Early Career Achievement Awards 2012 - 2013 Award Recipients
The Early Career Achievement Awards celebrate outstanding young alumni who have demonstrated innovative and responsible professional leadership and the potential for future distinction. The pool of nominees was especially strong this year and the College extends its congratulations to all those under consideration for their successes. We are proud of you and appreciate all you do that enhances our reputation for excellence.
Here is a brief look at the winners of the 2012-2013 College of Business Early Career Achievement Awards (ECAA) who will be recognized during Homecoming festivities at Illinois State University in October.
Erika Anderson '03
Human Resource Management
Erika Anderson is the Manager of the Leadership Academy at OSF Healthcare System based out of Peoria, IL. She is currently responsible for developing and managing the system-wide Physician Leadership Academy. Anderson’s work experience includes a variety of roles within Recruiting, Employee Relations, Leadership Development and Succession Planning.
Anderson received her Bachelor’s Degree in Management (Human Resource Sequence) from Illinois State University in 2003. Since then, she has received many professional certifications including Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification, Human Capital Strategist & Workforce Planning Certifications through Human Capital Institute and has been certified as a Six Sigma Greenbelt with projects related to Performance Management and High Potential Leadership Development. Erika is heavily involved in the American Cancer Society – Relay for Life and serves as a committee chair & team captain. She serves on the board of directors for Hult Center for Healthy Living. She teaches junior high religious education classes at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Henry, IL. Anderson currently resides in Henry, IL with her husband, Ryan, who is also a graduate of Illinois State University. Erika and Ryan have two daughters, Kaitlyn and Brynna.
Ryan Bolen '08
Business Information Systems
Ryan graduated in December 2008 with a degree in Business Information Systems. In the summer of 2009 he started his MBA part time at Illinois State while working full time at Caterpillar Logistics as an IT systems analyst. Bolen completed his MBA December of 2011. In his free time he enjoys golf, basketball, traveling, and running on the constitution trail with his dog.
Lacy Bugielski '06
Business Teacher Education
Lacy Bugielski, 2006 BTE graduate, currently teaches Business Education at Metea Valley High School in Aurora, IL. Bugielski has taught classes ranging from Web Design to Desktop Publishing, and Accounting to Online Consumer Economics. She began her career in IPSD 204 at Neuqua Valley, and was thrilled to be selected as one of the inaugural faculty members when Metea Valley opened in 2009. In addition to teaching at Metea, Bugielski enjoys her role as Head Coach for Varsity Poms, and she is an advisor for Business Professionals of America. Bugielski is an active member of the Illinois Business Education Association, for which she has served on the Board of Directors the past few years.
Jim Durante '01
Business Administration
Jim Durante is the Senior Manager of Partner Services for Cisco Systems. Durante’s team oversees all services sales globally for Cisco's largest partner, AT, responsible for over $300M annually. Durante received my MBA from DePaul University in 2012 with a concentration in sales leadership. He resides and works in Chicago. Durante also donates time to the Greater Chicago Food Depository when he can.
Matt Eickhoff '03
International Business
Matt Eickhoff is a Treasury Operation Representative at Caterpillar Incorporated. He is currently a Solution Lead in the global implementation of SAP with responsibility for the Accounts Receivable and Treasury Operations segments. Previously, he worked in Miami and Sao Paulo, Brazil in support of Caterpillar dealers in Latin America and was a 6Sigma Black Belt working on the Bucyrus acquisition equity challenge. He resides in East Peoria with his wife Katie (MFA ’07) and their giant schnauzer Maggie.
Timothy Ervin '09
Master of Science in Accountancy
Ervin is the Chief Budget Officer/Treasury Manager of the City of Bloomington, Illinois. He manages the City’s $167 million operating and capital budget and oversees the $79 million in General Obligation Debt for the City of Bloomington. During his career at the City of Bloomington, Tim has incorporated zero based budgeting and has begun to transition towards performance based budgeting through the inclusion of key performance indicators within the City’s budget. These efforts have been recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association with the City’s first Distinguished Budget Award and the International City/County Management Association with a Certificate of Distinction from the ICMA Center for Performing Management.
Tim has spoken on local government budgetary practices and pension reform to local organizations and the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association. He is a member and regularly attends ongoing educational classes provided by the Government Finance Officers Association and Illinois Government Finance Officers Association in regards to GASB Standards and budgetary best practices. Currently, Tim is the Treasurer for the Normal Public Library Foundation Board, Trustee for the City of Bloomington Fireman’s Pension Fund, and member of the St Mary’s Education Council.
Ryan Fiala '04 '06
Entrepreneurship
MBA
Ryan Fiala opened D.P. Dough Calzones in Uptown Normal in 2008. He has since extensively renovated the space and expanded the store to three times its original size.
Fiala is a graduate of the 2012 class of Leadership McLean County. He is also an active member of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and the Uptown Normal organization. Fiala resides in Bloomington, Illinois with his wife Rebecca, who is also a graduate of Illinois State University. Fiala and Rebecca have one son, Nathan.
Anna (Trefil) Frazier '06
Integrated Marketing Sequence
Anna Frazier, COB Marketing/ IMC and Sales Sequence major, now serves as the Sales Manager of New Business Development at Tribune Media Group. Anna took her education from the Marketing and Sales programs at ISU and began selling all mediums of advertising. After four years of selling print advertising at ISU’s Daily Vidette and her internship with CBS Outdoor & AAA Radio Group Bloomington; Frazier began a post college career selling local and national advertising in Chicago with Clear Channel Outdoor and then Lamar Advertising. Frazier’s current role at Tribune Media Group allows her to work with advertisers to effectively utilize a media mix with the Tribune Media portfolio (products including The Chicago Tribune, WGN Radio & Television, Chicago Magazine and many more).
