Alumni
The alumni honored are innovators, experts in their fields, and respected leaders within their organizations and communities. The recipients include alumni at every stage of their careers, from recent graduates to seasoned professionals. While their backgrounds and experiences may differ, they are all united by a connection to the Coles College of Business’s mission and a desire to affect change at the local, national, and even global level.
Winners of the 2024 Five in Flight Awards
GOLD Award - Undergraduate
Martin Branick
Martin Branick is the Chief Executive Officer of USA Team Handball, a National Governing Body under the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Appointed as CEO in July 2023 at the age of 29, Branick brings a leadership experience in non-profit and professional sports management. In his role, Branick oversees all aspects of the organization's operations, including strategic planning, athlete development, fundraising, marketing, and governance. He works closely with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, athletes, and key stakeholders to drive growth and advance the sport at all levels.
Branick joined USA Team Handball in 2021, initially managing events and membership while fostering collaboration with handball clubs, organizations, and international partners to grow the sport nationwide. His prior experience includes roles at Vejle Boldklub, a Danish professional soccer team, where he specialized in corporate partnerships and digital development, and in Georgia Tech's athletic department.
Born and raised in Denmark, Branick graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. During his time at Kennesaw State, he was part of the first cohort of the Coles College Leadership Scholars Program, an executive board member of the International Student Association, the president of The Black & Gold, and a co-founder of the Kennesaw State Team Handball Club. Branick also holds a Master of Science in Sport Administration from Georgia State University.
Currently residing in Denver, Colorado, with his wife Tyler and their son Christian, Branick is a member of the Association of Chief Executives for Sport.
Erica Moody
Erica Moody is a Senior Developer in the Data Analytics, Warehouse, and Governance team at Intercontinental Exchange (parent company of the New York Stock Exchange), where she creates insightful business intelligence solutions that corporate leadership depends upon for strategic decision making. She was a Coles College of Business graduate in 2017 with a B.B.A. in Economics.
While studying at KSU, she was a member of the Coles College Leadership Scholars Program, a leader in the Student Managed Investment Fund, and an Honors graduate. She won the Outstanding Economics Student Award for her graduating class, led KSU’s first-ever team of SMIF students to win the CFA Southern Classic competition, and was recognized by the KSU Honors Program at the Zell Miller Legacy Dinner. She was selected as a Fulbright Scholar and completed a Master of Behavioral Economics degree at the University of Nottingham in 2018.
Since graduating from KSU, Erica has continued engagement with Coles College and the University through mentoring current and former students, guest speaking in the Coles College Leadership Scholars Program’s Business Intelligence class, sharing career perspectives for students interested in venturing into Data Analytics, participating in KSU Analytics Days, and remaining involved with various alumni events.
Vincent Rosamilia
After graduating Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University in Spring 2020 with a BBA in Finance, Vinny Rosamilia used his experiences in the Coles College of Business to quickly propel his career while staying connected to his alma mater. Vinny is currently an Associate Portfolio Manager at the Office of the State Treasurer, having started as an intern in the midst of the pandemic, an opportunity the Coles College network provided him.
Vinny credits much of his success to his involvement in KSU’s Student Managed Investment Fund and the mentorship of SMIF’s faculty advisors. Vinny filled the role of SMIF CEO in Spring 2020. That was the same semester he and three other SMIF analysts competed in the CFA Institute Research Challenge, representing KSU and the Coles College internationally.
During his last semester, Vinny started interning at the Georgia Office of the State Treasurer, working in the Investment Operations department, which facilitated an average of $20 billion in daily trade activity. As of August 2023, Vinny advanced to Associate Portfolio Manager.
An active alumnus, Vinny continues working with the SMIF as a leadership advisor volunteer, providing leadership coaching to the current management group. He also provides presentation coaching to the younger students. A key area of Vinny’s coaching is job preparation and what you can do to help yourself “stand out” amongst your peers within and outside of KSU. Since graduation, Vinny has successfully recruited other Coles alumni to mentor SMIF students with networking opportunities.
GOLD Award - Graduate
Arun Kandel
Arun Kandel is the Southern Poverty Law Center’s chief information officer, overseeing the information technology serving the SPLC across the Deep South and Washington, D.C. He is an experienced IT professional who has managed large-scale projects and used innovative technology to transform the capabilities of the organizations he has served.
