Following graduation in 2004, Christy Maraone moved across the country to Denver, Colorado, where she earned a Master of Business Administration at the University of Colorado at Denver, as well as a Master of Science in marketing. Throughout the years, Christy’s career has progressed and advanced. She is currently the vice president of marketing and outreach at the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America, the largest burn care system in the U.S., managing a team of 32+ individuals in marketing and outreach at their headquarters in Augusta, Georgia, and locations nationwide. Christy has landed stories on Good Morning America, Newsnation, People Magazine, NewsMax, Yahoo, WebMD and more.

Stephanie Ubaydi is a local business owner, opening the first Perspire Sauna Studio location in Michigan in March of 2023. The business has had 2,500 unique guests complete over 20,000 sauna sessions in her studio. Stephanie has spent countless hours educating the community on the benefits of infrared sauna use combined with red light therapy and chromotherapy. Perspire Sauna Studio has supported local business growth through partnerships with other wellness-minded businesses in a growing segment of the market. Stephanie has recently signed a deal to bring Perspire Sauna Studio to the Troy/Birmingham and Novi/Northville areas.

Attending Oakland University in the early ’80s changed Gerald Kearns’ life forever. OU gave him a strong educational foundation and the skills to believe that he could compete in the job market. Upon graduation, he held several successful jobs, including his last career position as a professor in information technology for a college in North Carolina. Gerald truly enjoyed giving back to his community and paying it forward as a professor. He has been the only professor at this college who’s been nominated and won the college’s Excellence in Teaching Award three different times.

In 2023, Jay Coomes was appointed chief technology officer for the Intracoastal Bank in Florida. In this capacity, he is responsible for directing the bank’s day-to-day IT operations and continuing to set an innovative technology future for the Bank and its clients. For over 20 years, Jay has held a variety of technology and product executive positions for Fiserv, Inc. a leading Fintech provider and major vendor for the Bank. In his most recent role, Jay brought numerous innovative and award-winning products to market focused on the digitization and automation of lending and banking operational processes.

Toinette Gunn was named one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2021 Notable Black Leaders and Executives. She is the first Black executive director of Chicago Debates, an organization that bridges the opportunity gap for Chicago Public Schools students by providing them with an after-school program that supports their academic, career and leadership success. Toinette joined Chicago Debates in 2018, and previously served as the vice president of programs for Chicago Scholars, where she led vision, research and strategy for all programming for nearly 3,000 students annually.

Greg recently became an equity partner at Lifetime Financial Growth (LFG), a privately owned wealth management and planning firm. As president of LFG, he helps entrepreneurial-minded individuals build a successful business in financial services. Prior to stepping into this role, Greg was a partner in one of Guardian’s largest brokerage disability and life practices, and started his career in the insurance and financial services industry right out of college in 2004.

Fernanda is currently a manager of Global EV Ecosystem and Charging Experience at General Motors. She was a graduate of the university’s Executive Master of Business program. This program highlights the importance of in person/ cohort concierge program design, and the quality of the faculty experience and research was instrumental in her success. Fernanda talks regularly with her cohort peers. She says that the network of professionals she has met from a diverse range of industries through the EMBA program has enhanced her personal and professional experience.

In 2023, Robert was awarded Oakland University’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award, OU’s highest alumni honor, for his significant impact on the lives of countless members of the OU community. A long-serving member of the Black Alumni Chapter Board of Directors at OU, Robert is actively engaged in the chapter’s annual summer BBQ and homecoming reunion activities. Robert’s legacy was most recently celebrated last year with a named room in the Oakland Center, an honor which pays tribute to the impact both he and his deceased brother, Anthony, have had on the growth and success of the university.

Rebecca is a New York Times and Indie bestselling author of “The Ones We Burn,” a young adult fantasy novel published by Simon & Schuster. Her middle grade fantasy debut “The Mossheart’s Promise” will be published September 5, 2023 from HarperCollins. When she isn’t writing, Rebecca is an account supervisor in pharmaceutical marketing with GCI Health where she blends her expertise in campaign strategy, corporate communications, client service and digital media strategy. Rebecca received the 2023 Oakland University Young Alumni 10 within 10 Award.

Brianne is the co-founder and CEO of Apolla Performance Wear, a dance wear company that focuses on how dancers take care of themselves. A dancer since she was seven years old, Brianne works closely with her two other co-founders to create and sell footwear, compression socks and other accessories to help dancers to maximize their craft. Brianne’s dance shoe designs were featured on Shark Tank in 2022.

Kevin co-founded Motown Aquaponics in 2016, merging his OU Master of Business Administration with his MSU Zoology undergraduate degree. Motown Aquaponics produces sustainable and fresh produce and seafood. The company also seeks to engage the community of Detroit through educational outreach and public installations. Kevin is also the senior technical product owner of Thermo Fisher Scientific.