In addition to managing client media planning, she also manages a team of local ‘hunter’ reps specifically designated to generate new business in the local markets through this same TMG branding and media mix portfolio. Frazier and her husband Zach, fellow COB graduate, recently moved to the suburbs of Geneva and are overjoyed with the arrival of their first child, Noah on September 9th.
Lyndy Januszewski '06
Accountancy
As a registered Certified Public Accountant working in the Technology division at Sikich since 2007, Januszewski bridges the gap between accounting and technology to ensure businesses, non-profits, and governments alike increase profitability, improve efficiencies, and achieve results. Januszewski specializes in budgeting, financial reporting, and project management.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Illinois State in 2006 with a B.S. in Accountancy and Marketing, Januszewski obtained her CPA in 2007 and her Master’s in Business Administration at Northern Illinois University in 2011 after a study abroad opportunity in South America. Januszewski resides in Darien, Illinois with her husband Phil ’05 and their son Alex.
Blake Kuppersmith '02
Insurance
Kuppersmith joined Swiss Re through the International Graduates Program (IGP) and recently completed the Swiss Re Leadership Development Program (LDP). He currently manages the Business Development department within the America’s Facultative Department. Business Development is tasked with implementing company growth initiatives and coordinating with various cross functional teams outside of Facultative. Kuppersmith is married to Dawn Kuppersmith, also an Illinois State alum (‘02). They currently have two kids, Liam (3) and Marlo (1). Kuppersmith continues to stay involved with the College of Business and the Katie Insurance School, even though they now reside in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
Joshua Mlynarcik '04
Marketing
Mlynarcik is the demand planning manager at World Kitchen, LLC where he is responsible for forecasting customer demand across multiple brands and hundreds of items, totaling over $300 million in sales annually. Over the past eight years, he has previously held multiple roles within World Kitchen, LLC with increasing responsibility, including sales analysis, merchandise planning, category management, brand integration, and supply chain planning. Joshua resides in Flossmoor with his wife Janine and new daughter Camille.
Tim Pantaleone '07
Finance
Pantaleone is a Financial Business Analyst at State Farm Insurance with a focus on Payment Processing and Money Movement. He began his career as a Financial Analyst and Business Recovery Coordinator in Mutual Fund accounting. Pantaleone then moved to the company's Florida Zone where he led various efforts in budget, expense management, and banking operations before a selection to his current role.
While in the Florida, he was presented with a Horizon Award - the Zone's most prestigious award in recognition of outstanding achievement. While attending Illinois State, Pantaleone was named Bone Scholar and served as ISU mascot Reggie Redbird. He now serves on Illinois State Alumni Board of Directors and volunteers with the Illinois State Softball team and the college's Business Week Mentoring Program.
Adam Redenius '04
Organizational Leadership
Redenius is responsible for developing and executing operational plans for commercial, industrial, and Department of Transportation projects throughout the State of Illinois. Adam’s primary focus is ensuring client satisfaction and maintaining profitability standards, as well adhering to strict schedule requirements. He directs the Illinois Division’s manpower and equipment resources, while serving as a primary contact for large scale, hard bid related projects.
He has completed projects for clients such as State Farm, Archer Daniels Midland, Illinois State University, Tate and Lyle, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and The University of Illinois. Earlier in his career, he served first in the Project Engineer and then Project Manager capacities, and is a recurring attendee of the American Concrete Institute continuing education curriculum. Adam plans to return to Illinois State University in the future to obtain his MBA
Matt Ritter '99
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Ritter founded the Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors, LLC with partner, Jeff Johnson. Prior to the creation of Pinnacle, Matt was a top producing Senior Broker Associate with a boutique brokerage firm in Denver. Matt served on DMCAR’s (Denver Metropolitan Commercial Association of Realtors) board of directors and executive committee and has won several accolades including top producer, and was selected by Realtor Magazine to be recognized nationally as “30 Under 30” in 2005 due to the Johnson-Ritter team’s continued success, coupled with his age and involvement in commercial real estate.
Holding a degree in finance he relocated from the Chicago area and is now a Licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Colorado, a member of the Denver Metropolitan Commercial Association of Realtors and served on their Board of Directors from 2005-2008. He has also been a member of the Denver Metropolitan Commercial Association of Realtors Executive Committee, a member of Denver Metropolitan Commercial Association of Brokers, a member of Apartment Association of Metro Denver the Denver Entrepreneurs' Organization, and the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Chrisa Romanello '05
Professional Sales
After graduation, Romanello joined the sales associate program at Frito Lay Inc., starting at the frontline. She consistently delivers results, and therefore has earned positions of increasing responsibility. Romanello currently is a Key Account Regional Sales Manager responsible for $80 million sales revenue annually. She develops local programs that support her customers' overall strategies for growing retail sales and market share. Romanello regularly travels to meet with decision makers, while aligning with local field teams to ensure execution. They work together and utilize different methods to measure executional performance while developing the capabilities of members on the field team. Additionally, she acts as a liaison for the field and customers.
She has stayed involved on-campus as a classroom guest speaker and as a guest buyer for student role plays, while also supporting Career Fairs and Networking Events. Romanello is involved in groups that support Children's Miracle Network, Chicago's Hopefest, and most recently has a personal commitment to raise awareness and research funds for Waldenstrom's (WM) and Bing-Neel (BN) through 'Jackie's Crusade for a Cure'.