2024 Management Department Awards Booklet

DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT

AARON LEETCH STADIUM CLUB Awards

SPRING LUNCHEON

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2024 | 10:30AM

Department of Management

STUDENT AWARDS PROGRAM

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2024

aaron leetch stadium club

10:30

Tina Williams

Chair, Department of Management

DEAN’S ADDRESS

10:35

Ajay Samant

Dean, College of Business

BRUNCH

10:45

Local Favorites Breakfast

Scrambled Eggs with Aged Cheddar

Smoked Applewood Bacon

Pork Sage Sausage Links

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast (whipped butter & maple syrup)

Seasoned Home Fried Potatoes

Seasonal Fruits & Berries

Beverages

Chilled Orange & Cranberry Juices

Freshly Brewed Coffee (regular & decaf)

Hot Tea Selections

PRESENTATION OF STUDENT AWARDS

Department of Management Faculty

Scholarship and Award Donors

Awards and Recipients

OUTSTANDING JUNIOR in Business Administration

Keigan York

OUTSTANDING SENIOR in Business Administration

Sidney Ropp

OUTSTANDING SENIOR in Entrepreneurship

Emily Collins

OUTSTANDING JUNIOR in Entrepreneurship

Faith Cole

OUTSTANDING SENIOR in Human Resource Management

Logan Papineau

OUTSTANDING SENIOR in Organizational Leadership

Matthew Callahan

OUTSTANDING JUNIOR in Management

Cassidy Devine

OUTSTANDING SENIOR in Management

Abigail Plankenhorn

MANAGEMENT AWARD for Citizenship & Service

Oumou Samake

WILLIAM B. POPPLETON

Endowed Scholarship

Melanie Bedolla

KOELZ FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Justin Sanchez

MARIETTA BRIDDICK

Memorial Scholarship

Ava Murray

BOB BRIDDICK

Memorial Scholarship

Oumou Samake

FOLEY FAMILY

Back-a-Bird Scholarship

Alana Lay

COUNTRY FINANCIAL

Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Nick Kuhlman

COUNTRY FINANCIAL

Citizenship and Service Leadership Award

Paige Jaynes

COUNTRY FINANCIAL

Future Business Leader Award

Grace Pakula

COUNTRY FINANCIAL Excellence in MGT Award (Bone Scholar Nominees and Finalists)

Taylor McDermith

Josh Mondel

Ava Murray

Andrea Novotny

Keigan York

Melanie Bedolla

Cassidy Devine

Gabriela Ledesma

Itsaris Moreno

Biographies

MELANIE BEDOLLA is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Human Resources. She has served as a Manager at Fill a Cup in Minooka, Illinois and currently works as a Sales Associate at Marshalls in Shorewood, Illinois. Melanie is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair of Delta Sigma Pi as well as a Mentor and Social Media Manager for Women in Business. Past positions held include Floor Representative for Illinois State University Housing and a Mentee for Business Week. Upon graduation, Melanie plans to secure a full-time position that will constantly engage and push her while also driving both organizational and her personal growth.

MATTHEW CALLAHAN is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Organizational Leadership. He has served as Operations Intern, Marina Administrator, Boat Club Location Manager, Marine Protections Coordinator, and Operations Manager of Marine Protections for The Boat House Group in Johnsburg, Illinois from September 2021 until the present. Additionally, he has served as a Risk Management & Interfraternity Council Delegate of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity from September 2021 to May 2022 and President of the same organization from February 2022 to April 2023. Upon graduation, Matthew has accepted a full-time position as the Marine Protections Operations Manager at The Boat House group.

FAITH COLE is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Entrepreneurship/Small Business. She has worked as an Assistant Helper for Cole Family Dentistry from June to August 2019 and as a Lifeguard at Splash Cove in Decatur, Illinois from July to August 2020. She currently serves as the Alumni Relations Chair for Delta Zeta Sorority and is an active member in the Order of Omega and the National Society of Leadership and Success. A future goal is to work with her sister in starting their own clothing and swimming line.

