Charles and his wife, Kaie, enjoy visiting Development and Entrepreneurial EngageEurope with their two daughters: Liina, ment at Augusta University. He served as who is 11 years old, and Kabi, who is 8. that school’s dean of business for 10 years. His areas of research interest include information systems, distance education, and innovation management.
Jennifer Casey Nall (’93,
Wes Laird
management information systems) serves as a nurse informaticist with Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham.
(’90, finance) recently earned a promotion J. Don Overton (’92, finance) is to senior vice president of an attorney, developer, and marketing for USAA in San builder with The Overton Antonio, Texas. He previousFirm and Sustainable Conly served as VP of enterprise struction. He was appointed strategy and planning, and was the compato the National Green Panel ny’s chief strategy officer. Wes enjoys run- for Construction ADR Disputes by Conning, working out, bird hunting, fishing, struction Dispute Resolution Services and and spending time at the beach. was also selected as chair of the Construction Law Section of the Arkansas Bar AssoDonny Lovelace (’97, economics; ’11, MBA) ciation for 2016 to 2017. serves as senior vice president of accounting and finance for Curo Health Services Jimmy Owen (’96, management) recently in Mooresville, North Carolina. He has also earned a promotion, becoming vice presaccepted an invitation to join the Harbert ident of advancement at Young Harris College’s MBA Advisory Council. College in North Georgia after previously serving in the development office at Emory Shavoriea “Shay” Mason (’93, business admin- University and the Woodruff Health Sciistration) owns TouShay Boutique in De- ences Center. catur, Alabama, and also serves as a hospital pharmacy buyer for Decatur Morgan Michael Pennington (’91, operations manHospital. She opened the boutique with agement) serves as director of inventory her 10-year-old niece, Layla, who aspires to planning for Big Time Products in Rome, attend Auburn University one day. Shay Georgia. His oldest daughter, Samantha, plans to open a storefront location in Nash- graduated cum laude from Kennesaw State ville, Tennessee, in 2017 that will employ University with a degree in accounting. women who were once victims of human “One down, four to go!,” he says. trafficking. TouShay sells fashion jewelry, scarves, handbags, and other accessories. Mark Christopher Smith (’91, marketing) is executive vice president—global wealth marShawn McGrath (’92, finance; ket executive for BBVA Compass. In his ’97, MBA) is a partner with free time, he enjoys boating with family Ernst & Young in Charlotte, and friends at Lake Martin. North Carolina. He earned a promotion to partner in EY’s Scott L. Smith (’99, marketing) fraud investigations and disis self-employed as the owner putes services practice in July 2016. When of We’ve Got Your Customnot working, he enjoys playing with his ers, a Tampa, Florida-based 5-year-old son and playing golf. search engine optimization firm. The company celebratDr. Marc Miller (’94, PhD, management) has ed its seventh year in business in 2016. He been named dean for the school of business launched Visibility Doctor to answer deat Henderson State University in Arkadel- mand for healthcare specific websites and phia, Arkansas. He previously served as ex- marketing in July. Scott, who celebrated his ecutive director of the Office of Economic seventh anniversary in May, has served as
50 HM, Fall 2016
president of the Tampa Bay Auburn Club. He also launched Campus Business Connections—aimed at growing Auburn businesses and facilitating online networking.
Mark N. Sobel-Sorrell (’91,
marketing) serves as director of player development for Seminole Gaming. In his role with the company, he works to build customer loyalty and develop business for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino locations in Hollywood and Tampa, Florida. He enjoys spending time with his children and networking.
Lil Soto (’96,
MBA) works for the Avina Foundation in Costa Rica. She works on water access and sanitation concerns in Latin America, as well as migration in Central America and recycling projects in Costa Rica.
Tangela Sconyers Souders
(’92, accounting) is president and chief executive officer of Wiregrass Federal Credit Union in Dothan, Alabama.
Marci Spivey (’97,
accounting; ’98, MAcc) serves as a senior vice president and senior tax consultant for Bessemer Trust in Atlanta, Georgia.
Robert Upchurch (’97, finance) has worked in healthcare sales for Quest Diagnostics for 15 years. He serves as the company’s health system business director for the South Region and is based in Atlanta. Scott Wedge (’94, MBA) earned Culture Am-
bassador status in 2015 at Walmart, where he serves as senior manager of quality for home products. As a culture ambassador, Scott leads new hire orientation sessions. He was married in 2014 and has taken up jogging as a hobby.