DEAN’S MESSAGE
After the Whitworth School of Business received initial AACSB accreditation in 2020, I began to be invited to participate on peer review teams for other business schools undergoing review. During these visits, we spend several days on campus interviewing faculty, staff and students in an effort to see how they measure up to the AACSB standards. Each of the schools that I have visited so far has had particular strengths, as well as areas that could use some attention. One key takeaway for me, though, is that the WSB will be in exceptionally good shape as it anticipates its first “continuous improvement review” in 2025. This is because the people involved in our business school are exceptionally dedicated to its mindand-heart mission.
It is amazing to see what the faculty, students and staff of the Whitworth School of Business have accomplished during the last few years. Undaunted by the pandemic, enrollment challenges, and widespread social and cultural upheaval, the WSB has undertaken many new initiatives. These include the launch of our Master of Science in Financial Planning degree, the opening of the Bennett Family Student Investment Center, and the creation of a new business analytics lab.
Once again, our students have done well in the local round of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, as well as the Quinnipiac GAME Forum, the Appalachian State BIG Stock Pitch Competition, Spokane Sparks Weekend and the Spokane Founders Live Pitch Challenge. One enterprising student, Luis Pablo Carrera-Lara ’25, who operates his own specialty jewelry business, competed in a number of entrepreneurship competitions and came in third place in the 2024 Avista Entrepreneur Competition. At least one faculty member refers to Luis as “that business guy,” which is both high praise and a very true statement.
Our staff members have created new ways to engage students with the business community. Director of SCS Business Programs Stephanie Elie-Martin, Ph.D., renewed our operations management certificate by folding it into an accredited Six-Sigma training program. Associate Director of Internships & External Relations Sierra Bryceson expanded the accounting recruitment event to include an additional day in the spring to encourage more accounting firms to reach our students throughout the year. Assistant Dean Sinéad Voorhees helped launch the new Master of Science in Financial Planning, which graduated its first class in May 2024.
WSB faculty have been publishing in higher-quality academic journals. For example, Michelle Li-Kuehne, DBA, published an article, “Community Social Capital and Accounting Conservatism,” in the Journal of Forensic Accounting Research, and Robin Henager, Ph.D., published “Exploring financial behaviors of military households: Do financial knowledge and financial education matter?” in Financial Services Review
In addition, our faculty members are engaged with the business community in substantial ways. Vange Ocasio Hochheimer, Ph.D., speaks as one of three panelists to address Greater Spokane Incorporated’s Economic Forecast each year, and in summer 2024 she was the keynote speaker at the Washington Bankers Association Annual Convention. Other faculty members are involved in consulting for businesses, churches and nonprofits and serving on community boards.
The result of the exceptional dedication of the WSB team is a superior education for Whitworth students, which is on full display in the pages that follow.
Tim Wilkinson, Ph.D. Professor and Charles L. Boppell Dean
WU IN NYC
From left, students Madison Martin ’23, Palmer Pederson ’23 and Liam McGehee ’24, along with Assistant Professor of Finance Richard Cloutier, traveled to New York City for the Quinnipiac GAME Forum in spring 2023. “It was an immersive cultural and learning experience as we explored the city and listened to some of the greatest minds in the financial community,” Martin says.
From left, students Nicolas Caballero ’24, Maria Pollack ’25, Devyn Chelin ’27 and James Walker ’25 won second place in the Poster Session Competition at the 2024 Quinnipiac GAME Forum. This was the first time Whitworth students entered a competition at this event.
On the cover: MSFP Graduates – P. 13 From left, Gerald Twenge ’23, MSFP ’24, and Jayden Patterson MSFP ’24 proudly enter Whitworth’s graduate commencement ceremony on May 18, 2024, with the first graduating class of the Master of Science in Financial Planning program.
SPOKANE CAREER TREK
In October 2022, the WSB in conjunction with the computer science program took 18 students to seven local businesses: Medcurity, Ignitium, 14Four, Aon, Greater Spokane Incorporated, Treasury4 and Ten Capital. Students had the opportunity to meet with a variety of alumni at each location and connect with these local companies. Pictured are students taking a break with Professor of Math & Computer Science Pete Tucker to play foosball in the lobby of the Wonder Building outside the Treasury4 and Ten Capital offices.
CAMP KESEM
Kesem is a national organization that supports children through and beyond a parent’s cancer by providing mentorship, community and a free week of summer camp. A group of student volunteers at Whitworth started the university’s chapter of Camp Kesem in the 2021-22 academic year, and the inaugural Camp Kesem at Whitworth was held in summer 2022. Kyle Schmit ’21, a business administration major and Whitworth Student Investment Group member, served as the group’s cofounder. The name Kesem means “magic” in Hebrew. Magic is exactly what Kesem aims to provide for children whose parents have cancer. At camp, children find adventure and creativity, build trust in themselves, and create new friendships.
INSTITUTE OF LEADERSHIP COHORT
In 2022-23, the Institute of Leadership welcomed its second cohort of fellows. The group traveled to Sun Valley, Idaho; Palm Springs, Calif.; and Sunriver, Ore., for the program’s three in-person intensives.
PANCAKES FOR FINALS
Assistant Professor of Accounting Tara Lambert got creative in the department’s small kitchen and made pancakes for her students before their final exams in May 2023. It is thoughtful service like this from our professors that makes the Whitworth experience unique, truly equipping students’ minds and hearts.
