MBA Programs

Distinguished Alumni

Here are just a few of our distinguished alumni:

Susan Phillips Bari

Susan Phillips Bari is President and founding architect of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the leading advocate for the advancement of women-owned businesses in corporate supply chains and the nation's leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women.

In 1986, while serving as an Associate Director of the Office of Presidential Personnel, she entered the public advocacy arena on behalf of women business owners as the Chair of then President Reagan’s Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise.  Her positions enabled her to influence the Federal appointments of prominent women such as Elaine Chao and Lynne Cheney. In 1994, she received the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Advocate of the Year award for Women in Business for the Washington, D.C. region.  In 2003, the Billion Dollar Roundtable presented Bari with its first Impact Award and in 2005 accepted the “Nonprofit of the Year” Award from WorkLife Matters magazine.  She was reappointed in 2004 to a second term as a member of the National Women’s Business Council, a Federal advisory panel to the President of the United States, the Congress and the Administrator of the SBA.

Bari not only received her MBA degree from the Pamplin College, but she has also served on the university’s Board of Visitors, appointed by Virginia Governor George Allen to a four-year term beginning in 1997. She currently serves as a member of the Advisory Council of Pamplin College of Business and serves on its International Committee.  She is a member of the Women’s Leadership Board of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, the Diversity Council of Merrill Lynch; the Women’s Advisory Council of Wells Fargo Bank and the Board of Directors of the Women Presidents’ Organization.

"In every business venture success depends upon who you know. I have found that the more I have dealt with people, the better I have been able to accomplish my goals. The VT Pamplin network is a great synergy of people serving in many capacities, and a wonderful resource to all our alumni who participate."

William D. Evans

William D. Evans is President and CEO of Energy Development Corporation, an independent oil and gas producer headquartered in the Appalachian Basin. Mr. Evans has over 30 years experience in the oil and gas business and his company has drilled and operates wells throughout the basin. Mr. Evans has extensive fund-raising experience having raised substantial drilling capital through both private and public offerings. Prior to entering the oil and gas business, Mr. Evans worked for the U.S. Treasury Department. He received his B.A. from Clemson University in 1970 and an M.B.A. from Virginia Tech in 1974. Mr. Evans is a Vietnam-era veteran having served in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of Major. Mr. Evans resides in Bluefield, Virginia.

Ronald B. Gridley

Mr. Gridley is currently working with NetWorth, Inc. an early stage Application Service Provider of a Personal Financial Statement Management software application used by commercial banks. During the last three years he has worked with Hyde Park Capital Partners, a middle market investment banking firm, in a business development capacity. Mr. Gridley was the co-founder of Clarkston Consulting, a full service information technology consulting firm providing solutions to the life sciences and consumer products industries. From 1991 to 2000 Mr. Gridley held varying responsibilities on the Clarkston management team and board of directors while the firm grew to be an internationally recognized leader in their industry. Mr. Gridley left Clarkston in 2000 after the closing of a private equity investment into Clarkston. Prior to Clarkston, Mr. Gridley was employed by Andersen Consulting in their Washington, D.C. office and was primarily involved in some of the early implementations of SAP in the United States. Mr. Gridley also has prior work experience as a mechanical engineer at the Naval Ordnance Station, Newport News Shipbuilding and United States Steel. Mr. Gridley holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Masters in Business Administration from the Pamplin School of Business at Virginia Tech.

Wayne A. Hinman

Mr. Hinman joined Air Products and Chemicals, Inc in 1974 as a participant in the company's Career Development Program. He held various assignments in finance until becoming a controller for the tonnage gas division and the energy systems group in 1978. In 1980 Hinman became manager for both the metallurgical process and the process gas international business areas within the Process Systems group. In 1983 his responsibility increased to include the standard nitrogen plant business area, and in 1987 he was named General Manager for all three businesses. He was appointed director of corporate marketing development and planning in 1989, and vice president of corporate planning in 1990. In 1992 Hinman was named vice president and general manager of Environmental and Energy Systems, and in August 1996 he was transferred to Singapore where he assumed his current position. Mr. Hinman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Belknap College in 1968, and a Masters of Business Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Arnold Little

Mr. Little is President and Chief Executive Officer for the John Little Group family of companies, which includes The John Little Group, Ltd, Physician Management Group, Inc and Summit Business Solutions, Inc prior to co-founding The John Little Group in 1987. He also served as Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Executive Officer for HealthNet Corporation. He had also served as the Director for the Commercial Consulting Practice for Ernst & Whinney's Richmond Office at the end of his eight-year tenure on the management consulting services staff. Mr. Little has twenty five years of experience in business financial management and technology economics with a substantial portion relating to the aligning of information technology with business processes. He had received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and an Masters of Business Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Wallace B. Newton

Mr. Newton is recognized for his contributions to the banking and investment communities, community service, and exceptional service to Virginia Tech's MBA program. Newton earned his Pamplin MBA immediately after receiving a B.S. in management, also from Virginia Tech. After completing his education, he worked as an analyst at what is now the Newport News Shipyard. From there he moved into a 19-year commercial banking career including CFO, followed by 6 years for a commercial ship repair government contractor as CFO, and for the last 7 years has provided CFO advisory services and arrangement of equity and debt placements to small business clients. His service to Virginia Tech has been equally energetic. He serves on the Pamplin Advisory Council, mentors MBA students, and provides alumni support in other activities.