September 9, 1996 - Illinois State University

The Financial Management Association student chapter at Illinois State University assists
Finance majors with career planning through professional speaker events on campus, and field
trips to meet with financial professionals off campus. These activities provide information
about different jobs in the financial world, and opportunities to network with ISU graduates and
others who make real-world financial decisions. Those who visited campus as part of the Fall
2010 speaker series were:
Date Speaker Organization Topic
August 30 Matt Eickhoff* Caterpillar Corporate Finance
Erin Staggs*
Jennifer Stokes*
Ashley Street *
October 11 David Stokes* Edward Jones & Co. Personal Financial Planning
November 1 Greg Morris* Archer Daniels Midland Grain Merchandising
Jared Heldt*
Tim McHenry
November 29 David Wilson* Country Trust Bank Trust Administration
* Denotes ISU graduate
ISU Finance graduate team Matt Eickhoff, Ashley Street, Erin Staggs, and Jennifer Stokes, all nowworking in
various careers within Caterpillar’s vast financial operations, spoke at the 2010 – 2011 kickoff meeting.
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While no official statistics of this nature are kept, we believe that the August visit by Jennifer
Stokes and October talk by David Stokes mark the only time in ISU FMA chapter history when
a husband-and-wife team spoke as representatives of different companies in the same semester.
The other Fall 2010 on-campus professional event was the meeting that featured the annual
Internship Panel. The panel discussion, in which students who have held recent internships
discuss their experiences with the chapter, was scheduled for September 20 to precede the fall
career fair. The panelists explained how they found their internship positions, talked about what
they learned, gave advice on navigating the internship process, and answered questions from
audience members. Those who spoke, and the companies where they interned, were:
Intern
Melanie Angelatos
Chase Behrendt
Alexandra Hammer
Laura Honzik
Eric Klen
Abbey Schafer
John Schurter
Brad Schwer
Sponsoring Organization
Country Trust Bank
Memorial Health System
Navistar
Country Financial
BMO Capital Markets
Country Financial
Town of Normal
Kingston Financial Group
Chapter president Angelatos did double duty as a panelist and the panel moderator. Thanks to
all of these students for providing such valuable information to their colleagues.
Seniors John Schurter, Laura Honzik, Abbey Schafer, Alexandra Hammer, Chase Behrendt, Eric Klen, and
Brad Schwer joined chapter president Melanie Angelatos as panelists on the 2010 fall FMA internship panel.
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On November 5 the group headed north for a Fall 2010 “City Adventure” field trip. Vice
President and Chicago South Sider Joshua Rayborn planned a day of activities to introduce the
uninitiated to the wonders of the City of the Big Shoulders. After taking a Metra commuter
train from the suburbs to Union Station, the group climbed the stairs to a Loop “el” station.
An Orange line ride, coupled with a subterranean transfer to the Red, took the FMAers to the
Bridgeport environs of U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. After a quick
lunch at neighborhood favorite Red Hots (fantastic hot dogs and fries), the visitors were hosted
at “Cell” by ISU Education graduate Christine O’Reilly, a public relations executive who
directs White Sox Charities. Jim Munro (senior director of corporate partnerships), John
Margelewski (manager of new business development and online ticket sales), and Bill Waters
(senior director of finance) from White Sox business operations spoke to the group on the
business aspects of running a major league baseball team. ISU Public Relations grad Tom
Sheridan, director of ticket sales, was also on hand to share insights and offer informal
comments. The presentation was followed by a tour of the locker and training facilities (great
pictures from the team’s long history) and a walk around the field, led by O’Reilly. The ISU
FMA crew appreciated the generous time commitment and kind hospitality given by everyone
connected with the fine White Sox organization, and was especially grateful for the gift bags
with Sox hats and pennants, and replicas of U.S. Cellular Field.
