Doctor of Business Administration

Class of 2017

Privin Alexander
JPMorgan Chase
Privin Alexander functions as vice president for one of the IT departments of JPMorgan Chase Corporate & Investment Bank and has been with the company since 2008. During his 16+ years of information technology experience, he held responsibilities such as software coding, design, resource management, project management, performance engineering, IT risk, security and vendor management.

Before joining JPMorgan Chase in 2008, Alexander worked as an assistant project manager for Coginzant Technology Solutions and as an assistant systems engineer for Tata Consultancy Services.

Alexander earned double masters -- an MBA and Masters of Science in Management -- from the USF Muma College of Business. He earned Bachelors of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Calicut, India. He presented his findings on nonlinear analysis of electromagnetic bearings using finite element method at an international conference on industrial tribology in Calcutta, India.

Charles Arant
Draper Laboratory
Charles Arant is the assistant director of Draper Laboratory's Special Programs in Florida. He conducts research and development of future technology and sustainment of state of the art technical collection and exploitation tools for advanced surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence systems for United States Special Operations Command.

Arant spent 25 years in the United States Army and an additional six years after retirement running programs in the Special Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Exploitation office of the United States Special Operations Command.

Arant earned a Master of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business in Tampa, Fla.

Janene Culumber
Florida Orthopaedic Institute
Janene Culumber currently serves as the chief financial officer for Florida Orthopaedic Institute and for Florida Orthopaedic Institute Surgery Center. Culumber also serves as a Supervisory Committee member of the USF Federal Credit Union.

Culumber previously served as senior vice president and chief financial officer for H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc. where she worked for 13 years. Prior to joining Moffitt, Culumber was a senior manager in the audit practice of KPMG, LLP.

Culumber is a graduate of the University of Florida in Gainesville, FLA., where she earned both a Master's of Accountancy and a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a fellow of The Advisory Board. Culumber is also a graduate of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Leadership of Tampa program, participating in its Class of 2011.

Ron Deserrano
B-Scada Inc.
Ron DeSerranno is founder and CEO of B-Scada Inc. a firm that monitors industrial processes and provides real-time and historical data to decision makers. B-Scada systems are used worldwide in various vertical markets including petrochemical, electricity distribution and building automation. As CEO, DeSerranno is responsible for all facets of the company's operations.

DeSerranno has held several leadership positions in business. He served as chief technical officer for Motivus Software, was a development lead for Rockwell Software, and worked as a research assistant for the Space and Atmospheric Research Group at the University of Western Ontario.

DeSerranno is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario and Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology, also in London, Ontario.

Gilbert Gonzalez
Mission Critical Solutions
As founder and president of Mission Critical Solutions, Inc., a leading-edge technology solutions provider, Gilbert Gonzalez leads branch and project offices located throughout the United States. His vast experience in designing IP-Converged Technology and IT/telecommunications mission critical solutions for commercial, military, and other federal, state and local government clients helped the firm become the fastest-growing privately owned technology firm in Tampa Bay for four consecutive years. The company is a two-time finalist for the Greater Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year.

In 2005, Gonzalez was named the Small Business Person of the Year for Florida by the U.S. Small Business Administration. He is a frequent lecturer at business forums and, in addition to his service at MCS, Gonzalez has published software and case studies related to strategic management and business policy.

Gonzalez holds both Low-Voltage and Unlimited Electrical Contractor licenses and he is a Registered Communication Distribution Designer. He received an MBA from University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., doing so with honors and with concentrations in management of information systems and economics.

Rob Hammond
Syniverse Technologies
Rob Hammond leads a global team of product managers at Syniverse Technologies, a global cloud services firm based in Tampa, Fla. He is the senior product management director for the company's Enterprise Mobility Services group, with personnel in Europe, Asia, India, and America. He is responsible for the unit's profit and loss and handles the group's market definition, product strategy, product development, pricing, and product distribution functions. He is the primary spokesperson for Syniverse enterprise products and works with mainstream analysts from firms such as Gartner and Forrester.

Hammond's career in the technical industry includes work with Microsoft, Sprint, Motorola, and General Dynamics. He held increasingly responsible positions in engineering, sales, and product development.

Hammond earned two master's degrees, an MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in Lake Forest, Ill., and an Master of Science in Engineering from West Coast University in Irvine, Calif. He earned an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. He holds five patents.

