Smith MBA Alumnus on Learning at Industry Speed
Marc Russo, MBA ’96, is CEO of Careforth, a company supporting family caregivers. He credits his Smith MBA with shaping his leadership path across top healthcare firms and says team-based learning at Smith prepared him for long-term success.
A Legacy of Love
Deborah ’68, MA ’75, and Daniel Ahalt ’73, inspired by their UMD experiences and modest upbringings, have given over $200,000 to support Smith students and athletes. Their lifelong Terp pride continues through philanthropy, mentorship and cherished university memories.
Terp Siblings Share Smith and Paris Olympics Experience
Sisters Brooke ’21 and Emma DeBerdine ’23, MiM ’25, played for Maryland and Team USA Field Hockey, competing in the 2024 Olympics. Both earned All-American honors, Big Ten Medals of Honor, and Smith degrees that shaped their paths.
From Accounting to Air Jordan
Curtis Polk ’81 took a career-defining leap, co-founding FAME with agent David Falk and later managing Michael Jordan’s business empire. The Smith School alum credits his education for building the financial and legal skills that launched his legendary sports business career.
Calling the Shots
Utah Jazz assistant coach Mike Williams ’17, MS ’18, applies leadership and strategy skills from his Smith degree to develop NBA players and offensive plays, blending coaching, data analysis and player development for team and individual success.
Lexy Kessler ’85: A Terp with Tenacity
Lexy Kessler ’85, a partner at Aprio, was recently elected chairman of the AICPA. A longtime volunteer and leader in the field, she credits the Smith School with helping shape her career and encourages students to build strong peer networks.
Charity Fundraisers: Building a Quality Product to Benefit Nonprofits
Brian Rechtman ’05, founder of Bluetree Marketing, helps nonprofits raise funds through curated experiences and auctions. Inspired by Smith School advice to “sell the best,” he’s built a social enterprise that’s supported nearly 10,000 charity events worldwide.
From PepsiCo to Ocean Spray: How Alumna Utilized Smith MBA to Pivot to Consumer Products
Monisha Dabek, MBA ’06, credits the Smith School for propelling her into consumer products, starting at PepsiCo and leading to her current role as COO at Ocean Spray. She values the Smith network, career pivots, and supporting women in business.
Supportive Smith Network Inspires Alumnus to “Uplift” Current Students
Renard Brumfield, MBA ’22, studied finance during his time at Smith and is currently a Finance Business Manager with JPMorgan Chase. Brumfield credits his Smith network for helping him get to where he is today and he pays it forward by engaging with the Smith community and mentoring current students.
Vet Ventures Into Finance
Smith MBA students and military veterans German Salazar, MBA ’25, and Charles Castelly, MBA ’26, leveraged the University System of Maryland’s Venture Fellowship to gain hands-on VC experience. Their shared journey highlights Smith’s strong veteran community and career-building opportunities in venture capital.