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Celebrating the Success and Commitment of CMU Alumni
from College of Business Administration - Fall 2024
by Central Michigan University College of Business Administration
Each year, the College of Business Administration recognizes alumni who go above and beyond in their professions, service to their communities and commitment to CMU.
Meet the 2023 inductees, who were honored at the CBA Hall of Fame and Alumni Awards celebration on campus in April 2024.
Hall of Fame Inductee Enrico DiGirolamo, ’76, ’15
From Detroit to Switzerland, Enrico (Rico) DiGirolamo’s life and vast business career have taken him around the world.
DiGirolamo is the lead independent director for the board of Coherent, a $10 billion public company where he serves as chair of the ESG committee and member of the Audit and STAR committees.
For more than a decade, DiGirolamo has been a strong advocate and mentor for CMU. He has served since 2014 on the college’s Executive Roundtable Advisory Board and has been actively involved in teaching and mentoring students. He has taught the college’s capstone strategy course as an executive-in-residence, participated in Dialogue Days and judged the New Venture Challenge. He delivered the university’s commencement address in 2015 and earned an honorary doctorate.
DiGirolamo, who resides in Novi with his wife Kathleen, is known for his ‘Ricoisms,’ including,: “It’s good to have the answer to the question, but it’s better to have the answer to the right question.”
Outstanding Young Alumni Award Chelsea Hurst, ’12
Even as a student, Chelsea Hurst was giving back to CMU, serving as an SAP teaching assistant while earning her information systems degree. She leads recruiting efforts in her current role with Dow, guiding students throughout their early career paths. She is also a passionate supporter of women in STEM and is involved in numerous organizations on and off campus.
“Chelsea not only leads recruiting at CMU, she’s also been involved in many other activities,” said Steve Tracy, director of SAP University Alliance and an information systems faculty member. “She’s just been an incredible supporter of CMU. We couldn’t be prouder of her.”
Alumni Commitment Award Erin Gendron, ’06 and Stephen Wakeling, ’03
In addition to putting the skills they learned at CMU to use in start-ups and their own companies, Stephen Wakeling and Erin Gendron have given back on campus, too. They started the Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program this academic year, serving students with mentorship, professional skills, friendships and more.
“Stephen and Erin get deeply involved,” said Julie Messing, director of the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship and an entrepreneurship faculty member. “They’re spending time with the students. They’re mentoring and coaching. They’re introducing the students to a plethora of resources that will help them regardless of the path they choose in life.”
Distinguished Alumni Award Kristie Nystedt, ’90
Kristie Nystedt’s catchphrase, “make it happen,” reflects her life and career trajectory. After earning her accounting degree and working in a variety of finance and accounting roles, she ‘hopped’ to the craft brew industry, becoming president of Raleigh Brewing Company and the first woman to own a brewery in North Carolina.
In addition to the brewery, she also established a full-service brewery equipment and parts supplier, and, most recently, a piping and production fabrication company. She is dedicated to giving back to CMU through support of the New Venture Challenge and by mentoring student organizations.
