The G-Suite is your hub for all things Zag Business. Listen to in-depth conversations with Gonzaga School of Business Administration graduates, faculty and friends.
Season 3
Dr. Stephanie Van Dellen is a fall 24 addition to the SBA as she joins the management discipline. With a background in leadership, she is passionate about effective teaching and her research interests include improving workplaces through the use of technology and leadership.
Alejandro Mendoza is an Adjunct Instructor of Business Analytics and Accounting teaching both graduate and undergraduate students at GU. Originally from Mexico City, he speaks of a career of solving unstructured problems providing a wide range of opportunities that ultimately led him to the Pacific Northwest via Chicago.
Lindsay Stevenson is the Chief Transformation Officer at BPM, one of the top 35 accounting and advisory firms in the US and a certified B corp. She has been named twice to the 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting by the AICPA and twice to the top 40 under 40 accounting professionals by the CPA Practice Advisor. Lindsay discusses the transformation occurring across the business world, including emerging technologies and the next generation’s approach to life.
Amanda Banta is an adjunct instructor in Gonzaga’s MBA program and a registered financial investment advisor. Prior to that, she competed for the USA Rifle Team in the 2012 London Olympics, a goal she set at the age of thirteen. She speaks about the lessons of an elite athlete and how they apply to a variety of facets in life.
Prof. Dan Brajcich came to Gonzaga to drop off a boyhood friend who received a boxing scholarship in 1940 and stayed for a lifetime. This episode features his eulogy delivered by Bud Barnes at St. Al’s church in 2004.
Bud Barnes is the Dean Emeritus of the School of Business having first arrived in September 1973. Bud took the Business School from the basement of the Administration Building, now called College Hall, to its own home, the Jepson Center, on the shores of Lake Arthur and ushered in accreditation and an increase in national profile. He remains a part of the SBA community teaching economics.
Shianne Parker, Assistant Corporate Controller at Cowles Company in Spokane, holds both a Zag BBA and MACC. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, determination, and mentorship, which collectively broke a nonproductive cycle for both herself and her family.
Born and raised in Spokane and a Gonzaga graduate, Ryan Harnetiaux is the managing partner of Aequus Sports LLC, the owner of Spokane’s new USL soccer teams, the FC Zephyr in the top flight of women’s soccer, and FC Velocity of men’s USL League 1. Along with his wife Katie, Ryan aims to build a community-based club driven by their passion for sports and Spokane.
Adam Martin is a Senior Manager of Software Engineering at Salesforce.org. A first-generation college student, Adam was first exposed to IT in high school through a program that paired students with local tech businesses. Ultimately earning his MBA at GU, Adam serves nonprofit clients up and down the US west coast.
Chloe Brown is a senior manager in the VC group of the software development company Carta. Based out of London, she talks of seizing opportunities as they come and being open to the new things.
Jordan Tampien is an entrepreneur who has been involved with the revitalization of Spokane over the last decade, including Brick West Brewery, PARKFIT Athletic Clubs, Spokane Velocity FC & Zephyr FC, Lolo Lofts, the Peyton Building conversion, and 4 Degrees Real Estate. Originally from Moses Lake, Jordan earned a joint JD-MBA from Gonzaga.
Season 2
Colleen Fox is the Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Providence Inland Northwest Foundation. A Spokane native who swore she'd someday leave town, Fox talks about the importance of building relationships and how her job consistently reveals the best side of individuals.
Claudia Rios-Jordan is the Graduate Academic Advisor for the School of Business Administration where she advises over 300 graduate students across the MBA, MBA-AIE, MACC, MTAX, and MSBA programs. She tells a story of perseverance leaving Mexico at age 7, working in orchards of Central Washington, pursing college and graduate degrees and a teaching position in Japan before landing at GU.
Dr. Gena Hoxha is the Chief of Staff at the Spokane tech start up Ignitium. She is a quadruple Zag having graduated from Gonzaga Prep and earning three degrees from GU. She talks about immigrating to the US at age 15 and fulfilling her goals through hardwork, perseverance, a belief in herself, and leveraging friends, family and community.
