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 Stay Graphic Design 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. Carly Battin, MBA '09 Chief of Staff CleanCapital, Buffalo, N.Y. Sudha Bommidi, MBA '07 Chief Operating Officer, RPCI Oncology PC Senior Executive Director, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, N.Y. Donald Boyd, MBA '97 President and CEO Kaleida Health, Buffalo, N.Y. 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/MBA '94 Senior Vice President, Head of Risk and Compliance, USA, BMS Re, New York, N.Y. Kathleen Hamm, BS '85, Former Board Member Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Arlington, Va. Howard D. Koenig, MBA '76 CEO, Perspecta and Special Advisor Empactful Capital, San Francisco, Calif. Abigail Maines, BS/MBA '99 Chief Revenue Officer, HiddenLayer Austin, Texas 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. Denise Neamon, CEL '13 Partner, The Bonadio Group East Aurora, N.Y. Sharon D. Randaccio, BS '76, MBA '81 President and CEO Performance Management Partners Inc. Williamsville, 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 ............................... 16 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. Alumni Close-Up Centered on Marketing Mark Bortz, BS '05, MBA '13, took his career from professional basketball to global marketing for Mattel Inc. Minecrafting a plan Online MBA students learn project management skills in a unique virtual space. Cover Story Climate innovation How businesses are addressing challenges for impactful change. Meet the new faculty 17 distinguished scholars bring a diverse range of expertise to the school. Alumni Close-Up Bills, Bulls and branding Laura Wanerka, BS/MBA '16, is telling the story of PepsiCo. Boosting business, building skills How the Projects Clinic is delivering value for students and partner organizations. Alumni Impact Cultural catalysts School of Management alumni are shaping the arts world. 5 6 8 17 Number 53 Spring 2025 14 6 17 18 24 5

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