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The Milgard School of Business Executive in Residence Program is comprised of respected industry professionals and reflective practitioners who have expertise in their respective fields. It was created to provide students and faculty the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of these professionals, to strengthen the relationship between the Milgard School of Business and local and global businesses, and to help transition students into the business community.
Investing in tacoma's future leaders
Executives in Residence will:
- Share knowledge and provide industry, functional and leadership expertise.
- Engage with faculty by consulting and collaborating on research and other projects
- Engage with students and contribute to their students’ personal and professional development
- Engage with Community by assisting with referrals for executive education programming and sharing School initiatives.
The Milgard School of Business recognizes Executive in Residence by providing:
- Introduction to internal stakeholders with identified areas of engagement
- Access to University resources
- UW email
- Shared office space
Odette D'Aniello
Founder & CEO, Celebrity Gourmet Ventures
Ms. D’Aniello holds a BA in Political Science and East Asian Studies from the University of Arizona, a Master in Education from the University of Guam, and a Certificate in Food Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Odette is a graduate of the Business Growth Collaborative program and the Minority Executive Business Program, both at the UW Foster School of Business. She is a native of the Philippines who also grew up in Guam.
Along with her entrepreneurial expertise, Odette is a former educator who is dedicated to supporting learning and growth among entrepreneurs.
Odette is a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a global network of business owners whose companies earn more than $1 million in annual revenue.
She serves as EO’s Accelerator Expert for the U.S. West, guiding entrepreneurship education and mentoring programs for EO programs in 9 states. She serves as a mentor to women and BIPOC small business owners in western Washington and has served as a judge for Seattle University’s Business Plan Competition. She has been featured in various podcasts and publications, and a November 2022 interview can be found at https://youtu.be/fggKrkL0gw0
Greg Biersack
Greg Biersack is a multi-disciplinary senior executive, able to lead and collaborate across numerous functions. Greg is the CEO and Founder of Reach Service LLC, (reachforservice.com) a company dedicated to helping service technicians succeed and eliminating stress for clients associated with dental equipment. He is responsible for providing the vision and direction for the company. He also manages the company’s finances, marketing efforts and technology direction. The company currently serves dental offices in OR, WA, CA, MO and KS, with a goal to serving practices nationwide within the next 5 years.
Prior to starting his own company, he was VP of Operations at Burkhart Dental, acting as both the COO and CFO.
As the VP of Operations, Greg led and developed deep expertise in multiple functional areas, including finance, marketing, human resources, information technology, legal, and operations. His efforts resulted in continued operational improvements and increased profitability. His leadership helped to shape a positive culture that resulted in Burkhart being rated one of Washington’s Best Places to work.
Earlier, as VP of Sales, Greg led and accounted for 15 branch locations, guiding the company to six consecutive years of record setting sales growth.
Greg has served as a Marketing Professor at UW Tacoma since 2017. He brings real life experiences and practical knowledge to the classroom, creating excitement for his students about becoming a business leader in the community. His students view him as a caring coach and mentor for their college experience and in preparation for professional career success.
Dedicated and service-minded, Greg spent his early career serving nine years of active duty in the Navy, including serving as a Naval Flight Officer during Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
Greg has been a part of several nonprofit and community boards, including the Goodwill Heritage Foundation, University of Washington—Tacoma Milgard Executive Council (receiving their Business Leader of the Year Award), and the Tacoma/Pierce County Economic Development Board. Greg holds a BSA and MBA from the Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University.
Tom Everill
Until his retirement in 2016, Tom Everill served as President and CEO of Northwest Center, one of the largest and most successful social enterprise nonprofits in the region. During his tenure Northwest Center turned itself around financially, developed a collaborative culture aligned with its values, and established itself as an innovator and thought leader in the national disability rights community.
Before that Tom worked through a 27 year progression of accounting and finance roles in the global logistics industry at Airborne Express where he designed and managed cross-currency financial settlement systems, launched a highly
successful profit improvement program, led offshore merger and acquisition projects, and served as integration officer when Deutsche Post acquired Airborne under the DHL umbrella.
