Alumni Spotlight is pleased to announce The Top 100 Chief Financial Officers of 2021. These accomplished individuals have played a major role in guiding their companies to solid foundations and continuous growth by leveraging their strategic financial capabilities. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the arrival of the Chief Financial Officer even existed. In the 1980s, Melvin Howard, the previous CFO of Xerox said that “the overwhelming impact of inflation would mean that Chief Financial Officers will play a far larger part than in the past in the overall decision-making process of their companies”. The past decades have proven his statement to be true not only due to inflation but the many other financial considerations faced by the modern company. These awardees are heavily involved in their company's decision making processes and are critical to the overall success of the companies and organizations they lead.
Tracey Doi, the CFO and Group VP of Toyota North America, leads her team of finance professionals year after year while handling the various challenges imposed by unexpected occurrences such as the pandemic and supply chain disruptions enabling Toyota to continue its reign as a top automotive manufacturer. Steve Voskuil, the SVP and CFO of The Hershey Company, guides the company to ensure they are able to provide some of the world’s favorite desserts and treats to their loyal consumers. Meanwhile, Sandra Clarke of Blue Shield of California, provides her financial expertise and insight to help serve their 4.5 million health plan members across the nation.
This year’s awardees span across a variety of industries including food production, healthcare, manufacturing, technology and more but they share the same focus. Their dedication to the field and their leadership skills have made them a trusted executive in the eyes of their management team and board of directors. Please join us in celebrating the achievements of the Top 100 Chief Financial Officers of 2021.
5. Mitesh Popat
Citi
The Johns Hopkins University
Mitesh Popat is the CFO for Citi’s Global Equities Sales and Trading Franchise. For the past 200 years, Citi's mission is to serve as a trusted partner to their clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress. Their core activities include safeguarding assets, lending money, making payments and accessing the capital markets on behalf of their clients.
Mitesh first joined the company in 2006 in Citi’s Treasury division. Throughout his career, he has successfully led and seamlessly transitioned through various functions within the CFO disciplines, strategy, and operations, within diverse geographic and cultural settings and through various economic environments. His expertise is in facilitating strategic decision making for business growth and capital/expense resource optimization through dynamic budgeting and business drivers analytics at the group level as well as individual product and country level. He is also an angel investor in various startups based in the US, India and South Africa. He became a Chartered Financial Analyst in 2006. Popat graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology - Kharagpur with an undergraduate degree in engineering and from The Johns Hopkins University with a master’s degree in engineering.
10. Sandra Clarke
Blue Shield of California
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sandra Clarke is EVP and CFO at Blue Shield of California, a nonprofit health plan with over $21 billion in annual revenue serving over 4.4 million members in the state. She oversees financial strategy, actuarial functions, and financial operations, and leads enterprise-wide efforts to transform the member experience while reducing administrative expense. Clarke has over 25 years of experience directing worldwide financial organizations in an array of industries.
Prior to joining Blue Shield, she served as SVP and CFO of US-based pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. Clarke served as CFO for Philips Healthcare’s North and South America Commercial Group and was VP and controller of Finance at Siemens Water Technologies Group. She actively serves as board member at Evio Pharmacy Solutions, a pharmacy solutions startup, and as board director and audit chair at Metromile. Clarke holds a master's degree in accounting from Bentley University, a master’s degree in healthcare law from Seton Hall University School of Law, and an undergraduate degree in finance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
17. Steve Voskuil
The Hershey Company
Stanford University
Steve Voskuil is an SVP and CFO of The Hershey Company. The Hershey Company, commonly known as Hershey's, is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. Hershey has approximately 17,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. Voskuil has 30 years of experience. He began his career in 1991.
Before joining The Hershey Company, Voskuil was an SVP and CFO at Avanos Medical and before that an SVP and CFO at Halyard Health. Earlier in his career he worked with Kimberly-Clark in various finance and accounting roles. Voskuil graduated from Stanford University Graduate School of Business with an MBA and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance.
21. Raj Singhal
IPG Health
University of Michigan
Raj Singhal is the CFO and COO for IPG Health. He started this role in 2021. IPG Health is home to FCB Health and McCann Health agencies, some of the world’s most celebrated and awarded health marketing agency brands. They are a collective of over 45 agencies and 5,000+ people across six continents, all singularly focused on creating game-changing marketing solutions that accelerate progress in health for good and for all.
