EIU Lumpkin College of Business and Technology

Don Boerema

Don Boerema has a wealth of professional experience, having served in leadership roles in large and small startup companies, private equity based and public companies and in numerous industries including security, consumer goods, smart home, wireless and telecom. He is a Strategy, Corporate Development, Marketing, Product, Operations and Sales expert who is currently CEO and Managing Partner at nSights, a consulting company that assists the Private Equity and Venture Capital investment community as well as companies in transforming and optimizing their businesses. He is also running the Multifamily Business unit and developing the overall go to market strategies and plans for Brilliant Technologies, a fast-growing Smart Home platform company.

Prior to Brilliant, he worked as President and CEO with CommandScape, a provider of enhanced commercial building management systems.  At ADT, he served as Chief Corporate Development Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and President of ADT Health, a leading provider of security, health and automation solutions for homes and businesses in the United States and Canada. There he led overall direction and market approach including corporate strategy, product development, Mergers and Acquisitions, innovation, business development and partnerships in the security and smart home arena. He also served as the Chief Marketing Officer for all business units of Tyco (including residential, commercial and health). While at ATT Wireless, he led the development and launch the wireless data business and held various marketing and business unit management roles. His experiences were also at market leaders that include PepsiCo, Procter and Gamble and privately held FDN Communications. He has made numerous investments and acquisitions in the Smart Home and Security industries and served on a number Board of Directors at these companies.

Don is an accomplished executive with a proven record of combining operational acumen with expert sales and marketing qualifications to introduce innovative strategies and grow revenue. He is proficient at introducing and expanding products into new and existing channels and industries. Skilled at building lasting relationships, he has a history of cultivating enduring strategic partnerships. Don holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and finance and a Master of Business Administration degree from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Mike Conley

Mike Conley is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Compliance and Operational Risk Executive at Bank of America where he is responsible for compliance and operational risk oversight of the bank’s CFO Group, a global operating unit charged with managing financial risks associated with and reporting on the company’s $3T+ balance sheet. Specific areas of oversight include capital management, liquidity management, balance sheet management, asset and liability management, corporate funding, regulatory and SEC reporting, accounting policy, corporate income tax management, financial controllership, investor relations and financial planning and analysis for the bank’s lines of businesses and control functions. Mike is also responsible for compliance and operational risk oversight of enterprise stress testing, resolution and recovery planning and enterprise-wide oversight
related to Regulation W.

Mike joined Bank of America in 2008 as a pricing analyst supporting asset valuation activities for the BAC Home Loans Pricing team. Prior to joining Global Risk Management in 2014, he served in a variety of consumer finance related roles including Mortgage Competitive Analytics, Retail Margin Management, Home Loans Pricing Strategy and Deposit Product Strategy. Prior to his current role, Mike held a variety of roles in Global Risk Management covering activities in the CFO Group.

Before joining the bank, Mike was National Pricing Manager at HSBC Mortgage Services in Charlotte, NC. Prior to his foray into mortgage pricing, he held various positions in mortgage banking including loan officer, sales branch manager, underwriter, and technology project manager. Prior to his mortgage banking career, Mike was a professional golfer. Mike graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1996 where he majored in Finance and
minored in Economics. Mike lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife, Dina, and their two children—Kacey and Kylie.

Melissa Conyears-Ervin

Melissa Conyears-Ervin is the current City Treasurer of the City of Chicago. In 2019, she made history by being the first person elected to the Office of Treasurer for the City of Chicago who was not previously appointed.

She is a former State Representative for the 10th District who believes in the promise of opportunity and the strength of families to effectively address the needs of our communities.

Before being elected as a State Representative, she gained more than 15 years of experience in the insurance industry as an executive for Allstate and CS Insurance Strategies, gaining insight into the challenges in the diverse and vibrant City of Chicago.