A 2021 Kennesaw State Executive MBA Program graduate, Kandel deeply understands the elements necessary for a successful information technology system. He particularly understands the critical role relationships between people, processes, and technology play in achieving this goal.
Before joining the SPLC, Kandel was chief technology and security officer at Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, the state agency dedicated to meeting childcare and early education needs. He played a critical role in modernizing DECAL’s IT infrastructure and applications. Previously, Kandel worked for McKesson, a leading pharmaceutical distributor and a Fortune 500 company, as its IT director and solution architect.
Kandel has extensive knowledge of defensive and offensive cybersecurity, IT operations, data centers, IT process automation, and best practices in various industries. He holds numerous IT certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Agile Service Manager, SAFe Agilist, ITIL Foundation and others.
Kandel received a Bachelor of Arts in computer science from Capital University in Bexley, Ohio. Since earning his EMBA from Kennesaw State, Kandel has continued to give back to the program, serving as an individual coach. He uses this position to pass the skills he learned in the program to the next generation of EMBA students.
Faisal Saleem
Faisal Saleem is the Chief Operations Officer of Atlanta-based Children’s Medical Group. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from UMass Boston and a Master of Science in Healthcare Management and Informatics degree from Kennesaw State University. These degrees have equipped him with a diverse skillset ideal for navigating complex operational and financial landscapes.
At Children’s Medical Group, Faisal is responsible for a wide range of operations within the company. These include IT and security infrastructure, patient-facing and operations-related systems, marketing, finances, retirement plans, payers management, credentialing, board meetings, and many other functions. His strategic vision has been instrumental in driving growth and competitiveness for one of the leading pediatrics practices in Georgia.
Faisal is also actively engaged in professional development, sharing his insights and experiences within his organization, with friends, and with students at Kennesaw State University. He enjoys reading and listening to books on health problems, emerging technologies, social issues, historical figures, and, sometimes, fiction. Faisal highly values a good work-life balance and spreads awareness about the subject on his Instagram page (@faisal_saleem_atlanta).
In addition to his professional pursuits, Faisal is a devoted father who enjoys exploring his son's vivid imagination, often filled with stories about cars and space adventures.
Brandie Szuda
Brandie Szuda is a seasoned leader in medical informatics and data analytics fields, currently serving as the Chief Medical Informatics Data Officer at MagMutual, the largest mutual insurer of physicians and the second largest mutual medical professional liability provider in the U.S.
With nearly two decades of experience in the insurance industry, Brandie has held various leadership roles, including Chief Data Officer and Senior Vice President of Catastrophe Management Services. Her areas of expertise range from data analytics and risk management to catastrophe modeling and regulatory compliance. Brandi is passionate about leveraging data to improve healthcare outcomes and enhance patient care.
As an alumnus of Kennesaw State’s Master of Science in Healthcare Management and Informatics program, Brandie has helped grow the program immeasurably since graduating. She is a member of the program’s advisory board, has raised money to support professional development for MSHMI students, and has worked to establish internship opportunities within MagMutual for students in the program.
A leader in medical informatics, Brandie has made it her passion to expand the field’s impact on the healthcare industry. She is also dedicated to ensuring that current and future students in the MSHMI program have the resources they need to succeed.
Early-Career Entrepreneurship Award
Phillip Moran
Phillip Moran is co-founder and CEO at Digital Opportunities Group, a digital assets investment firm focused on unique trading strategies in the nascent asset class. Previously he was Portfolio Manager of the $3 Billion Liquid Alternatives portfolio at the UPS Group Trust. Phillip is a Chartered Financial Analyst who graduated from the Coles College of Business in 2014 with a degree in Economics.
As with many successful entrepreneurs, he made the decision to step away from a comfortable corporate job in order to take a chance at launching his own venture. Within Digital Opportunities Group’s first year, the company raised more than $2.5 million in equity and quickly established itself as an emerging leader in the quantitative finance space.
During his time at Kennesaw State, Phillip served as CEO of the Student Managed Investment Fund and oversaw a period of exceptional growth. Since graduating, Phillip has remained a dedicated alumnus. He has been a constant source of support for current SMIF students and was honored in 2020 with the organization’s Outstanding Alumni Award. He is a regular speaker at SMIF events and has served as the team’s industry advisor during the CFA Institute Research Challenge.