Singhal first got his start with Ford Motor Company in 1995 where he was an advanced design and product engineer. He spent time with J.P. Morgan Investment Bank as the VP of investment banking before moving on to IPG where he served as an SVP of global finance and planning. He also served as the CEO, CFO and COO with Huge for 8 years before returning to IPG this past year. Singhal is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he earned an MBA and undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering.
25. David Barnes
Trimble
Yale University
David Barnes began his professional career 22 years ago. Today, he is the CFO of Trimble. Trimble is transforming the way the world works by delivering products and services that connect the physical and digital worlds. Their software, hardware and services are transforming industries such as agriculture, construction, geospatial and transportation. Trimble products are used in over 141 countries around the world.
In 1999, Barnes served as a CFO with Coors Brewing Company. From there, he went on to RadioShack, before eventually rising to EVP of global operations at Stantec MWH, his most recent position prior to joining Trimble. Barnes graduated from the University of Chicago with an MBA and from Yale University with an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics.
27. Erica McLaughlin
Cabot
Boston College
Erica McLaughlin is the CFO of Cabot. She first joined the company in 2002 as senior accountant and manager of external reporting. Cabot Corporation is a leading global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Massachusetts. They operate in over 20 countries with 36 manufacturing plants.
Earlier in her career. McLaughlin worked with KPMG as a supervising senior accountant. In addition to her current roles, she serves on the board of directors for Azenta Life Sciences and FM Global. McLaughlin earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from Boston College and is a CPA in Massachusetts.
35. Pedro Masetto
PenFed Credit Union
University of Chicago
Pedro Masetto is the BU CFO of Consumer Banking for PenFed Credit Union. Established in 1935, PenFed today is one of the country’s strongest and most stable financial institutions serving 2.4 million members worldwide with $30 billion in assets. They offer a wide range of financial services helping their members with loans, savings and credit cards. They serve members in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico and Okinawa.
Masetto first got his start in 1998 working for Ernst & Young before moving on to SAS where he served as a director for product management. He later became the American leader and senior director for risk analytics with Algorithmics before becoming the executive director for Grupo Financiero Banorte, his most recent position prior to joining PenFed. Masetto is a graduate of El Colegio de México and the University of Chicago.
View the complete list of awardees.
38. Tripp Faix
Marqeta
Georgetown University
Tripp Faix is the CFO for Marqeta, Inc, joining the company in 2018. Marqeta created modern card issuing, empowering its customers to create customized and innovative payment cards. Their platform was built from the ground up to power an innovative payment experience, used by many of the world's apps and financial services relied on by millions of customers daily. Today, Marqeta has 800+ employees and its platform is enabled in 39 countries globally, with employees in the US, Canada, Europe and APAC.
Prior to joining Marqeta, Faix was the finance leader for Intuit’s Services Division that delivered payments, payroll, and loans to small businesses and self-employed customers globally. In addition, within Intuit’s M&A division, he executed acquisitions, divestitures, and minority investment transactions in a variety of industries including payments. Prior to Intuit, Faix worked at the Blackstone Group within the restructuring division and executed a variety of transactions within the financial services, oil & gas, and real estate sectors including chapter 11, out-of-court restructurings, M&A, debt, and equity. In addition, Faix was an associate at Bear Stearns in their investment banking division and executed several M&A, debt, and equity transactions. Prior to Bear Stearns, Faix was an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton and was the recipient of Booz Allen Hamilton’s Professional Excellence Award. Faix holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
39. Thomas Siegert
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Boston College
Thomas Siegert is the Chief Financial Officer of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The IEEE is a non-profit organization that traces its origin to 1884. IEEE was formed in 1963 from the amalgamation of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Institute of Radio Engineers. The mission of IEEE is to advance technology for the benefit of humanity. IEEE executes its mission-related activities through volunteer leaders and more than about 400,000 members in over 160 countries around the world. 53% of IEEE members belonged to one or more of about 40 societies. Mission support is funded via the sale of periodicals, conference events, member and educational services as well as standards. Siegert has 42 years of experience. He began his career in 1980.