As City Treasurer, she is the only city-wide elected official sitting on all four pension boards and has utilized her private-sector and financial experience to increase economic development in Chicago’s neighborhoods by raising awareness of systemic issues that result in racial inequities. Under her leadership, the Advancing Equity in Banking Commission (AEBC) was formed to advance equity and eliminate systemic racism in the banking industry through equitable hiring, lending, and investment in Black communities. She believes that Chicago’s $9.5 billion-dollar portfolio should be leveraged to help Chicago communities grow at the same economic rate, regardless of their zip code.

The Treasurer also developed a year-long program, Hope Inside, to help people increase their credit scores. It offers credit and money management resources to Chicagoans—FOR FREE. It offers workshops that teach Chicagoans to create a budget, understand and fix errors on their credit reports, and start planning for homeownership. In the credit Coaching Sessions, a FREE one-on-one session with a counselor, you can make plans for getting out of debt and raising your credit score. With this partnership, we launched the 700 Credit Score Initiative, where residents have the opportunity to receive 18 months of continuous counseling that can raise their credit scores by 120 points—it's free to all Chicago residents.

The Treasurer and her office have developed many programs to assist the residents of Chicago to help make their lives better.

The Treasurer lives in Garfield Park with her husband Jason and daughter Jeneva. She is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Lola Dada-Olley

Lola Dada-Olley is an attorney, advocate, and podcast host. She currently serves as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase. Her duties have included drafting and negotiating technology agreements and advising product teams on the Americans with Disabilities Act related requirements associated with customer facing technology tools.

In addition to her legal duties, Lola recently chronicled her family’s multi-generational autism journey with the launch of the “Not Your Mama’s Autism” podcast in 2020. Part audio memoir/part interview style podcast, Lola touches upon topics such as societal stigma, culture, intersection of race and disability, health care, community policing and corporate disability inclusion efforts.  Lola is also on the board of two non-profits focused on achieving greater outcomes in health care and employment for people with disabilities.  Lola is a member of the NEW Roundtable, an organization comprised of in-house and outside counsel women attorneys devoted to greater inclusion in the legal profession. In 2021, Lola gave a TEDx talk titled, “Your Path is Your Purpose”, explaining how introspection can help you understand how your unique life path helps prepare you for what you are meant to do.

Lola has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Eastern Illinois University. She also has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a law degree from Howard University School of Law. Lola lives in North Texas with her husband and two children. In her spare time, Lola enjoys writing and playing basketball.

Randy Flesch

Randy Flesch recently retired in July 2021 after over 33 years with Marathon Petroleum Corporation, where he held a variety of financial and operational positions. He has a wide range of experience in the areas of finance, accounting, marketing, logistics and business development, and held positions with increasing levels of responsibility throughout his career.  Prior to retirement, he held executive positions leading marketing operations in U.S. Midwest, then commercial agreement and technical support operations across the U.S. Randy is currently providing consulting services within the energy industry.

Randy is a 1988 graduate of EIU with a Bachelors degree in Accounting. He currently lives in Ohio and is involved in various community and volunteer work in the area, to include several board positions. He currently serves as a member of the EIU School of Business Advisory Board. Randy is married to wife Sandi, and they have two sons, Alex and Cameron.  

Denise Head

Denise is a 30+ year marketing professional. Her career covers a wide range of marketing functions such as: strategic planning, brand positioning, developing/analyzing marketing plans (national & regional), website development, public relations, promotional spin, menu development & design, marketing research, television, radio, print creative and social media. 

Currently, Denise is actively involved in managing and consulting business and marketing initiatives for several restaurant concepts which she is also an owner: Corky's BBQ in Brentwood, TN, Chagos Cantina in Nashville, TN, and Grover T's BBQ in Milton, FL.

Denise also continues to offer consulting services through her company, R&D Hospitality, LLC.

From 2006-2013 Denise was Vice President of Marketing for Duke & King, LLC which owned and operated 135 Burker King restaurants based in Minneapolis, MN. Denise simultaneously served as Vice President of Marketing for bd's Mongolian Grill based in Detroit, MI which was also owned by Kinderhook Industries, a Private Equity Group. 

From 2004-2005 Denise held the position of Vice President of Business Development at Mapco Express based in Franklin, TN. Her priorities were to clearly define the concepts "Unique Selling Proposition" (USP). Additionally, she provided direction in repositioning the brand which included assisting in developing a prototype proprietary restaurant within the convenient store footprint. 

