionable ownership strategy for the future of family enterprises at every stage of growth. The schedule includes hands-on exercises to help families address critical ownership strategy topics, examine their ownership’s purpose, goals and shared vision, and explore new ways to view core capital.

This year’s forum will be led by Family Enterprise Center co-founders Cooper Biersach (BA ’91, JD ’96, MBA ’96) and Stephen Miller (BSBA ’77), Peter Begalla, Amelia Renkert-Thomas and Josh Gentine (MBA ’13).

Participants are encouraged to attend with multiple family members from more than one generation. The event is also beneficial for non-family business executives.

“The Family Business Forum is time very well spent on the business of business and the business of the family,” says Craig Stephenson, CEO of COC Properties Inc. and former Cary Oil president and CEO. “The venue is ideal. The presentations are thought-provoking. And the takeaways help me and my family focus on the priorities for our family business.”

Building business resilience

The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise will host the Frontiers of Business: Building Business Resilience conference on Oct. 10 at the Carolina Inn.

The event marks the culmination of the institute’s 2024 Grand Challenge, an exploration of business resilience and how organizations can navigate and manage risk in a world of heightened uncertainty. Featured speakers will include MIT labor economist David Autor, RedSail Technologies Chief Strategy Officer Frances Nahas and The Atlantic staff writer Derek Thompson.

The full conference agenda is available here.

“What’s special about the Frontiers conference is that it brings people from business, government and academic research together in the same room,” says Paige Ouimet, Kenan Institute Executive Director and finance professor. “We provide a rare opportunity for them talk candidly and collaboratively about the most pressing issues businesses and economies are facing right now and the opportunities and ideas they have to address them.”

Early bird registration rates are available through Sept. 9. Learn more and register here.

With distinction

Congratulations to Harold Q. Langenderfer Scholar of Accounting Jeff Hoopes on being named the Thomas Willis Lambeth Distinguished Chair in Public Policy. Awarded by the provost’s office and funded by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the honor recognizes exemplary teachers and scholars in the public policy field.

Hoopes has served as the UNC Tax Center’s research director since 2016, when he joined UNC Kenan-Flagler. He has taught taxation courses in the Undergraduate Business Program and MBA Program and regularly collaborates with PhD Program students. His extensive research on taxation and its function in public policy often focuses on the system impact on individuals, small businesses and large corporations and has been published in the leading finance, accounting and economic journals.

He has long been a go-to expert on a variety of tax and public policy issues, testifying before Congress and advising the Congressional Budget Office, consulting with the IRS and serving on the board of advisors of the Tax Foundation. He is also an avid collector of tax memorabilia, his office also doubles as UNC’s Tax Museum, which showcases thousands of items ranging from board games to tax forms printed on toilet paper.

“Dr. Hoopes’ role as a mentor and educator underscores his commitment to nurturing the next generation of scholars,” said Professor Christian Lundblad, senior associate dean for faculty and research, in an email announcing the honor. “His exceptional contributions and commitment to public policy, and his dedication to the inclusion of student work in demonstrating the value of public policy make him an outstanding recipient for this prestigious honor.”

