UB School of Management recognizes organizations, alumni and student interns

By Matthew Biddle

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The University at Buffalo School of Management honored outstanding student interns, as well as individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted students’ career development, on April 21 at the Buffalo Club.

The school’s Career Resource Center (CRC) named Christopher Maugans, BS ’10, JD/MBA ’14, the CRC Alumnus of the Year. As assistant to the director of human resources at Erie Community College, Maugans coordinated efforts at ECC to recruit and hire UB School of Management interns. In addition, Maugans volunteered for MBA interview days and participated in MBA Advantage and several networking events for current students.

The Recruiting Organization of the Year award went to Target. The company annually sponsors the On Target Undergraduate Club Case Competition, during which student teams tackle a business issue facing the company and present their recommendations to a panel of Target judges. In addition, company representatives frequently speak in classes, participate in career and student club events, and recruit on campus. Matt Pritchard, BS ’08, store team leader, accepted the honor.

Michael Draves, BS ’93, a partner at KPMG, was named Recruiter of the Year. Draves is a regular visitor on campus for events and recruitment days, and works closely with the CRC and faculty to identify UB candidates for internships or full-time positions with the firm.

The school’s Internships and Experiential Learning Office named three Interns of the Year: Rishabh Mathur of Jaipur, India, 43North; Michael Stuber of Tonawanda, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County; and Alexis Nicole Weber of Getzville, Tronconi, Segarra & Associates. At the reception, each student remarked on the impact these internships had on their professional development and future careers.

“Through my internship, I developed better professional, communication and leadership skills,” says Weber, an undergraduate accounting student. “I’m now driven and motivated to take on leadership opportunities at work and within student organizations in the School of Management.”

“My internship helped me understand the remarkable difference between the work cultures of the U.S. and India,” says Mathur, MBA ’16. “This experience will be instrumental in helping me better fit in the fast-paced, independent and self-managed U.S. work environment.”

“After my experiences at the United Way, my goal now is to become a professor,” says Stuber, MBA ’16. “In my career, I hope to live the values instilled in me during my internship—to inquire, fail and learn without fear of judgment.”

The office also named three Supervisors of the Year, each nominated by their UB interns. The honorees were Jeremy Blecha, BS ’08, manager, Tronconi, Segarra & Associates; Daniel Greene, director of operations, 43North; and Bill Reese, CIO, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.

For Outstanding Internship Organization, the office recognized First Niagara Financial Group, which offered 24 credit-bearing internships from 2010-2015 and hosted an additional 15 interns this spring. Students frequently comment on the training and educational opportunities they receive and the challenging, real-world work they complete while interning with First Niagara. Beata Eickhoff, vice president and senior talent acquisition manager, accepted the award.

CoachMePlus, an athletic training software company, was recognized with the New Internship Partner award. Annette Wong, marketing associate, accepted the honor.

The Nonprofit Internship Organization award went to the Charles D. and Mary A. Bauer Foundation. Gregory Bauer, BS ’82, president and co-founder of Employer Services Corp., accepted for the foundation, which was established by the late Dr. Charles and Mary Bauer.

Finally, Anna Kleyman, a counselor at Buffalo PS 45 International School, was honored as Outstanding Collaborator with the school’s Management Volunteer Program, during which students volunteer at local nonprofits for a semester and reflect on their experiences. At PS 45, volunteers lead an annual Career Curriculum program, helping sixth graders research future careers and share them with their younger peers.