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Class of 2027 - In-Person Program

 

Amber Alonso
Global Senior Culture Intelligence Specialist – Mosaic
Amber Alonso is the global senior culture intelligence specialist for diversity and inclusion at Mosaic. In this role, she spearheads global DEI strategies and initiatives, drawing upon her extensive background in organizational development and human resources. She is dedicated to community service, volunteering regularly with Habitat for Humanity and the local Humane Society.

As a published author and photographer, she captures the world through her lens and prose. Her passion for travel facilitates her understanding of diverse cultures, enriching both her professional and personal endeavors. An avid reader and collector of antique literature, her research interests are centered on the impacts of global DEI strategies within the workforce.

She holds a bachelor's degree in leadership and change management from the University of South Florida. Additionally, she serves on the Hillsborough County Community College Alumni Board and is a member of the Tampa Organizational Development Network group.

Isaac Benjamin
Corporate Applications Lead – TECO
Isaac J. Benjamin serves as the corporate applications lead at TECO, where he oversees the selection and management of vendors, negotiates contracts, and ensures the stability and integrity of enterprise applications. He is responsible for aligning projects with company policies, streamlining processes, and mentoring teams to drive productivity and efficiency. His leadership has reduced system downtime and enhanced operational outcomes through strategic process improvements and automation.

Prior to joining TECO, Benjamin led research and development initiatives for government cyber contracts, managed strategic and tactical operations for the Joint Special Operations Command, and supervised high-performing teams supporting critical defense programs. He also planned and developed Psychological Operations Campaigns, leveraging his linguistic and cultural analysis expertise to counter adversarial narratives and influence operational outcomes. His extensive experience spans both the military and private sectors, with accomplishments in program management, data analytics, and stakeholder engagement.

Benjamin holds an EMBA from the ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ, a master’s degree in language and linguistics focusing on Terrorism Threat and Vulnerability Assessment from California University, a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, and an associate degree in Arabic from the Defense Language Institute.

Trish Cunningham
Technical Account Manager/Enterprise Account Engineer – Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Trish Cunningham is a technical account manager at AWS. In her current role, she serves as the "voice of the customer," providing strategic technical guidance to public sector organizations in commercial and GovCloud AWS. Cunningham helps customers adopt and optimize AWS services, including AI/ML, EC2, S3, DynamoDB, and Lambda. She also delivers AWS workshops and training, focusing on security best practices to ensure the operational health of AWS environments.

Prior to joining AWS, Cunningham worked at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) for over four years managing CI/CD pipelines for high volume production ETL systems in the Azure cloud. Cunningham also has extensive experience troubleshooting code and integration related issues in high volume business critical systems.  Cunningham’s earlier career includes senior IT positions at JPmorgan Chase, T-Mobile, Franklin Templeton Investments and Raymond James & Associates.

Cunningham holds a master’s degree in information technology and cybersecurity from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in information system technologies from the University of Central Florida.

Brent Densford
Florida College
Brent Densford serves as a full-time faculty member at Florida College where he provides aspiring undergraduate business students with relevant academic experiences, degree advising, and mentorship. He enjoys supporting the institution’s strategic objectives of enrollment growth and student retention.

Prior to this role, Densford retired from a 32-year career in healthcare, most recently in the role of senior vice president & president of Humana Military where he had executive accountability for delivering operational and financial excellence for a large-scale government contract business. Other healthcare leadership roles he has held include business development, shared services operations, and innovation.

Densford holds an MBA from the University of Louisville and undergraduate degrees in nuclear medicine technology from Indiana University-Indianapolis and biology from Indiana University Southeast.

Robert Galvin
Natural Resource Analysis – US Central Command
Robert Galvin is a natural resources analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency specializing in fossil fuels and water in the Middle East and Central Asia. In this role, he is responsible for advising senior US and coalition leaders on the effect of energy and water on international strategy in the Central Command area of operations. 

Prior to his current assignment, Galvin held a series of positions of increasing responsibility, enlisting as a private in 1986 and retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2019. 

In pursuing a doctorate in business administration, Galvin seeks to leverage his decades of civil service and military experience to improve government efficiency in Australia. 

Galvin earned a Master of Professional Studies from the University of Connecticut with a concentration in homeland security leadership, a Master of Military Arts and Science from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida Atlantic University.

Gabrielle Garcia
General Manager & Head of Marketing for Sky Zone
Gabrielle Garcia has been the general manager of Sky Zone Clearwater since 2018, where she has also taken on roles in marketing, events, and community outreach. Her efforts have helped her park rank among the top three in the country for seven consecutive years. In addition to her managerial duties, Gabrielle supports corporations and consults other franchises on program growth, marketing, and efficient operations.

Before joining Sky Zone, Garcia spent nearly a decade with the YMCA as a regional program director and Head Competitive Coach, leading various youth programs across three branches in Tampa, Florida. She successfully raised over a million dollars in donations for youth programs and oversaw the installation of solar panels, making the YMCA's Tampa Metropolitan Area branch the first LEED Certified building in the association.