A masterful speaker, consultant and businessman, Derek excels at artfully forming and maintaining connections with people who positively impact others – personally and professionally. Derek is a public speaker that focuses on networking and has taken his life’s work as a businessman, public speaker and philanthropist to create the “5 Pillars of Networking.” He shares the tricks of the trade he’s learned in his 20-plus years in the business, with audiences to help them grow their networks and hone their skills.

Woodie is an attorney at his private practice, Woodie H. Thomas, III, P.A., in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He has a Ph.D. in Education and is currently publishing a book entitled, "The Public School Education Curriculum Revolution." 

Kakela is the CEO of KD Hall Communications as well as KD Hall Foundation, as organization providing support and a safe space for young women to pursue their career paths and explore their identities. She is also now the director of communications and marketing at King County Library System in Washington. 

Christina is the associate dean for admissions and enrollment and associate professor for medical education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She worked at Oakland University for more than 23 years, her most recent role at OU was as the founding admissions dean for the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.  

A master's student at the University of George's (UGA) High Hodgson School of Music, Michael was one of five winners of the 2023 Concerto Competition performing with the UGA Symphony Orchestra. As of January 2023, he is finishing up his Master of music in trumpet performance at UGA. 

Stephanie is currently the senior vice president of Lighthouse Property Management for the Sarasota, Florida, Market. She began her real estate career in the HOA management industry in 2011 and has worked her way to a number of managerial and leadership roles. 

In January 2022, Soléil was awarded the Community Hero Award from Compete Sports Diversity for her work in the community. She serves as a Director on three Nonprofit Boards advocating for and improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people. She just celebrated five years at Caesars Entertainment working in consumer marketing as senior paid search specialist. On 02/22/2022, Soléil’s partner proposed to her and they will be having a Las Vegas wedding on the High Roller Ferris Wheel on Halloween 2022.

As a student, in the early 80’s, Lisa worked at the Barn Theatre as the Box Office and Concessions manager. She was also the President of The Village Project, a student organization that raised money and facilitated the upkeep and renovation of the Barn Theatre and surrounding buildings. Lisa now works as a Group Sales Manager with Meadow Brook Theatre.

Karen lived in Michigan for one year after graduating from OU before moving to College Park, Maryland to attend the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland. She graduated with her master’s in library science in 2002 and landed her fi rst professional job as a reference librarian contractor at the Environmental Protection Agency in downtown Washington, D.C. Karen later obtained a full-time government position as a reference librarian with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). For 17 years, she’s worked in a number of roles with the NRC, serving the American people

Jo’s daughter Marisa, SON ’01, and son Mario, SEHS ’05, are all OU graduates. Jo had a teaching career with Utica Community Schools and Clintondale Community Schools until retiring in 2010. Jo and Marisa have each set up endowment scholarships for nursing and foreign language education students, and Mario is employed as an assistant registrar at OU. This family has come full circle at OU and are very proud to be Grizzlies!

James is currently a writer and instructor at Oakland University and Wayne State University. His latest book was published in April 2022. The book is titled “Sentencing Youth to Life in Prison: Justice Denied” and was co-authored with Kathi Milliken-Boyd, also an OU alumnus.

Chris an OU alumnus who co-founded a grassroots disaster response project which has scaled to more than 80,000 food deliveries, serving 15,000 people in Oakland County. Out of the pandemic, Chris and his co-founders (all OU graduates) started a company called ReciproCity Apps, a Pontiac-based company created by Oakland University alumni Cam Underdown, Chris Powers and Josh Linneburg. The company uses technology to build public goods and help better connect communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tej is the Founder/CEO of ThinkImpact Inc., which works with organizations to help expand their digital footprint. The company serves a wide array of clients in various industries — tech, diversity/inclusion, 3D printing, medical technology, property management, AGV/robotics, staffing/recruiting and renewable energy. Tej recently won the Young Alumni 10 within 10 Award from Oakland University, recognizing business leaders who are making an impact in the local community.

Since 2008, Mike has taught language arts, math, science, drama, poetry, speech, realistic fiction, information literacy and careers classes at Iroquois Middle School in the Chippewa Valley Schools for his entire 14-year teaching career. Upon graduating, Mike felt knowledgeable and prepared to have a positive impact on future students.

After graduation, Rose taught at several local school districts. She is an area reading consultant and has served on numerous committees/affiliations. Rose is currently a new published author. Her work is titled "Poison Pen" – a fictional, phycological thriller on stalking. It is based on real life events. Mental health has been gaining attention nowadays, this novella is an example of that. And how some may present.

Leonard is the vice president commercial controller for Veoneer. He is a results-driven senior finance executive with a track record of measurable results in business development, commercial finance, costing, quoting and valuation. He is an adept leader with a history of building a successful business from the ground up and a great desire to positively impact the world.