B-FEST
At the end of every year, Business Club hosts B-Fest for the entire school. With free hot dogs, chips, soda and cookies, B-Fest is a restful, fun release for students before finals. Live music fills the air as students get their food and wander through the student market. May 2023 was the first time we had student businesses represented to sell and market some of their products – a vintage clothing store and moped rentals.
BAP CHAPTER INSTALLATION
In May 2023, the Whitworth School of Business established the Xi Upsilon Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) chapter, made possible by our AACSB accreditation. BAP is a world-renowned honors organization for accounting and finance students with over 300 chapters on university and college campuses.
CFA TEAM
The Whitworth Student Investment Group has participated in the CFA Institute Research Challenge every year since 2015 (with the exception of 2021), winning the local round of the competition each time it has competed. In spring 2024, the team (pictured, from left: Cadin Hogue ’26, Nicolas Caballero ’24, Faculty Advisor Richard Cloutier, Behzad Bahrami ’24 and James Walker ’25) advanced to the Regional Semifinal round of the global competition, the furthest a Whitworth team has reached, competing against teams from North and South America.
EXEMPLARY BUSINESS MANAGEMENT GRAD
Lydia Roloff Logsdon ’24, a business management major in the Whitworth School of Continuing Studies, read Scripture at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on Whitworth’s campus on May 19, 2024. Roloff Logsdon was also awarded the first Golden Pinecone Award, given to the graduating SCS student who best exemplifies Whitworth by being mission-driven and community-minded.
WHITWORTH STARTUP WEEKEND
Fall 2023 was a busy time for Whitworth’s entrepreneurial students. At Startup Weekend in November, 28 students competed in teams to pitch and build out business ideas with the support of 11 employer and alumni coaches, presenters and judges. Following Startup Weekend, many of the students engaged with the entrepreneurial field in Spokane at Sparks Weekend and the Founders Live Startup Pitch Competition and were on the winning teams of both competitions. Additionally, a student came in third place at the Avista Entrepreneur Competition.
NEW GSB CONCENTRATIONS
Four new concentrations were launched in Graduate Studies in Business this year, providing students with an opportunity to expand and focus their learning. The new concentrations are strategic management, innovation & change management, wealth management, and biblical stewardship & leadership.
WILDEST DREAMS RETREAT
Students in the School of Continuing Studies, including seven students in business programs, had the unique opportunity to attend the first Wildest Dreams Retreat in May 2024. Created specifically for adult students who balance work, family, school and more, this overnight event at Camp Lutherhaven gave them space to connect, recharge, and discern their purposes and callings.
SPRING ACCOUNTING RECRUITMENT
In collaboration with Whitworth’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter, the annual Accounting Recruitment event was expanded to include an additional day in the spring semester to encourage more accounting firms to reach our students throughout the year. On Feb. 2, 2024, 32 students attended a full morning of networking, heard from two separate panels of professionals, and engaged in deeper conversations with 28 finance and accounting professionals over brunch. This experience opened doors for our students to learn more about the professional world, as well as internship and job opportunities.
TREKKING INTO SPOKANE 2024
While the Spokane Career Trek normally takes place in the fall, an additional event was held in the spring this year to expand opportunities for students to engage with business professionals. On March 1, 2024, the WSB hosted the spring Spokane Career Trek in conjunction with the Center for Career & Professional Development, taking 15 students to three local businesses and organizations, Desautel Hege (DH), Big Table and Innovia Foundation. Students had the opportunity to meet with a variety of alumni at each location. They also attended the Women’s Leadership Network 360 Luncheon, where they heard from a panel of inspiring professionals who are making their mark in Spokane.
WSIG CELEBRATES MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY
Once just an idea of three Whitworth students, the Whitworth Student Investment Group (WSIG) celebrated its 10-year anniversary in October 2022.
More than 35 WSIG alumni and current members gathered in downtown Spokane to celebrate the growth, community and skills that WSIG developed in each of them over the years.
“During the event, I had the opportunity to reconnect with one of the founders, whose face was filled with immense joy and pride in seeing how far the group has progressed and evolved over the years,” says Nicolas Caballero ’24, who served as WSIG’s president from 2022-24. “It was inspiring to hear how the idea of WSIG started as a mere dream, with the founders distributing donuts outside of Weyerhaeuser. The founders pushed through early challenges to build a strong foundation that’s allowed the group to flourish for over a decade.”
In partnership with the Whitworth Board of Trustees, the Robblee-Roberts Student Investment Fund and former Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance Duff Bergquist, WSIG was founded in 2012 by James King ’12, Austin Vierra ’12 and Makayla Palmer ’13. The group has evolved and grown over the years, but the goals have remained constant – providing students with hands-on experience in many areas, including investment management, public speaking and leadership.
“It is incredibly rewarding to see how it has grown in 10 years and how it has developed, matured and prepared future Whitworth graduates for their careers,” King says.
Bergquist shared remarks with the group at the celebration, reflecting on the hard work that everyone put into making WSIG what it has become.
“The WSIG 10-year reunion celebrated their legacy and the program they created. WSIG was the vehicle that facilitated lifelong friendships and memories,” Bergquist says. “It is a testament to empowering students and letting them chase their dreams. I will be forever grateful to have been a part of their journey.”
“It was inspiring to hear how the idea of WSIG started as a mere dream, with the founders distributing donuts outside of Weyerhaeuser.”
