UWF’s Executive Mentor Program welcomes first class of students and mentors
The University of West Florida College of Business’s new Executive Mentor Program has matched its first class of 30 students with area business leaders who will serve as mentors to initiate networking and career opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
The list includes the following prominent business leaders:
- Pam Bilbrey, president of Bilbrey & Associates
- Carol Carlan, president of the Sacred Heart Foundation
- Dave Cleveland, senior vice president of Highpointe Hotel Corporation
- Kevin Doyle, president and publisher of the Pensacola News Journal
- Evon Emerson, past president and CEO of the Greater Pensacola Chamber
- Jennifer Grove, workforce development coordinator at Gulf Power Company
- Michael Hicks, president and CEO of Hixardt Technologies, Inc.
- Michael Holland, president and COO of Coastal Bank and Trust
- James Hosman, vice president of Florida First Capital Finance Corp. and CollegeFrog.com
- John Hosman, partner at FS Financial Advisors and CollegeFrog.com
- Ron Jackson, president of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund
- Ray Jones, president of Ray Jones & Co.
- Catherine Kelly, center director at Florida Blue
- Ted Kirchharr, vice president and COO of Landrum Human Resources
- Dale Knee, president and CEO of Covenant Hospice
- Bob Larkin, sole proprietor of Robert L. Larkin Jr. Consulting, LLC
- Jerry Maygarden, owner and senior consultant at J.L. Maygarden Co.
- Eleanor McGee, vice president of finance and controller at Baptist Health Care
- Steve Moorhead, attorney at McDonald, Fleming and Moorhead
- Bob Ozburn, owner of Ozburn, LLC
- John Peacock, financial advisor and CFP at Edward Jones
- Scott Ramsey, risk manager at State Farm Insurance
- Grace Resendez-McCaffery, CEO, general manager and president of Latino Media Gulf Coast
- Steve Riggs, partner at Carr, Riggs & Ingram
- Buzz Ritchie, CEO of Gulf Coast Community Bank
- Patrick Rooney, CEO and lead principal consultant at Coastal CXO Services
- Holly Smith, president and managing partner at H2 Performance Consulting
- Jim Stolhanske, firm administrator at Clark, Partington & Hart
- Bentina Terry, vice president of external affairs and corporation services at Gulf Power Company
- Mark Wise, senior sales specialist at Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals
The program, which was founded in conjunction with the grand opening of the new College of Business Education Center in October, matches students from the college with influential community business leaders who share their personal and professional experience, knowledge and skills. The one-on-one mentor relationship allows for individual attention to the student mentees’ career aspirations, professional development and networking needs. The access to local business leaders provides students with an inside track for full-time, post-graduate employment.
“The Executive Mentor Program is an important new program of the College of Business which will enhance students’ preparation for successful careers in business and facilitate students’ transition to the workforce,” said Dr. Ed Ranelli, Dean of the College of Business. “For the mentoring business executives, the program provides an opportunity to pass on to the next generation the wisdom and experiences from their successful careers.”
The program is open to full-time juniors, seniors and graduate students in the College of Business. Students are selected for the competitive program based on their ability to meet the eligibility requirements and maintain academic goals, campus and community service, and prior academic and leadership experience, as well as their willingness to be active participants. For a complete list of requirements and Executive Mentor Program applications visit uwf.edu/executivementor.