A quick ride on the Red el/subway line took the group back downtown, where we made a brief
Federal Reserve Bank museum visit before crossing the street to U.S. Trust, the private wealth
management arm of Bank of America. ISU Finance graduates Kevin Lewis (senior vice
president and portfolio manager) and Conor Daly (portfolio manager associate) were joined by
portfolio manager associate Michael Saetre in an excellent late afternoon discussion of wealth
management and related job opportunities. Larry Lonis, a U.S. Trust senior vice president and
longtime ISU Finance program advisory board member, made an impromptu appearance to
welcome us to the bank and offer encouragement to the students facing a difficult job market.
The visit provided highly valuable information on academic and career planning for anyone
interested in investment management. We are very grateful for the generosity of all those at the
Sox and U.S. Trust who helped make the trip such a memorable and educational experience.
Joining Rayborn in the traveling group were FMA student members Melanie Angelatos,
Josh Beck, Matthew Butterfield, Nick Camilli, Tim Clay, Steve Dudek, Matt Frey, Carly
Hough, Lucas Jaeger, A.J. Krusemark, Sebastian Matei, Jenna Milas,
Jimmy Oakes, Dhruv Patel, Tim Putlak, Mark Rogina, Megan Wilson, Nicholas Wolek,
and Patrick Wu, along with faculty advisors Keldon Bauer, Alan Cring, and Joe Trefzger.
The 2011 Spring semester on-campus professional program featured the following speakers:
Date Speaker Organization Topic
January 24 Renee Haning* Country Financial The HR Manager’s Perspective
Carly Miller
February 21 Melanie Lipp* Bromenn Medical Center Health Care Finance
Sarah Lipp Burnett*
March 21 Brad Joseph Joseph & Camper Commercial Real Estate
April 4 Timothy Marten ISU Financial Aid Office Personal Money Management
April 18 Larry Maschoff (Retired bank president) Banking and today’s economy
* Denotes ISU graduate or current MBA student
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Chicago White Sox business operations people hosted FMA on a fall 2010 field trip visit at U.S. Cellular Field.
ISU Finance senior and FMA web master Nick Wolek fulfills a lifelong dream of sitting in the dugout of his
beloved White Sox.
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Twins Melanie Lipp and Sarah Lipp Burnett attended ISU together (Melanie in Finance, Sarah in Accounting),
attended FMA meetings together as students, and nowboth work as financial analysts at Bromenn Medical Center.
Peoria real estate developer Brad Joseph discussed commercial real estate on a March 21 visit to campus.
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Timothy Marten talks with Finance professor Edgar Norton after Marten’s April 4 presentation. Norton helped
arrange Marten’s visit as part of the Money Week educational program sponsored by colleges and financial
institutions nationwide.
Finance, Insurance and Law Department chairman Gary Koppenhaver discusses assessment of learning outcomes
with the FMA membership as part of the April 18 professional meeting.
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Retired banker and active economic development consultant Larry Maschoff has been a popular FMA speaker
over the years; his return visit on April 18 concluded the 2010 – 2011 professional program.
April 8 was an especially busy and productive day for the chapter. A group of sixteen students
and advisors spent the morning at the Schaumburg headquarters of Zurich North America, on
a field trip visit hosted by ISU Finance graduate Michelle Rojo. A group of senior managers
from the insurance giant’s financial operations offered insights and advice on a range of
financial management and career/life planning issues. Joining Rojo (governance manager for
global corporate in North America) as featured speakers were Harvey Greenberg (head of
reinsurance operation), Hanif Sidi (vice president of expense management), Megan Dickow
(chief of staff – finance), Michael Waldron (vice president and finance manager), and ISU
graduate Carlos Herrera (recruiter). Then the FMAers were treated to the views of a topnotch
panel of ISU FIL Department graduates who have built their careers at Zurich: Chris
Hubbard (account executive), Bert Margis (casualty underwriter), Adam McGuckin (account
manager), Melinda Olson (claims support), Tim Papka (reinsurance claim counsel), and Ben
Tiffany (business analyst, and the lone Insurance grad among his Finance graduate fellow
panelists). The kind hospitality of the impressive Zurich organization (including a welcome
continental breakfast after our long drive) and the time given by so many accomplished
individuals are very much appreciated. Thanks go also to ISU graduate Jaime Berland,
an HR business partner at Zurich, who assisted Rojo in arranging for the speakers.
