College of Business Hall of Fame 2025 Alumni Inductees
From senior-level executives at top corporations to highly successful entrepreneurs, we are proud to welcome our 2023 College of Business Hall of Fame inductees back to Illinois State University to interact with students, faculty, alumni and industry partners. Their accomplishments and commitment to excellence not only reflect their professional dedication and service to others, but also add value to our programs and the Illinois State brand for all of our graduates.
Holding this induction ceremony and luncheon during Business Week provides students, faculty, and other alumni the chance to interact with the inductees and learn from their experiences.
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Jon Farney '93
President and Chief Executive Officer
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
Jon Farney is President and Chief Executive Officer of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. He has more than 30 years of experience with State Farm and within the insurance and financial services industry.
Farney joined State Farm in 1993 and has served in a variety of executive leadership positions including assistant vice president – securities products, assistant vice president – planning & analysis, vice president – financial operations and operations vice president – underwriting. He served as senior vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer for eight years before being elected President of State Farm Mutual in January 2024. He assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in June 2024.
He received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois State University, Normal and earned his MBA from the University of Michigan. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter® (CPCU), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC) and Fellow, Life Management Institute® (FLMI) designations.
He is a member of the Business Roundtable.
Michelle Hermann '88
Managing Director
CIBC Private Wealth Management
Michelle Hermann is a senior relationship manager for CIBC Private Wealth with more than 30 years of experience, focusing primarily on providing investment management services and advising high net worth individuals and business organizations. She is skilled in providing financial and estate planning services to clients, focusing on their intentions for future generations and philanthropy. She has led seminars and webinars nationwide on a variety of topics, the most recent of which addressed wealth management issues for women.
Prior to joining Team Geneva Advisors, which became part of CIBC in 2017, Michelle was a senior vice president and trust officer at Park National Bank (now US Bank). Previously, she was the president of Great Lakes Trust Company, focused on building the fiduciary and brokerage platform with high-quality execution. She began her career at Boulevard Bank (now US Bank).
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University (’88) and a Master of Business Administration degree from Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago (’94). She is a past president of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and secretary of the South Suburban Estate Planning Council. She was also included in Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisor Ranking in 2024.
Representing CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.
2024, Barron’s “Top Women Financial Advisors”
The ranking reflects the volume of assets overseen by the advisors and their teams, revenues generated for the firms and the quality of the advisors' practices as assessed by Barron’s. Ranking is based on self-reported information via survey as of 3.31.2024. Of the 100 women advisors, Michelle Hermann ranked 19.
Since graduating from Illinois State University Michelle has remain involved with Illinois State University. She served as a board member of The Educational Investment Fund. She also began mentoring finance students in 2020 and now has an annual networking referral program of student mentees from the College of Business. She and her husband, Mike (ISU ‘87) have 3 children and live in Texas and northern Michigan.
Tiffany Hemann, '00
Vice President, Financial Planning and Analytics
Symbotic
Tiffany Hemann is currently Vice President - Financial Planning & Analysis at Symbotic located in Wilmington, Massachusetts. In this role, Tiffany supports the efforts of the Symbotic mission, changing the way consumer goods move through the supply chain by reinventing warehouse automation for increased efficiency, speed and flexibility.
Prior to joining Symbotic, Tiffany spent 20+ years at The Boeing Company in various roles supporting defense platforms, services and functions. In these roles, she partnered with business leaders to oversee program execution as well as the development of long-term strategies to support the production of the Apache Attack Helicopter, as well as in service support programs for the F-22 Raptor, C-17 Globemaster and large derivative platforms. She also oversaw the financial process controls to ensure compliance and adherence to capital investments and new business opportunities. In these roles, Tiffany also had the opportunity to live in various locations to include Ridley Park, Pa, Arlington, Va, St. Louis Mo, San Antonio, Texas and Mesa, Az.
A native of Staunton, Illinois, Tiffany holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in business from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. She also participated on the Illinois State University Finance and Law advisory board.
Tiffany is a proud alum of ISU, she is honored and humbled to be inducted into the ISU College of Business Hall of Fame alongside the many respected alumni with remarkable backgrounds.