presented by
Rosen Shingle Creek MAR 7 2026 SATURDAY
Message from the Dean
Welcome to the 26th Annual UCF College of Business Hall of Fame. As we gather tonight in our Great Hall, we celebrate an extraordinary group of inductees — Laura Bollier ’99, Taylor A. Gerring ’05 and Serguei Melnik ’98 — who embody a lesson we strive to instill in every student: there is no single path to success.
Whether rising from the UCF Career Fair to the CEO’s office, going from sleeping under desks to co-founding a groundbreaking company, or arriving at UCF as a foreign exchange student after studying and practicing law in one of Europe’s poorest countries and ultimately leading a company to the NASDAQ, these Business Knights remind us that ambition, resilience and opportunity can take many forms.
When I suggested a Harry Potter theme for this year’s event, our team embraced the chance to bring a little magic to the College of Business. Throughout the evening, you’ll see glimpses of that magic as we follow a new student discovering the College — with a little help from some of our faculty members, who graciously stepped into the spotlight.
In many ways, the theme reflects the momentum within the College this past year. We’ve launched the School of Technology Leadership and Innovation, expanded our integration of AI in the classroom and continued breaking down silos across disciplines. Like the best innovators — and perhaps a few great wizards — we believe progress happens when boundaries are challenged and collaboration leads the way, powered by our exceptional faculty and strengthened by our corporate partners.
Each year, this event gives us the opportunity to recognize an inspiring class of awardees and inductees.
Tonight, we are also proud to present the Legendary Knight Award to Larry F. Tobin ’83 in recognition of his longstanding partnership with UCF and his commitment to creating opportunities for Business Knights through FAIRWINDS.
This evening would not be possible without our presenting sponsor, Withum. From the Withum Learning Lab to the Hall of Fame, their support helps our students learn, connect and expand their networks.
Tonight, we invite you to reconnect with fellow Knights, celebrate the achievements of our Business Knight community and enjoy a truly magical evening.
Paul Jarley, Ph.D. Dean, UCF College of Business
1999
James S. Hunt ’77
Douglas F. Long ’82
Craig S. Miller ’74
Blaine Sweatt, III ’76
Al Weiss ’76
2000
R. Todd Bowers ’77
HallFame
2006
Stanley C. Horton ’73
Thomas Messina ’84
Paul Ryan ’83
Theresa Schefstad ’80
2007
HallFame Hall Fame INDUCTEES
2015
Therese Gearhart ’85
Mitch Less ’86
John Schmid ’92
2016
Hall Fame
Carrie Callahan ’92
Carrie Hall ’86
Larry Tobin ’83
J. Kenneth Bryant ’77
Les W. Eiserman ’81 ’82
James W. Ferrell ’80
R. Glenn Hubbard ’79
Gerald R. McGratty ’71 ’72
2001
Scott Bell ’83
John J. Carelli ’75
Lawrence J. Chastang ’80
Roy H. Davidson ’77
Ivan Lefkowitz ’73
Rocky Santomassino ’79
2002
Olga M. Calvet ’71
Robert B. Case ’70
Joseph Durek ’78
William A. Long, Jr. ’73
2003
N. Lois Adams ’85
Harold “Hal” Downing ’76
Laurette T. Koellner ’77
Louis F. Lentine ’93
Palmer Barton Weeks, Jr. ’83 ’84
2004
G. Thomas Bland, Jr. ’75 ’79
Andrew J. Fore, III ’76 ’83
Paul Gregg ’74 ’76
Nan B. McCormick ’83
2005
Kathy Assaf ’70
Jim D. Atchison ’92
Ward Curtis, Jr. ’73 ’77
Kenneth G. Dixon ’75
Andrew B. Titen ’75
Jim G. Balaschak ’86 ’92
Richard O. Baldwin ’80
W.H. “Hank” Crouse ’71
Steve Felkowitz ’79
Mike McArdle ’87
Jeff McFadden
2008
Alan C. Charron ’84
Melanie Fernandez ’86 ’91
Micky Grindstaff, Esq. ’78
Alex Martins ’01
Mark L. Plaumann ’74 ’79
John D. VanderWerf ’77
2009
Anthony Connelly ’88
Donald J. “D.J.” Gannon ’89
Maureen Walker ’81
2010
George F. Gramatikas ’04
Jeff B. Lagos ’89
Jeff J. Lehman ’78 ’80
2011
Karen Hackett ’82
Mary Stone ’74 ’75
Anthony Thornton ’94
2012
Merrell Bailey, Esq. ’85 ’89 ’01 ’07
Jonathan Kennedy ’94 ’96
Brian Wheeler ‘95
2014
The Hon. Kenneth W. Bradley ’85
Rasesh Thakkar ’84
2017
Sonya Dixon ’96 ’98
Antonio “Tony” Moreno, Jr. ’91
Michael O’Donnell ’09
2018
Sheila B. Jordan ’86
Terry McNew ’86
Dawn Olivardia ’89 ’90
2019
Jessica L. Blume ’80
Clint Bullock ’95
Rick Cardenas ’92
2020
Woody Walker ’92 ’94
Justin Wetherill ’07
Brian Wright ’06
2022
Glenn A. Dial ’88
Inez Long ’98 MBA
Barry Miller ’95
2023
Jim Adamczyk ’02 ’04 MBA
Cary D’Ortona ’00 ’01 MSA
John Gill ’86
2024
Russell Goldberg ’89
Charlie Lousignont ’81
Eva Tukadarian ’90 ’91
2025
Jim Combs, Ph.D. ’86 ’90MBA
Michael Okaty ’96 ’97
Charece Williams ’05MBA
Tonight’s Menu
Professor Sprout's Veggie Garden
Heirloom tomato and burrata salad with aged balsamic, arugula and grilled fennel served with smoked tomato vinaigrette
Fawkes Fired Filet and Basilisk Bass