His 40 years of experience leading turnaround efforts and ambitious change projects in both sectors has given Tom a profound fascination with organizational transformation, complexity and uncertainty, group dynamics and conflict, the critical importance of culture, and the paradoxical power of leadership that evokes rather than directs. His experience at Northwest Center has also convinced him that business can be a potent instrument of social good.
He teaches the MBA capstone course in systems thinking and complexity at Milgard.
EDUCATION
- BA in History (with distinction), University of Arizona
- MS in Management, Antioch University Seattle
Abel Hernandez
Abel’s career is a testament to dedication, versatility, and excellence across various sectors, from the military to entrepreneurship, education, and community service. Beginning with a solid foundation as a Sergeant in the US Army, Abel showcased exceptional leadership and commitment, earning numerous accolades. These early experiences set the stage for a career characterized by leadership and a drive to excel.
Transitioning into the business world, Abel embarked on a journey that spanned roles from Sales Business Development at Sector 111 to leadership positions at TrueBlue, demonstrating a keen ability for marketing and team leadership.
Abel’s impact was profoundly felt at Two Jinn, where he played a pivotal role in market growth and expansion. Serving on a three-person corporate team, Abel traveled across markets in multiple states to conduct thorough business analyses and create marketing and business development plans to revitalize local offices. This crucial role further highlighted Abel’s strengths in strategic marketing, leadership, and business development. This role eventually brought him to the Pacific Northwest, marking a new chapter in his career.
At Northwest Mortgage Services, Abel took the helm as President and Owner, steering the company towards notable growth and excellence in customer service, underpinned by a deep understanding of mortgage lending, customer retention, and new business development.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Abel is deeply committed to education and mentorship. He earned his B.S. in Business from the University of Redlands and later his MBA from the Milgard School of Business, where he also served as the President of the MBA Association. As a lecturer at the Milgard School of Business, he focuses on mentoring future leaders and fostering a love for business.
He is also a Washington Certified Peer Counselor and volunteers with local nonprofits supporting veterans and first responders. He is deeply rooted in his local chamber of commerce, where he is committed to energizing and supporting local businesses. His dedication to community service underscores Abel’s holistic approach to leadership, emphasizing the importance of giving back.
Abel's journey from the military to the forefront of business and community service showcases a relentless pursuit of excellence, leadership, and positive impact. Abel strives to inspire and make a lasting difference through his varied roles and contributions.
Benjamin Hill
Benjamin is strategic marketing executive with more than 30 years’ experience with Fortune 500 corporations. His expertise spans healthcare and technology industries, strategy, marketing, communications, and digital marketing with firms IBM, Ernst & Young, SapientNitro and Motorola.
Benjamin is currently Division Chair of Integrated Marketing and Demand Generation for Mayo Clinic. In this role, his teams are responsible for delivering marketing strategies and execution across audiences and channels Benjamin is
currently Division Chair of Integrated Marketing and Demand Generation for Mayo Clinic. In this role, his teams are responsible for delivering marketing strategies and execution across audiences and channels (e.g., B2C, B2B, B2E, B2D) in support of clinical practice, education and research priorities and facilitating expansion of clinical practice, education, and research impact.
Prior to Mayo Clinic, Benjamin was most recently Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Marketing for MultiCare Health System, a not-for-profit health care organization with more than 18,000 team members, ten hospitals and over 200 locations. In that capacity he was responsible for branding, marketing, communications, customer experience and media relations.
Previously, he served as Director of Regional Marketing for Northwestern Medicine, a seven-hospital academic medical system with over 4,000 physicians, Benjamin led the development of the Northwestern Medicine brand and marketing growth for multiple clinical service lines and hospital marketing. Benjamin helped the hospital achieve National Honor Roll status for the first time on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospital ranking in 2012 and subsequently in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Prior to joining Northwestern Medicine, Benjamin founded BW Hill & Associates, a strategic and digital marketing consultancy. BW Hill & Associates focused on helping Chief Marketing Officers “get more from their marketing” efforts and investments.
