Business Advisory Council

Advocate. Mentor. Inspire. Heading link

UIC Business students with Business Advisory Council members

Influence the future of business at UIC and in Chicago.

Join distinguished business leaders on the Dean’s Business Advisory Council, where you’ll help shape the strategic direction of one of Chicago’s most dynamic business schools. As a key advisor to the dean, you’ll provide vital insights that guide UIC Business’s initiatives while expanding your network of influential executives.

Meeting three times annually, council members engage in thought-provoking discussions on emerging business trends, participate in interactive roundtable sessions, and forge meaningful connections with fellow leaders. Your expertise will help strengthen the bridge between academia and industry, ensuring UIC Business continues to develop innovative programs that meet evolving market needs.

Through your leadership on the council, you’ll play an essential role in mentoring the next generation of business leaders and advancing UIC Business’s mission of driving positive change in Chicago’s business community. Join us in creating lasting impact through this exclusive opportunity to advocate, mentor, and inspire. Contact Janice M. Adams to learn more.

  • Chair:  Sandy J. Wayne, Dean and Professor of Management, University of Illinois Chicago College of Business Administration. Ph.D. Texas A&M University, M.B.A. Illinois State University, B.S. Illinois State University
  • Chair: Jeffrey Bilek, Partner, Ernst & Young.
    B.S. University of Illinois Chicago, Masters Business Executive Training Certificate Northwestern University
  • Todd Cello, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, TransUnion. B.S. University of Illinois Chicago
  • Brian Cook, Executive Advisor, Challenger, Gray & Christmas. J.D. DePaul University College of Law, M.B.A. Virginia Tech, B.S. Virginia Tech
  • Mel A. Diaz, Area Executive Vice President – Health and Welfare Consulting, Gallagher. M.B.A. University of Illinois Chicago, B.S. University of Illinois Chicago
  • William Guska, Partner, Ernst & Young (Retired). M.B.A. DePaul University, B.S. University of Illinois Chicago
  • Myrna Hellerman, Senior Vice President, Segal. Ph.D. Stanford University, M.A. Stanford University, M.B.A. University of Chicago, B.A. University of Michigan
  • David Henkes, Advisory Group Senior Principal Head of Strategic Partnerships, Technomic Inc.  M.B.A. University of Illinois Chicago, B.A. American University
  • Edward “Skip” Landon, Chief Financial Officer, Merrick Ventures, LLC. B.S. University of Illinois Chicago
  • Maria Manasses, Deputy Chief Auditor, Audit & Assurance Services Partner, Grant Thornton LLP. Principal, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC. B.S. University of Illinois Chicago
  • Terrence J. Mullen, CFA, Managing Director, Allstate Investments (Retired). M.B.A. DePaul University, B.S. University of Illinois Chicago
  • Vivek Mullick, Managing Director, Accenture. M.B.A. University of Illinois Chicago, B.S. Northern Illinois University
  • Bill O’Keefe, Director, Derivatives Sales-Americas Buyside, Cboe Global Markets. B.B.A. University of Illinois Chicago
  • Aaron Olson, Executive Vice President, Aon United Solutions.
    M.B.A. Northwestern University, B.S. North Park University
  • Hilda Onate, Director and Senior Project Manager US Risk Analytics & Infrastructure, CIBC USA. M.B.A. DePaul University, B.S. University of Illinois Chicago 
  • Meenal Sethna, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Littlefuse. Independent Board Member, SPX Technologies. M.B.A. Northwestern University, B.S. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Gerie Smrcina, Senior Director, E78 Partners (Retired). M.S. University of Chicago, B.S. University of Illinois Chicago
  • Susan Stelter, Former Chief People Officer and Co-Founder, West Monroe Partners. B.S. University of Illinois Chicago
  • Kenny Valentino, Owner, Patriot Capital Services Inc. B.S. University of Illinois Chicago, Certificate Entrepreneurial Studies University of Illinois Chicago
  • Heidi Verbiscer, President and Owner, Generations Tax & Advisory Services. B.S. University of Illinois Chicago
  • Tracy Warner, Sr. Assistant Dean BACE, University of Illinois Chicago College of Business Administration. M.B.A. University of Illinois, B.S. University of Illinois
  • John Wightkin, Founder, Taking Flyt. M.B.A. University of Michigan,B.S. University of Notre Dame