Alumni Spotlight

After earning an MPA from BYU Marriott in 1970, Michael Dyal focused his career on creating a culture of continual improvement and customer service in each of the four cities where he worked as a city manager.

Ginger Belnap, a landscape designer, shares that she's humbled by the simple beauties that God has given us. “There is healing being in the dirt and being with the Earth.”

Cameron Moll never expected that the insert that fell out of The Daily Universe would eventually lead him to a career spanning the Church, Meta, and beyond.

Flipping through The Wall Street Journal each Saturday morning and discussing stock picks with his grandpa helped James Fletcher realize the real investment wasn’t in equities—it was in Fletcher himself.

From performing arts to chemistry to business to family, BYU Marriott MBA alumna Mandy Crane has forged a variety of paths. “In some ways,” she says, “when you follow a path that no one else is following, you’re creating a better experience for yourself and for your family.”

Almost every part of a fan’s experience at a professional sports event is designed to optimize their emotional connection to the sport. As part of a team that specializes in sports sponsorships, ExDM alum McKade Peterson carefully considers the factors that maximize sports fans’ experiences around the globe.

Google software engineer, Joshua Lyman, says the skillset he developed in the information systems program at the BYU Marriott School of Business has propelled him through diverse career opportunities.

Throughout her 29-year career, Jenifer Greenwood has trusted God for guidance to help her find opportunities for growth, including completing the EMPA program at BYU Marriott.

Mike Eads, an information systems alum from the BYU Marriott School of Business, trusted the skills he developed in the information systems program to take on roles within and outside the realm of his MISM.

Alum Kevin Smith carved out a gnarly career in his nearly 40 years at AT&T. He has also touched hundreds of lives through his optimism, genuine caring, and love for outdoor adventures. You’ve never met a surfer dude quite like him.

"A generous act changed the trajectory of my life in every single way,” says Gene Hayes, who completed his MBA in 1996. Later, as founding director for BYU–Idaho’s Pathway International, he "saw thousands of lives changed.”

For Rachel Bennion, advocating for immigrants isn’t just a professional goal—it’s a personal passion. Inspired by her immigrant great-grandfather's experience, she now helps modern immigrants overcome challenges her grandfather couldn’t have imagined.

ExDM alum Connor Ross's teenage goal to crush track records has since evolved into a career in collegiate sports management.

Claudia Barillas has always wanted to make a positive impact in her community, and the tools she's gaining in the executive MPA program at BYU Marriott have helped her achieve her vision.

For 12 years, accounting alum Michael Parker worked contentedly in public accounting. Then he got a taste of company finances and realized he wanted to be a part of a growing, new company.

During his time at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Nathan Shatzer got involved in the BYU chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management—and continues to connect with its members, this time as an alumnus.

Christina Muhlestein Bates had a track record for going for what she wanted, until a bad experience working in business left her unsure of her next step—until an MBA from BYU Marriott showed her that she could do and become anything she wanted.

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.