Prior to founding BW Hill & Associates, Benjamin led Motorola’s global interactive and relationship marketing function. Reporting to the CMO, he had responsibility for online marketing and promotions, global CRM, direct marketing, partner extranets, and the development, promotion, and operations of global websites. He led the online marketing effort for the world-renowned Motorola RAZR phone and his teams received numerous creative awards and media recognition including Cannes, FWA and NYF International Advertising Awards – Grand, Webby Honoree.
Benjamin is a member of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, the Direct Marketing Association (DCMP), the American Marketing Association (PCM) and the Public Relations Society of America. He was an advisory board member the Harold Washington College in Chicago. Benjamin was an adjunct professor for the City Colleges of Chicago and the University of Washington Tacoma Milgard School of Business. Benjamin is the former Board President for Ladies of Virtue, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of young women in underserved communities. He is a current board member for Food Lifeline, a non-profit organization that supplies food to over 300 different food banks, shelters, and meal programs across Western Washington.
Benjamin obtained his Master of Business Management degree from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, where he concentrated in Marketing, Strategy and Finance, his Master of Science in Business Analytics from the Milgard School of Business at the University of Washington Tacoma and his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Kirk Mandlin
Kirk's service at the Milgard School of Business surrounds financial literacy. In addition to instructing classes, Kirk advises the Finance Club and works with the educational team to develop, present, and fund programs of the Milgard Business School and the Financial Wellness Lab.
Kirk has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Since 2017, Kirk has distinguished himself as a financial advisor for Edward Jones. Dedicated to service on behalf of others in his professional and personal life, he has earned distinction as a client-oriented advisor, specializing in wealth management, estate planning, and retirement planning. He also provides coaching and guidance to fellow financial advisors as a way to give back to his company and his professional community.
Kirk earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with an emphasis on finance, from Western Washington University. He has also attained a Master of Management degree from Chancellor University. He is certified as an investment management analyst (CIMA®) and is a chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC™). He has worked for the biggest names in the financial advisement industry including serving as an Executive Director for both Morgan Stanley and UBS. In 2008, he became a Managing Director for Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and there was named as a Premier Manager in recognition of his work. In addition, he was named among the Top Ten Branch Managers in the United States by On Wall Street Magazine in 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2017, he joined Edward Jones as a financial advisor in his hometown, Olympia, WA.
In addition to his serving as a financial advisor, Kirk is an instructor for a course entitled "Maximizing Your Retirement" at South Puget Sound Community College. He also serves as a board member for New Beginnings Church, which is based in Oklahoma City, and was previously the president of the Beaverton Aloha League, a local little league, and the Valley Christian Junior High School Parent Teacher Prayer Fellowship in San Jose, CA. While the President of the little league, Kirk spearheaded the building of an indoor practice facility that has served thousands of youth players in the Beaverton, OR area. The story of this facility buildout was filmed and distributed throughout Wells Fargo's 280,000 employee intranet, and this short film won a bronze Telly Award for outstanding corporate communication.
His service at the Milgard School of Business surrounds financial literacy. In addition to instructing classes, Kirk advises the Finance Club and works with the educational team to develop, present, and fund programs of the Milgard Financial Wellness Lab.
Anoop Natwar Mehta, CPA, CGMA
Mr. Anoop Natwar Mehta, CPA, CGMA, is the Past Chairman of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and Past Chairman of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (Association). Mehta was the first person of Indian origin to Chair the AICPA and only the second person of color, in its 135-year history.
Over his career, Mr. Mehta has served in several volunteer roles for AICPA&CIMA: the AICPA Board of Directors, the Association Board of Directors, the AICPA Business and Industry Executive Committee, the AICPA Political Action Committee and AICPA Council. As of June 1, 2024 Mr. Mehta is the Chair of the AICPA National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion.
Currently he is the Chief Strategist for Analytical Mechanical Associates, Inc. (AMA). AMA has worked with government and commercial organizations solving the toughest engineering, science and business problems. Mr. Mehta provides expertise in key areas of business development, strategic planning, and operational improvements across AMA.
Mr. Mehta stepped down as the president of Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) in June 2021. In his role, he led the executive management team and oversaw the overall performance of the company. He had the day-to-day responsibility for managing, planning, and implementing strategic goals of the company. With more than 40 years of experience in government contracting, he actively supported NASA and NOAA programs in an executive management capacity for SSAI. Mr. Mehta joined SSAI in 1980 and helped the company to grow from a two-person company to more than 1,000. The company achieved profitability above target levels each year during his tenure.