Before joining IEEE, Siegert was an assistant treasurer at Wyeth and before that an assistant treasurer at Interpublic Group. Earlier in his career, he worked with PNC as an international banking representative. He has also been an adjunct instructor of accounting and finance and is an active trustee on a number of charitable boards. Siegert graduated from Pace University - Lubin School of Business with an MBA and from Boston College with an undergraduate degree in economics.
40. Ena Singh
Zymergen
Cornell University
Ena Singh began her professional career 22 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Financial Officer of Zymergen. Zymergen is an American biotechnology company based in Emeryville, California. The company applies genomics and machine learning to research and design chemical producing genetically modified organisms. Zymergen creates sustainable materials that are in use today, delivering value for Fortune 1000 companies with over $1 billion worth of products using Zymergen microbial innovations sold to date.
Singh first got her start in 2000 as an analyst in Latin America Investment Banking at Salomon Smith Barney. From there, she went on to Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, before eventually rising to become an SVP of asset management at Mubadala Development Company, her most recent position prior to joining Zymergen. Singh graduated from MIT Sloan School of Management with an MBA and from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
43. Aamir Rehman
Apovia
Harvard University
Aamir A. Rehman is CFO of Apovia, a health care services company operating on-site pharmacies for community health centers. Apovia was recognized in the Inc. 5000 rankings as one of America’s fastest-growing companies.
Dr. Rehman is a partner at Princeton Stone House Capital, a strategic private investment firm based in Princeton, New Jersey. He is also a Senior Fellow at Columbia University. Dr. Rehman holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He further holds a Ed.D. degree from Columbia University.
45. Brad Jewett
Corel
The University of Texas
Brad Jewett is Chief Financial Officer at Corel, a Global software company offering a comprehensive collection of creative, collaborative, and productivity solutions that empower people and teams to meet their deadlines and achieve their aspirations and dreams, every day.
As CFO, Jewett is responsible for accelerating Corel's market leadership with a focus on organic growth within the company's existing addressable markets, and scalable acquisitions that strengthen the company's market position. With more than 20 years in the industry, he previously served as CFO of OpenLink Financial, and implemented and led the Enterprise Risk Management programs for board oversight of strategic, financial, and operational risk at both Microsoft and BMC Software. As a business unit CFO at BMC Software, he also helped transition the company from being NASDAQ listed to privately held. In 2008, Jewett was recognized as both an Alexander Hamilton award finalist and a Top 100 Finance professional by Treasury & Risk magazine. He has an MBA in finance from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management and a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin.
46. Simone Grimes
Acadia Insurance
Cornell University
Simone Grimes is the Chief Financial Officer of Acadia Insurance. She first joined the company in 2021. Acadia Insurance, a WR Berkley Company, specializes in commercial property casualty insurance. The company began in 1992 insuring businesses in Maine. Today, Acadia offers insurance programs for small and midsize businesses throughout New England and New York State with local offices in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.
In 2000, Grimes served as the VP of strategic initiatives with Progressive Insurance before moving on to advisory roles with Walker and Company and PwC. She spent many years as a special advisor to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Grimes is proficient in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and has led start-up and high growth companies through both growth and exit-strategies through complex M&A. Her relevant industry experiences include financial services, housing finance, tech, telecom, AgTech, and consumer goods. She is a certified public accountant and certified internal auditor. Grimes earned an MBA from Cornell University and a master’s in finance from Queen's University.
49. Steve Wasserman
Bentley University
Boston College
Steve Wasserman a Senior Lecturer in the Finance Department at Bentley University in Massachusetts. He began teaching at Bentley as an adjunct professor in 2012. In addition to teaching, Wasserman is a consulting CFO to venture backed companies. He has more than 40 years of experience.
Wasserman’s experience is within managing corporate finance, accounting, financial planning and analysis, investor relations, legal, and human resources. He has worked in both public and private corporations and has significant Wall Street experience raising equity capital, raising debt capital, transacting mergers and acquisitions, and managing relationships with investors, investment bankers, rating agencies, and commercial banks. Wasserman has previously served as CFO for technology-focused companies including InfoBionic, AppNeta, Memento, Constant Contact, Med-i-Bank, and ON Technology Corporation. Wasserman earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Babson College.
