Harbert Magazine Fall 2022

Alumni Notes

 way up in the company, she was always working toward its mission of making health care open and connected, for everyone.  “I owe a lot of my growth‚ profession- ally and personally, to my time at Auburn University. One thing I think about often is the Auburn Creed, and how even in its simplicity, I continue to live by its tenets: to believe in hard work, honesty, a spirit that is not afraid and empathy for those around me.”  She has purchased a second residence in Auburn to serve as home base during foot- ball season. “It’ll be so exciting to get back on The Plains to feel that special Auburn vibe more often.” Simran Kahai (’95, Ph.D. economics)  was recently promoted to director of the global business culture and entrepreneurship program at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. She was also entrusted with an endowment position in inter- national business and has led a team of faculty and staff to design curriculum for the university’s partner institution, Asim Siddique Memorial College, in India. The schools will jointly offer a certificate program in entrepreneurship. Julie Marks Martin (’91, marketing)  reports that her family is continuing the Auburn tradition. Her oldest daughter, Lindsey, married a fellow Auburn student in March. “In May, Lindsey Martin Pitt and Jay Pitt graduated from pharmacy school, and my daughter, Grace graduated in health services administration.” Martin's young- est daughter, Claire, will enter Auburn this fall in the College of Agriculture, where she will study animal sciences.  Martin works for Athens State University supporting the security office, managing the university’s fleet of vehicles as well as outside rentals and reservations on campus. Stephanie (White) McClinton (’92, market- ing)  was selected as a participant in the inaugural “momentum in medicine program” at UAB in fall 2021, and graduated

in spring 2022. The new program was designed for female leaders within UAB Medicine, and over a nine-month period, it encompassed various levels of partici- pants (MDs, PhDs, clinical administrators, business executives, and others.) It was “a terrific opportunity to enhance leadership and engagement within UAB Medicine.” Randy Peitsch (’93, MBA)  was named chief operating officer at the PGA Tour Superstore. “What I learned at Harbert College of Business has helped me succeed in the business world. It gave me a spring- board to apply what I learned into success.” Nicole Thurmond (’94, human resources management)  took on a new role as senior vice president of human resources last summer for Powerhouse Retail Services in Crowley, Texas. She credits her professors for giving her a great learning experience to start a career she has come to love. 2000s Amra Boucher (’03, marketing)  was recently promoted to senior vice president of marketing with Acuity Brands. She started at Acuity in January 2004 after being recruited into their leadership program through on-campus recruiting at Auburn University. “I have spent the entirety of my career thus far in the lighting business and building upon the skills I learned while at Auburn.” She met her husband in school at Auburn, got married in 2004 and they now have two children — Addy, age 10 and Shep, age 2. Graham Butler (’06, finance, ’10, MBA)  has recently been promoted to director of the Atlanta office of Mariner Wealth Advisors in addition to duties as senior wealth advi- sor. “Harbert has been a firm foundation for building my career and developing success in business. In wealth management, you must understand not only your own

business, but also your client’s business and the things that are important to them. Both undergrad and MBA programs at Harbert gave me the technical and personal skills needed to serve clients well.” Justin Conrey (’04, finance)  was recently appointed by the board of directors of CU Business Group to take over as CEO beginning Oct. 1, 2022. He was previously promoted to executive vice president. CU Business Group is a credit union service organization currently serving over 650 credit unions in 48 states in the area of commercial lending. Alison Bruck Eisminger (’00, finance)  reports exciting family news. Alison offi- cially welcomed her husband, Bob, to the Auburn alumni family in May upon the completion of his EMBA through the Harbert College of Business. Alison and Bob also joyously welcomed a baby boy in October 2021.  “Currently a middle school math teacher, my finance degree from Auburn ultimately emphasized my love for the language of math and lead me to the career I am in now.” “Bob’s experience as a service-dis- abled veteran and a small business owner in the government contracting space led him to pursue his Executive MBA upon the sale of his company in the summer of 2019. His immediate plans include continuing to support veterans and serve and consult on varied boards of directors and advisors.” Evan Glaze (’07, human resources manage- ment)  started as the head of human resources at Americas for Interplex, a Blackstone Company in May 2022. “I received my bachelor’s degree with a focus in human resource management, which set the foundation for a career that has been primarily focused in manufacturing. I now support our organization through partner- ing with other business leaders to set the HR strategy that best aligns our people with our business goals.”

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