Alumni Class Notes

Michelle Kelner ’93 is Co-Founder of Sandglass Capital Management, which was featured in an April 9 Hedgeweek article titled “Emerging Markets Are an Alpha Story, Says Sandglass Capital.” During her career, Michelle held senior roles in emerging markets asset management in both business development and investment roles, including as Senior Partner at Prince Street Capital, and other roles at SAC Capital, Tudor Investment, and Hermitage Capital. Michelle began her career in investment banking at JP Morgan. She serves on the McIntire School Advisory Board and the board of the Marks JCH, a Jewish community center in Brooklyn.

Kristin Johnson ’02 (Law ’05) has joined Woods Rogers’ growing government and special investigations practice. At Woods Rogers, she guides her clients through changing government regulations and high-stakes investigations and legal issues. Johnson began her career in litigation at Woods Rogers and then spent almost two decades in public practice. She served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, investigating and prosecuting white collar crimes, including fraud; money laundering; and violations of the Controlled Substances Act, the National Firearms Act, and Food and Drug Administration regulations. She is a member of the Virginia Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association.

Sheila Klauck ’15, Senior Director at FTI Consulting, was recognized for Women’s History Month by the business consulting and services firm. Recognized for her leadership, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment, she has become a go-to resource on major engagements, a mentor to her colleagues, and an advocate for developing future D&A leaders.

Christopher Reeves (M.S. in MIT ’17) is starting a new position as Director, Information Security Engineering at Mastercard.

Benjamin Magsamen (M.S. in MIT ’25) is joining Government Tactical Solutions LLC as a Data Architect.

Jack Geddy ’16 is starting a new position as Director Corporate Development, Growth & Strategy at DXC Technology.

Simran Khanal ’18, Product Manager at Indeed.com, has earned a new certification—Designing and Building AI Products and Services—from MIT.

Sophie English Smith ’23, Founder and CEO, and Leah Guesman ’23, COO, at College Contact, participated in the SXSW EDU Conference Launch Startup Competition March 4, with the company winning the Top EdTech Product. Showcasing emerging innovations and breakthrough technologies making an impact on the future of teaching and learning, the competition provides a platform for early-stage startups seeking feedback, investment, strategic partnerships, and exposure.

Summers Hutchings (Nelson) ’10 (Darden ’15) has been promoted to AVP, Product Portfolio & Program Management, at CarMax.

Marisa Drew ’86, Chief Sustainability Officer at Standard Chartered, has been featured on CNBC’s Changemakers: Women Transforming Business list for 2025. The second annual list showcases biotech breakthroughs, AI advances, women’s health, and both consumer and social innovations, with a wide-ranging group of leaders, each of whom has accomplished a meaningful achievement in 2024, specifically.

Brad Nott ’88 has been promoted to National Sales Manager for Atlantic Union Equipment Finance. In his new role, Nott will lead business development efforts through the direct origination channel of equipment leases and loans. Nott began his career in banking as a Credit Analyst and has worked in various niches within commercial banking, building well-rounded expertise. He brings over 35 years of industry experience to his new position, in which he’ll work directly with clients to support their business goals. He has held leadership roles at Atlantic Union Bank, Xenith Bank and Bank of America, focusing primarily on providing capital to commercial and industrial “general industries” clients with sales from $2 million to $2 billion. https://www.monitordaily.com/news-posts/atlantic-union-equipment-finance-promotes-nott-to-national-sales-manager/

Shannon Nash ’92 (Law ’95), a Limited Partner for Operator Collective (OpCo), has been named to Women We Admire’s list of Top 50 Women Leaders in Finance for 2025. Previously, Nash was the CFO at Wing, a drone delivery company and subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (April 2022-August 2024). She serves as an Independent Director on several boards, including NetScout Systems Inc. and SoFi Bank, a subsidiary of SoFi Technologies Inc. She’s also on the board and Audit Chair at Lazy Dog Restaurants. Previously, she was on the board of UserTesting, including Lead Independent Director and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. She serves as a board adviser to Black Women on Boards, as an executive board member to How Women Lead, and as a mentor for Santa Clara University’s Black Corporate Board Readiness Program. Nash was appointed to the CalCPA Diversity Equity & Inclusion Commission and named one of the 100 most influential women in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2023 and on the 2023 Top 50 Women in Accounting list by Ignition. She was previously featured on Accounting Today’s 2020 list of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and was named one of 2020’s Most Powerful Women in Accounting by the AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor and received the 2021 Trailblazer Award from CalCPA. She serves on the McIntire School Advisory Board. In her free time, Nash enjoys fitness and teaches Zumba and U-Jam Fitness. She’s also an award-winning documentary film producer, with her film “Colored My Mind” winning best short at the 2013 American Pavilion in Cannes. Her latest film, “OnBoard,” premiered during the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023.

Erin L. Russell ’96 has been appointed as an Independent Member to the Fortrea board of directors and to the ModivCare Inc. board of directors. She brings more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare and financial sectors, with a distinguished track record in capital and credit markets. Ms. Russell has extensive experience as an investment professional and board member. She spent 16 years as a Principal of leading private equity firm Vestar Capital Partners LP, where she was a prominent leader of the healthcare team. During her time at Vestar, she evaluated more than 150 investment opportunities, executed numerous private- and public-market transactions, worked with management teams to create strategic plans and drive their implementation, and served as a member of multiple public and private boards. Her board experience in the healthcare sector includes eHealth Inc., Tivity Health Inc., DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC, DynaVox Inc., and 21st Century Oncology Inc. Ms. Russell also serves on the board of Kadant Inc. and served as an industry adviser at Starboard Value Acquisition Corp.

