Alumni Spotlight

When GSCM alum Jeremy Romrell began his internship at Boeing in the summer of 2017, he had no idea he would become a driving force in connecting the company to BYU Marriott.

For many people, one marathon is enough to last a lifetime. Not so for Gretchen Olson Montgomery.

Brad Hales found his perfect match online. But it wasn’t a dating site he was perusing; it was BYU Marriott’s MPA site. “As soon as I looked at the website, I knew an MPA was the degree for me,” he recalls.

Blaine Meek’s pivot from finance to farming was kickstarted, quite literally, by a cow. When a cow kicked Meek’s father on their family farm in Idaho, Meek wrapped up his finals and hurried home to help. As he dug into the work, he caught the vision of farming and never let go.

As soon as Hefolau Lotononga Lavaka heard about the Close Up Foundation’s Washington, DC, trip for high school students, she immediately knew two things: she wanted to participate, and she’d need to pay her own way.

As a graduate of the MBA program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Christian Da Silva knows that education opens the door of opportunity. With the help of loving friends and family and a Cardon International Sponsorship from the Whitmore Global Business Center, Da Silva discovered ways to continue his education and shape a better future.

After graduating from the finance program at the BYU Marriott School of Business in 2007, Brandon Egan continues to seek God’s hand as he navigates changes in his career.

Under brilliant lights, Mark Dickson spoke to a crowd hanging on his every word. He was a 20-something college student refereeing a BYU Intramural Sports flag football game, and for him, the stakes had never been higher.

From his childhood in Côte d’Ivoire to his Church mission in Ghana and a year-long stint in China, Stéphane Akoki had seen a lot before he even started college. Yet he discovered that coming to BYU Marriott widened his world—and his impact.

EMBA graduate Tema Hunkin Laussen had a lot to smile about in 2023. Her company, closed $20 million in residential real estate sales last year. But as much as she loved closing each deal, Laussen’s real highlight of 2023 was opening doors for students through her family’s charitable foundation.

Two months after Katie Cherrington moved to Maui, the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century struck her family’s neighborhood. In the aftermath of Lahaina’s tragedy, Cherrington has observed a community banding together and has seen principles in action that are taught at BYU Marriott.

After being surprised by a question in class that told him he might be in the wrong place, Norm Smallwood traded law school for the MOB program which ended up creating the perfect path for him.

The following are alumni who were highlighted on page 16 of BYU Marriott's 2023 Annual Report.

Justin Weiss, EMPA alumnus, has lived a life full of unexpected triumphs and hardships that have led to opportunities for personal development.

Awarded a BYU Homecoming 2023 Alumni Achievement Award, MBA alum Christopher Clason explained how inspired leaders create value in their professional and personal lives.

With two bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees, Tricia Seguine is no stranger to learning. She’s learned that she can use her unique educational blend to make a positive impact.

You could say that Gerald “Jerry” Petersen earned his master’s degree in marketing from BYU because he loved to sing.

Sterling Petersen has such a passion for mountain biking, he decided to make it his day job. Since graduating from BYU Marriott’s entrepreneurship program, he’s created multiple startups focused on mountain biking products and has built a collaborative work environment in the process.