Costello College of Business Alumni

With a desire to help others and run a business on her own terms, Judy L. Redpath, MBA ’84, founded VISTA Wealth Strategies, a financial planning and wealth management firm, in 2006. She cherishes working alongside her clients to construct roadmaps to their dreams, and her successes in doing so have led to being named to Forbes’ Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State list.

There are many misconceptions about employing people who have developmental disabilities. Operating out of Manassas, Virginia, Didlake finds and creates employment opportunities for people with developmental and other kinds of disabilities. One of their business ventures in creating such opportunities is The UPS Store franchising, an operation well suited for job skills training. Recently they added a location, opening up on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. In partnership with Mason LIFE, a program offering a university experience to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Didlake has assembled a team to proficiently handle the printing, packaging, and shipping needs of the campus community.

During her time at the School of Business, Nancy Sydnor, BS Marketing ’99, formed lasting friendships among her classmates and instructors. “Starting at Mason in my 40s and further along in my career, I was nervous about fitting in,” she says. “But everyone was so welcoming and helpful. My Mason experience was immensely positive.”

Growing up in Paris, France, Ava Nia, BS Marketing ’19, fondly recalls coffee breaks paired with delicious baked goods. A passion baked at a young age ultimately inspired her to establish Baked à la Carte, a business she runs while also balancing the pursuit of an MBA at Mason and working fulltime as a marketing business partner at CGI.

When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Darin Simmons Jr. MBA '11, recognizes there’s challenging work to be done, work that won’t be accomplished overnight.

CPA sisters Beth Arnold, BS Business Administration ’80; Lynn Green, BS Accounting ’82; and Martha Bayer, BS Accounting ’85 are all George Mason University School of Business graduates.

Fresh off being announced as recipients of the 2021 Greater Washington GovCon Contractor of the Year (Up to $25 Million), Kreative Technologies’ co-founders and owners, Adnan Karimi and Nazia Karimi, shared some of their lessons learned after growing the company together from the ground up.

When Lamar Crosby was a student at the School of Business, the Black Alumni Chapter grabbed Crosby’s attention through their annual golf tournament. His participation and interaction during the tournaments was noticed by the Chapter and they contacted him shortly after he graduated, encouraging him to run for office on their board.

Jason Howell, BS Accounting ’97, has written a new book titled Joy of Financial Planning: 7 Strategies for Transforming Your Finances and Reclaiming Your American Dream.

As chief global officer of global operations at Marriott International, Erika Alexander often finds herself relying on the skills and knowledge she obtained while studying at the George Mason University School of Business.