Standout students and alumni

Yolanda Nichole Brown (MBA ’05) was appointed to the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board by Gov. Roy Cooper (BA ’79, JD ’82). Brown, a small business and nonprofit strategist, is the founder and president of Yolanda Nichole Solutions.
Lisa Schurer Lambert (PhD ’04) received the 2024 James G. Hunt SMA Sustained Outstanding Service Award, the Southern Management Association’s highest honor. She is a management professor at Oklahoma State University and co-editor of Organizational Research Methods.
Good Graces, a market, restaurant and bar founded and co-owned by Haley Borden (BA ’14, MBA ’22), is expected to open in spring 2025 in Raleigh’s North Hills Innovation District.
Patrick Brennan (MBA ’13) was appointed to California’s Health Workforce Education and Training Council by Gov. Gavin Newsom. He is the director of policy and programs at the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies.
Danielle Satterwhite (MBA ’13) was named CRM marketing lead at TikTok Shop. She previously held marketing positions at Amazon, Facebook and Pendo.
Todd Alessandri (PhD ’02) was appointed dean of the College of Business at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. He previously served as associate dean of undergraduate education at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business.
Startup accelerator Launch Chapel Hill’s summer cohort of students didn’t have to go far to learn from some of the state’s most impressive entrepreneurs. All it took was a quick walk down Franklin and Rosemary streets, where they met with several Launch and Carolina alumni-turned-businessowners such as Alex Brandwein (MBA ’20) of Brandwein’s Bagels and Speedi co-founder Chris Salazar (BSBA ’24). “I want to invest in this community that has given so much to me,” said Brandwein. Professor Tim Flood is director of Launch Chapel Hill.
Justin Pierce (MBA ’21) reflected on his basketball career at Carolina and in Europe and Asia as he settles into more of a full-time position in corporate finance.
Roomadillo, co-founded by Manas Takalpati (BSBA ’23), aims to “Zillow-fy” the housing market for college students.
Jack Frost (BSBA ’13, MAC ’14) joined the University of Denver men’s basketball as director of operations. He was an assistant coach on the Carolina men’s junior varsity basketball team and most recently coached at Stanford University.
Elizabeth Thomas (BSBA ’88) was named vice president of business and finance and CFO of Alamance Community College in Graham, North Carolina. She had served as the CFO of Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, North Carolina, since 2012.
Raj Merchant (MBA ’20) appeared on “The Charlotte Ledger” podcast to discuss trust-based philanthropy, approaches to fundraising and the similarities between startups and nonprofits. He is the director of data solutions at Charlotte-based digital consultancy Perficient.
Ogemdi Ike (MBA ’06) was named LegalShield’s new COO. He most recently served as vice president of sales operations and business planning at T-Mobile USA.

Ivonne Chirino-Klevans won silver at the Masters Pan American Games.

Spotted on social

Once an athlete, always an athlete. Professor Ivonne Chirino-Klevans competed in the Masters Pan American Games in Cleveland, winning silver and bronze medals in the 1500- and 3000-meter races, she shared on LinkedIn. She first competed in the games as a teenager and was an elite gymnast with the Mexican national gymnastics team. Competing in the games in racewalking, this time representing the U.S., has been a goal for two years after Chirino-Klevans was told by her orthopedist that she should stop running because of weakened ankle cartilage. “Thanks to a wonderful country that opened their doors and believed in me,” she wrote. “And thanks to those who have put challenges in front of me so that I can learn and get better.”
Hamdee Khader (MBA ’23, JD ’23) celebrated taking the oath to practice as a first-generation attorney in Florida. “I would like to thank my family, friends, mentors, professors and educational institutions for their steadfast support, guidance and influence which have shaped me into the person I am today,” he shared on LinkedIn.
U.S. Army veteran Joseph Kamconteh (MBA ’24) doesn’t take all the credit for earning his degree. “My family and I have completed our MBA. Welcoming a new baby girl into our family and serving in the world’s finest army has been a blessing,” he shared on LinkedIn with an adorable family photo at the Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the entire faculty and staff at Kenan-Flagler Business School for their unwavering support throughout this journey. I am proud to be a part of the Tar Heel family for life.”
Entering the Full-Time MBA Program’s Class of 2026 is a “lifelong dream come true,” Abdul Shaik shared on LinkedIn. “This is truly the most memorable moment of my life!” Shaik wrote. “I’ve been accepted to three brilliant business schools in the world, but I’ve chosen UNC for its immersion style of learning and exceptional experiential opportunities that align perfectly with my goals.” Click here to see photos from our Full-Time MBA Program Class of 2026 orientation.We’re now on TikTok!Follow us at tiktok.com/@kenanflagler.

To submit news items to be considered for “In other news,” email jordan.bartel@kenan-flagler.unc.edu

8.16.2024