View the complete list of awardees.
51. Brett Whitmire
Diodes Incorporated
The University of Texas
Brett Whitmire is the CFO of Diodes Incorporated. In 2014 he joined the company as the corporate controller and principal accounting officer. Diodes Incorporated is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality semiconductor products to the world’s leading companies in the consumer electronics, computing, communications, industrial, and automotive markets. They leverage their expanded product portfolio of discrete, analog, and mixed-signal products and leading-edge packaging technology to meet customers’ needs.
In 1898 Whitmire served as the VP of finance for Texas Instruments before moving on to a role in global supply chain with Diodes. He served as the CFO for the analog and sensor business with Freescale Semiconductor before returning to Diodes International. Whitmire earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and operations research from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Texas McCombs School of Business.
56. Brandon Simins
Attentive
Cornell University
Brandon Simins is the Chief Financial Officer of Attentive. He first joined the company in 2020. Attentive is a conversational commerce platform that uses real-time behavioral data to help more than 5,000 leading businesses engage with their consumers via mobile messaging. Today, Attentive has 1,200+ employees and operates globally in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Prior to Attentive, Simins was the Chief Financial and Operating Officer of Tictail, a social marketplace that was acquired by Shopify. Earlier in his career, Simins worked as an investment banking analyst at Merrill Lynch, as an associate at Providence Equity Partners, and held a number of business strategy & operations roles at Google. Simins graduated from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in labor relations.
57. Darren Seidel
Entertainment Partners
San Diego State University
Darren Seidel began his professional career over 29 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Entertainment Partners. Entertainment Partners is the global leader in entertainment payroll, workforce management, residuals, tax incentives, finance, and other integrated production management solutions with 15 offices in the US, Canada, London, and Tokyo. EP collaborates with its clients to help them produce the most cost-effective and efficient film, television, digital, and commercial projects.
Seidel first got his start in 1992 in finance at Ford. From there, he went on to Nissan, before eventually rising to become the SVP of international finance, strategy and operations at Warner Bros Home Entertainment Group, his most recent position prior to joining Entertainment Partners. Seidel graduated from the University of Notre Dame with an MBA and from San Diego State University with an undergraduate degree in business, management and marketing.
60. Deepak Ahuja
Verily Life Sciences
Northwestern University
Deepak Ahuja is the CFO of Verily Life Sciences. Verily is a life sciences research and engineering organization focused on improving healthcare outcomes by applying the latest scientific and technological advances to significant problems in health and biology. The organization was formerly a division of Google X until 2015. Ahuja has nearly 22 years of experience. He began his career in 2000.
Before joining Verily Life Sciences, Ahuja was a senior advisor at Capricorn Investment Group and before that a CFO at Tesla. Earlier in his career he worked with Ford Motor Company as a manager of acquisitions and divestitures. Ahuja graduated from Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business with an MS in business, from Northwestern University with an MS in materials engineering, and from the Indian Institute of Technology with an undergraduate degree in ceramic engineering.
65. Valerie Red-Horse Mohl
East Bay Community Foundation
University of California - Los Angeles
Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, of Cherokee ancestry, is the CFO of East Bay Community Foundation. Founded in 1928, the foundation’s mission is to eliminate structural barriers, advance racial equity, and transform political, social, and economic outcomes in the community by partnering with donors, social movements, and the community for all who call the East Bay home.
In addition to her current roles, Red-Horse Mohl is the co-founder of Known Holdings, a new financial services platform for the New Majority dedicated to equitable distribution of capital and ownership. She is CEO/founder of Red-Horse Financial Group, Inc., and has more than 25 years of in-depth experience in the financial services and investment banking industry with a unique expertise in the Native American tribal government sector. She is the former executive director/CEO of Social Venture Circle. Red-Horse Mohl earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and has founded several nonprofit ministries on tribal reservations nationwide.
66. Susan Kim
Pacific Biosciences
Stanford University
Susan Kim began her professional career 23 years ago. Today, she is the CFO of Pacific Biosciences. Pacific Biosciences is an American biotechnology company founded in 2004 that develops and manufactures systems for gene sequencing and some novel real time biological observation to deliver invaluable insights for scientists who strive to resolve complex genetic challenges.