Timo Korkeamäki is the Dean of the School Of Business at Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, the country's top business school. A Gonzaga MBA graduate and former Professor of Finance in Jepson, he discusses everything from Tex-Mex to differences in educational structures across the pond. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
Alaina Capoeman-Davis, Quinault Nation citizen and descendant of the Gros-Ventre Tribe and Hoopa Tribe, will graduate from Gonzaga with her MBA in American Indian Entrepreneurship in May 2024. She discusses some of her business endeavors, reconnecting with native culture, and the importance of leveraging the entrepreneurial spirit of Indian Country. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
Andy Schneider is the Senior Vice President of People at Alaska Airlines, where she oversees nearly 21,000 employees. Andy was in leadership roles at Alaska during 9/11, COVID, and the merger with Virgin America. She was also a student at GU when the Kennel Club was founded. She shares stories from her journey through various roles and what fosters success. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
Kelly Fukai has played a variety of roles over her career from accountant to lobbyist. She talks of her appreciation for a Gonzaga education and a willingness to always try new things. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
This episode features Regis Executive Speaker Sam Mascareno's address to students in the Wolff Auditorium. Sam is the Enterprise Markets Leader for the accounting and consulting firm RSM. By day, he oversees growth and culture objectives for the firm across the US and Canada. By night, he is pastor at the 1,000-plus member Lighthouse Church in San Diego, which he founded with his wife Angie in 1999. He discusses the intersection of faith and business.
Rick Betts is a Spokane native, Zag, and co-founder of Hoopfest, the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world. He talks of his career advising telecom companies, the origins of Hoopfest and Hooptown USA, and his newest adventure, a revolutionary approach to youth basketball.
A senior at Gonzaga graduating this May, Mateo Valdez is the founder of the Gonzaga Sport Consulting Group, an idea that began in his dorm freshman year and now provides services to professional sports teams across the country. He shares his perspectives on Gen Z and the advantages of being a student at GU
Season 1
Joanna Hazel is a CPA currently working for Deloitte in Tokyo consulting a variety of clients on tax issues. She previously worked with Deloitte’s U.S. Business Tax group in London where she focused on private equity clients. A Zag born in Kagoshima, Japan, Joanna shares a story of transitioning across cultures both professionally and culturally. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
Dan Stewart is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Hogan Entrepreneurship Program at Gonzaga. An accomplished fiddler, business owner and member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Dan also serves as Director of the Indigenous Student Seminar for the Hoover Institute. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
Monica Marmolejo (BBA '11) is the controller at the Seattle Mariners. Originally from California, Monica moved to Spokane during high school and is a first-generation college student. She talks of her experience at Gonzaga, her obstacles in along the way, and what drives her to give back to the communities she's been a part of. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
Julie Frye (BBA '03) is a Senior Investment Officer in the Strategic Investment Fund at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A former Jesuit Volunteer Corp volunteer in Nicaragua, Julie talks about her journey and the impact of Gonzaga. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
David Togami (BBA ’11, M.Acc ’12) is a manager of the technological team at Armanino, LLP where he explores the application of AI and other tools to big data. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in the M.Acc and MSBA programs. Prof. Togami discusses the wild and emerging world of AI and analytics. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
Kevin McQuilkin (BBA ’86) is the first Executive in Residence at the School of Business who teaches Mergers and Acquisitions. Prof. McQuilkin spent a career in investment banking in New York City with Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank. When not on campus, he’s found tending to alpacas and the Abby Normal farm run by his wife. He discusses his efforts to open up new career avenues for Zags. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
Tianna Helm (BBA ’18, MS.Tax ’19) played soccer for the Zags while earning her Bachelor's in Accounting and Master's in Tax. After working at Big 4 accounting firm PwC, Ms. Helm served as the Chief of Operations for a sports psychology firm and is now a manager of real estate assets. She discusses her career journey and how Gonzaga informs her pursuits. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.
Todd Finkle is the Pigott Professor of Entrepreneurship at Gonzaga University. The author of two books: Warren Buffett: Investor and Entrepreneur was recently published by Columbia University Press and Lessons Learned from Leading Entrepreneurs: Case Studies in Business and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Finkle discusses lessons learned from studying the masters. Hosted by Andrew Brajcich, the Jud Regis chair of accounting, director of accounting and professor of accounting at GU.