Alumni Notes
Jon Hayes (’89, accounting) loved Auburn so much, he never left. Three days after graduating, he started at WestPoint Stevens. Over the years, Jon progressed through various roles with the company, including tax manager. He now works as a certified public accountant and assistant controller for the City of Opelika. Outside of his official role, he serves on the board of directors for a local financial institution and is the association president for his condominium on Dauphin Island. Jon and his spouse, Jing, have two sons. Isaac (’24), is currently a certified public accountant for Auburn University’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, while Zachary is an Auburn student in mechanical engineering and is working for General Electric. Pat Henry (’85, economics) is the president and CEO of Daniel Corporation, a Birmingham- based real estate development, investment and service company. “It is amazing how my relationships from my time at Harbert continue to provide enormous benefits for our company as we engage in activities across the region.” Pat stays connected to Auburn University through service with the Auburn University Foundation and advisory boards within the Harbert College of Business and Athletics. He also engages
with the Winchester Institute for Real Estate Development and MRED program at Harbert. While not hard at work, Pat and his wife, Patti, enjoy spending time with their three children and three grandchildren. David Kesterton (’84, management) is president/CEO at Mingledorff's Inc., headquartered in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. This year marks his 41st anniversary with the company. David started his career in 1977 working in the warehouse and continued to work part- time through college. Mingledorff's Inc. has 41 branches throughout the Southeast including a branch in Opelika, Alabama and represents major lines such as Bard and Greenheck. His two sons, Will and Beau Kesterton (Harbert graduates) have joined the company alongside their father as a Territory Manager and head of the Pricing Analytics Group. Helen, David’s wife, (’90, AU) is an active member in the community civic and ALTA Tennis leagues in Atlanta.
Mary (Schuessler) Lines (’82, aviation management) is a retired photographer and high school and college math teacher. Throughout her career in education, she taught in the public and private sectors in California and Alabama. As a photographer, she has traveled the world capturing landscapes that now hang on the walls of offices within Washington D.C. In her retirement, she enjoys walks on Sanibel Beach, Florida and researching her Scottish ancestral roots.
DAVID ABBOTT (’69, business administration)
Finding Ways to Succeed D avid Abbott’s path to gradu- ation was anything but easy. While balancing his academics
At Ivy Industries, where he served as development manager, part-owner and chief executive officer for 15 years, he built a new plant, vertically integrated operations and grew sales from $2.5 million to $15 million. As president of Reinhart Fajen, a manufacturer of cus- tom wooden gun stocks, he drastically reduced turnover by shifting hiring decisions from HR to the employees themselves, who helped vet out and select new team members. Later, while at Aqua-Chem, the chief executive of- ficer advised Abbott against pursuing a high-risk lead. But Abbott trusted
his gut, and it paid off. He secured a $125 million military contract for the company. Perhaps most impressively, as chief executive officer of American Whirlpool, Abbott developed two patents for Whirlpool/Jacuzzi that earned first place national recognition. Abbott’s business philosophy is simple: “I turn a company around with the people, not the balance sheet.” He believes success lies within the empowerment of others.
and working 35 hours a week flipping burgers, he fell seriously ill with mono- nucleosis. The illness forced him to step away from school, and he eventu- ally flunked out. After recovering, he returned to Auburn again and earned a degree in business administration in 1969 as well as a degree in engineering in 1971. Abbott went on to become known for helping companies increase performance, grow profits and prepare for successful sales.
Harbert Magazine 53
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