– Nicolas Caballero ’24
NEW INVESTMENT CENTER ELEVATES GROUP’S CAPABILITIES, VISIBILITY
The Whitworth School of Business celebrated the grand opening of the Bennett Family Student Investment Center in April 2024. Thanks to the generosity of Jim Bennett ’89 and Karla Bennett, the center is housed on the ground floor of Weyerhaeuser Hall and provides an expansion of the original H.H. “Larry” Larison Trading Room. The new space doubles the number of student computer stations, upgrades the collaboration space and provides two faculty offices.
“We strongly believe in Whitworth and its students,” Jim Bennett says. “We have seen the impact that this investment club has had: providing new skill sets, leadership opportunities, community building and careers. This center elevates WSIG so it stands apart from other student groups around the world.”
At the event, President Scott McQuilkin gave a brief address to the crowd of faculty, staff, students, WSIG alumni, advisory board members and trustees for the opening in conjunction with the grand reopening of the Dana & David Dornsife Center for Community Engagement. Attendees then had the opportunity to tour the new spaces, network with each other, and celebrate new and expanded resources for Whitworth students.
Ken Roberts ’68, Whitworth trustee emeritus and one of the founding donors of the Robblee-Roberts Student Investment Fund, was in attendance to see the new space. “My hope in supporting the Student Investment Group was that the students could learn to be better investors and to be better stewards of what God has given them,” Roberts says. “Thanks to the efforts of the faculty advisors and others at Whitworth, the students have used their investing experience to get great internships while in college and impressive positions in the investment industry after graduation.”
The center has already made a significant impact on Whitworth students. “Not only is the new trading room much more spacious than the previous iteration, allowing for more open discussion and work to get done, but its central location on the first floor has increased the draw of the club to the entire campus,” says Cadin Hogue ’26, 2024-25 WSIG president. “We as a club are so thankful for the recognition of our hard work that is the new trading room and can’t wait to see what other opportunities it affords us in the future.”
“I hope our WSIG students go on to be financially successful,” Bennett says, “so they in turn can give back to Whitworth and its mission to honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity.”
ACCOMMODATING LIFE’S DEMANDS
Option to Attend Class Online
Aids Adult Students
Meeting students where they are is a top priority for the business management program within the Whitworth School of Continuing Studies. In 2020, the program moved synchronously online, like many other programs, because of the pandemic. After the pandemic, the program resumed offering in-person courses but continued to also offer the option for students to attend class virtually. Since then, the program has continued with this dual modality format, with some students physically in the classroom and others live online via videoconference.
These dual modality options have provided important flexibility for adult students who have challenges or scheduling conflicts that make attending class in person difficult. This was the case for members of Cohort 53.
Stormy Anderson ’24, who has gone on to start a co-op preschool in Ione, enrolled in the program when she was five months pregnant. She says she truly enjoyed how the program is set up. If there had not been a virtual option, she could not have attended otherwise.
“Going through this experience with the same group of people has allowed us to grow together and to encourage one another to keep going.”
– Stormy Anderson ’24
“Even as a virtual student, I still felt very included in every class,” Anderson says. “Going through this experience with the same group of people has allowed us to grow together and to encourage one another to keep going. The professors and admins were there to help us succeed and answer any questions we had.”
Another member of Cohort 53, Naj Ataiee ’24, relocated to the United States in 2017 with a desire to pursue his education further. While deciding where he wanted to pursue his bachelor’s degree after earning an A.A.S. degree, the School of Continuing Studies stood out to him. It allowed him to work full time during the day while still advancing his education. Similar to Anderson, Ataiee appreciated the flexible attendance options.
“Life’s demands occasionally made it challenging to physically attend classes due to work commitments or family responsibilities,” Ataiee says. “In those cases, dual modality helped accommodate through those times and allowed flexibility for me and many others to attend remotely.”
Serving the Local Workforce
Stephanie Elie-Martin Tailors Adult Business Programs to Community Needs
Stephanie Elie-Martin joined Whitworth University as the director of business programs for the School of Continuing Studies in fall 2023. The Whitworth School of Business is excited about the wealth of knowledge and experience Elie-Martin has brought to her role, as well as her innovation and fresh insights that have helped us to continue to promote and grow our business programs.
Elie-Martin is grateful for the opportunity to harness her 20 years of private sector leadership experience with her passion for higher education as the director of business programs. She says, “Having spent so long leading complex and diverse private sector organizations, I acutely understand the role higher education plays in workforce development. I am excited to create programs that can serve our local communities and help all individuals and organizations thrive.”
In addition to Elie-Martin’s decades of experience in primarily construction and manufacturing, she recently earned a Ph.D. in leadership at Gonzaga University. Her research focus is collective leadership, high-performing
teams and civil discourse. She is finding great enjoyment in continuing her research in partnership with many members of the WSB faculty.
In Elie-Martin’s first year, she has made concrete steps to ensure that our continuing studies business management degree and certificates are meeting local workforce needs. One way she is accomplishing this is through increasing our strategic partnerships with local employers to refine and design programs to meet their needs. The newly retooled operations management certificate, which now includes Six Sigma certification, is one excellent example. After speaking with local leaders, Elie-Martin realized the need for Six Sigma in the Spokane area. We are now proudly Six Sigma accredited and offering a program that provides both lean process knowledge and the change management skills to reify those changes.
