Hall Fame Hall Fame 2025
PRESENTED BY MARCH 7, 2025
ROSEN SHINGLE CREEK
Hall Fame
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
Welcome to the 25th annual UCF College of Business Hall of Fame. To celebrate this milestone, we’re blending the excitement and energy of College GameDay with the honor and prestige of the Heisman Trophy ceremony. This year’s class – Jim Combs, Ph.D. ’86 ’90MBA, Michael Okaty ’96 ’97 and Charece Williams ’05MBA – bring our inductee total to 95 over the past 25 years. As we look back at the Hall of Fame’s history, it’s also a chance to think about what this event might look like 25 years from now.
When this event started, it was a much smaller awards ceremony held on campus in the Student Union. Now, the only place on campus big enough to hold us just might be the football stadium. Since then, we’ve gone on an adventure with Indiana Jones, run for the roses at the Kentucky Derby, built a Field of Dreams, had Breakfast at Tiffany’s and more.
So, what will the next 25 years bring? I can guarantee the 2050 event will feature inductees who were students of Dr. Carolyn Massiah, who has taught more than 50,000 students since coming to UCF. I know our Pegasus Partners will have a lot to do with who is inducted, as we’ll see people who have learned from — and worked at — these companies coming back and completing the circle of preparing the next generation of business professionals. And I would be willing to bet that we’ll see an ever-evolving background of inductees as we continue to become Florida’s leading Engineering and Technology University. By 2050, this event might be celebrating faculty who actually went to space, or better yet, the 50th annual UCF College of Business Hall of Fame might just be held in space.
Every year we celebrate a lineup of awardees who have put together a Heismanwinning campaign. We’ll induct three more Knights into the Hall of Fame tonight, as well as honor Jessica Blume ’80 with the Legendary Knight Award for her longtime commitment to UCF and our Business Knights.
As always, I would like to give a special thanks to our presenting sponsor Withum for being a dedicated partner and supporter of all we do in the college. From the Withum Learning Lab to the Hall of Fame, Withum helps us provide opportunities for our students to get involved, learn and expand their networks.
Tonight, we invite you to network with your fellow Knights and celebrate our Business Knights!
Paul Jarley, Ph.D. Dean, UCF College of Business
HallFame
HallFame Hall Fame INDUCTEES
1999
James S. Hunt ’77
Douglas F. Long ’82
Craig S. Miller ’74
Blaine Sweatt, III ’76 Al Weiss ’76
2000
R. Todd Bowers ’77
J. Kenneth Bryant ’77
Les W. Eiserman ’81 ’82
James W. Ferrell ’80
R. Glenn Hubbard ’79
Gerald R. McGratty ’71 ’72
2001
Scott Bell ’83
John J. Carelli ’75
Lawrence J. Chastang ’80
Roy H. Davidson ’77
Ivan Lefkowitz ’73
Rocky Santomassino ’79
2002
Olga M. Calvet ’71
Robert B. Case ’70
Joseph Durek ’78
William A. Long, Jr. ’73
2003
N. Lois Adams ’85
Harold “Hal” Downing ’76
Laurette T. Koellner ’77
Louis F. Lentine ’93
Palmer Barton Weeks, Jr. ’83 ’84
2004
G. Thomas Bland, Jr. ’75 ’79
Andrew J. Fore, III ’76 ’83
Paul Gregg ’74 ’76
Nan B. McCormick ’83
2005
Kathy Assaf ’70
Jim D. Atchison ’92
Ward Curtis, Jr. ’73 ’77
Kenneth G. Dixon ’75
Andrew B. Titen ’75
2006
Stanley C. Horton ’73
Thomas Messina ’84
Paul Ryan ’83
Theresa Schefstad ’80
2007
2015
Therese Gearhart ’85
Mitch Less ’86
John Schmid ’92
2016
Hall Fame
Jim G. Balaschak ’86 ’92
Richard O. Baldwin ’80
W.H. “Hank” Crouse ’71
Steve Felkowitz ’79
Mike McArdle ’87
Jeff McFadden
2008
Alan C. Charron ’84
Melanie Fernandez ’86 ’91
Micky Grindstaff, Esq. ’78
Alex Martins ’01
Mark L. Plaumann ’74 ’79
John D. VanderWerf ’77
2009
Anthony Connelly ’88
Donald J. “D.J.” Gannon ’89
Maureen Walker ’81
2010
George F. Gramatikas ’04
Jeff B. Lagos ’89
Jeff J. Lehman ’78 ’80
2011
Karen Hackett ’82
Mary Stone ’74 ’75
Anthony Thornton ’94
2012
Merrell Bailey, Esq. ’85 ’89 ’01 ’07
Jonathan Kennedy ’94 ’96
Brian Wheeler ‘95
2014
The Hon. Kenneth W.