Peppercorn crusted filet of beef and Chilean sea bass served with golden cauliflower puree, potato pave and grilled asparagus
Butterbeer Cheesecake
Butterbeer vanilla cheesecake with graham cracker crust, butterscotch sauce and crest logo
From the Trolley
Freshly brewed gourmet regular and decaffeinated coffees and tea
Featured at the Bar: Liquid Luck
Tito’s Vodka, lemonade, blueberry puree & lemon garnish
Tonight’s Schedule
YEAR ONE
Welcome..................................................................Dr. Ray Eddy, Lecturer, Integrated Business
Presenting Sponsor...............................................................Peter Hilera ’92, Partner, Withum UCF President..........................................................................Alexander N. Cartwright, Ph.D. College of Business Dean................................................................................Paul Jarley, Ph.D.
Legendary Knight Award....................................................................................Larry Tobin ’83
YEAR TWO
Partnership Award.........................................................................................Sherwin-Williams
Honorable Knight Awards...........................Toni Caracciolo ’14EMBA, Elizabeth Ellis ’02, Thomas Hall ’25EMBA, Charlie Ritter ’95 ’98, Michelle Katz Segal ’10 ’12MBA
Interview Host..................................................Tiffany Hughes, COO, UCF College of Business Hall of Fame Induction.................................................................................Serguei Melnik ’98
YEAR THREE
Entrepreneurial Alumni Awards..........................................Anthony “Biggie” Bencomo ’98, Alfredo J. Dooley ’23EMBA, Tom Hines ’23EMBA, Dr. Laine Powell ’07, Natalie Rogers Soto ’16 Hall of Fame Induction....................................................................................Laura Bollier ’99
DINNER DESSERT
YEAR FOUR
Notable Knight Awards...................................Kala Bryant ’18 ’19, Ryan Williams ’19PMBA Hall of Fame Induction..............................................................................Taylor A. Gerring ’05
UCF COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
HALL OF FAME
’74 & ’76 MSA, CPA
LEGENDARY KNIGHT AWARD
LARRY TOBIN ,83
The Legendary Knight Award recognizes outstanding contributions that will transform teaching, research and learning through extraordinary philanthropy and commitment to the College of Business. This award is open to the entire College of Business community, including alumni, friends and corporate and foundation partners.
LARRY TOBIN ’83 is the longstanding President and CEO of FAIRWINDS Credit Union and a 2016 Hall of Fame inductee. As CEO for more than 20 years, he is the architect of one of the most transformative eras in the company’s 75-year history, elevating the community credit union to a nationally-recognized financial leader with more than $5 billion in assets. Tobin spearheaded many of the company’s most defining moments including establishing it as the Official Student Banking Services Provider at UCF, founding the FAIRWINDS Foundation and opening the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. Under his leadership, FAIRWINDS also has been an active supporter of the college from sponsoring the Student Ambassadors and to serving as presenting sponsor of The EXCHANGE, a TED-style forum that connects business students with thought leaders and innovators, since it opened in 2015.
PARTNERSHIP AWARD
From speaking in The EXCHANGE and meeting business majors at Welcome to the Majors to recruiting Business Knights at the college’s Invitational career fair, the Sherwin-Williams Orlando District team has embraced the college’s mission of engagement and invested in students in their two years as a corporate partner. Sherwin-Williams is a global leader in its market, with more than 5,000 company-owned stores around the world.
2026 INDUCTEE
SERGUEI MELNIK ,98
SERGUEI MELNIK ’98 is the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nutriband Inc., an innovative science company focused on providing safer products for patients. The Moldova native led the company to a successful initial public offering and a spot on the NASDAQ in 2021. He also provides legal and financial advice based on U.S. financial markets, drawing on his law degree from Moldova State University. Melnik earned his master’s in economics from UCF and went on to work with Central Florida companies Market Management International, Inc., and Asconi Corporation, Inc., before becoming Vice President & Director of U.S. Operations for UNR Holdings Inc. Alongside UNR and Nutriband, Melnik also serves as President of Wolf Blitz Corporation, a consulting company. The proud UCF alum is a frequent presenter in The EXCHANGE, where he shares his story with Business Knights.