Elie-Martin has greatly enjoyed watching the students in the continuing studies program thrive. She says, “Getting to share in students’ sacred stories is one of the greatest gifts I could imagine. Watching adult learners overcome challenges to achieve their goals is what drives me to ensure that we are offering the highest quality education and the fewest barriers possible. I believe we aren’t just providing a piece of paper but helping improve individual and collective lives.”
New Master of Science in Financial Planning Is a Natural Fit
In May 2023, the joy and excitement could be felt in the room at Maryhill Winery Tasting Room & Bistro in Spokane as the Whitworth School of Business launched its newest master’s degree, the Master of Science in Financial Planning (MSFP). Over 100 people – Whitworth faculty, staff and administrators, as well as industry professionals and Whitworth supporters – came together to celebrate the start of this needed and new program, as well as its champions Sinéad Voorhees and Robin Henager. The initial idea for this program began years prior, but after a few years of hard work, along with some inspiration and perfect timing, the program took shape.
“My Ph.D. is from the department of Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics at the University of Georgia,” says Henager, associate dean and associate professor of business & economics. “When I started teaching at Whitworth, I immediately noticed a need and wanted to start a financial planning program at Whitworth.”
Financial Planning program. She says, “We did some market research and found no other MSFP programs are offered in the Pacific Northwest. Now, this is the only one within five states.”
Voorhees, assistant dean of Graduate Studies in Business, noted how easily the MSFP fit into Whitworth’s mission. “We’re a university historically known for our teachers and preachers. Financial planning is an entire industry of teachers and preachers for people’s personal finances,” she says. “Once I learned the heart behind these professionals and this industry, I felt honored to contribute our graduates to it. It was such a seamless extension of what Whitworth has been doing for over 100 years that recruitment felt effortless.”
Henager
The School of Business has a strong finance program, and Henager understood the practicality of adding financial planning as a program of study. When Whitworth’s administration asked for innovative ideas for graduate programs, Henager suggested Graduate Studies in Business investigate starting a Master of Science in
One of the most incredible parts of launching this program has been the involvement, feedback and support from the financial planning community across the country, but most especially here in Spokane. Voorhees reflects, “I have been blown away by the generosity and support of the Spokane financial planning community. They wrapped their arms around this degree and our heart behind serving this industry. They embody the Whitworth mission and all I can think is, ‘We should have started this degree years ago. Wow!’”
FIRST MSFP COHORT LEADS THE WAY
In May 2024, our first Master of Science in Financial Planning graduates walked across the commencement stage, smiling proudly. This group of committed students endeavored to be trailblazers leading the way for our MSFP program.
Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Business & Economics Robin Henager had the honor of reading their names. “I fought back tears but managed to announce every student’s name just fine!” she says. “It was wonderful to share in the joy each student felt as they walked across the stage.” From the initial class to this moment, Henager has seen these cohort members grow as students and watches them now as they are prepared to step more deeply into the financial planning profession.
relationships with each other through their time together. Keeping mind and heart at the forefront of this program in the classes and immersions led to a group of graduates ready to engage deeply with their clients and provide thoughtful, informed financial advice.
In a field where relationships and connections are vital, the students in the MSFP program were exposed to many supportive and generous professionals in the industry through their classes and immersions and built
Gerald Twenge ’23, MSFP ’24, was part of the first MSFP cohort and was hired as a financial advisor at a local company soon after graduation. He reflects on the MSFP program’s significant influence on his life: “There was an absolute wealth of knowledge that I acquired during the nine-month program. On top of that, the connections and relationships that I built are something I will forever
“...the connections and relationships that I built are something I will forever be grateful for...”
– Gerald Twenge ’23, MSFP ’24
be grateful for and have been the best part of the experience,” he says. “Between dinners hosted by wonderful sponsors during intensive portions of the course and many happy hours with classmates and professors, there were so many lifelong relationships built that I will cherish forever.”
SPOTLIGHT ALUMNI
BROOKE BAKER
SPINK MBL ’23
Chief Executive Officer, Baker Construction & Development Inc.
My Master of Business Leadership degree from Whitworth has both empowered me and challenged me professionally in a completely new way. As a leader, it’s hard to allow yourself the “right” to expose your raw edges and become vulnerable. Whitworth provided me with a space to do that, which is something I will be forever grateful for. I work in a dynamic and fastpaced industry where no two days are the same for me. I have appreciated how the skills and thought-provoking lessons I learned in the program have allowed me to think more globally and strategically on an array of topics. My favorite and most rewarding part of my job is that I get to help people achieve their dreams and help them elevate their businesses to a whole new level. My growth journey and trajectory at Whitworth and at Baker have been concurrent and could not have come at a better time in my life.
CODY HINES ’12, MBA ’16
Commercial Banking Relationship Officer, Numerica Credit Union
Banking wasn’t my dream career, or even one that I had considered. Like many that I’ve spoken to in the industry, I fell into an entry role initially and ended up enjoying the opportunity so much that I stuck with it.
I’ve been fortunate to have a tremendous amount of support and mentorship over the years to get to where I am today, and I’m confident that the skills and relationships that I developed while at Whitworth have played a large part in the growth opportunities that I’ve had in my personal and professional life. The most rewarding part of my career is working with clients to develop a plan and then watch that plan come to fruition over time as we work together through struggles and successes. The ability to be there for clients when they need a financial partner is a great feeling and helps me to see how I can make positive impacts in our community by working with individuals and businesses of all sizes.