EMILY COLLINS is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Entrepreneurship/Small Business. She has worked as an Intern and a Restaurant Manager at Johnny K’s in Sandwich, Illinois. Emily has served as the Director of Fundraising for Women in Business and is currently the organization’s Marketing Week Committee Chair. Additionally, she has participated in the Mentor Program for Business Week during the 2024 spring semester. Upon graduation, she plans to obtain a full-time position with a company that can continue to help her grow and build her skillset. Emily’s long-term goal is to open her own ice cream shop.

CASSIDY DEVINE is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Human Resources. From October 2022 to January 2023, she completed her first internship in human resource management at the Borgen Project. Cassidy participated in a second human resource management internship at Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee, Illinois from May 2023 to August 2023. For the summer of 2024, she obtained a very competitive internship in human resource management, where she will focus in recruiting, at Uline in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Additionally, Cassidy has served as an Alternative Break Team Leader in Kenya, Memphis, and the Cherokee Nation from October 2021

to May 2023. Upon graduation, Cassidy would like to work as a recruiter to use her talent of understanding individuals and their qualities and utilizing this information to properly place them in positions that will suit their knowledge, skills, and abilities.

PAIGE JAYNES is majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Business Analytics. During the summer of 2023, she worked as a Management and Sales Intern at Sherwin Williams in Bloomington and Carbondale, Illinois. She is the Vice President of Professional Development for Pi Sigma Epsilon, serves as a Mentor for Business Week and is an active member in Women in Business. Upon graduation, Paige would like to obtain an entry-level position at a reputable company before returning to school to attain an MBA degree.

NICK KUHLMAN is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Entrepreneurship/Small Business. He is a Co-founder of Koozies for a Cause, currently serving on the Marketing Committee. Nick has worked as a Purchasing Agent and Sales Associate for S.B.C. Waste Solutions in Broadview, Illinois where he will be completing an internship this summer. He is active in Alpha Kappa Psi-Professional Business Fraternity and in Feed My Starving Children in Schaumberg, Illinois. Upon graduation, Nick would like to obtain a position providing Section 8 housing where he can provide homes to the less fortunate in society.

ALANA LAY is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Human Resources. She has been working as a Human Resources Information Systems Operations/Project Management Intern at Saint-Gobain North America since May 2023. Additionally, Alana worked as a Pharmacy Technician at Walgreen’s Pharmacy in Normal, Illinois from September 2021 to August 2023. She is currently the Treasurer of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated-Theta Delta Chapter and the Vice President of College Experience. Upon graduation, Alana will enroll in a Master’s degree program in Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois before seeking a full-time position.

GABRIELA LEDESMA is majoring in International Business and minoring in Business Analytics. She currently works in Marketing and Communication Assistance for Illinois State University, previously having served as a Philanthropy Engagement Ambassador for the university. Gabriela is the President of the International Business Association and is the President and Founder of Leadership Panama. Upon graduation, she would like to earn an MBA. Her dream job is to work in the Permanent Mission of Panama to the United Nations.

TAYLOR MCDERMITH is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Human Resources and is minoring in Organizational Leadership. She currently works in Recruiting for Growmark, Inc. in Normal, Illinois. During the summer of 2024, Taylor will serve as a Student Intern for the Total Rewards Benefit and Compensation teams in the Human Resources & Development (HR&D) department at State Farm in Bloomington, Illinois. She has held the positions of Warden and Pledge Secretary for Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity. Upon graduation, she would like to obtain a full-time Human Resources position at Growmark or State Farm, work full time for a nonprofit organization, or seek a full-time position in the ministry.

JOSH MONDEL is majoring in Business Administration. He currently holds the position of a Premium Events Staff Employee at Illinois State University. Since June 2023, Josh has worked in Restoration Inspection for the City of Naperville, Illinois and will be doing an internship during the summer of 2024

in Restoration Inspection for the city. Additionally, Josh has been active for two years in Sigma Chi Fraternity Fundraising for the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Bloomington/Normal, Illinois. Upon graduation, he would like to pursue job opportunities in the management field.