Phillip’s efforts as a student helped build the Student Managed Investment Fund into what it is today. His efforts as an alumnus are helping ensure the program provides other students with the opportunities it provided him.
Late-Career Entrepreneurship Award
Andy Crowe
Andy Crowe is the founder and CEO of Velociteach, a local business with a global reach in the field of project management. Since its founding, Velociteach has taught live classes around the globe and sold more than 400,000 books, establishing and sharing best practices in project management. Andy’s book, Alpha Project Managers: What the Top 2% Know That Everyone Else Does Not has been recognized as one of the most influential books in the field.
Velociteach has been awarded Small Business of the Year by the Cobb Chamber, has been recognized as one of the top 100 small businesses in the USA by the US Chamber of Commerce, and was the first winner of the Sam Olens Business Community Service Award.
As a native of Cobb County, Andy has chaired the boards of the Marietta Symphony, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cobb.
A proud 1988 graduate of the Coles College, Andy has strengthened his connection with the University in multiple ways over the years. He has been deeply involved in the Coles Leadership Scholars program through student internships, office visits, and sponsored events. Additionally, after sending all three of his children to KSU for their education, he established a scholarship in the Crowe family name.
He is a Licensed Master of 100 Ton Vessels with the US Coast Guard, and for the last five years, he and his wife have been working remotely while exploring the world aboard their Leopard sailboat.
Societal Impact
Alexis Nixon
Alexis Nixon has a bachelor’s degree in information systems and a master’s degree in Cybersecurity, both from Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Cybersecurity from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.
She began her professional journey in 2020 as an intern at the construction company Brasfield and Gorrie, working at the IT/End User help desk. Alexis later earned a remote summer internship on Fiserv’s coding team in Summer 2021. Today, she is an analyst on Fiserv’s Cybersecurity and Technology Risk Management team.
Since graduating from Kennesaw State, Alexis has dedicated much of her time to mentoring young people – especially young girls – and encouraging them to pursue careers in technology. She frequently volunteers with Women in Technology, participating in outreach to K-12 students. Alexis volunteers for seven separate financial technology organizations, where she recruits new chapters, conducts fundraising, and acts as outreach director. In addition, she routinely uses social media to promote technology education and connects students to Kennesaw State University’s programs. In essence, Alexis has become an ambassador for STEAM education.
In her free time, Alexis loves to read, volunteer, participate in professional organizations, bake, spend time with family, and enjoy outdoor activities.
Winners of the 2023 Five in Flight Awards
GOLD Award - Undergraduate
Janna Pruiett
Coles College Degrees:
Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Security and Assurance
Master of Science in Healthcare
Management and Informatics
Janna Pruiett is a Senior Technical Support Engineer at VMware. She attended Kennesaw State University to receive both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Janna graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Security and Assurance, and again in 2022 with a Master of Science in Healthcare Management and Informatics.
Janna has a passion for technology and serving others. Outside of her 9-5 professional role, Janna serves as an Enrichment Coordinator for a nonprofit mentoring program, Precious Me Inc. She also has curated her own brand, Unveiled by Janna Alane, LLC. and is inspired by self-love and individuality to encourage everyone to dig deep and unveil who they truly are. The brand includes inspirational videos entitled “A Word Wednesday,” apparel, and a blog. She hopes that her brand can inspire individuals, especially young girls, to embrace their inner beauty.
Janna’s ultimate goal has always been to mentor and create a non-profit organization that encourages young ladies to find their strength. Therefore, it is such a pleasure for her to serve as an enrichment coordinator for Precious Me Inc., where she incorporates her brand’s passion by highlighting the beauty of being perfectly imperfect. She also hopes to inspire young girls and ladies who look like her to pursue their dreams related to STEM and/or technology. Whenever she has the opportunity to share her knowledge with others, she always jumps at the chance.
GOLD Award - Graduate
Reco McCambry
Coles College Degrees:
Master of Business Administration
Reco McCambry has made his mark on the financial services and direct sales industry as one of the youngest and most successful entrepreneurs in the space. He is President and CEO of Novae, the largest direct sales fintech company in the United States, providing solutions to consumers and small businesses nationwide through a network of thousands of independent salespeople. The financial solutions his company provides include personal and business credit building, online banking, personal loans, business funding, consumer financing, and more.
