ND Business Briefings: February 2023 alumni news and updates

Using data to make a difference

Adam Kramer’s (EMBA ‘21) career may have started as a news anchor in Panama Beach – a significant departure to his current position as CEO of nZero – but the throughline has always been the same: to make a difference in the world. 

Adam Kramer

For Kramer, this means helping companies as they are working to meet environmental, sustainability and corporate governance reporting (ESG) and other related goals. This can include everything from lowering pollution and CO2 output to reducing waste. Actually keeping track of and accounting those emission changes or pollution reduction is a challenge in itself and an issue companies are still trying to figure out.

nZero is a carbon data and sustainability platform that delivers accurate, 24/7 carbon accounting and emissions tracking. By gathering and reporting near-real-time data surrounding emissions, nZero is helping companies decipher their real output so they can best decide how to implement their plans for carbon reduction. Working for nZero, said Kramer, means that he can help organizations solve this meaningful problem.

“Being able to be a true partner for our customers is incredible because they’re able to achieve their corporate goals — and we get to help the planet,” said Kramer.

But making a difference through the business isn’t just an external venture, it’s also about being valuable to their employees. Each nZero employee holds equity in the business. Additionally, nZero strives to maintain a positive workplace culture by providing unlimited PTO (and actually encouraging people to use it) and gathering employee feedback to make nZero the best it can be.

Kramer attributes the Notre Dame Executive MBA program for expanding his skillset and developing a new network of like-minded friends. Those friends and former classmates, which include nZero’s Chief of Staff Matthew Gura (EMBA ‘21), continue to play a key role in establishing the carbon accounting and emissions tracking firm.

“Going back to get my Executive MBA at Notre Dame was a catalyst for me to leave my previous job and to join nZero,” said Kramer. “Through the program, I made lifelong friends who I can, and do, call anytime for help and advice as I continue to build nZero.”

Career Updates:

• Peter Alexander (BBA ‘21) has joined Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. as an associate on their investment team.
• Steven Bowen (MSBA ‘16) was named chief science officer at Gallagher Re.
• Daniel Brangle (BBA ‘22) has been named as an analyst for the investment team at Maranon Capital, L.P.
• Rick Carrico (MBA ‘22) has been named chief financial officer for Baptist Health, Kentucky’s largest health system.
• Todd Dooley (BBA ‘88) has been hired as chief financial officer at Ontellus.
• Jack Dowd (MBA ‘22) has been named the vice president of personal lines for the Dowd Agencies.
• Jason Fournier (MBA ‘02) was appointed as a senior managing director of Evercore’s Equity Capital Markets practice.
• Peggy Hardek (BBA ‘86) has been named chairperson of board of directors for the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago.
• Randy Herrel Jr. (MBA ‘13) was appointed to group vice president, finance at Golden State Foods.
• Jason Hyska (MBA ‘15) has been named the chief executive officer of Sturgis Bank and Trust Company.
• Daniel P. Lewis (BBA ‘11) has joined Maranon Capital, L.P. as a vice president of their portfolio team.
• Anne Masciopinto (BBA ‘20) was named as associate on the investment team at Wynnchurch Capital, L.P.
• Tom Mendoza (ND ‘73) has been appointed to the board of directors of mParticle, a leading enterprise Customer Data Platform.
• Abby Motsinger (BBA ‘05) was named vice president of Investor Relations for Duke Energy.
• Kurt Mueller (MBA ‘08) was named Ranker’s chief revenue officer.
• Robert J. Stefani (BBA ‘96) was appointed as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.
• Caitlin Stojanovich (MBA ‘19) was named Jackpocket’s first-ever chief of staff.
• Patricia Thomas (BBA ‘07) has joined Charles River Associates as a vice president in the company’s forensic services practice.
• Casey Tubman (EMBA ‘02) was named the president of Newmar Corporation, a part of Winnebago Industries, Inc.
• Mike Ussery (BBA ‘80), president and chief operating officer of National HealthCare Corp., has been named a trustee of the MTSU Foundation.
• Brian White (MBA ‘93) has joined FormFactor’s board of directors.

Honors:

• Josh Davidhizar (MBA ‘18) of the Indiana Oxygen Co. was recognized as the 2022 CFO of the Year by the Indianapolis Business Journal.
• Andy Dytrych (MBA ‘15) has been named to Louisville Business’s Forty Under 40.
• John Launius (MNA ‘19) has been named to Louisville Business’s Forty Under 40.
• Natalie Marshall (BBA ‘19) was named to Forbes magazine’s 30 under 30 class of 2023’s social media list.
• Mack Mazeski (BBA ‘15) has been named to Forbes magazine’s 30 under 30 class of 2023’s healthcare list for the founding of DxTx Pain and Spine.
• Arike Ogunbowale (BBA ‘19) has been named to Forbes magazine’s 30 under 30 class of 2023’s social media list.

Featured:

• Nkechi Azie, M.D. (EMBA ‘12) was featured on Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend for their segment, Health Concerns and Checkups After the Pandemic.
• John Freeman (MBA ‘00) was featured in a TipRanks expert spotlight 5-Star Analyst John Freeman Shows Confidence in These Stocks.

If you are a Mendoza alumnus and would like your accomplishments to be celebrated in our next business briefings story, please submit them to mendozabusiness@nd.edu.