Currently, Garcia is becoming a franchise partner with Sky Zone and plans to open her own trampoline parks by the end of 2025 in Tampa, Tarpon Springs, and Wesley Chapel. She holds both a bachelor's degree and an MBA from Keiser University in Tampa.

Joshua Hall
Small Business Advocate & Compliance Administrator – Tampa Electric
Joshua Hall is an administrator at Tampa Electric, where he oversees four key elements of compliance management: obligations, controls, incidents, and corporate reporting. Outside of his primary role, he dedicates his weekends and free time to consulting, helping small businesses connect with government entities to strengthen the economy through compliance and analytics.

Hall has also held administrative positions in data management within the phosphate mining industry and the City of Tampa, where he contributed to equal business opportunity initiatives. An entrepreneur since childhood, he consistently challenges norms and introduces innovative ideas to enhance community and economic development.

Beyond his professional endeavors, he is an adventure seeker who enjoys mountain biking and traveling to unique destinations to experience diverse cultures. He holds a bachelor's degree in geographic information systems from the ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ, with a focus on business.

Chris Harrison
Partner and CEO – Horizon River Technologies
Chris Harrison is a partner and CEO of Horizon River Technologies, a managed network and cybersecurity firm that specializes in multi-unit business connectivity.  Prior to leading the company, he served as the CTO for 11 years developing technology and organizational strategy recommendations and scalable network architecture for some of the largest companies in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

As CEO, his primary approach to building the company begins with his team. He is focused on building a culture of trust and positivity so that everyone understands that they have a voice in the company’s success.  His primary motivation is solving problems, equally applied to people, technology or business problems.  He is a global entrepreneur, with business ties in Japan and Chile.

He recently graduated from Kennesaw State University with an Executive MBA.  While there, he received the Dr. Ed Montaña Servant Leadership award by his peers for his efforts to build a peer networking organization focused on teaming and leadership. This organization connects current students with active alumni from the program in order to build lifelong connections.

Ryan Hughes
Operations Finance Site Lead – RTX
Ryan Hughes is the manufacturing operations finance site leader at Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX.  As part of Melbourne, Florida site leadership council he models rates, productivity and staffing requirements, develops budgets, and oversees operational spend. He is responsible for aggregating and reporting financial statements to the executive leadership council. Hughes has championed many cost reduction programs using RTX Lean tools, saving Collins hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

Hughes’ career started at GXO as a material handler before becoming site inventory lead, managing $20M of aerospace inventory for United Technologies Corporation (now RTX). He was hired by RTX as an FP&A analyst, before moving to corporate time and labor management then transitioning to operations finance. He is a published author, having written 10 investment related articles, as a paid contributor for Seeking Alpha.

Hughes earned a Bachelor of Science in finance, cum laude, from Northern Illinois University and an MBA in operations and supply chain from Arizona State University. He plans to use his doctorate to become an adjunct finance professor.

Angela Lin
Senior Lead Business Technical Analyst - Centene Corporation
Angela Lin is a senior lead business technical analyst at Centene Corporation. She is responsible for the overall design of assigned technical projects (custom or product strategy) and recommending best practices for solutions based on the stakeholder’s business needs.

After working as a systems administrator in a software company, focusing on quality control, testing, and implementing software requirements, she launched a new career in the healthcare industry. At WellCare Healthcare Plans, Inc. and later Centene Corporation, she mitigated design defects and developed strategies to identify inefficiencies in existing design procedures.

She earned an MBA specializing in data analytics from Saint Leo University and a bachelor's degree in statistics from the ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ.
                                  

Danya Marhamo
Owner & Practitioner – Marhamo Tax Advisor
Danya Marhamo, MSA, CPA is a Florida and Massachusetts certified public accountant and a member of the FICPA, AICPA and MSCPA. She runs her own accounting firm, Marhamo Tax Advisor PLLC, where she specializes in accounting and tax services for professionals in the dental and real estate industries. Marhamo's business mission is to serve her community and clients by educating and teaching on relevant tax issues while assisting with timely tax filings.

Marhamo began her career with PwC and has practiced with smaller firms and a local top 50 firm. She is a recipient of the 2025 FICPA Horizon Award for her contributions to the accounting profession. She was motivated to pursue a DBA to further help her clients' businesses.

Marhamo holds both a master’s and bachelor’s degree from the Ricciardi School of Business at Bridgewater State University. In her personal time, she volunteers with Metropolitan Ministries, visits state parks, and participates in Spartan Races.

Ryan McNair
Network Development Engineer, Amazon
Ryan McNair is a network development engineer with Amazon Robotics R&D. In his role on the Device and Networking Integration Management team, he designs networks, configures VLANs, and creates workflows deployed to robotics work cells in Amazon fulfillment centers worldwide.

McNair is the co-founder of a HIPAA compliance consulting firm that specializes in supporting small medical practices. And he is working hard to grow a fledgling book publishing company.

McNair earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Liberty University, and an associate degree in computer network administration & security from Stark State College.