MARISSA MOUNT ’19
Customer Success Manager, Planful
After several years in public accounting as a tax consultant and later as a financial analyst, I transitioned to a customerfacing role at a financial planning software company. This shift allows me to blend my passion for customer relationships with my expertise in accounting and finance. In my current position focused on customer success and strategy, I delve into the technical aspects of the software and build meaningful relationships with our clients. I particularly enjoy helping customers streamline their processes using our software, performing tasks similar to those I once did as an analyst. Additionally, I am fortunate to work with a fantastic team that supports my growth both professionally and personally.
ERIC TIPTON ’18, MBA ’20
EIM EESC & Resource Integration Specialist, Avista Corp.
While at Whitworth, I gained invaluable insights about myself and the world around me. Among the many lessons learned, I developed lifelong friendships and embraced important principles that continue to resonate with me. Two key takeaways were learning to embrace discomfort and fearlessness toward change, as well as recognizing the unique mindset of Whitworth graduates. Little did I envision the path I would tread today. An opportunity for transformation arose, prompting me to depart from the financial industry, where I had spent over a decade honing my skills. Venturing into the utility sector with limited knowledge was undeniably uncomfortable. However, the education and experiences I acquired at Whitworth eased the transition and brought a sense of fulfillment, knowing that I now contribute to the community through my role at Avista. At Avista, our mission centers around providing affordable, safe and reliable energy. Through this new endeavor, I am grateful for the chance to serve the community and make a tangible impact. It is a testament to the transformative power of embracing discomfort, seizing opportunities, and the unique perspective fostered by a Whitworth education.
SPOTLIGHT
KAMERON FLEMING ’24
Director of E-commerce, Skyhawks Sports Academy
After originally not pursuing college as a traditional college student, I never thought I would go – partially because I thought I missed the cut and partially because there was no way I was going to be able to afford to attend. It wasn’t until I looked around and realized that it’s never too late to dive in and that I wasn’t going to be doing it alone. I was met with extreme encouragement from family, colleagues and the university staff day in and day out. With the opportunity to work all day and attend classes at night, not only was my degree attainable financially, but I was able to immediately put my educational experience to use. Where I am at today is not where I thought I’d be and isn’t where I believe I will finish, but it all started with a little faith and betting on myself. Continue to say yes, continue to take the risks, because when you are able to stay rooted in faith, the chances you take on yourself can never turn out bad
PETER CLEARY ’10
President, West Paw
Business can be hard when people aren’t engaged in their work and when workdays are studded with tense moments caused by misalignment and miscommunication. By contrast, I love creating a different kind of work environment: one where teams love working together, are passionate about our work, and delight in building a successful company. The technical details of your professional discipline matter, but excellence in your discipline is table stakes. What really sets you apart in the professional world – and amplifies the impact you make at work – is how you treat people. As a liberal arts, Christ-centered university, Whitworth emphasized this reality while I was a student. What surprises me is how true it has proved to be across multiple companies, in various industries, for going on two decades. At the end of the day, the way I make others feel is the most important part of how I show up as a coworker. How well do I listen? Am I engaged with what they care about most? Do I provide good input when asked? Do I stay positive, leading with solutions over focusing on problems? Doing these things well is how we make a lasting impact.
AMY KOON ’22, MBA ’24 President, Wayfinder
It’s a privilege to encourage and invest in people, providing them with opportunities to stretch and develop their talents. But that moment when they realize that the most valuable use of their talents is in the service of others – that’s the good stuff. It is both daunting and inspiring to consider that our biggest impact will be from the seeds we plant today – even if we never get to see what eventually blooms. One of the things I treasure most about the Whitworth experience is Whitworth’s commitment to both the mind and heart. This mission is more than just a tagline; it’s central to the academic experience. Learning isn’t just about accumulating knowledge – learning is a powerful tool for serving others. The journey is just as important and valuable as the destination. This is true for most things in life, but it’s particularly easy to forget when you’re working toward a specific degree or end goal. Crossing the finish line is just a moment in time, but it’s the relationships you build, the questions you ask yourself and others, the mistakes you make, and the struggles you persevere through that truly transform you.
JASON MARKARIAN ’18 Fleet Sales Manager, PACCAR Parts
Building a network of mentors and people you trust will open so many more doors than you could ever do on your own. I stopped looking at my career from a five-year plan standpoint and instead focused on performance and building relationships in each role. Whether you’re in it for six months or two years, you never know where the next opportunity will come from or who will be the person to help get you there. Being in a sales position, it’s always great to close the deal and hit your monthly/quarterly goals. When I started in this role, that was my only objective: How do I sell more? Over time, though, I’ve found that the most rewarding part of my job is when I can help solve a problem for the customer through the product I offer. Taking the time to understand what the client is lacking and how our product can fill that void creates a stronger relationship and is way more fulfilling than just increasing sales. I love getting the opportunity to partner with a business and help it grow instead of just being another sales rep.
FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF ETHIOPIA SPEAKS TO LEADERSHIP CLASS
Tamrat Layne, former prime minister of Ethiopia, spoke in the Dean’s Executive Leadership Series class in February 2023. Layne’s presentation was open to all Whitworth students and attended by many African students, especially international students from Ethiopia.
