News, Notes, and Nods: Graduates
1982
Paul Chisholm MBA’82, a Babson trustee emeritus, was awarded the Vigor in Arduis Medal in recognition of his leadership and long-term service to Cathedral High School, located in Boston’s South End. Chisholm’s wife, Margaret, also was honored for the family’s philanthropic support at the school’s Adopt-a-Student Foundation Gala in October.
1988
John M. Thompson MBA’88 celebrated 20 years as the founder and president of PAR Solutions, a supply chain management consulting company located in Rhode Island. “My Babson MBA was a great asset to me as I consult to middle market and large global clients,” Thompson wrote. “I’ve learned a ton. It’s been a great ride.”
1990
A group of classmates who earned their MBAs in 1990 recently reunited for a seaside summer barbecue in Rye, New Hampshire. From left: Dave Bonner MBA’90, Dana Yerid MBA’90, David Luff MBA’90, Maria Carvajal MBA’90, Scott Chaudoin MBA’90, and Martha Amesbury MBA’90.
1995
Debra Caplan MBA’95 recently was named a 2024 Commonwealth Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for her efforts to keep Framingham and the greater area litter-free. Caplan is a founding member and current co-chair of Keep Framingham Beautiful. Members of the nonprofit take part in numerous cleanups, litter prevention education, recycling and waste reduction, and beautification of the city. Massachusetts State Rep. Priscila Sousa (D-Framingham) nominated Caplan for the honor, citing her invaluable efforts and extraordinary acts of service.
1999
Bernard Lee MBA’99 (left) won the Massachusetts State Pickleball Championship along with Michele Tezduyar. The pair teamed to win mixed doubles in the 2024 Massachusetts Senior Games on September 22 in Westford, Massachusetts, competing in the youngest (45–54 years old) and highest skill level (advanced 4.0+) bracket in the tournament. Lee, who won the 2023 National Senior Games singles championship last July, is the head pickleball pro at Life Time Fitness Boston Metrowest.
2000
Yoon-Hi King MBA’00 recently passed the American College certification of Retirement Income Certified Professional, an advanced designation for King, who is a financial advisor at The Bulfinch Group. This newer designation from the American College creates strategies for financial professionals focused on the needs of Americans reaching age 65 who need guidance in obtaining sustainable retirement income.
2001
Karen Bacon MBA’01, president of the financial planning firm Diversified Resources, LLC, recently celebrated the firm’s 40th anniversary and official opening of its recently renovated headquarters in Warwick, Rhode Island. Warwick Mayor Frank J. Picozzi attended the celebration, and Bacon presented a Founder’s Award to her father, George E. Wright, who started the company in 1983.
2003
Melissa Erekson MBA’03 launched Clio & Associates to provide guidance to universities and nonprofits that want to build corporate partnerships.
2004
Jim Clark MBA’04 is celebrating his 10th year as chief financial officer of the Arthur J. Hurley Company, a family-owned business that distributes electrical wire and cable. Clark left his career in commercial banking to join the business.
2006
Julie Haase MBA’06 has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer of Liberty Mutual Insurance, effective January 1, 2025. Liberty Mutual Insurance president and chief executive officer Tim Sweeney announced Haase’s promotion in July. The new post means Haase joins the company’s executive leadership team and will report to Sweeney. Haase, who began working at Liberty Mutual in 2002, is currently executive vice president, executive managing director, and chief operating officer of Liberty Mutual Investments, the globally invested, multi-strategy firm that manages capital for Liberty Mutual.
2007
Adam Rudikoff MBA’07, a principal at Fairwinds Financial Management, manages more than $300 million in client assets serving more than 350 individuals and families in pursuit of their financial dreams. Providing comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services, Rudikoff and his team value every relationship and pride themselves on providing not only superior technical advice but also superior client experience.
2013
Charles Lyle MBA’13, vice president of marketing for Chattanooga Whiskey, wrote that the fast-growing whiskey company was recently named in the 2024 Icons of Whiskey, as the craft producer of the year both globally and in America. The annual list is produced by the World Drinks Awards, which selects, rewards, and promotes the world’s best drinks.
Leticia D. Stallworth ’99, MBA’13: See Undergraduates, 1999.
2018
Matt DePietro MBA’18 wrote a children’s book, From Pups to Grown Ups, that is available on Amazon, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble. The story follows a boy and his two dogs as they navigate life’s adventures together. Each book sold contributes to local animal shelters, supporting a shared love for dogs.
2019
Asini Wijewardane MBA’19: See Undergraduates, 1992.
2020
Dayna (Hess) Arnone MBA’20 and Jonathan Arnone MBA’20 were married November 3, 2023, in Dripping Springs, Texas. Dayna met her husband during their MBA program, and they quickly bonded over a shared passion for business and entrepreneurship. The couple were so fond of their time at Babson that they named their dog Olin after the business school.
2023
Abby Congel ’22, MSBA’23 and Will Congel ’22, MSBA’23: See Undergraduates, 2022
2024
Lea Concannon MSF’24: See Undergraduates, 1990.
Shivam Lohiya MBA’24 recently became CEO at Innovher, a rapidly expanding accelerator in India. The company helps other ventures get started, and Lohiya is currently guiding 15-plus startups through the journey from pre-Series A to Series A. “By forging strategic partnerships with government entities and advisors, I am actively shaping the entrepreneurial landscape to elevate the significance of social entrepreneurship,” Lohiya wrote. “My unwavering mission is to position India as the premier hub for the startup ecosystem.”
MORE NEWS, NOTES, AND NODS FROM THE WINTER 2024–2025 ISSUE:
Undergraduates » In Memoriam »
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