Whitman Recognizes Alumni, Friends With Awards for Exemplary Engagement
Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award
The Holtz Award is the highest honor given to Whitman alumni. The award was established in 1986 by Jonathan J. Holtz ’77 and annually recognizes an outstanding alumna or alumnus for professional accomplishments and service to Syracuse University. This year’s winner was
Kenneth Pontarelli ’92 (WSM/MAX)
Pontarelli is a Syracuse University trustee, a member of the Whitman Advisory Council (WAC) and accomplished executive and entrepreneur. As head of sustainable investing for private markets at Goldman Sachs, Pontarelli has provided thought leadership and an important push to help Whitman, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the entire University consider the role of sustainability in business and policy. Examples of his philanthropy include the Pontarelli Chair of Environmental Sustainability and Finance, the development of a speaker’s series on environmental issues that recently hosted former presidential candidate and environmental investor Tom Steyer, and the Sustainable Syracuse Project. In addition, Pontarelli recently co-chaired the Whitman Advisory Council’s Strategic Initiatives Subcommittee and has helped further the University’s relationship with Goldman Sachs.
Whitman Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service
The Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service recognizes University alumni, corporate partners and friends who exemplify a significant commitment to helping Whitman prepare and place future business leaders. This year’s honorees were:
Chelsea Ransom-Cooper ’15
Ransom-Cooper is the managing partner and director of financial planning at Zenith Wealth Partners. She was recently featured on The Wall Street Journal’s Your Money Briefing What’s in Your Wallet podcast and is active at conferences, symposia and social media.
Ransom-Cooper is a member of the Young Whitman Advisory Council (YWAC) and chairs its membership committee. She is engaged in helping students with career exploration and placement through events on financial literacy, IMPRESS programming on transitioning to the workplace and the University’s Panhellenic Society. She is equally active in New York City, where she participated in the inaugural Whitman Women in Finance in NYC career exploration trip panel. Ransom-Cooper has also hired three Syracuse University interns at Zenith over the past two years.
Jeff Schor ’87 (A&S)
Schor is a long-standing supporter of Whitman students and the School’s Career Center. He has established recruiting
partnerships at each financial institution (Credit Suisse, Bank of America, Deustch Bank to name a few) he has worked for, and those relationships have sustained even after he moved on to different roles. Schor focuses on bringing together Syracuse alumni within a company to develop relationships and also organizes outstanding career exploration visits. He is committed to helping students navigate job searches, hosting career exploration trips and serving as a mentor throughout their finance careers.
Orange Ovation Award
The Orange Ovation Award is presented to Syracuse University alumni who set a positive example to students through professional success and service to the Whitman School/Syracuse University community. Honored this year were:
Amrita Mainthia ’12 (WSM/NEW)
Mainthia is the vice president of investor relations at General Catalyst in San Francisco. She is a member of the YWAC and its student mentorship and engagement committee. In addition, she is a member of the Syracuse University Regional Council and former member of the Newhouse 44 Emerging Leaders Council. Mainthia has been instrumental in launching Whitman’s Women in Business in the Bay Area, a result of demonstrated alumnae interest at a Whitman Women in Business Roundtable with the Dean that she helped facilitate. She was also a featured speaker at the Syracuse University Forever Orange campaign event in Mountain View, California, and has served as an Orange Tank judge and IMPRESS career/major panelist.
Logan Margolis ’17
Margolis is an enterprise relationship manager of commodity, energy and renewable corporations at Bloomberg. He was recently named to the YWAC. This award reflects his commitment to working with students, as he frequently travels to Syracuse to meet with them, take part in career fairs and events and give advice. Margolis is willing to meet students in New York City, as well, and they consistently respond with enthusiasm to the insights he offers. Margolis was also instrumental in refreshing Whitman’s recruiting relationship with Bloomberg.