Layne spoke about his involvement leading the Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement during the 1980s and fighting in the Ethiopian Civil War. Layne and his communistsocialist comrades overthrew the government in 1991, at which time he became the prime minister, serving until 1995.
Layne explained to the class that in 2000 he was sentenced to 18 years in prison on false corruption charges, spending most of the next 12 years in solitary confinement. He shared that during his time in prison a nurse gave him a pamphlet about Jesus Christ. Over the course of the next several nights, Christ appeared to him, resulting in Tamrat’s conversion and commitment to Christianity.
dictatorship, they ultimately failed to produce a good outcome because they had bad ideas; communist-socialist ideology produces only suffering, he explained.
After the class, Layne spent 45 minutes discussing with interested students the contemporary situation in Ethiopia. Ethiopian student Debora Geneti ’25 says, “Despite the contentiousness surrounding Tamrat Layne’s previous political leadership in Ethiopia, his speech provided valuable insights. I gained a lot of knowledge from his story, and one particular lesson stood out to me – his ability to forgive those who had betrayed him. The fact that he forgave specific individuals added depth to the message and highlighted how a forgiving heart can ultimately triumph.”
Tamrat
In 2008, after 12 years in prison, the former prime minister was finally released. Layne told students that to change society for the better, you must have great zeal and the right ideas. He said while he and his revolutionary comrades exhibited incredible zeal in their 15-year struggle to liberate Ethiopia from a
Layne’s Message of Forgiveness Inspires Students
While Tamrat Layne remains a controversial figure in African politics, his story of redemption in Christ was compelling and of great interest to the students in attendance. Deborah Teressa ’25, another Ethiopian student, says, “I found his visit to be an important opportunity to hear his perspective on matters that are known to be sensitive back home. I took a lot away from his message on giving and receiving forgiveness as well as the importance of getting to know Jesus.”
SPECIAL AGENTS FOR A DAY
Accounting Students Experience
IRS Citizen Academy
IIn spring 2024, the School of Business brought the IRS to campus to show our students just what its criminal investigations entail. IRS Criminal Investigation field offices offer the Citizen Academy to college campuses nationwide.
Partnering with the accounting honors society, Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), Whitworth students, professors and various campus volunteers participated in the Citizen Academy led by real IRS special agents.
“This event provided an excellent opportunity for accounting majors to experience firsthand how their accounting expertise can prepare them for a career as an IRS special agent,” Assistant Professor of Accounting Tara Lambert says.
From 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 24 Whitworth students were “sworn in” as special agents and participated in the mock criminal investigation, tracking illicit money from the crime to the criminal in three separate scenarios. Various campus faculty and staff volunteered for roles within the mock investigation so students could get the “real” experience from interviewing and researching to surveillance and arresting the “criminals.”
This incredible experience allowed students to work on their forensic accounting skills as well as analyze documents to help with the investigation. At the end of the simulation, the students solved the crime and arrested the mock offenders. The students got to wear protective vests and used handcuffs, police shields and battering rams, as well as radios to communicate with the agents on the case as they conducted their arrests.
Reflecting on her experience during the Citizen Academy, accounting student Kathleen Vertner ’25 says, “I learned that criminal investigation with the IRS is more than just arresting people, although it was fun to learn how to use handcuffs. It includes researching with the information accessible to us. It also includes interviewing to learn more information about our subjects. The puzzles drew me in, and the well-woven plots of white-collar crime were intriguing and complex.”
STUDENTS LEARN TO BALANCE THEIR BUCKS
Partnership with STCU Makes Personal Finance Program Possible
By Emerald Maple ’24
Balance
Your Buc$ is a student-led, faculty-sponsored program that allows Whitworth students (or “Bucs”) of all majors to learn important skills about personal finances. Balance Your Buc$ (BY$) has an amazing partnership with local credit union STCU, which funds the entire program.
“I am so thankful for STCU’s ongoing support of BY$,” says Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Business & Economics Robin Henager, founding faculty advisor for the program. “STCU is committed to the success of our students and their understanding of personal finance. The vision I had to start BY$ may not have come to fruition if not for the unwavering support of STCU.”
BY$ hosts a number of different workshops – complete with prizes – every semester. These workshops teach invaluable life skills such as how to buy a car, pay off student loans, file your taxes, make a budget and save for those big purchases. Thanks to STCU, every semester, the students who attend the most workshops are eligible to enter a drawing to receive a $500 scholarship to help continue their education.
This past year, students were thrilled to attend the program’s different events and learn from professionals from STCU and the local community. Many of these students were international students who were able to learn essential life skills before even entering the workforce.
Nandia Tungalag ’25 has been attending BY$ since her sophomore year at Whitworth. She says, “The Balance Your Buc$ program covers one of the most important topics that no one actually teaches or talks about in real life. From an international student perspective, I have never seen anyone who explained credit scores/cards in such depth. It helped me to understand the importance of credit scores in the USA.”
Every part of these events, from the student outreach that occurs before, the pizza that is offered during, and the important information students gather, is made possible through the incredible partnership we have with STCU. Let’s balance our bucks!
Design Thinking Course Centers on Real-World Application
Design Thinking is one of the most influential classes offered within the Whitworth Graduate Studies in Business program. In the course, students are given hands-on opportunities to apply design thinking, defined by instructor Dan Mahoney as “a systematic way to distribute responsibility for creativity and innovation throughout an organization, leveraging the potential of everyone involved in this process.”