Kim first got her start in 1998 as a manufacturing process engineer and yield engineer at AMD. From there, she went on to Morgan Stanley, before eventually rising to CFO at App Annie, her most recent position prior to joining Pacific Biosciences. Kim graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management with an MBA and MEM, and from Stanford University with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.
67. Roland Cleneay
Covenant Care
Florida State University
Roland Cleneay is the SVP and CFO for Covenant Care. Covenant Care is a rapidly growing post-acute healthcare company providing home healthcare, hospice, palliative care, memory care and physician group practice services throughout Florida and Alabama. Cleneay has 30 years experience in the healthcare sector. He began his career in 1987.
Before joining Covenant Care, Cleneay was a CFO at Southeastern Healthcare and before that a CFO at ACM Medical. Earlier in his career he was a Partner with the healthcare investment banking firm of Wyatt Matas. Throughout his career he has been involved with over one hundred transactions in the healthcare industry as an investor, advisor and executive leader. Cleneay graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Accounting.
View the complete list of awardees.
69. Kameron Rezai
Verkada
Yale University
Kameron Rezai is the CFO of Verkada. He first joined the company in 2019. Verkada Inc. is a California-based company that develops modern, cloud-based building security systems that help enterprises protect people and assets, secure facilities, and gain new insights that improve the efficiency of their operations.
Previously, Rezai was a managing director and COO of FutureAdvisor at BlackRock and before that an independent consultant at Aperio Group, LLC. Earlier in his career he worked with Elm Ridge Capital Management as an analyst. Rezai earned an MBA in finance and strategy from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree in economics and mathematics from Yale University.
72. Matt Vonderahe
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
The University of Texas
Matt Vonderahe is the Chief Financial Officer of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a renowned dine-in theater chain founded in 1997 in Austin TX known for high-quality food, craft beer, and a unique movie-going experience. Alamo is a champion of great cinema and has built authentic relationships with filmmakers and cinephiles which has created a cult following from its customer base. Matt first joined the company in 2020 and helped navigate the company through industry transitions and back towards a pathway of nation-wide growth.
Previously, Vonderahe was a CFO at Marshall Retail Group and before that a VP of Finance at The Container Store. Earlier in his career, he worked with The Limited Stores as a financial analyst. Vonderahe earned an MBA from Southern Methodist University and an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Texas at Austin.
75. Art Smiley
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
Stanford University
Art Smiley is the SVP and CFO of Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is a major public transportation agency based in Houston, Texas. It operates bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, HOV and HOT lanes, and paratransit service in the city as well as most of Harris County. Smiley has 46 years of experience. He began his career in 1975.
Before joining Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Smiley was a vice chairman of the committee of audit professionals at American Public Transportation Association and before that a senior financial analyst at ExxonMobil. Earlier in his career he worked with AXA Equitable as an investment manager. Smiley graduated from Columbia University in the City of New York with an MBA in finance and marketing and from Stanford University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
78. Chantelle Breithaupt
AspenTech
Wilfrid Laurier University
Chantelle Breithaupt began her professional career over 21 years ago. Today, she is the CFO of AspenTech, a publicly traded global leader in industrial optimization software. AspenTech helps the world’s leading industrial companies run their operations more safely, efficiently and reliably, enabling innovation while reducing waste and impact on the environment. By introducing effective AI modeling to traditional principles of process engineering, AspenTech delivers a faster and more accurate analysis of efficiency and performance boundaries.
Breithaupt is a results-producing executive with extensive global experience in financial leadership. She has 15 years of global industrial experience from GE and 7 years of sales, software, and customer experience at Cisco in the technology industry. Breithaupt graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
82. David Quinn
Atlas Technical Consultants
Harvard University (23’)
David Quinn is the Chief Financial Officer of Atlas Technical Consultants. Atlas is a leading provider of infrastructure and environmental solutions who partners with their clients to improve performance and extend the lifecycle of built and natural infrastructure assets stressed by climate, health, and economic impacts. With 3,600+ employees nationwide, Atlas brings deep technical expertise to public-and private-sector clients, integrating services across four primary disciplines: Environmental; Testing, Inspection and Certification; Engineering & Design; and Program, Construction, and Quality Management.
