College of Business Hall of Fame 2026 Alumni Inductees

Robert Bennes  '86

Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation
Retired

Originally from Libertyville, IL, Bob began his career in 1986 as a customer service representative for Cat Financial, a subsidiary of Caterpillar, Inc., in Peoria, IL.  In 2000, after several assignments in sales, operations and risk management, Bob was named the US Sales Manager for Cat Financial’s Customer Business Center in Nashville, TN.  In 2004 he moved to Carlotte, NC to take on the role of US Eastern Region Manager and in 2006, was promoted to the Managing Director for Cat Financial’s Australasia Region (Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia), based in Melbourne Australia.  

In 2011, Bob relocated back to Nashville as the Managing Director for Cat Mining Finance and in 2015 he was promoted to Vice President of Europe, Africa and Middle East, based in Geneva Switzerland.  Following a 3-year assignment in Geneva, Bob returned to Nashville as the Vice President of Structured Finance where he managed Cat Financial’s Mining and Power portfolios.  In 2023, after 37 years of service, Bob retired from Caterpillar.    
 
Bob graduated from ISU in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.  In 1997, Bob received a master’s in business administration from the University of Central Florida.   
 
Following retirement, Bob and his wife Ann (ISU ’86) continue to reside in Nashville, TN enjoying spending time with their children Caitlin and Olivia and traveling back to Melbourne Australia to catch up with friends.  Bob and Ann have also established a scholarship fund at Illinois State to annually assist students in financial need.  Bob continues his role on Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee advisory board which focuses on early childhood literacy development.  
 

 

Susan Chason '94

Vice President of Accounting
Ulta Beauty

Susan Chason is Vice President of Accounting for Ulta Beauty, the largest specialty beauty
retailer in the United States and a Fortune 500 company. She leads Ulta Beauty’s enterpriseaccounting organization, including financial reporting, internal controls, M&A accounting,and financial systems. Additionally, she partners with executive leadership to guidefinancial decision-making and ensure the integrity of the company’s financial results.

Chason has played a central role in Ulta Beauty’s transformation and growth over the past two decades. She led the accounting organization through a multi-year finance
transformation that strengthened automation, scalability, and the company’s ability to
support international expansion. Her leadership was instrumental in integrating multiple
acquisitions, implementing major accounting pronouncements and reporting changes,
and strengthening the financial policies and governance structures that guide how the
company records, manages, and analyzes financial information.

Prior to becoming Vice President, Chason held progressive leadership roles across Ulta
Beauty’s controllership, including positions in general accounting and inventory control.
Earlier in her career, she held finance and accounting roles at Florists’ Transworld Delivery
(FTD) and TransCore, gaining experience across e-commerce, logistics, and transaction-
based systems.

Chason earned her Bachelor of Science in Financial Accounting from Illinois State
University and her Master of Business Administration from the Keller Graduate School of
Management. She is a Certified Public Accountant and an active member of the Illinois
CPA Society, The Executives’ Club of Chicago, Retail Industry Leaders Association, and
Chicago Women Leaders. She was recognized nationally in 2025 as one of Retail’s Top
Women in Finance.

Committed to service and mentorship, Chason volunteers with numerous nonprofit
organizations and is dedicated to developing the next generation of accounting and finance
leaders.

Mark Hauptman '79

Cosmestic Specialties Interntional (Retired)
Owner

Mark Hauptman graduated from Illinois State University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  He obtained his CPA certification and began his career working in public accounting.  From there, Mark began working in the insurance industry.  He spent more than 20 years with HealthMarkets, Inc., which offered insurance (primarily health and life) and selected financial services to niche consumer and institutional markets.  At HealthMarkets, Mark held several accounting and executive positions, including Chief Financial Officer and Executive VP of Sales and Marketing.  Mark also held Board of Director and Treasurer positions with the insurance subsidiaries of HealthMarkets. 

Mark retired from HealthMarkets in August of 2008. However, after a short retirement period, he and a few business partners acquired Cosmetic Specialties International, LLC (CSI) in October 2009.  CSI is a plastic injection molding company that primarily designs and manufactures jars, caps, closures and eyeliner pencils for the cosmetic and personal care industries.  In September 2021, CSI was sold, and Mark retired - this time for good. 
Mark and his wife, Linda (’76), along with several family members, are proud alumni of Illinois State University. In 2013, understanding the value an education can provide, Mark and Linda established an endowed scholarship program at the university to help lessen the cost of education for College of Business students.  They have also supported the University of Oklahoma as past members of the President’s Associates. 

Originally from the central Illinois area, Mark and Linda moved to Oklahoma City, OK in 1982 before heading to Texas in 1989, where they currently reside in Fort Worth. They are enjoying retirement and being able to travel and spend more time with their three daughters and six grandchildren.  Mark is an avid golfer and sports fan, cheering on the Redbirds from the Lone Star State.