Bradley ’85
Rasesh Thakkar ’84
Carrie Callahan ’92
Carrie Hall ’86
Larry Tobin ’83
2017
Sonya Dixon ’96 ’98
Antonio “Tony” Moreno, Jr. ’91
Michael O’Donnell ’09
2018
Sheila B. Jordan ’86
Terry McNew ’86
Dawn Olivardia ’89 ’90
2019
Jessica L. Blume ’80
Clint Bullock ’95
Rick Cardenas ’92
2020
Woody Walker ’92 ’94
Justin Wetherill ’07
Brian Wright ’06
2022
Glenn A. Dial ’88
Inez Long ’98 MBA
Barry Miller ’95
2023
Jim Adamczyk ’02 ’04 MBA
Cary D’Ortona ’00 ’01 MSA
John Gill ’86
2024
Russell Goldberg ’89
Charlie Lousignont ’81
Eva Tukdarian ’90 ’91
TONIGHT’S MENU
GRIDIRON GREENS
Heirloom tomato and burrata salad with aged balsamic, arugula and grilled fennel served with smoked tomato vinaigrette
FIELD GOAL FILET & TOUCHDOWN BASS
Peppercorn crusted filet of beef and Chilean sea bass served with golden cauliflower puree, potato pave and grilled asparagus
HEISMAN HOUSE TART
Chocolate silk meringue tart
FROM THE CONCESSIONS
Freshly brewed gourmet regular and decaffeinated coffees and tea
FEATURED AT THE BAR
Tito’s Heisman Goldrush
TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE
Welcome.........................................................Master of Ceremonies Jeff Lehmann ’78 ’80, Hall of Fame ’11
Presenting Sponsor..............................................Russell Goldberg ’89, Hall of Fame ’24 Partner-in-Charge, Withum
UCF President................................................................................Alexander Cartwright, Ph.D. College of Business Dean................................................................................Paul Jarley, Ph.D.
Legendary Knight Award..............................................................................Jessica Blume ’80
Partnership Award........................................................................................Darden Restaurants
Honorable Knight Awards........Marissa Caravelis ’02, Micah Mackubin ’10 ’11MSA, Maritza Martinez-Guerrero ’11MBA, Ryan Sleeper ’07 ’09MBA
Interview Host.......................................Tiffany Hughes, COO, UCF College of Business Hall of Fame Induction.........................................................Jim Combs, Ph.D. ’86 ’90MBA
Entrepreneurial Alumni Awards....................................Sam Baker ’23, Mills Bender ’17, Tim O’Reilly ’10 ’14MBA Hall of Fame Induction...........................................................................Michael Okaty ’96 ’97 Notable Knight Awards.................................Isabel Power ’21MSM, Anthony Surico ’15 Hall of Fame Induction..................................................................Charece Williams ’05MBA
LEGENDARY KNIGHT AWARD
JESSICA BLUME ,80
The Legendary Knight Award recognizes outstanding contributions that will transform teaching, research and learning through extraordinary philanthropy and commitment to the College of Business. This award is open to the entire College of Business community, including alumni, friends and corporate and foundation partners.