Students who participated were Melanie Angelatos, Jason David, Laura Honzik, A.J.
Krusemark, Monika Fokaite, Saket Jangle, Joshua Rayborn, Justin Redmond, John
Schurter, Jonathan Strok, Robert Taylor, Calvin Tran, Stephanie Weber, and Reggie
White; faculty advisors Alan Cring and Joe Trefzger accompanied the students.
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All the individuals pictured here are ISU students or graduates who played a role in the April 2011 FMA field trip
visit to Zurich North America. From left to right: Stephanie Weber, A.J. Krusemark, Calvin Tran, Jason David,
Robert Taylor, Chris Hubbard (Zurich), Ben Tiffany (Zurich), Laura Honzik, Bert Margis (Zurich), Saket Jangle,
Melanie Angelatos, Adam McGuckin (Zurich), Melinda Olson (Zurich), Michelle Rojo (Zurich), Reggie White, Tim
Papka (Zurich), Monika Fokaite, Justin Redmond, Joe Trefzger, Joshua Rayborn, Jonathan Strok, Carlos Herrera
(Zurich), and John Schurter. The photo was taken by Alan Cring, a faculty advisor accompanying the group.
ISU graduates Adam McGuckin, Bert Margis, Chris Hubbard, Melinda Olson, Ben Tiffany, and Tim Papka shared
their work histories and talked about career planning during the panel discussion.
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Following the Zurich visit the FMA group traveled the short distance to the Super China
Buffet in Schaumburg, where a fourth annual spring lunch was hosted jointly by FMA and the
Illinois State Alumni in Finance (ISAF) alumni networking organization. The event returned
to the suburbs in 2011 after moving downstate to the ISU Alumni Center in 2010. Following a
lunch period during which students networked with graduates working in the financial world, a
panel of experienced graduates and friends of our Finance program spoke on career issues. The
panelists were Stephanie Dempski (2007 ISU Finance graduate and a financial analyst at Kraft
Foods), Paul Gantzert (president of Gantzert Investment Company in Joliet; he is not an ISU
graduate, but we have adopted this longstanding friend and supporter of our program as a
Redbird), Melissa Rechkemmer Johnson (2001 ISU Finance graduate and a Realtor ® with
ReMax Excel in Geneva), Ken Kamentsev (2009 ISU Finance graduate and currently a
financial analyst with JVM Corporation), Andre Reddick (1997 ISU Finance graduate and a
business development manager at NAVTEQ), and Eric Welchko (2004 ISU Finance graduate
and senior analyst at Accuval Associates). The panel members shared experiences and
answered questions on wide-ranging topics relating to working as a financial professional and
standing out in a competitive job market. FMA alumni liaison Justin Redmond served as panel
moderator.
Other graduates who attended were Eli Amoah (recent graduate), Brandon Arnold (Profile
Products), Frank Castaldi (AmericaUnited Bank), Donald Curby (Prudential), Lanre
Kalejaiye (Price Waterhouse Coopers), Albert “Chip” Krusemark (Red Barn Development),
Brandon Miller (Navistar Corporation), Michael O’Keefe (JP Morgan Chase), Bryan Schatz
(JP Morgan Chase), Annalise Smith (Barrington Bank and Trust), and Ben Stickley
(Quaker/Pepsico). Also joining the festivities was ISU Marketing senior Elizabeth Welchko,
who attended to see brother Eric on the panel and talk with Brandon Miller from Navistar,
whose marketing team she will join after graduating. FMA and the ISU Finance, Insurance and
Law Department express heartfelt thanks to all the graduates who traveled and gave up much of
their day to help current students by networking with them at lunch and serving on the panel.
We hope to continue this highly productive luncheon series.
Panelists Eric Welchko, Melissa Johnson, and Stephanie Dempski get acquainted during the lunch.
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Panelists Melissa Johnson, Eric Welchko, Stephanie Dempski, Andre Reddick, Paul Gantzert, and Ken Kamentsev
address the FMA students following the April 8 networking lunch.
