University at Buffalo School of Management

................................................................ Ananth Iyer Dean, University at Buffalo School of Management Jacqueline Molik Ghosen, APR Editor-in-Chief Kevin Manne, APR Editor Alexandra Tramposch Richter Editor e8 Creative Art Direction/Design ................................................................ School of Management Dean's Advisory Council CHAIR Thomas M. Barney Jr., MBA '00 Senior Vice President and Treasurer Delaware North, Buffalo, N.Y. COUNCIL Kenneth M. Barna, BS '69, Counsel KP Law PC, Boston, Mass. Sachin Barot, MBA '02 CFO, PeopleConnect Inc. San Diego, Calif. Douglas C. Bean, MBA '87 Vice Chairman and Chief Brand Officer Mower, Buffalo, N.Y. Sudha Bommidi, MBA '07, President School of Management Alumni Association David Cervi, CEL '02, Chair Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Advisory Board George G. Chamoun, CEO ACV, Buffalo, N.Y. Donna L. DeCarolis, BS '81, MBA '83 President, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. Williamsville, N.Y. Richard M. Ferranti, EMBA '97 CEO, Rich Products Corp., Buffalo, N.Y. Glenn A. Fosdick, BS '74, Principal Glenn A. Fosdick Consulting LLC, Ann Arbor, Mich. Dottie Gallagher, EMBA '07 President and CEO Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo, N.Y. Rich Gold, Retired President and COO M&T Bank Corp., Buffalo, N.Y. Ron C. Hamilton, BS '94, MBA '94 Senior Vice President, Swiss Re New York, N.Y Kathleen Hamm, BS '85, Former Board Member Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Arlington, Va. Robin Hunter, BS '82, MBA '82 Retired Executive Vice President Fluent Inc., Cooper City, Fla. Howard D. Koenig, MBA '76, CEO Perspecta and Special Advisor Empactful Capital, San Francisco, Calif. James P. Lederer, BS '82, MBA '96 Retired Executive Vice President Qualcomm Inc., San Diego, Calif. Gerry Murak, CEL '91, EMBA '96, Principal Murak & Associates LLC, Buffalo, N.Y. Michael J. Murray, BS '75, MBA '85 Retired Managing Partner Ernst & Young, Hamburg, N.Y. Sharon D. Randaccio, BS '76, MBA '81 President and CEO Performance Management Partners Inc. Williamsville, N.Y. Mark C. Rizzo, BS '96, MBA '03 Director and Market Leader, Commercial Banking Wells Fargo Bank, Buffalo, N.Y. John R. Scannell Non-Executive Chair Moog Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. Laura Shen, MBA '04, Retired Vice President Volkswagen (China) Investment Co. Ltd. Managing Director, Volkswagen (China) Group Import Co. Ltd., Beijing, China Sujata Yalamanchili, BS '88, MBA '89 Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo, N.Y. DEPARTMENTS Startups ................................... 2 NewsBites ................................ 6 Insights ................................... 20 Class Notes ............................ 26 Buffalo Business Address changes and other correspondence can be sent by email to mgt-editor@buffalo.edu. Telephone inquiries can be made at 716-645-2833. Editorial offices are located at the University at Buffalo School of Management, 108 Jacobs Management Center, Buffalo, NY 14260. Cover photo by Tom Wolf Alumni Close-Up Enduring commitment to Buffalo Western New York and food retail are in the DNA of John Persons, EMBA '00. Cover Story Celebrating a century Nine distinguished alumni share lessons learned at the top. Global perspectives from around the U.S. Students navigate career aspirations through a vast alumni network. Trending Topics How can pandemic-era startups continue to thrive? Experts discuss business growth amid an entrepreneurial explosion. Alumni Close-Up From staying local to traveling the world Rosemarie Breese, BS '49, reflects on her life with satisfaction. Meet our six new faculty Learn more about their expertise — and some fun facts. 7 8 16 7 Number 51 Spring 2024 18 8 23 24 18

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