William L. Tyson ’84 has been elected to the board of directors of Culp Inc., a marketer of mattress fabrics for bedding and upholstery fabrics for residential and commercial furniture. Mr. Tyson brings to the company over 30 years of experience across the investment banking and capital markets and has served in executive leadership and strategic development roles for some of the largest banks and financial institutions in the country. He most recently served as head of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) within the Investment Banking Group of Fifth Third Capital Markets from 2021 until his retirement in December 2024; he was responsible for the strategic direction of the M&A and Investment Banking platform within the Capital Markets division and for driving non-organic growth initiatives. Mr. Tyson also held the positions of Executive Vice President, Co-head of Capital Markets and Senior Vice President, Co-head of Capital Markets during his tenure with Fifth Third that began in 2016. Prior to that, he served as Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of Investment Banking and in various other senior leadership roles during an approximately 18-year tenure with BB&T Capital Markets (and its predecessor, Scott & Stringfellow). He previously headed Wheat First Butcher Singer’s Furnishings, Consumer and Industrial Growth Industry Practices and served as a Vice President with Wachovia Corporation. During his career, Mr. Tyson advised on over 300 capital financing transactions across the public and private markets, including numerous transactions in the home furnishings and textile industries and several transactions involving the company. Mr. Tyson has also served on numerous professional boards and committees, including past service as president of the Virginia Athletics Foundation Board of Trustees and president of the McIntire School Advisory Board.

Chris Nassetta ’84, President and CEO of Hilton, has been named to Virginia Business’ 2025 Power 50 list, composed of the top 10% of the publication’s annual Virginia 500 list of the state’s most powerful people across 21 categories, ranging from finance and real estate to government and energy. Hilton has a portfolio of 8,300 properties and 24 brands in more than 135 countries and territories. Nassetta took the helm at Hilton in 2007 after investment firm Blackstone acquired the company in a $26 billion deal and has more than doubled the company’s footprint. Hilton went public again in 2013. The hotelier returned to the Fortune 500 list in 2023 after the pandemic-related industry downturn. Hilton reported 2024 net income of $1.53 billion, up from $1.15 billion in 2023. In 2024, Hilton added nearly 100,000 rooms—a record increase for the company—and 973 hotels. It also added two lifestyle brands to its portfolio, acquiring Graduate Hotels and a majority controlling interest in NoMad Hotels creator Sydell Group. Nassetta spent 10 years at Host Hotels & Resorts, serving first as Chief Operating Officer and then as President and CEO before joining Hilton. He was named chair of the U.S. Travel Association in 2023 and sits on CoStar Group’s board of directors.

Mary Clark ’03 Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) specializing in the retail and consumer products sector, has been named to The Top Women Leaders of DC for 2025 list. Clark serves in the role of global client partner to a Fortune 500 company and focuses on delivering holistic transformation solutions to her clients’ executive management team and board of directors. Clark has over 20 years of experience providing services to global clients of the firm, including SEC registrants and foreign private issuers. She has spent her career based in the U.S., London, and Switzerland and has extensive experience leading PwC’s largest multinational engagements. Clark is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Virginia and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and two daughters.

Ann Chung ’03, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Consumer for Blackstone Growth, based in New York, recently spoke with Leaders Online in an article titled “Product, Brand, and Purpose.” Since joining Blackstone in 2020, Chung has led investments in Oatly, Spanx, Supergoop!, and Weee. Prior to joining Blackstone, Chung held roles at Fremont Private Holdings, the direct investing arm of the Bechtel family office, and J.H. Whitney Capital Partners, where she led all consumer and consumer-impacted investments. She has also held positions with Swander Pace Capital, L Catterton, and Wachovia Securities and served on the boards of Alphia, Accupac, and Merrick Pet Care. Chung currently serves on the board of directors of Oatly, Spanx, and Supergoop!

Nick Melton ’94 has joined Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, as a Managing Director within its Infrastructure & Environment vertical. Melton, who will lead BGL’s investment banking activities in Digital Infrastructure, has nearly 30 years of experience in the telecommunications and digital infrastructure industries and has advised on landmark M&A, restructuring, and capital markets transactions. He has held Managing Director roles at Lazard, Rothschild, and Greenhill, and was most recently Head of North America at Rubicon Capital Advisors, an infrastructure focused advisory firm.

Mark Straub ’04 is CEO of Smile ID. The digital identity company won the Enterprise Award at the Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, which took place Feb. 12-13. The award recognizes leading organizations driving business success in Africa through innovative technology.

Thomas Baltimore ’85 (Darden ’91) was recently selected by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans to receive its Horatio Alger Award. Chairman, President, and CEO of Tysons, VA-based Park Hotels & Resorts, Baltimore joins 11 other American corporate, civic, and cultural leaders who will be formally recognized during the 78th Award Induction Ceremonies in Washington, DC, April 3-5, 2025.

Cecil White ’15, Agent & Executive at WME, is quoted in a Feb. 3 Wall Street Journal article titled “Athletes Are Signing Endorsement Deals Before They Get Prom Dates.”