Reco is a member of the Forbes Business Council and is an Industry Expert on Forbes.com. He also serves on the National Small Business Association Leadership Council out of Washington, DC. On Feb. 4, 2021, Reco was honored by his hometown of McDonough, GA., with a proclamation naming January 19th, Mr. Reco McDaniel McCambry Day.
His company, Novae, was featured in Inc. Magazine’s “Inc 5000,” as one of the fastest-growing companies in America two years in a row, 2021 and 2022. Novae ranked in the top 150 fastest-growing financial services companies in the country both years.
In 2022, McCambry was named Innovator of the Year at the Bank Customer Service Summit and received the Outstanding Leadership Award at the Money 2.0 Conference. Lastly, he’s also been selected for membership in the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honors Society.
Reco is a KSU double owl. In addition to his Coles College MBA, he also earned his undergraduate Industrial Engineering degree from KSU via Southern Polytechnic State University.
Early-Career Entrepreneurship Award
Brooke Hammer
Coles College Degrees:
Bachelor of Business Administration in Professional Sales
Brooke Hammer is the Founder and Principal of Atlanta First Agency, the largest staffing firm in the country specializing in the wholesale apparel and trade show industry. Her business matches wholesale clothing companies with temporary and permanent salespeople and support staff to help ensure these brands have profitable trade shows.
Brooke launched AFA in 2017 while still earning her undergraduate degree in professional sales. Since then, she has led the company to achieving annual revenue of more than $1 million per year and employs more than 600 people, all without the need for outside investment. AFA’s rapid growth led Brooke to expand her operation beyond Atlanta into New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, and led Atlanta Inno to name her one of their 25 Rising Entrepreneurs and Technologists Under the Age of 25.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Brooke diversified her business interests by launching her second venture, real estate holding company Riverbrook Properties. In its first nine months, Riverbrook Properties grossed more than $100,000, well above industry benchmarks.
Since graduating, Brooke continues to engage with the Coles College of Business. As a member of the Coles Scholars Program’s fourth cohort, she now assists with interviewing prospective students and serves as a point of contact for students interested in entrepreneurship. She also recently convinced her younger brother to enroll at Kennesaw State University.
Societal Impact Award
Ashley Nealy
Coles College Degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Information Systems
Master of Science in Information Systems
Ashley Nealy is the Assistant Director, Support Services, for the United States Department of Treasury’s office of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, where she leads a team responsible for personal property management, travel, and other support programs. She previously served as the Web Team Lead and was recognized by NextGen with their Innovator Award. She was selected by the Atlanta Federal Executive Board to participate in their Leadership Government Program, which prepares high-performing federal employees for senior leadership in the federal government. She is also the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of web design company Mindly Maven.
Ashley’s many civic and professional accomplishments include serving as Mentorship Co-Chair of LEAD Atlanta; receiving Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40 Award; earning the National Coalition of 100 Black Women - MECCA Chapter Civic Engagement Award; and receiving the Individual PACEsetter Award for Community Service by Black Data Processing Associates.
Answering Dr. Anthony Fauci’s call for more African Americans to participate in the COVID-19 vaccine trials, Ashley enrolled in the Pfizer trial to enhance Black representation. She has since been sharing her story and dispelling common myths about clinical research. Ashley has been featured on Good Morning America and The Today Show, and published a Letter to the Editor in The NY Times.
Ashley earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems in 2010 and a Master of Science in Information Systems in 2011. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys traveling the world, volunteering, and advocating for clinical trial research.
OWL Award - Graduate
Andrew Green, Ph.D.
Coles College Degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Information Systems
Master of Science in Information Systems
Andrew Green, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Information Security and Assurance in the Information Systems and Security Department. Andy currently serves as the program coordinator for the Information Security and Assurance undergraduate degree program, as well as the faculty advisor for the award-winning student-led KSU Offensive Security Research Club.
Andy has almost two decades of experience in information security. Before entering academia fulltime, he worked as an information security consultant, focusing primarily on the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Before that, Andy worked in the healthcare IT field, where he developed and supported transcription interfaces for medical facilities throughout the United States.
His research interest focuses on problems found at the intersection of security, privacy, and public policy, and his research has been published in top-tier academic journals. He is also a co-author of several academic textbooks on various information security-related topics that have been used in classrooms globally. Andy is a frequent contributor to local, regional, and national media outlets on issues related to information security.