From 2000-2004, Denise was the Director of Brand Marketing for Shoney's Restaurants based in Nashville, TN. Within 6 months of being hired, Denise was promoted to Vice President of Marketing. Denise was instrumental in re-positioning the Shoney's brand which led to reversing a 13-year negative sales trend. Denise was responsible for retaining Jeff Foxworthy as the Brand Spokesperson and directed the advertising campaign that led the brand turn-around. 

Denise graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1981 with a Bachelor's degree in Business. Denise's early years included various positions within the marketing/advertising universe. Denise held Field Marketing positions with iconic companies such as, McDonald's, Long John Silver's and The Olive Garden. Denise also worked on the agency side of the business as a Senior Account Executive where she worked with TCBY, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and Jiffy Lube.

In 1996 Denise followed her mentor to Nashville where she held the position of Marketing Manager with Cracker Barrel Country Store. 

Denise currently resides in Nashville, TN with her husband and business partner of 15 years. They spend their time managing their investments, consulting, loving their children and grandchildren and traveling the country in their RV every chance they get. 

 Sherry McCoy

Sherry McCoy currently serves as Assistant Controller for Logix Federal Credit Union where she is able to leverage her many years of cross-discipline experience into a dynamic environment that serves not as "back office," but as the financial frontline. This position includes a variety of process improvement opportunities that will be developed through collaboration with multi-department team members and emerging technology tools - all of which serve to energize her daily efforts. She enjoys the new role immensely and looks forward to making contributions to a diverse and engaging team that already has a tremendous legacy. 

Before joining Logix, Sherry was owner of Collaborative Learning & Assurance Services Solutions, Inc., (CLASS, Inc.), a licensed audit, accounting and consulting firm in Los Angeles, CA. In that role, Sherry spent her client service efforts in both the public filing and private company sectors, and was an advocate of the lifelong learning culture, which continues today. Prior to establishing CLASS, Inc., Sherry had the privilege of serving in a Firm leadership role with a large public accounting firm, where she was a client service partner and also served in the role of audit and accounting specialist. 

As a certified public accountant, Sherry's industry experience ranges from biotechnology grant audits to complex financial institution audits and includes companies traded on public exhanges, although her greatest interest is in private companies and the owners and employees which have served as the lifeblood of America's rich heritage. 

The daughter of EIU-attending parents and grandparents, Sherry graduated from EIU in 1990 with a dual Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance. She also obtained her MBA from Azusa Pacific University. 

Ross McCullough

Ross McCullough retired from UPS after 36 years of service, with his most recent assignment being President of UPS Asia based in Singapore.  During his career Ross held positions in Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Post Merger Integration, Electronic Commerce, Operations and Industrial Engineering.

Ross is a 1987 graduate of EIU's School of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree and is a 1996 graduate of Emory University with an MBA in International Business.  In 2017, Ross received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from EIU.

Ross has been a member of the EIU School of Technology advisory board since 2012.

Jim Schnorf

Jim Schnorf is the Founder and President of Wall Street Strategic Capital, Inc., a strategic financial consulting firm which specializes in advising large institutional investors and structuring major financial related transactions for client companies.  Strategic partners, including global institutional investors, large customers, and joint venture partners, are derived for clients through a very broad global network of key political, financial, and business relationships.  The Advisory Team includes the Founder of the Orlando Magic, former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense and Chief Procurement Officer for the U.S. Air Force, and the senior advisor to the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund.  Former members include the prior Head of Day to Day Operations for the New York Stock Exchange, the previous Budget Director of the State of Illinois for its $50 billion annual budget, the former Vice Chairman of CitiCorp, and the General Counsel to the CIA under President Bush. Schnorf and another team member also founded the International Stock Exchange Executives Emeriti, an organization consisting of approximately thirty current and former Chairmen, CEO’s, and General Counsels of stock exchanges on six continents … and he also hosted the first six annual meetings of this group.