The course’s hands-on work comes in the form of projects at local organizations thoughtfully selected by Mahoney. Students are assigned to a team, and each team is given a project with a client organization. Each team works directly with their client organization to provide a solution for a problem the organization faces.
In true Whitworth fashion, this course provides direct community impact –connecting students’ minds to their hearts. Students devote a minimum of 72 hours to these projects outside of designated class time. At the end of the class, the client organizations receive a real analysis and recommendations with which to move forward.
Mahoney has led classes of students through 17 community impact projects since he began teaching this course in 2018. Megan Shover MBL ’24 shares about her experience in the most recent summer 2024 class. She describes it as “Energizing! Dan Mahoney’s leadership and vision for applying the concept of design thinking to real-world adaptive challenges that local businesses are facing is so impactful. I feel well-prepared to take this knowledge with me and use it in my professional career.”
The summer 2024 students were split into two teams. One team worked with the Classical Learning Resource Center (CLRC), and the other team worked with the Inclusive Development Council. Brandon Pyle MBL ’25 describes his experience in the class as “fantastic.” He says, “Dan Mahoney is such a great leader and helped us through the CLRC project with a perfect blend of support and freedom. It was really enriching to spend as much time together as a group as we did, and the fact that we were working with an actual business
– Brandon Pyle MBL ’25
”...the fact that we were working with an actual business and real human beings made the class much more applicable.”
and real human beings made the class much more applicable.”
When asked about his summer 2024 course, Mahoney says, “Both of these projects reflected highly engaged students and very thoughtful and effective application of design thinking principles to each situation. These projects will help the students feel comfortable applying the design thinking process, in whole or in part, to future challenges in their workplaces. And they furthered Whitworth’s goal of making a positive contribution to our community.”
FACULTY & STAFF HIGHLIGHTS 2022-23
Dawn Keig was promoted to professor of strategic management in 2023. Keig has been a member of the WSB faculty since 2014, after spending almost 30 years in the private sector. Keig serves and develops students across multiple WSB programs, including traditional and adult undergraduate business programs and Graduate Studies in Business.
Vange Ocasio Hochheimer was promoted to professor in 2023. A faculty member since 2011, Ocasio Hochheimer teaches economics and finance courses in the traditional undergraduate program and the GSB. She is also involved in many community and professional organizations and established Grand Fir Analytics LLC, a data science and research firm.
Edna Ndichu Jones was promoted to associate professor of marketing and earned tenure in 2023. Ndichu Jones has been a member of the faculty since 2017 and currently teaches courses including consumer behavior, market research and managerial marketing, serving students in the traditional undergraduate program and working adults in Whitworth’s evening business programs.
Dan Mahoney, a longtime adjunct, was promoted to senior adjunct in 2023. He has taught at Whitworth since fall 2016, becoming a staple in the GSB. Mahoney serves on both the Business Advisory Board and the Leadership Advisory Board, lending his experience and insight from his years of leading multinational companies. Mahoney’s real-world experience and commitment to serving students sets him apart.
Clinical Assistant Professor Duff Bergquist stepped into a new role outside of Whitworth after the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year. He taught essential courses in the undergraduate finance concentration and served as the longtime faculty advisor to the Whitworth Student Investment Group. The WSB is grateful for his many years of service to Whitworth and our students.
Sierra Bryceson joined the School of Business as the associate director of internships & external relations in May 2022. Bryceson previously worked at Gonzaga University School of Law. Bryceson works with students on internship and career readiness activities, including résumé and cover letter preparation, interview preparation, internship placement, and recruitment efforts. She also leads the WSB Career Closet, a free professional clothing resource for students.
Kristin “K.B.” Bertsch transitioned to a role outside of Whitworth in 2023 after six years of service to the WSB, most recently as the associate director of Graduate Studies in Business. Bertsch advised MBA students on their degree plans and partnered with them to work toward their goals. The WSB thanks her for supporting our students for many years.
Keig
Ocasio Hochheimer
Ndichu Jones
Mahoney
Bergquist
Bryceson
FACULTY & STAFF HIGHLIGHTS 2023-24
Kimberly Ortiz joined the School of Business in summer 2023 as the associate director of Graduate Studies in Business, working with the MBA and MBL programs. Ortiz has served Whitworth and its students since 2006. She previously worked in facilities services, and most recently, for over a decade, in the Center for Career & Professional Development, preparing students for internships and the workforce. The WSB is excited to have Ortiz and her wealth of institutional knowledge and experience on the team.
The WSB excitedly welcomed Josh King as a lecturer in 2024, after he previously served as an adjunct in the Graduate Studies in Business program. King teaches courses including Thinking Like a Leader and Business Strategy Capstone for the traditional undergraduate program and Integrated Marketing Strategies for MBA and MBL students. King earned his MBA from Whitworth in 2024 and has been the managing member of Tinderbox Marketing for over a decade.
David Sloan was promoted to professor of management & marketing in 2024. Sloan teaches courses focused on marketing and management for the traditional undergraduate program and marketing for the GSB. Sloan served as department chair for the School of Business from 2020-24.
Candice Correia was promoted to professor of accounting in 2024. Correia joined the faculty in 2012, specializes in business law and taxation, and is the faculty advisor for Whitworth’s Xi Upsilon Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP). Correia also teaches Income Tax Planning in Whitworth’s new Master of Science in Financial Planning program.