Graduate and 2010 panelist Albert “Chip” Krusemark, 2011 (and 2009) panelist Paul Gantzert, and graduate
Annalise Smith (at right) offer career advice to FMA vice president Joshua Rayborn during the lunch period.
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Other chapter events in the spring semester included sponsoring a table at the Business Week
Etiquette Dinner on March 28 (ISU Finance graduate Katie Talty Smith from Pro Partners
Financial was the professional table host), helping with the Business Week community service
project (Constitution Trail cleanup) on April 1, and the Education Outreach Committee’s
participation on April 9 in ISU’s Expanding Your Horizons educational program for Illinois
junior high and high school students to learn about careers that involve math and science.
Special thanks to graduating senior co-chairs Ashley Barber and Danielle Dunn, who have
worked with the event for three years and helped pioneer FMA involvement with the Horizons
program, and to junior Carly Hough, who is slated to spearhead the spring 2012 effort.
FMA Education Outreach Committee leaders Danielle Dunn, Ashley Barber, and Carly Hough during the spring
2011 Expanding Your Horizons event at Bone Student Center.
Students who served as the 2010 – 2011 chapter officers were:
President
Melanie Angelatos
Vice President
Joshua Rayborn
Treasurer
Abbey Schafer
Secretary
Laura Honzik
Business Week Representative
Robert Dion
Web Master
Nick Wolek
Alumni Liaison
Justin Redmond
Membership Chair
A.J. Krusemark
Education Outreach Committee Co-Chairs Ashley Barber
Danielle Dunn
FMA National Advisory Council Member Brandon Hilmer
FIL Curriculum Committee Representative John Schurter
FIL Teaching Effectiveness Team Rep. Brandon Hilmer
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Those elected at the April 18 meeting to lead the chapter in 2011 – 2012 were:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Business Week Representative
Web Master
Alumni Liaison
Membership Chair
Education Outreach Committee Chair
FMA National Advisory Council Member
Robert Taylor
Justin Redmond
Dhruv Patel
A.J. Krusemark
Levi Marsh
Robert Regis
Jonathan Strok
Jenna Milas
Carly Hough
Monika Fokaite
ISU Finance faculty members who advised the chapter in 2010 – 2011 were Keldon Bauer, Alan
Cring, and Joe Trefzger. Cring joined the advisor team during the Fall 2010 semester; he
quickly won over the student members and fellow advisors with his willingness to drive the ISU
vans, his photography skills, and his stories on topics ranging from economic theory to medieval
languages and the occult. Academic advisor Nancy Baldoni also provides valuable ongoing
assistance to FMA.
Incoming officers Jenna Milas, Monika Fokaite, A.J. Krusemark, Dhruv Patel, Jonathan Strok, Levi Marsh, Justin
Redmond, and Robert Taylor look forward to a productive 2011 – 2012 school year for FMA.
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The Super China Buffet was a convenient and welcoming environment for the fourth annual FMA-ISAF lunch.
FMA alumni liaison Justin Redmond and membership chair Albert “A.J.” Krusemark confer over pizza
before a speaker event on campus.
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Finance graduate Erin Staggs enjoys pizza with FMA officer John Schurter prior to the August talk on corporate
finance careers by grads at Caterpillar.
Pre-meetnig relaxation over pizza is an effective way to network with fellow Finance students.
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FMA president Melanie Angelatos moderates the fall 2010 Internship Panel.
Grad Albert “Chip” Krusemark is a strong supporter of the ISU Finance program, including FMA and the ISAF
organization. Son Albert Jr., known as A.J., is a current junior and FMA officer.
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Matthew Ng, Steve Dudek, Elizabeth McDonald, Nick Wolek, Melanie Angelatos, Tyler Doering, Dhruv Patel,
Brandon Hilmer, Jenna Milas, and Calvin Tran represented FMA in helping clean up the Constitution Trail as
part of the Business Week community service initiative.
Gloved and hooded FMAers helped with theConstitution Ttrail cleanup on a blustery April 1.
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FMA members listen intently at a professional speaker event.
Great Redbirds travel in families: Marketing student Elizabeth and Finance grad Eric Welchko at the April 8
networking lunch and panel discussion.
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