Ali Hasbini
Sunrise Homes Corp./Transcend Development Corp.
Ali Hasbini is the president and chief executive officer of Sunrise Homes Inc. and Transcend Development Corp. Over the past 30 years, he has developed more than 40 communities and built 3,000+ homes in the region. His companies are also involved in the construction and development of commercial and industrial projects. Hasbini's companies have received numerous awards from the Tampa Bay Builders Association and he received the USF Alumni Association's "Entrepreneur of the Year Award."

Prior to his career in the construction and real estate development business, Hasbini taught Accounting Principles and Managerial Accounting at USF. He also worked as a consultant and general manager for an overseas concern in the Middle East.

Hasbini earned an MBA with a concentration in finance and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, both from USF. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Class "A" State Certified General Contractor. He has served on Advisory Council for the USF Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy for many years and holds an emeritus position with the group.

Scott Hopes
CliniLinc, Inc.
Scott Hopes is chairman and chief executive officer of CliniLinc, an health and medical information services and technology firm with offices in Miami, Fla. and Dublin, Ireland.

Hopes has been a healthcare executive and consultant for nearly 30 years, working with major corporations, hospitals, governments, pharmaceutical companies, health insurers and providers in the areas of health policy and planning, finance, management, epidemiology and disease management, correctional health and public health. Hopes began his healthcare administration career in the 1980s at Tampa General Hospital. Later, as director of health policy for the Agency for Health Care Administration during Gov. Jeb Bush's administration, Hopes was responsible for the oversight, development and implementation of policy, research and legislation for the State of Florida.

Hopes has a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in public health from University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. He serves on many healthcare and non-profit boards, including Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Congregation B'Nai Israel in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the USF Board of Trustees.

Elizabeth Kerns
Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Inc.
Elizabeth Kerns is vice president and chief information officer at Lakeland Regional Health Systems, a large community hospital and network of ambulatory clinics. She has 28 years of experience leading information technology divisions in various industries and locations in the United States and overseas.

At Lakeland Regional, she successfully led the hospital's conversion from paper patient charts to electronic health records, and implemented a community health information exchange and patient portal.

Kern's earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in Madison, Wis., and a Master of Science in Information Systems from Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, Hawaii. She also holds several industry certifications: PMP, ITIL, CPHIMS, Lean Six Sigma.

Troy Montgomery
Humana
Troy Montgomery is an organization and process improvement specialist who serves as an internal consultant at Humana. Montgomery previously served as a management consultant with a small global operations consulting firm based in New York City. There, he advised executive leaders who spearheaded Fortune 500 companies.

He began his career as an engineer, quality leader, and manager working in operations and manufacturing at General Electric. He also led teams in the financial service industry at Bank of America.

Montgomery graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind., where he earned a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, he finished top of his class when he earned an MBA from the University of Georgia. Montgomery is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Project Management Professional.

Timothy Novak
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Graduate Studies
Tim Novak has a deep multi-sector business experience directing corporate creation, strategic expansion, branding and business development in both public and private settings. These sectors include hospital administration, physician practice management, corporate compliance, innovative healthcare products, robotic platforms, commercial sunscreen delivery systems and gourmet foods. Novak is the co-author of 4 Circles of Good Business, published in 2006.

He has been the CEO for two publicly traded companies in the area of safety and diagnostics. He served as business launch competition panel judge for the Integration of Management and Engineering and International Nano Technology forum at Case Western Reserve University. In 1989, he was designated a Distinguished Alumni of the Hardin County Schools System in Elizabethtown, Ky.

Novak earned a graduate degree from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Mich. and an undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. He is the director of the Masters in Health Services Administration program at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

Chris Olson
First Watch Restaurants, Inc
Chris Olson has worked in the restaurant industry his entire career. A senior finance executive with more than 20 years' experience, Olson was a leader in companies such as Outback Steakhouse and Ruth's Chris Steak House before becoming vice president of finance at First Watch restaurants, where he has worked since 2012. At First Watch, he is responsible for all facets of the company's finance, accounting, and information technology programs. Olson is passionate about developing his team members for roles of greater responsibility and using technology to streamline processes and workflow.

Olson earned an MBA from The University of Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas and a Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. He is also a Florida licensed CPA.

Steve Oscher
Oscher Consulting
Steven Oscher is the managing director of Oscher Consulting, a firm that provides support services and financial analysis to the legal community. He has been appointed by the courts as a Trustee, Receiver, Examiner and Special Master and serves as a consulting and testifying expert in accounting, financial and economic matters.