JESSICA BLUME ’80 is the retired vice chair of Deloitte, where she served as a leadership partner in the U.S. firm and was a member of the Deloitte U.S. Executive Committee and U.S. board of directors. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Publix Super Markets Inc., and Centene Corporation. A graduate of the Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting, Blume was inducted into the UCF Business Hall of Fame in 2019. She is a dedicated philanthropist with a history of outstanding board service at UCF. In 2016, she joined the Integrated Business Advisory Board and made significant contributions to the Integrated Business program. She now serves on the UCF Foundation Board and chairs the Audit Committee. In 2021, Blume and her husband, Ken, established a scholarship program for business students who are the first in their families to attend college. It was the largest single gift in the history of UCF Day of Giving.
PARTNERSHIP AWARD
The Partnership Award recognizes organizations that have initiated a successful partnership with, or on behalf of, the UCF College of Business, resulting in the advancement of the college’s academic offerings or public outreach. DARDEN RESTAURANTS embodies the spirit of collaboration and is recognized for its initiative, leadership and involvement in the betterment of business education.
2025 INDUCTEE
JIM
COMBS,
PH.D. ’86 ’90MBA
JIM COMBS, PH.D. ’86 ’90MBA is the Della Phillips Martha Schenck Chair of American Private Enterprise at UCF. His research on family business, franchising, research synthesis and corporate governance is featured in top management journals, including the Academy of Management Journal and the Journal of Management. The two-time Knight earned both a bachelor’s in hospitality management and a master’s in business administration at UCF before completing a doctoral degree at LSU. Combs, who returned to UCF in 2015, ranks among the top 2% of all management scholars for scholarly citations. He also was the 2020 recipient of the Southern Management Association’s Hunt Sustained Outstanding Service Award and 2021 Rosenberg Center International Society of Franchising Eminent Franchising Scholar Award. He’s a 21st Century Entrepreneurship Fellow and a fellow of the Southern Academy of Management.
HONORABLE KNIGHT AWARDS
The Honorable Knight Awards recognize UCF business alumni with more than 10 years of experience who have displayed excellence in their respective career paths.
MARISSA CARAVELIS ’02 Founder & HR Director PACT Love
MICAH MACKUBIN ’10 ’11MSA Partner Strombeck Consulting
MARITZA MARTINEZGUERRERO ’11MBA VP, External Affairs & Philanthropy Orlando Magic
RYAN SLEEPER ’07 ’09MBA Founder & Principal Playfair Data
2025 INDUCTEE
MICHAEL OKATY ’96 ’97
MICHAEL OKATY ’96 ’97 is a former member of the UCF Board of Trustees and former managing partner of Foley & Lardner LLP’s Orlando office. His practice spans a variety of corporate transactions, governance and counseling, and he serves as an advisor and trustee to high-net-worth individuals and families. He’s been recognized by a variety of publications including The Best Lawyers in America and Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Okaty remains engaged on campus through the UCF Alumni Association, Golden Knights Club and Foundation, and WMFE. He says working on the initial financing for the on-campus stadium and serving as a trustee, including selecting current President Alexander Cartwright and making the board motion to move UCF into the Big 12 Conference, were a few of his proudest moments as an alumnus. The two-time Knight holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance from UCF where he graduated magna cum laude. He holds Juris Doctor and Master of Laws degrees from NYU School of Law.
The Entrepreneurial Alumni Awards honor UCF business alumni from any discipline who exemplify commitment, vision, calculated risk-taking and growth potential. In their professional career, this person demonstrates perseverance in the face of adversity and overcomes obstacles.