ITSARIS MORENO is majoring in International Business and minoring in Business Analytics. She currently works in the Student Accounts Office at Illinois State University. Itsaris serves as the Treasurer of the Spanish Club and has been a Mentor in the Business Week Mentor Program. In April 2023, she participated on Illinois State University’s team at the CUIBE International Business Case Competition in Saint Louis, Missouri. Upon graduation, she would like to work in a US multinational corporation. After gaining some work experience, Itsaris would like to open her own business in Panama.

AVA MURRAY is majoring in Business Administration. She currently works as a Sales Teammate at the Buckle in Bloomington. She has served as the Director of Social Service and has been on the Recruitment Committee for Women in Business and was a Founder of We Dine Together. Upon graduation, Ava is considering either a career in sales or management but is interested in exploring other opportunities as well.

ANDREA NOVOTNY is double majoring in Business Administration and Criminal Justice. During the 2024 spring semester, she is doing an internship with the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office in Bloomington, Illinois. Andrea is currently Vice President of Marketing for Mock trial. Additionally, she has served as Warden of Alpha Kappa Psi, Co-Ed Professional Business Fraternity, and as Director of Finance of Alpha Gamma Delta. Upon graduation from Illinois State University, Andrea plans to attend law school to become either an immigration or corporate lawyer.

GRACE PAKULA is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Human Resources. During the 2024 spring semester, she is a Property & Casualty Claims Intern at State Farm. From August 2023 to December 2023, she worked as a Human Resources Intern at Caterpillar in Peoria, Illinois. Grace serves as the Vice President of Recruitment for Delta Delta Delta and previously held the positions of the homecoming chair and the new member education chair of this organization. Additionally, she was the Director of Social Media, Recruitment Committee for Women in Business. Upon graduation, Grace hopes to work for a company whose values align with hers and has a culture in which she feels comfortable.

LOGAN PAPINEAU is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Human Resources, and minoring in Philosophy. From May 2023 to August 2023, he served as a Management Intern for Dayton Freight Lines, MDW Service Center in Crest Hill, Illinois. Logan currently works as an Academic Peer Advisor Leader for Illinois State University College Academic Advising. He has served as Vice President of Chapter Operations and Vice President of Alumni Relations for Delta Sigma Pi, the Co-Ed Professional Business Fraternity. In this organization, he is currently the Inter-Business Fraternity Council (IBFC) Chairperson. Additionally, Logan also has served as a Transitions Seminar Coordinator for Business Week. Upon graduation, he would like to work as a Human Resources Analyst with a longer-term goal of becoming a Senior Human Resources Analyst after obtaining three to five years of work experience.

ABIGAIL PLANKENHORN is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Entrepreneurship/Small Business, and minoring in Organizational Leadership. She works as a Student Office Assistant for the Illinois State University Office

of Parking and Transportation. From June 2023 to July 2023, Abigail was a Store Leadership Intern at Kohl’s in Peru, Illinois. She has served as a Mentor in Illinois State University Business Week Mentor Program, as Co-Rush Chair and Service Chair of Alpha Kappa Psi – Professional Business Fraternity and the Vice President of Public Relations for Hangin’ Around, a non-profit business she cofounded. Upon graduation, she will work at Kohl’s as a Store Assistant Manager, hoping to move into a corporate management role with Kohl’s or a larger company. A long-term goal is to open her own soup and sandwich shop where she can express her love for cooking and share her family’s soup recipes.

SIDNEY ROPP is double majoring in Business Administration and Legal Studies. She was a Bone Scholar finalist from the Department of Management & Quantitative Methods in 2023. Sidney works as a legal intern in Brewer Law Office as well as at Allegiant Air where she serves as a Ground Security Coordinator. From June 2022 to August 2022, Sidney worked as a Law Department Intern at RLI Insurance. Currently, she is a Student Volunteer for Prairie State Legal Services. She serves as the President of Women in Business, the Treasurer of Epsilon Sigma Alpha and is the RSO Representative on the Student Leadership Board. Upon graduation, Sidney would like to earn a law degree and then practice law as corporate counsel for a large company.