Prior to forming Oscher Consulting, he served as an audit and quality review partner and was the director of litigation services with an international accounting firm. He also taught numerous professional education courses. His professional activities have included service as chair of the Florida State Board of Accountancy, chair of the Audit Committee for USF Physicians Group, chair of the USF Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy Advisory Board and service on the USF Muma College of Business Dean's Executive Advisory Council. Oscher's has been recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award and his long-time service to USF has been recognized with the Don Gifford Service Award presented by the USF Alumni Association.

Prior to graduating from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Oscher spent six years on active duty in the U.S. Navy's Submarine Service.

Tim Papp
Timothy Papp & Associates, LLC
Timothy Papp is the managing director of Timothy Papp & Associates, LLC. The firm has offices in Largo, Fla. and Pittsburgh, Pa. It provides a wide range of legal services for individual and corporate clients throughout Southwest Florida. The company has experience in personal and business bankruptcy filings, as well as family law matters such as divorce, child custody, visitation, spousal support, and child support. It also handles personal injury litigation. Papp also owns Sales Tax Advisory Services, which specializes in sales tax audit defense, compliance, and reverse audits.

Before opening his own firm, Papp was an active duty member of the United States Air Force for nearly 10 years and served an additional 18 years in the USAF Reserve.

He received a Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pa. and a Bachelor of Science in Business from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa.

Dana Parks
JPMorgan Chase
Dana Parks has 18 years experience in the banking & financial industry across operations, retail and technology units. Currently, Parks is a technology manager for JPMorgan Corporate & Investment Bank where she manages software delivery teams. During her eight year tenure with JPMorgan, she has been responsible for driving change by developing new processes and collaborative environments and enabling technology teams to successfully deliver creative solutions for complex business problems.

She received a Bachelor of Science focusing on computer information systems with a minor in business from Saint Leo University in St. Leo, Fla., in 2004. She returned to her alma mater to earn an MBA in 2009.

David Pickard
Bond Manufacturing
A senior vice president at Bond Manufacturing, a $100 million lawn, garden, and outdoor living manufacturer, David Pickard manages the firm's Southwest regional account and is responsible for developing the Home Depot's worldwide business. Additionally, he manages the company's programs with Scotts Miracle Gro and Stanley Black & Decker.

Before joining Bond Manufacturing in 2012, Pickard served as senior vice president for the Brinkmann Corporation, a manufacturing firm that produces a variety of outdoor cookers and recreational gear. Prior to that, Pickard worked in sales for Black & Decker Corporation, a Fortune 500 designer and importer of power tools and home improvement products.

Pickard received an Executive MBA from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. He also received undergraduate degrees from Navarro College in Dallas, Texas and Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.

Lauren Rudd
Rudd International, Inc.
Lauren Rudd is a 40-year veteran of Wall Street whose experience encompasses portfolio management, investment research and analysis, investor relations, and communications. He is the president and founder of Rudd International as well as the president of Savannah Capital Management. An expert trial witness on investment fraud, Rudd is also a syndicated newspaper columnist, public speaker, and broadcast commentator. Additionally, Rudd manages The Rudd Report, an online archive of Streetwise and MarketView articles.

Previously, Rudd was an investment consultant for two major brokerage firms, Legg Mason and Ferris Baker, Watts, where he developed and implemented strategic sales and marketing programs to reach high net-worth clients. As a television commentator, Rudd was the "Wall Street expert" for WSAV-TV, in Savannah, Ga., often appearing live on the NBC affiliate's morning and evening news. He also taught security analysis at Armstrong University, serving as an adjunct instructor at the public university.

Rudd earned a graduate degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md. He is an instructor for the Lifelong Learning Academy at the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus.

Natalya Sabga
Florida Atlantic University
Natalya Sabga has more than 16 years of experience managing projects, high-profile clients and strategy. She held increasingly responsible positions at NTT Communications Global OEM Operations from 1998 until 2005, eventually serving as operations manager before moving into the public sector to work at Florida Atlantic University. There, she serves as an associate director in the College of Business and leads its corporate and professional executive education programs. Her expertise lies in streamlining processes and maximizing productivity and strengths within teams. She has a passion for project management, writing and research and has written two books.

Sabga earned a master's degree in economics from Boston University in Boston, Mass.,and a bachelor's degree in social psychology from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)^®.

