Alumni Spotlight

While studying information systems at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Doug Maxfield's plan to pursue a career in technology development shifted drastically after a transformational conversation with a family friend unearthed an untapped passion: leadership development.

A painting is like a journal, says Kristin Yee. “It’s a log of how you felt on the different days you were creating it. You remember what you were thinking when you were working on certain parts.”

Gabrielle Sorensen, a 2019 BYU Marriott alumna and founder of Fleur Gabrielle, uses her experience design training to craft unforgettable floral experiences through a combination of creativity and meaningful client relationships.

The following are alumni who were highlighted on page 10 of BYU Marriott's 2024 Annual Report.

Steve Dutcher knows it sounds strange, but his five-month fight against cancer remains one of the best experiences of his life.

Rachel Jepson, a partner at a CPA firm, continues to seek out educational opportunities. She says, “You always need to be learning to keep up in the accounting profession."

After Kirk Holt graduated from high school, he volunteered on the Hill Cumorah Pageant’s work crew, an opportunity his seminary teacher nominated him for.

Nathan Tanner has biked hundreds of trails throughout Utah. Professionally, he’s also ridden the peaks of entrepreneurship and the valleys of rough economies.

There can be many economic and social problems in rural, resource-dependent communities, and finding solutions is challenging. However, Aaron Kelson, an instructor at Minnesota North College, is determined to help the residents of his central Minnesota community flourish.

On the first official day of BYU Marriott’s 2011 Europe Business study abroad, two students took a photo together at a windy lighthouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Sabrina Wu has cared for rescued circus elephants in Thailand, navigated a team of huskies across a frozen lake and through a forest in Finland, and now works as the anti-fraud officer for Morgan Stanley in Australia.

If there’s one word that BYU Marriott alum Tyler Banks uses every day, it’s team. Whether he is at work or with his family at home, Banks believes that teamwork is essential to make meaningful progress in life.

There was a moment in Dan Hansen’s life when he was a gang member. He carried a fake gun, hung out in the local pool hall, and had regular run-ins with law enforcement.

Writing speeches for the CEO of Microsoft, pioneering cloud services in China, and establishing generative AI technology are all responsibilities that Jared Andersen has taken on since graduating from the BYU Marriott School of Business.

Christie Clark was used to writing stories for others. Realizing she wanted to be a decision maker where she worked, Christie Clark pursued an MBA at BYU Marriott.

Whether he’s balancing the county budget or arranging fire services for unincorporated counties, Ezra Nair draws on the skills he gained from BYU Marriott's EMPA program to manage and serve the county.

Mary Jean Frodsham was the first woman to graduate from BYU Marriott with an MBA. Her journey wasn’t easy, but she felt well-prepared and supported along the way.

MPA alumna Anastasia Jespersen has learned through experience that life has seasons, and each one comes with the opportunity to prioritize different parts of your life.