Syracuse University’s Whitman School Welcomes Four New Members to Advisory Council as Chair Signs on for Second Term
Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management announces the addition of four new members to the Whitman Advisory Council (WAC), a group of highly talented Whitman graduates and parents who support the institutional leadership in enhancing the experience for students, faculty and alumni.
The WAC meets throughout the year to advise on Whitman priorities that shape the future of the School. The work of this council focuses specifically on elevating experiential programs and career exploration, assisting with strategic initiatives and helping to expand our philanthropic base and engage new supporters to Whitman.
“We are privileged and grateful to welcome these four outstanding individuals to the Whitman Advisory Council,” says Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. “Their collective experience across various industries and the skillsets and connections they bring to the Whitman School help us to continue to reflect the needs of a continuously competitive and evolving business environment, allowing us to prepare our students and help them differentiate themselves in the job market. Working alongside Whitman leadership and veteran WAC members, these individuals are a true asset to the transformative goals we are working towards at the Whitman School.”
Judd Caplain ’82
With over 30 years in financial services, most recently as a partner at KPMG as global head of financial services and overseeing a $13 billion business across 150 countries, Caplain brings deep industry experience in regulatory compliance, strategy and growth. His expertise also extends to driving innovation to meet evolving regulatory and digital demands. A resident of Hingham, Massachusetts, he has been named to The Consulting Report’s “Top 25 Financial Services Consulting Leaders” and continues to be a dedicated mentor and advocate for the next generation of business professionals.
Cory Pettinella ’09
As vice president, senior relationship manager, at Bank of America, Pettinella has a background in commercial banking. In his current role, he supports mid-sized businesses with financial stability and sustainable growth with a strong grasp of credit risk and financial statement literacy, as well as an appreciation for how economic trends can impact business performance. Pettinella lives in Pittsford, New York.
Jerome P. Ryan ’99, ’13 MBA
Chief risk officer for Carbonaires, a carbon asset management firm, Jerome P. Ryan ’99, ’13 MBA, is an accomplished operational risk and resiliency leader with more than two decades of experience designing governance risk and controls solutions that strengthen organizations across industries. The founder of GRM Solutions, a consulting firm to help businesses anticipate, mitigate and recover from complex risks, A resident of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, Ryan has also held positions with State Street Corporation and Pfizer.
Valerie Vargas ’94
Vargas has a long history of leadership positions with AT&T and is currently senior vice president of creative content and advertising responsible for the strategic development and creative execution of full-funnel paid advertising and social media marketing, retail marketing, and design of marketing communications and experiences at AT&T stores. Previously, she held managerial positions with BellSouth Cellular and Cingular Wireless and also has marketing expertise in the financial services arena from her work with HomeBanc Mortgage Corporation. Currently living in Dallas, Texas, Vargas also holds a law degree from the University of Miami and is a member of the American Bar Association and the Georgia State Bar.
Tracy Barash ’89 Continues for Second Term as Chair
McKelvie also shared that the WAC will continue to operate under the strong leadership of Tracy Barash ’89, following the successful completion of an impactful first three-year term as chair of the Whitman Advisory Council.
Residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Barash is owner and principal of Cut-Thru Consulting, specializing in brand management and strategic planning for media, entertainment, sports and consumer goods companies. She has held a number of positions with Warner Bros. Discovery, most recently as a senior vice president for Turner Sports, overseeing research and business operations and as senior vice president of marketing. She also held roles at Cartoon Network including vice president of global franchise management. Barash was a voting member of the Syracuse University board of trustees during her term as the president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board and has been actively engaged with the Whitman School as a mentor and speaker for a number of years.
Central to Barash’s success as chair of the WAC is her emphasis on finding more ways to efficiently and effectively leverage the talents of WAC members in order to best benefit the Whitman School and its students. This has been accomplished through updating the council’s governance, and designing and reshaping the membership and standing committees to align with Whitman’s current goals and needs.