Quinn has 25-years’ experience in the consulting, engineering, construction, and professional services industries. Recently Quinn supported bringing the company public on NASDAQ (ATCX) in February of 2020 and subsequently in early 2021 executed a simplification to the capital structure leading to a ~$600 million debt recapitalization working with Blackstone Capital and JP Morgan Chase. Prior to joining Atlas, Quinn served as CFO and board director of Atkins North America and before that spent 17 years with The Shaw Group in various executive level capacities, more recently in CFO and COO roles. Quinn is currently completing his Master of Finance at Harvard University, has earned management and leadership certificates from MIT Sloan and Said Business School, University of Oxford, as well as an MBA from Norwich University and undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts.
88. Tracy Harris
MIB
University of Pennsylvania
Tracy Harris is the EVP, CFO and Treasurer of MIB. MIB Group is the insurance industry’s most trusted and secure partner for data, insights and digital solutions that support underwriting and actuarial decision making and improve industry efficiencies. Harris has 31 years of experience. She began her career in 1990.
Before joining MIB, Harris was a CFO at UMUC Ventures and before that a CFO at BondFactor. Earlier in her career she worked with the City of Philadelphia as an assistant to the finance director. Harris graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a master’s degree in public administration and government administration, from Saint Louis University with an MBA, and from Fontbonne University with an undergraduate degree in marketing and marketing management.
89. Chris Burleson
Tailored Management
The Ohio State University
Chris Burleson is the CFO of Tailored Management. He first joined the company in 2017. Tailored Management is a global staffing firm that specializes in partnering with large organizations that run their contingent labor program in a VMS/MSP environment. They have the unique capacity to support programs across all scopes and geographic locations from a single headquarters, successfully elevating program performance across the board and minimizing costs, miscommunication and delivery times. They bring together the best talent with the greatest opportunities.
Burleson first got his start in 1993 as a director of finance. He has served as a controller at several companies including Aelita Software, Live Technologies, Fitch and Behavioral Education for Children with Autism. Burleson graduated from Franklin University with an undergraduate degree in accounting and from The Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree in education and sports management.
View the complete list of awardees.
90. Larry Santoro
KSI Trading
Dartmouth College
Larry Santoro is the Chief Financial Officer of KSI Auto Parts, the nation’s second largest provider of aftermarket collision repair parts. KSI offers same or next day delivery of the full range of aftermarket collision products its business partners require to quickly repair their customer’s vehicles and get them back on the road.
Previously Larry served as Chief Administrative Officer of Fairway Market, Operating Partner at Sterling Investment Partners, Private Equity Head at New Vernon Capital and Managing Director at Merrill Lynch Investment Banking. Larry received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College.
91. Sara Absher-Topolgus
Steelcore Construction Contractors
University of Chicago
Sara Absher-Topolgus began her professional career nearly 23 years ago. Today, she is the Owner and CFO of Steelcore Construction Contractors. Steelcore Construction constitutes licensed and fully insured builders that specialize in new construction, renovations, remodels and design-build. They provide both general contracting and construction services. The company’s areas of concentration include commercial, industrial, municipal, healthcare, educational, and worship centers.
Absher-Topolgus first got her start in 1999 as a managed care attorney at UChicago Medicine. From there, she went on to Seyfarth Shaw LLP, before eventually rising to CFO and general counsel at Topolgus Surgical Associates, her most recent position prior to joining Steelcore Construction Contractors. Absher-Topolgus graduated from Indiana University Maurer School of Law with a JD, from the University of Chicago with a master's in public policy and master of health administration, and from the University of Colorado - Boulder with an undergraduate degree in history and English.
92. Shannon Sharp
The New York Public Library
Brown University
Shannon Sharp is CFO and Assistant Treasurer for The New York Public Library. She is responsible for financial strategy and resource management. Sharp oversees budgeting, accounting, reporting, procurement, insurance, banking, debt management, payroll, and all financial operations. Her team administers the library’s balance sheet of over $2 billion, more than $300 million in operating expenses across 92 locations, and a portfolio of multi-year capital expenditures. Sharp has emphasized collaborative resource planning to both control the library’s spending and better direct it to Library priorities.