Jonathan Ocasio
Program Manager – Nextech Solution LLC
Jonathan Ocasio is a program manager at Nextech Solution LLC, bringing in over 13 years of experience in project management, cybersecurity, and vulnerability research. In this role, he applies his extensive expertise to oversee complex projects, ensuring seamless execution and alignment with organizational goals.

Ocasio’s career includes eight years of service as a military officer, where he developed strong leadership, strategic planning, and operational management skills. His career spans a wide range of leadership roles in cybersecurity, data analytics, and threat intelligence. His ability to streamline processes and foster collaboration has consistently contributed to successful outcomes in dynamic and challenging environments.

He earned a Master of Science in Cybersecurity with a concentration in Intelligence and an MBA in data analytics from the ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ.

Candice Perilloux
Chief of Operations – The Printing Source, Inc.
Instructor – College of Business, Southern University and A&M College
Candice Perrilloux serves as the chief of operations at The Printing Source, Inc., a family-owned printing business in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with over 35 years of history. In her role, Perrilloux oversees the day-to-day operations ensuring that both customer and team needs are met. Her focus is on delivering high-quality products and maintaining the company’s reputation as a trusted local business.

In addition to her role at The Printing Source, Perrilloux is an instructor at Southern University and A&M College’s College of Business. She teaches Principles of Management and Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship, helping students build a foundation in business concepts and develop the skills necessary to succeed as future entrepreneurs and leaders.

Perrilloux is pursuing a DBA because of her passion for small business growth and development. She aims to make a difference in the small business sector by leveraging her knowledge and experience to support entrepreneurs and foster sustainable success in the community.

Perrilloux earned a Bachelor of Science in business management and an MBA from Southern University.

Beth Stens
Lead of Strategic and Reputation Risk Oversight – SoFi Technologies, Inc.
Beth Stens is a seasoned financial services risk management and internal audit professional with extensive experience in enterprise risk management (ERM), operational risk management (ORM), and regulatory compliance. Currently, she serves as the lead of strategic and reputation risk oversight at a SoFi Technologies, Inc., where she heads the development and implementation of comprehensive Strategic Risk and Reputation Risk Management Frameworks.

Stens’ career spans several high-profile roles, including senior leadership positions where she coordinated the development of Reputation Risk Management Frameworks and directed the implementation of ERM and ORM frameworks. She has also held significant positions in internal audit and risk management consulting, contributing to her deep expertise in risk governance, internal control, and regulatory compliance.

Stens is an adjunct professor in the ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏaccounting program. She holds a Master of Accountancy degree and a Compliance, Risk, and Anti-Money Laundering Graduate Certificate from USF. Her professional certifications include Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA), and Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).

Lisa Vazquez
Director of People and Culture – SunCoast Contractors Supply
Lisa Vazquez currently serves as the director of people and culture, focusing on organizational success through employee engagement and satisfaction. She leads strategic initiatives to enhance and improve employee experience at all levels, one of which is the creation and implementation of a people development institute. While she oversees Human Resources functions, she integrates this work to align with the company’s mission, vision, and core values and the overall organizational culture of growth and development for all.

Vazquez’s prior work included a focus on talent management, employee development, and the application of continuous improvement strategies. She is an accomplished educator with a diverse background in teaching, curriculum development, professional development, and leadership. Vazquez is passionate about fostering innovative learning environments promoting the success of all learners.

Vazquez earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Concordia University, and her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from the ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ.

Sonali Vinnakota
Owner & Principal Designer - Elements Planner
Sonali Vinnakota is the founder and Principal Designer for Elements Planner — a handcrafted stationery brand focusing on products for personal productivity and growth. As a micro-entrepreneur of a mid-luxury hand-crafted stationery brand, she handles product design, production, customer acquisition strategies, social media, website updates, customer service, and finances. She ensures superior craftsmanship, timely procurement and maintenance of tools, raw materials, and hardware. Additionally, she designs sustainable and economical packaging to manage shipping costs and maintain the brand image.

Before her entrepreneurial journey, Vinnakota had experience in banking and academics. Her branch banking role led her to academia, where she became a founding faculty member of India's flagship post-graduate program in Banking & Finance at Manipal Universal. She was involved in teaching, academic content development, student workshops, and counseling.

Vinnakota holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in commerce from the University of Pune, India. She finds cost efficiency a major challenge for small businesses. Through her DBA, she aims to research ways to help self-funded, women-owned micro-businesses manage costs and scale up to become profitable and self-sustained.

Jerry Zibrida
Managing Partner – Titan Consulting, LLC
Jerry Zibrida is specialized in setting business objectives, defining product goals, and providing organizational consultative expertise. With a dynamic and results-oriented approach, he has an outstanding record of driving corporate growth and improving operational efficiency. He is adept at creating innovative, value-based strategies in complex environments, enabling sustainable profitability and empowering both customers and team members to achieve success.

Throughout his career, he has held pivotal roles including chief technology officer (CTO), business development director, sales manager, and design engineer. His extensive experience spans the electronics and semiconductor markets, contributing to the success of both dynamic startups and Fortune 500 companies.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Florida and an MBA from Duke University, equipping him with a strong technical foundation and strategic business acumen.