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.
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.
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.
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, GM, MMWPR
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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
Members
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Peter C. Argianas, CPA* | Chairman, President and CEO, Gold Coast Bank
- John Barnicle | CEO, Peerless Network
- Kevin Boyle* | President and CEO, Schulze & Burch Biscuit Co.
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Geoffrey Brown | President and CEO, Illinois CPA Society
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Brian P. Campbell* | President, Campbell Industries, Inc.
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J-P Contreras* | Autonomous Cloud Leader, Dynatrace
- Sebastian Cualoping* | Retired President, Ampac International, Inc.
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Michael de Anda* | Principal, de Anda Capital, LLC
- John Digles | Executive Vice President, GM, MMWPR
- 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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Cory S. Gunderson* | Executive Vice President, Global Solutions, Protiviti, Inc.
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Roberto R. Herencia | Chairman, Byline Bancorp and Byline Bank
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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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Kenton J. Klaus* | Retired Tax Partner, Deloitte; Senior Instructor, Driehaus College of Business
Andrew Leone | Chief Commercial Officer, Hyundai Capital America -
Jim G. Logothetis* | Retired Southeast Area Senior Client Service Partner, Ernst & Young
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Ron Nahser* | Senior Wicklander Fellow, DePaul University
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Diane M. Pearse* | Retired CEO, Hickory Farms, LLC
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Christopher Pieszko*| Retired Corporate Senior Vice President & Corporate Controller, McDonald's Corp.
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Brian D. Ruben* | Audit Partner, Deloitte
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Christian A. Saccameno* | Managing Director, Old Second National Bank
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John Sassaris* | Senior Vice President/Market Executive, Fifth Third Bank
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Stephanie Shipp* | Vice President, Global Equality Strategy, Salesforce
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Joseph Skender* | Chairman Emeritus, Skender Construction
- Robert J. Smith, Jr.* | Owner, Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home
- Denis E. Springer | Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp
- Glenn T. Sugiyama | Managing Partner and Global Practice Leader, DHR Global
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Joseph Trpik | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, ComEd
- Daniel C. Ustian* | Retired Chairman, President & CEO, Navistar International Corp.
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John J. Vitanovec* | Senior Professional Lecturer and Coordinator of Faculty and Curriculum, School of Accountancy & MIS, DePaul University
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Mark Wattley* | Chief People Officer, The Rockefeller Foundation
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Thomas S. Weber* | Retired Vice President, Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.
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Michael P. Whelan | Partner, Assurance Services, EY
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Ernest R. Wish* | Retired Executive Partner, Wish Enterprises
Emeriti Members
- Gary P. Coughlan | Former Senior Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer, Abbott Laboratories
- William P. Kusack, Jr.* | Retired Managing Director, JPMorgan Capital Corp.
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George L. Ruff* | Senior Principal, Trinity Hotel Investors LLC
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James Winikates* | Retired Partner, KPMG LLP
*DePaul University alumni
Malik Murray served on the Business Advisory Council until his passing in May, 2025.
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