Assistant Professor of Accounting Tara Lambert earned tenure in 2024. Lambert joined the faculty in 2013 and specializes in auditing and cost accounting. She also teaches managerial and intermediate accounting, and preps Whitworth students to sit for the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) exam.
Visiting Assistant Professor Kevin Parker earned a doctor of philosophy in leadership studies from Gonzaga University in spring 2024. Parker teaches in both the traditional undergraduate program and the GSB and is the chair of the Whitworth Institute of Leadership. He also spoke at MIT’s Sloan School of Management for the third time, has worked with political leaders and top federal judges from around the U.S. through the Rodel Institute, and has lectured multiple times at both the Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy at the University of Virginia and the Institute of Politics at Harvard University.
Ortiz
King
Sloan
Correia
Parker
Lambert
IN MEMORIAM
DAVE ROGERS
Retired, General Manager, Climate Change & Energy Modeling, Chevron Corp.
Dave Rogers died in April 2023. WSB students, faculty, staff and advisory board members mourn his passing. Rogers was an inaugural member of the Business Advisory Board, serving from 201221. He was board chair during an important time for the WSB while the school worked toward initial AACSB accreditation. He was a strong encourager of others, an avid supporter of Whitworth and a faithful Christian who shared his faith with students. He is missed and will be remembered.
BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD 2022-23
GREGG AMEND ’97
Spokane Partner in Charge Moss Adams LLP
DARIA BROWN ’98 CPA
Daria K Brown, CPA, LLC
BILL CONDON ’03 Executive Vice President Colliers International
ROBERT FORSTER President & CEO Forster Financial
KRISTIN GOFF President Wendle Motors, Inc.
TAUDD HUME ’94 Attorney Witherspoon Brajcich McPhee PLLC
BOB INGERSOLL ’67
Retired, Corporate VP –Contracts & Pricing Boeing
CAROLYN KADYK ’03
Executive Director MultiCare INW Foundation
DAVID KIMMET ’99 President/Owner Rehn & Associates
JAMES KING ’12 Senior Manager Deloitte & Touche, LLP
DANIEL MAHONEY
Retired, CEO Fastor Systems (acquired by Smart Modular Technology)
JIM MASTERSON CEO LightEdge Solutions
TIM MITROVICH ’99 CEO/Chief Investment Officer Ten Capital
HOLLY MONTGOMERY
Vice President – Wealth Management U.S. Bank
TRAVIS PREWITT ’73
Retired, President of Investments UBS Financial Services, Inc.
CHRIS ROBERTS ’91
Biotech Startup Entrepreneur, Strategic Advisor & Board Member
KEN ROBERTS ’68
Retired, Chief Investment Strategist Palouse Capital Management
RIC ROCCA
Retired, Owner Darios Investments LLC (DBA Jimmy John’s) Eastern WA & Northern ID
DAN SANFORD ’65
Professor Emeritus, International Management Whitworth University
KATIE SCHNIDER Senior Corporate Communications Manager Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
FRED STOCKTON Retired Keywords Studios
AARON VACCARO ’14 President Singularity University
TIM WILKINSON
Charles L. Boppell Dean School of Business Whitworth University
BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD 2023-24
GREGG AMEND ’97
Spokane Partner in Charge Moss Adams LLP
BRUCE BETHARDS
Retired, Director, Sales Planning & Operations Nestle Coffee Partners
DARIA BROWN ’98 CPA
Daria K Brown, CPA, LLC
BILL CONDON ’03 Vice Chair Colliers International
ROBERT FORSTER President & CEO Forster Financial
TAUDD HUME ’94 Attorney Witherspoon Brajcich McPhee, PLLC
BOB INGERSOLL ’67
Retired, Corporate VP –Contracts & Pricing Boeing
CAROLYN KADYK ’03
Executive Director MultiCare INW Foundation
DAVID KIMMET ’99 President/Owner Rehn & Associates
JAMES KING ’12
Managing Director Deloitte & Touche, LLP
DANIEL MAHONEY
Retired, CEO, Fastor Systems (acquired by Smart Modular Technology)
TRAVIS PREWITT ’73
Retired, President of Investments UBS Financial Services, Inc.
CHRIS ROBERTS ’91
Biotech Startup Entrepreneur, Strategic Advisor & Board Member
KEN ROBERTS ’68
Retired, Chief Investment Strategist Palouse Capital Management
RIC ROCCA
Retired, Owner Darios Investments LLC (DBA Jimmy John’s) Eastern WA & Northern ID
KATIE SCHNIDER
Senior Corporate Communications Manager, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
FRED STOCKTON
Retired, Keywords Studios
AARON VACCARO ’14 President, Singularity University
KRISTIN WATTS ’08
SVP – Specialized Lending AgWest Farm Credit
TIM WILKINSON
Charles L. Boppell Dean School of Business Whitworth University
IN MEMORIAM
RICHARD (RICK) CLOUTIER
Assistant Professor of Finance
Rick Cloutier passed away unexpectedly in March 2025, while exercising at home. He taught in the traditional undergraduate, MBA and MSFP programs. He also served as the faculty advisor to the Whitworth Student Investment Group (WSIG), helping students develop important skills, lending his support and guiding students to success in multiple competitions. His dedication to students, standards of academic rigor and quick wit were unmatched. He was deeply loved by students, staff and faculty in the WSB and throughout the Whitworth community. He is profoundly missed.
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