Rebecca Smith
AD Morgan Corp./ Woofgang Solutions, LLC
Rebecca Smith is president and founder of A.D. Morgan, a construction and general contracting firm with offices in Tampa, Bradenton, Ocala, and Sebring, Fla. Smith and the company received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the State of Florida for the category of construction and real estate (1998). That same year, it received the Tampa Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award.

Smith was named in the Working Woman Magazine's Top 500 woman-owned businesses in the nation. Smith has served on many statewide boards and civic organizations. She is vice chair for the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority; her past service includes roles as chair of the Governor's Council on Small Business and Secretary of The Prison Rehabilitation Industries Diversified Enterprises. Smith is a member in the invitation-only Committee of 200, and a past member of Leadership Tampa and Leadership Florida. She is also a member of the Department of Defense Joint Civilian Orientation Conference and the Defense Orientation Conference Association.

Smith earned a bachelor's degree in design architecture and a master's degree focusing on building construction from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. She holds a Class A General Contractor's license.

David M. "Tanker" Snyder
AeroSage, LLC
David M. "Tanker" Snyder is president of SageCare, Inc. and AeroSage LLC, Tampa-based firms providing products and services to government agencies and companies pursuing government-related opportunities. Prior to founding AeroSage Group, he was senior managing director of a $6 billion financial fund, responsible for defense and aerospace investments.

He served in the United States Air Force for 29 years, retiring as a brigadier general who served in command, strategic planning, operations, logistics, training, education, financial and program management roles. At Pacific Air Forces, he was responsible for its $3 billion annual budget and strategic planning, resource management and engagement with 43 countries. Before serving in the Pacific region, Snyder was the Wing Commander at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. He supported 15,000+ base personnel and 53 tenant organizations, including U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. Snyder also served as executive assistant to several senior defense officials and was chief of staff and command director for the hardened command center responsible for the defense of North America and U.S. space assets. An instructor and evaluator pilot with 4,500 flying hours and a FAA commercial license, Snyder also led an operations group responsible for 200 aircraft -- and the training of 500+ pilots annually.

A honor graduate of the United States Air Force Academy earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Snyder earned both a Master of Science in Engineering and an MBA with distinction from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa. Snyder served as an assistant professor of management and operations research at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and executive assistant to the academy president.

Jim Stikeleather
Dell
Jim Stikeleather is a serial entrepreneur, author, columnist, speaker, as well as a senior information technology executive and business strategist for large international companies -- and holds two patents. As chief innovation officer for Dell, his primary focus is on the development of systemic processes for innovation. His current interest is on the application of complex adaptive systems theory to economics, business decision making, business model development, future organization, operating and management models. He has won industry awards for information systems development and one startup ranked No. 36 on the Inc. 500 roster.

A thought leader, Stikeleather regularly blogs for Harvard Business Review and the Management Innovation Exchange. He has guest lectured at universities worldwide, including MIT, NCSU, Trinity College (Dublin), the University of Tampa, the University of Petroleum and Mining (Saudi Arabia), Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, Universite de Mons-Hainaut (Belgium), Facultes Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Pax (Belgium).

He earned an MBA is from the University of South Florida Executive Program in Tampa, Fla., and received a Bachelor of Science from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

Robert Tiller
Full Circle Financial, LLC
Robert Tiller is a certified financial planner and industry advocate who founded and co-owns Full Circle Financial (a referral-only financial advisory firm for individuals and small businesses). His professional passion is for sharing informative and empowering messages with his clients and financial professionals.

In 2000, he co-authored 21st Century Wealth, Essential Financial Planning Principles. Tiller has been a panelist at a national retirement symposium forum, taught securities and practice management courses to financial advisers, and served on the boards of local industry and charitable organizations.

Before graduating from the University of South Florida's Muma College of Business in 1983, Tiller won a National Invitational Debate title for USF. He also created student publications at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla., and St. Petersburg College in Tampa, Fla.

John Townsend
T. Rowe Price
John Townsend is a vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. He is head of individual and institutional services for the company's Tampa office.

Townsend joined T. Rowe Price in 1993 and has held several leadership positions there, most recently serving as the manager of the firm's Participant Service Center in Owings Mills, Md. He left T. Rowe Price in 2004 and joined BISYS Retirement Services as vice president of client services. In 2005, he returned to T. Rowe Price to assume his current responsibilities.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va. Additionally, he is a Series 7, 24, and 63 FINRA registered representative. He is a member of the University of South Florida Muma College of Business Dean's Executive Advisory Council.