SAM
BAKER
’23
CEO & Founder WriggleBrew
MILLS BENDER ’17
CEO, CFO Mills Knows Bills, LLC
2025 INDUCTEE
CHARECE WILLIAMS ’05MBA
CHARECE WILLIAMS ’05MBA is a sports and entertainment marketing executive who most recently served as vice president of Sports, Entertainment & Influencer Marketing for The Coca-Cola Company. A graduate of UCF’s DeVos Sport Business Management Program, she has held senior leadership positions at Disney, PepsiCo and Under Armour. Her work has helped reshape how brands engage with female talent, creating new opportunities in sports marketing. She landed industry-shifting name, image and likeness (NIL) partnerships, and secured high-profile endorsements for WNBA stars A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, track star Sha’Carri Richardson and others. She played a key role in advocating for former WNBA players’ inclusion in the National Basketball Retired Players Association. She was named one of Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 Black Women in Sports and as an ACC Unite honoree as a former student-athlete. She stays connected to UCF by hosting the DeVos cohort during its annual trip to New York City, speaking on campus and mentoring students.
NOTABLE KNIGHT AWARDS
The Notable Knight Awards recognize alumni who have displayed promise and excellence early in their career paths and have less than 10 years of experience.
POWER IN THE PLUS
Knights Plus Vision Equals Tomorrow’s Leaders
Congratulations to Michael Okaty, Jim Combs, Charece Williams and all our honorees for inspiring the next generation to lead the charge on tomorrow’s business decisions.
Celebrating UCF’s Business Champions
ADP powers peak performance with game-changing data and insights, driving success from today’s kickoff to tomorrow’s end zone. We’re proud to sponsor the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary, cheering on this year’s inductees and awardees for their winning achievements.
TABLE SPONSORS
Addition Financial
ADP
ALDI
ATHENA
Orlando Women’s Leadership, Inc.
BDO
Black Faculty & Staff Association
Blezoo
BNY
Cassandra Willard, Esq.
CLA
College of Business Advancement
College of Business Alumni Board
Darden Restaurants
Department of Economics
Department of Finance
Department of Integrated Business
Department of Management Department of Marketing
DeVos Class of 2005
DeVos Sport Business Management Program
Diriga Technologies
Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate
FAIRWINDS
Foley & Lardner LLP
Forvis Mazars
Grant Thornton
Holiday Inn Club Vacations
Insight Global Institute for Economic Forecasting
Jeff’s Bagel Run
Jessica & Ken Blume
Kenneth G. Dixon
School of Accounting
KeyBank
KPMG
Mills Knows Bills, LLC
Northwestern Mutual
O’Reilly Family
Office of Graduate Programs
Office of Professional Development
Office of the Dean
Office of the President
Okaty Family
Orlando Business Journal
Orlando Magic
Paul & Gretchen Gregg
Quest, Inc.
Ravago
Sherwin Williams
Signature Wealth Partners
Smarts Place
Stanley Horton
State Farm
The EXCHANGE
The Michael & Colleen O’Donnell Family Foundation
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
UCF Advancement & Partnerships
UCF College of Business Alumni
UCF Development
UCF Partnerships
Verizon
Vivint
Walmart
William Headley
Williams Family
Withum
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame 2015 Hall of Fame 2018 dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
CONGRATULATIONS
2025 UCF College of Business Hall of Fame Inductee
MICHAEL OKATY ,96 ,97
HAIL TO THE VICTORS
Congratulations to Michael Okaty ,96 ,97 and all of tonight’s Hall of Fame inductees and honorees.
Just like tonight’s inductees and honorees, our powerhouse team tackles the toughest challenges with precision and strategic expertise. From the boardroom to the courtroom, we’re your MVP for success.
Con g ratulation s
UCF College of Business
2025 Hall of Fame inductees & awardees
PAUL GREGG ’74 & ’76 MSA, CPA
CONGRATULATIONS 2025 UCF COLLEGE OF BUSINESS HALL OF FAME HONOREES
ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH UCF TO SUPPORT YOU.
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