HONORABLE KNIGHT AWARDS
The Honorable Knight Awards recognize UCF business alumni with more than 10 years of experience who have displayed excellence in their respective career paths.
CHARLIE RITTER ’95 ’98 Partner-In-Charge, Audit Southeast KPMG LLP
MICHELLE KATZ SEGAL ’10 ’12MBA Corporate Director of Strategy, Multi-State Division
Celebrating UCF’s Business Wizards
At ADP, we help leaders summon peak performance through powerful data and transformative insights— the kind of magic that turns today’s challenges into tomorrow’s victories.
We’re proud to sponsor the 26th Anniversary of the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame and to honor a class of inductees and awardees whose ambition, courage and wisdom would make any house proud.
Here’s to the visionaries who turn bold ideas into enduring legacies, and to the reminder that the truest business magic comes from leadership and innovation.
2026 INDUCTEE
LAURA BOLLIER ,99
LAURA BOLLIER ’99 was the first female CEO of VENUS Fashion, Inc., where she led the full-scale modernization and reimagination of its brand identity en route to a successful acquisition by American Exchange Group last summer. She transformed the direct-to-consumer business into a multichannel enterprise that included travel retail and online marketplaces. After supporting the VENUS transition through September 2025, Bollier is exploring new CEO opportunities. She previously served as Vice President of Global Merchandising at SPANX, contributing to its $1 billion valuation and majority investment by Blackstone. Previously, Bollier held leadership roles at VF Corporation (Nautica & Kipling), Coach, Lord & Taylor, and Macy’s. She earned her finance degree at UCF, and last spring she spoke to more than 1,200 business students at Welcome to the Majors.
ENTREPRENEURIAL ALUMNI AWARDS
The Entrepreneurial Alumni Awards honor UCF business alumni from any discipline who exemplify commitment, vision, calculated risk-taking and growth potential.
LAINE
CONGRATULATIONS
ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH UCF TO SUPPORT YOU.
2026 INDUCTEE
TAYLOR A. GERRING ,05
TAYLOR A. GERRING ’05 is a co-founder of Ethereum, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency companies. The 2005 Management Information Systems graduate was part of Ethereum’s evolution from scrappy underdog to a cornerstone of the blockchain ecosystem, powering billions in value today. Now, Gerring spends time as a public speaker, recently speaking at UCF in the Blackstone Launchpad. Prior to Ethereum, Gerring spearheaded projects across various disciplines and companies, bolstering security, scalability and innovation. As a part of the Ethereum Foundation, Gerring helped develop the world’s leading smart contract platform, serving on its board and presenting around the world. He remains a strong supporter of UCF, and in 2024, made the largest single cash pledge commitment to UCF Athletics.
NOTABLE KNIGHT AWARDS
The Notable Knight Awards recognize alumni who have displayed promise and excellence early in their career paths and have less than 10 years of experience.
Table Sponsors
AceApplications, LLC
Addition Financial
ADP
Athena Orlando
BDO USA
Blezoo
Blue Origin
BNY
Borcheck Family
Burr + Forman
Carey Sobel
CLA
Deli Fresh Threads
Department of Economics
Department of Finance
Department of Integrated Business
Department of Management
Department of Marketing
DeVos Sport Business Management Program
Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate
Enterprise Holdings
Eta Phi Alumni
Association
Exults
FAIRWINDS
Falcon’s Beyond
Forvis Mazars
Glenn Dial
Grant Thornton
Hilton Grand Vacations
Insight Global
Jim & Debbie Balaschak
Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting
KPMG
LearningRX Brain Training - Jacksonville
Beach
Northwestern Mutual
Nutriband Inc.
Orlando Magic
Paul Gregg
Robert Tyler Grumbles
RSM US LLP
Sealane Marketing
Sherwin-Williams
Smart’s Place
SpaceKids Global
State Farm
Taylor A. Gerring
Tech Sassy Girlz
The EXCHANGE
Thomas Hall
Tiffany Hughes
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
TTS Energy Services
UCF Advancement & Partnerships
UCF Athletics
UCF Black Faculty & Staff Association
UCF Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
UCF Office of Graduate Programs
UCF Office of Graduate Studies
UCF Office of Outreach and Engagement
UCF Office of Professional Development
UCF Office of the President
UCF School of Technology Leadership and Innovation
Verizon
Vivint
Walmart
Withum
Your Caring Law Firm
FRIDAY, APRIL 10 11 A.M. – 5:30 P.M.
DR. PHILLIPS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INCLUDES LUNCH & NETWORKING RECEPTION
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame 2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 of Fame 2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame 2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame 2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame 2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
Mitchell Less, ‘86
Dawn Olivardia, ’89 ‘90 Hall of Fame 2015 Hall of Fame 2018 mitchell.less@us.gt.com dawn.olivardia@us.gt.com
