ND Business Briefings: February 2021 alumni news and updates

Master of Nonprofit Administration grad steps into leadership role

Voris Roberts Vigee (MNA ’20) became the first Black and female president and chief executive officer for Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana last month. When she stepped into the top leadership role at the organization’s southeast Louisiana agency based in New Orleans, she made history during Volunteers of America 125th anniversary year.

 Vigee has worked for the nonprofit for more than 25 years, most recently as executive vice president of programs, managing more than 20 diverse programs including intellectual and developmental disability services, veteran services, adoption and maternity services throughout a 16-parish area. Annually, the organization serves more than 50,000 vulnerable people in the region.

 One year into the pandemic, her team continues to adapt in the spirit of the organization’s founders to “go wherever we are needed and do whatever comes to hand.” This includes key initiatives related to coordinating COVID-19 resources and assisting people at higher risk of HIV.

 She is also in the process of rolling out a new strategic plan and a diversity, equity and inclusion plan for the organization.

 Since 2000, Vigee has been an international surveyor for the Commission for Accreditation Rehabilitation Facilities, a nonprofit accreditor for health and human services agencies. She has also served as a commissioned minister of Volunteers of America for 21 years and currently sits on the national board of directors for Volunteers of America Inc.

Career updates

• Jack Biegalski (MBA ’86) was appointed president and chief operating officer at American Heavy Plates. He most recently served as director of sales and marketing for plate products at ArcelorMittal USA. 
• Braden Parker (BBA ’95 ) was appointed chief commercial officer at Orchard Therapeutics. Previously, he was vice president and general manager at PTC Therapeutics.
• Tom Roderick (BBA ’97) was promoted to director of U.S. equity research at Stifel Financial Corp. He joined Stifel in 2010 through the firm’s acquisition of Thomas Weisel Partners as a managing director and technology analyst covering application software companies.
• Greg Louder (MBA ’00, BBA ’94) has been appointed as a direct sales professional for the UEI Group.
• Dan Hennessy (MBA ’01) was named chief sales officer at FIFCO USA. Previously, he was senior vice president and general manager at Serta Simmons Bedding. He is also teaching a principles of marketing course at Kennesaw State University. 
• Danny White (BBA ’03) was named the new athletic director at the University of Tennessee.
• Frank Lamsens (MSA ’04) was promoted to chief operating officer at Vortus Investment Advisors LLC. He joined Vortus in 2014, serving in dual roles as CFO and chief compliance officer. 
• Daniel A. Santucci (BBA ’06) was appointed president of Saint Patrick High School in Chicago. 
• Brian Miller (MSA ’08) has been promoted to chief financial officer at STAR Financial Bank. Most recently, he served as corporate controller at the company.
• Santiago Rubio (BBA ’12, ND ’12) was promoted to CFO at Idea Financial. Previously, he served as financial planner.
• Jay Lee (BBA ’14) was promoted to vice president at Centana Growth Partners. He has been with the growth equity firm since 2015.
• Mark Madrid (MNA ’15) was appointed associate administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Previously, he served as CEO of the Latino Business Action Network.
• Adenike Opetubo (MBA ’20) took a job as a senior finance manager at Procter & Gamble. 
• Zicheng Shi (MSBA ’20) took a job as a credit analyst with Community Loans of America Inc. Previously, he worked as a product analyst at GEICO Corp.

Board appointments 

• Timothy J. Scannell (MBA ’89, BBA ’86) was elected to the board of directors at Novocure. He is president and chief operating officer of Stryker Corporation.
• Deborah Derby (MBA ’90, JD ’90) was appointed to the board of directors at Henry Schein Inc. Most recently, she served as president of Horizon Group USA.
• David E. Saucedo II (BBA ’07) was appointed to the Texas Board of Nursing. He is president of The Saucedo Lock Company.

Honors

• Stephen Shortell (BBA ’66) will be inducted into Modern Healthcare’s Health Care Hall of Fame. He is a professor of health policy and management and dean emeritus at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health.
• Paul Rainey (MSA ’99, BBA ’98) was recognized by the National Diversity Council on its 2021 Most Influential African Americans in Business list. 
• Christina Bottis (EMBA ’17) was recognized on the 2021 OnCon Icon Awards Top 100 Marketers list. 
• Matt Kauffmann (MBA ’18) was recently recognized by Real Estate Weekly on its 2020 Rising Stars list. He is an investment analyst with Belveron Partners.

Submit your career news to Mendozabusiness@nd.edu.

Read January’s ND Business Briefings.