OUMOU SAMAKE is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Human Resources. She is currently a Human Resources Intern for the City of Bloomington. Prior to her internship, Oumou served as a Tour Guide for the Illinois State University Office of Admissions from January 2022 to April 2023. Additionally, she has been the Community Service Chair of the Black Student Union, a Mentor for The Mentoring, Academic, Scholarship, and Achievement Initiative, and a Trip Leader for Alternative Breaks. Finally, in the 2022 fall semester, she was a guest speaker for Governor J.B. Pritzker. Upon graduation, Oumou will enroll in a Master’s degree program in Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois before seeking a full-time position.

JUSTIN SANCHEZ is majoring in Management, with a specialization in Entrepreneurship/Small Business. He is a previous owner of The Hideout, a nutrition bar, in Bloomington, Illinois. Justin is currently active in the Student Veterans of America, having served in the US Army in the OEF and OIF campaigns from 2000 to 2004. Upon graduation, he would like to start and grow his own business, perhaps in a health-related field.

KEIGAN YORK is majoring in Business Administration. From June 2018 through August 2022, he worked as a Manager at the McDonald’s in Chillicothe, Illinois. When he began his managerial role in 2018, he was the youngest manager of a McDonald’s franchise throughout the United States. Since August 2022, Keigan has worked as an Academic Peer Advisor/Leader/Ombudsman at Illinois State University’s UCollege. Upon graduation, Keigan would like to earn an MBA degree. One of his goals is to operate his own business, perhaps being an independent contractor for FedEx.

Faculty and Staff

Dr. Ajay Samant Dean, College of Business

Dr. Tina Williams Chair, Department of Management

Dr. Sandeep Jagani Assistant Chair, Department of Management

Seann Berrocales Office Manager

Dani Meier Office Administrator

Aramani Tubbs Student Worker

Faith Ward Student Worker

Dr. Avi Datta Director, Means Center for Entrepreneurship

Dr. Nathan Hartman Director, Organizational Leadership Institute

Dr. Somnath Lahiri College of Business Research Director

Dr. Barb Ribbens Director, Varner International Business Institute

Renee Allison

Mona Bahl

Yongmei Bally

Alex Barelka

Edith Busija

Ashish Chandra

Askar Choudhury

Victor Devinatz

Meredith Downes

Hakan Ener

Peter Foreman

Mark Hoelscher

Heather Jia

Sherri Kae

Katy Koe

Terry Lowe

Joe McDonald

Tom Mellor

Doug Micklich

Tobi Pret

Theresa Sanchez

Brice Seifert

Robert Shoop

Jamie Wieland

Gary Wolbers

Anna Zabinski

About Us

The Department of Management develops motivated students into professionals who excel in today’s dynamic and challenging business environment. We are the largest department on campus with more than 1400 students. The Department of Management operates within the College of Business, an institution experiencing increasing national recognition.

PROGRAMS

Business Administration

Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management

Human Resource Management

Organizational Leadership

CENTERS AND INSTITUTES

Carson & Iris Varner International Business Institute

George R. and Martha Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

Organizational Leadership Institute

AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE ARE:

One of 189 business schools in the world to have both business and accounting accreditation by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Sixth ranking in a row as as one of the top 100 undergraduate business schools by Bloomberg BusinessWeek magazine

Recognized in Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools for our MBA program

Part of a university that has been named by Kiplinger Personal Finance as one of the “100 Best Values” in undergraduate education

Attracting an increasingly talented pool of students from across the state of Illinois and throughout the Midwest.

The Faculty and Staff of the Department of Management would like to congratulate all of this year’s award recipients.

We would also like to thank family, friends, and donors for their support of our program and for joining us on this special occasion.