Previously, Sharp was the CFO for the Brooklyn Museum. Throughout her prior career in public finance investment banking, Sharp has helped mission-driven organizations access the capital markets, structuring asset-backed financings for affordable housing, as well as educational and cultural financings. Earlier, she worked for the City of New York to improve the stock of affordable housing through loan and grant programs. She earned an undergraduate degree in public policy from Brown University and an MBA in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
93. Brent Ringo
Garland Independent School District
The University of Texas
Dr. Brent Ringo is the CFO for the Garland Independent School District (ISD). Garland ISD is among the 75 largest public school districts in America, and the 15th largest public school district in the state of Texas, serving 53,000 students and 7,000 employees. With a rich, 100-year tradition of excellence, GISD boasts a choice school system for all students, a diverse population that speaks more than 100 languages, as well as technology-driven campuses, magnet programs, and approximately 200 Career and Technical Education Courses.
As CFO, Ringo is responsible for the oversight of facilities, technology, transportation, safety & security, finance, budget, procurement, tax services, risk management, student nutrition, bond program planning, and maintenance. His experience is vast in the field of education, serving in roles from classroom teacher and coach to high school principal to his current role as CFO. Ringo graduated from Texas A&M University - Commerce with a doctorate in educational leadership, earned his master’s from Texas State University - San Marcos, and his undergraduate degree from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
94. Corey Hastings
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
University of Virginia
Corey Hastings is the CFO of The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF). He first joined the organization in 2018. HJF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. They serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike.
Previously, Hastings was a VP of workforce programs and a national director of Senior Community Service Employment Program at AARP Foundation and before that an executive manager for the Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Earlier in his career he worked with Fonkoze USA as a development officer. Hastings earned an MBA in finance and marketing from The College of William and Mary - The Mason School of Business and an undergraduate degree in English language and literature from the University of Virginia.
95. Hughey Newsome
Wayne County, Michigan
Stanford University
Hughey Newsome is the Chief Financial Officer of Wayne County, Michigan. Wayne County is located in southeastern Michigan, encompassing approximately 623 square miles. It is made up of 34 cities, including the city of Detroit, nine townships and 41 public school districts. Its population of approximately two million makes it the most populous county in the State of Michigan and the 13th most populous county in the country. Newsome has a culmination of five years of public sector leadership and 17 years of experience in finance.
Prior to serving as the CFO for Wayne County, he served as CFO for Flint Michigan in the aftermath of the water crisis to help stabilize the finance function there and prepare the city to manage the federal and state funds that would be utilized for replacing the lead service lines which led to the crisis. Before turning to the public sector, he was a management consultant advising CFOs in multiple industries, including mortgage finance, technology, manufacturing and governmental services. Newsome earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
97. David Mittelkamp
Alvis
The Ohio State University
David Mittelkamp is the CFO of Alvis. Alvis is a nonprofit human services agency with 50 years of experience providing highly effective treatment programs. Its lines of service include family support programs, behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services, recovery housing for women and their children, and services to individuals with developmental disabilities who are trying to live more independently in the community. Mittelkamp has 22 years of experience. He began his career in 1999.
Before joining Alvis, Mittelkamp was a CFO at Eastway Behavioral Healthcare and before that a CFO at Five Rivers Health Centers. Earlier in his career he worked with The Ohio Masonic Home as a director of reimbursement. Mittelkamp graduated from The Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
98. Judy Lewis
NORMS
University of California - Los Angeles
Judy Lewis began her professional career over 22 years ago. Today, she is the CFO of NORMS. What began as a coffee shop, Norms Restaurants has now become a SoCal icon. Founded in 1949 by used-car salesman Norm Roybark, Norms Restaurants is a chain of diner-style restaurants in Southern California. There are currently 20 locations in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, with additional restaurants inEncino and Rialto scheduled to open in the near future.
In 1999, Lewis served as a controller of retail operations at Stater Bros. Markets before eventually rising to CFO at Farmer Boys, her most recent position prior to joining NORMS. Lewis graduated from USC Marshall School of Business with an MBA and from the University of California - Los Angeles with an undergraduate degree.
View the complete list of awardees.