The distinguished alumni and executives who serve on the Driehaus College of Business Advisory Council provide insights and ideas for the college to design its curricula and student services to prepare graduates for the real world of business.
Mission
The mission of the Driehaus College of Business Advisory Council shall be to assist the dean, faculty and staff with the development and execution of the college’s strategies. As advocates, ambassadors and supporters of the college’s mission and values, the advisory council provides direct linkage to some of the college’s most important external constituencies. The advisory council also will assist the dean in enhancing the effectiveness of the college’s other councils.
Below are examples of community and corporate partnerships fostered by advisory council members.

Driehaus Cup Pitch Competition, Sponsored by Morningstar, Encourages Student Entrepreneurship
The Driehaus Cup, a business pitch competition for DePaul undergraduate business students, is sponsored by Morningstar through a partnership facilitated by advisory council member Laura Kohl, Morningstar’s Chief Information Officer.
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DePaul and Deloitte Foundation Fund Scholarships for Students Pursuing Fifth-Year Master’s Program in Accounting
The School of Accountancy & MIS at DePaul University collaborated with the Deloitte Foundation to fund academic scholarships for DePaul graduate accounting students. Championed by BAC Co-Chair Brian Ruben, the effort supports a racially and ethnically diverse student population and helps strengthen the pipeline of diverse CPA talent.
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DePaul Collaborates with Corporate Partners to Host Summer Investment Challenge
DePaul's Arditti Center for Risk Management hosted the 2022 Summer Investment Challenge, a four-day boot camp that challenged Chicago area high school students to present a stock pick presentation in front of a panel of industry judges. BAC member Cory Gunderson was instrumental in securing Protiviti’s co-sponsorship of the program.
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Executive Committee
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Co-Chair:
Denis E. Springer | Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.
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Co-Chair:
Brian Ruben* | Audit Partner, Deloitte
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Chair of External Relations Committee:
John Digles| Executive Vice President/Practice Chair, Midwest General Manager, MWWPR
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Chair of Membership Committee:
Malik T. Murray* | Senior Vice President, Institutional Marketing & Client Services, Ariel Investments
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Chair of Council Engagement Committee:
Cory Gunderson* | Executive Vice President, Global Solutions, Protiviti
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Laura Kohl* | Chief Information Officer, Morningstar
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Christian A. Saccameno* | Vice President, Segment Manager, US Bank
Members
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Peter C. Argianas, CPA* | Chairman, President and CEO, Gold Coast Bank
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Todd Berger | CEO, Redwood Logistics
- Kevin Boyle* | President and CEO, Schulze & Burch Biscuit Co.
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Brian P. Campbell* | President, Campbell Industries, Inc.
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J-P Contreras* | Practice Director, IT Operations Management, Contender Solutions
- Sebastian Cualoping* | Retired President, Ampac International, Inc.
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Michael de Anda* | Principal, de Anda Capital, LLC
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Spero Droulias* | Senior Vice President & U.S. Chief Financial Officer, McDonald's USA, LLC
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H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani | Chairman, Al Faisal Holding Co.
- Berchmans J. Fernandez* | Managing Director, UNA Worldwide
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Cary D. Flynn* | Retired Senior Vice President of Tax, Duke Energy
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Tom Gimbel | Founder and CEO, LaSalle Network
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Erin Gingras* | Client Experience Director, CTS Impact
- Howard Goss* | Retired Chairman of the Board, Transco Inc.
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Arnold T. Grisham* | President and CEO, Tri-Valley Bank
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Roberto R. Herencia | Chairman, Byline Bancorp and Byline Bank
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David Hinman | Senior Commercial Banker, Senior Vice President , Fifth Third Bank
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Paul Wm. Hoefert* | Senior Vice President and Head of Private Banking, First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
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Michael E. Hora | CEO, Hora Enterprises
- James M. Jenness* | Retired Chairman and CEO, Kellogg Co.
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Rick H. Kash | Managing Partner, Ark Strategy Advisors
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Dennis Kessler | Founder and President, Midwest Family Business Advisors
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Kenton J. Klaus* | Retired Tax Partner, Deloitte; Senior Instructor, Driehaus College of Business
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William P. Kusack, Jr.* | Retired Managing Director, JPMorgan Capital Corp.
- Barbara L. Laughlin | Retired Chief Information Officer, First Union Corp.
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Jim G. Logothetis* | Retired Southeast Area Senior Client Service Partner, Ernst & Young
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Tom Loughlin | Area Vice President, North Central Region, Hilton Worldwide
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James R. Maurer* | Partner, CohnReznick LLC
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Vito Mitria* | Principal, Beacon Management Advisors, LLC
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Fergal J. Mulchrone | Executive Chairman, Hugh Jordan & Co. Ltd.
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Ron Nahser* | Director, Urban Sustainable Management Programs, DePaul University
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Morris M. Oldham | Retired Partner, McGladrey LLP
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Diane M. Pearse* | Retired CEO, Hickory Farms, LLC
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Christopher Pieszko*| Retired Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller, McDonald's USA, LLC
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Sam Ramesh | President, Showatech Inc.
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William Ramirez* | Adjunct Professor, Portland State University
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Paul M. Rand* | Vice President for Communications, University of Chicago
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Bill Rogalla* | Chief Investment Officer, Murphy Real Estate Services
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George L. Ruff* | Senior Principal, Trinity Hotel Investors LLC
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John Sassaris* | Group President, Commercial Banking, MB Financial Bank
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Stephanie Shipp* | Vice President, Global Equality Strategy, Salesforce
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Tom Skallas* | Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
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Joseph Skender* | Chairman of the Board, Skender Construction
- Robert J. Smith, Jr. | Owner, Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home
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William J. Tomazin, Jr.* | Partner, KPMG, LLP
- Daniel C. Ustian* | Chairman, Zemco Enterprise
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John J. Vitanovec* | Former Executive Vice President, Tribune Broadcasting Co.; Senior Professional Lecturer and Coordinator of Faculty and Curriculum, School of Accountancy & MIS, DePaul University
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Mark Wattley* | Chief People Officer, Cooler Screens
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Thomas S. Weber* | Vice President, Internal Audit, Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.
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Michael P. Whelan | Partner, Assurance Services, EY
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James Winikates* | Retired Partner, KPMG LLP
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Ernest R. Wish* | Retired Executive Partner, Coopers & Lybrand
*DePaul University alumni
Get Involved
If you have questions about joining the Business Advisory Council or ways to get involved with the Driehaus College of Business, please contact us at your earliest convenience:
Joe Ethington
Executive Director of Development
jethingt@depaul.edu
(312)362-6942