Mr. Mehta was the Chair (2012-2013) of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA). He serves on the Government Contractors Committee for the MACPA and chaired the committee for two years (2001-2003).
Mr. Mehta is a former board member and past president of the Maryland Space Business Roundtable (MSBR) and recipient of the MSBRs Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a seventh-degree Master Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and has been teaching martial arts and operating a karate school for over 35 years.
Mr. Mehta has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and Accounting and Information Assurance Department. He also serves as the Executive in Residence for the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Rena Pacheco-Theard
Rena is the CEO of Boutiq, an AI / ML revenue management business for short-term rentals that partners with property managers to make them more successful.
Prior to launching Boutiq, Rena worked in finance and strategy for Indeed’s new product portfolio, and led an edtech startup, Prepify. She previously was a senior consultant at Deloitte and has also worked at organizations such as Bono's ONE Campaign. Rena earned an MBA from MIT Sloan, an MPAff from The University of Texas' LBJ School and a BS from Georgetown University.
Troy Rucker
Troy spent 22 years in institutional asset management at Russell Investments, ultimately serving five years as the Managing Director, President & CEO of Russell Investments Implementation Services.
Troy had full accountability and responsibility for the global growth, daily product delivery, risk management and associate management of the business, which consisted of over 100 associates across Russell’s key offices in North America, the UK, Japan, and Australia. The services included exposure management (derivatives and currency overlay), specialty asset management (transition management, interim portfolio management), and execution management (global trading, commission management). He was recognized for unique skill at combining deep and diverse technical
During his tenure at Russell Investments, Troy was one of the chief architects and leaders of Russell’s global Implementation Services business. He held numerous roles focused on business growth and daily operations – advancing from Technical Analyst to Portfolio Transition Manager, then into senior leadership roles as Chief Operating Officer, then Managing Director.
Currently, Troy is co-owner of Performance Footwear and Outdoor Gear. It is a customer service focused retail store specializing in premium brand recreational footwear, apparel and gear. Troy enjoys leveraging his skillset in business growth and development and operational efficiency to help lead this thriving business.
Troy is also an investor and advisor for a startup ‘Insights as a Service’, data, and analytics company. The business supports Institutional Asset Managers and Asset Owners, with a mission to empower clients to make better-informed decisions about their ‘Culture, Controls, and Business Model.’ The platform enables clients to benchmark their organization against competitors, allowing them to make data-driven decisions to reduce risk and optimize their business.
Bob Whitsitt
Bob Whitsitt is the former President and General Manager of the Portland Trailblazers and the Seattle Supersonics as well as the President of the Seattle Seahawks. During his seventeen year tenure as a NBA General Manager, Whitsitt’s teams made the playoffs 16 times, including four trips to the Final Four.
As President and General Manager of the Seattle Supersonics from 1986-1994, Whitsitt converted a non-playoff team with the lowest attendance in the NBA into a championship caliber team. Whitsitt’s last season in Seattle earned him the NBA Executive of the Year award as the Sonics had the best record (63-19) in the NBA.
During Whitsitt’s tenure in Portland, the Blazers made the playoffs every year and were one of the top 5 NBA teams in sponsorship and ticket revenue
As President of the Seattle Seahawks from 1997 to 2005, Whitsitt negotiated the acquisition of the team for Paul Allen and led a successful statewide referendum that secured $300 million in public funding for the Seahawks’ new football and soccer stadium. Bob built a team that made its first three playoff appearances in nearly a decade, won two division championships and played in Superbowl XL.
Whitsitt also served as president of a wide range of companies in Portland including Rose City Radio, Oregon Arena Corporation, Red Lion Hotel, Action Sports Media, Portland Fire (WNBA).
Whitsitt recently completed a two-year consulting agreement as Chief Sports Advisor to the company building Climate Pledge Arena and launching the NHL’s Seattle Kraken expansion franchise. In addition to his consulting, Bob graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2021.