Schnorf is also a Founding Member of the Eastern Illinois University Investment Committee where he serves as the external liaison to various constituencies, including interaction and collaboration with other institutional investors such as heads of major public, corporate, and Taft-Hartley pension funds, endowments and foundations, and family offices.  He is a frequent speaker and panel chair at pension fund and foundation forums.  A 1976 graduate of Eastern with a BS-Business (Accounting) degree, he was previously awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the university, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the School of Business.  Schnorf received his MBA from the University of Illinois’ Executive MBA Program in 1985.  He is a certified public accountant, certified management accountant, and chartered global management accountant. 

Previously, Schnorf served in various managerial capacities for Caterpillar, Inc. and other large U.S. manufacturers and financial services entities, and also directed the investment and options/warrants portfolio and trading for the largest independently-owned public relations firm in the southeast.  He is a current or former member of numerous professional and civic organizations, including, among others, Financial Executives International, Council of Institutional Investors, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Investment Banking Association.

Richard Siemer

Richard C. Siemer is President of Siemer Milling Company, of Teutopolis, IL.  The company operates wheat flour mills in Teutopolis, Hopkinsville, KY, and West Harrison, IN.  Total annual production is 1.5 billion pounds (780,000 tons) of flour and other wheat products, using 26 million bushels of locally-grown soft wheat.  Rick has been involved in company management since 1975.  He is also a member of the board of directors of Teutopolis State Bank, and of the Agribusiness Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.  He was a founder and long-time President of the Effingham County Community Foundation (now Southeastern Illinois CF); former President of the Lincoln Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America; former member of the Teutopolis Unit 50 School Board.  He has degrees from the University of Illinois (BA 1972) and Duke University (JD 1975).  Rick is married to Diane Niemerg (EIU BS 1972) for 44 years; they have three children and six grandchildren.

Bill Skeens

Bill Skeens is a 1977 graduate of EIU with a BS in Marketing.   He was the Founder/CEO of Prairie City Bakery which offered over 125 sku’s and was sold into over 30,000 locations nationally.   Bill sold the business to McKee Foods (Little Debbie Snacks) in 2019.  He now mentors entrepreneurs through multiple business incubators.  In December 2016, he was the Commencement Speaker at the EIU graduation; he also served as the President of the EIU School of Business Advisory Board and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2018.  

Krupal Swami

Krupal Swami is the Founder and CEO of TeamSWAMI in Bloomington, Illinois.  Krupal founded Team SWAMI so she and her team can provide quality consulting services for clients. Her well-rounded background in strategy, vendor management and technology provide immediate value to client engagements.

Most recently, she had both Technical and Architecture responsibilities associated with the Mainframe for State Farm Insurance Companies. She was responsible for all aspects of mainframe infrastructure. Over her career, she led infrastructure and application development teams, a workforce team responsible for strategy and an IT expansion into Phoenix, Dallas and Atlanta. She also has extensive experience with large vendor contracts and led the Technology Labor Vendor Management office.

An Illinois native, Krupal received two bachelor’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University (Business Education and Administrative Information Systems with a French Minor) and joint MBAs from UCLA Anderson’s School of Management and the National University of Singapore’s Business School. She holds Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter designations through the American College. She is also PMP certified through the Project Management Institute and CSQA and CSTE certified through the Quality Assurance Institute.

In addition to her Chair responsibilities for Lumpkin’s Business Advisory Board, she also actively engages with several non-profit organizations and participates on the following boards:

Lumpkin Executive Advisors to the Dean Board
Advocate BroMenn Philanthropy Board

Tony Zipparro

Graduating from EIU with an undergraduate degree in Finance (2008) and an MBA (2009), Tony went on to co-found LLT Group with fellow alum Rahul Wahi in 2010. LLT Group looks to provide UI Design, Development and Consulting to clients ranging from start-ups looking to launch a new company or software, to enterprises looking to better optimize their integrated digital presence. In 2020, Tony also launched a long-time passion project turned FinTech startup, called EquitySet: providing independent research, ratings and fair values on US stocks. Currently, his world revolves around running the operations of the agency, while pushing the limits of creativity in the new finance platform.