Celebrating Exceptional Alumni and Benefactors: 2025 Whitman Awards and Recognition Ceremony
In the bustling city of New York, the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University celebrated their outstanding alumni and supporters on May 15. Mike Haynie, Executive Dean, and Alex McKelvie, Interim Dean, were joined by other staff and faculty members to honor these distinguished individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the Whitman School.
The event highlighted the 2025 recipients of the Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award, the Orange Ovation Award, the Dean's Citation Award for Exceptional Service, and The Whitman Impact Award. These prestigious accolades are given to those who excel in their professional lives, engage in efforts that support the progress of the Whitman School's mission, set an example for students through their successes, and demonstrate significant commitment to helping Whitman prepare and place future business leaders.
Douglas Present '86, founder of Douglas Present Associates, was the recipient of the Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award. Present, a member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees, has been sharing his vast expertise with students and has been a generous financial supporter of various initiatives at the Whitman School and Hendricks Chapel.
Blake Brossman '98 (NEW) and Gisele Marcus-Thomas '89, received the Whitman Dean's Citation for Exceptional Service. Brossman, an entrepreneur and founder of PetCareRx, has been engaging with Whitman's Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises as a judge, class speaker, and mentor to student-founded startups. Marcus-Thomas, the vice dean of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis, was selected for her significant involvement with the Lender Center for Social Justice and her philanthropic engagement with the Whitman School.
Warren Johnson '20 and Tyler Newman '20 were each presented with the Orange Ovation Award for their professional successes and service to the Whitman/Syracuse University community. Johnson, a procurement analyst with BAE Systems in New Jersey, and Newman, the assistant vice president of client development and strategic initiatives at Synchrony, have been strong advocates for Whitman and instrumental in forming successful partnerships with the school.
Matty Simon received the Whitman Impact Award for being "one of the most impactful recruiters we’ve had the pleasure of working with." Simon, Bloomberg L.P.'s lead recruiter for analytics and sales roles in the Americas, has been praised for his ability to foster connections between Whitman and Bloomberg, collaborate on alumni events, and support student experiential events.
McKelvie emphasized the importance of the Orange family in helping expose students to career prospects, sharing career success, answering questions, connecting students with internships or full-time opportunities, and supporting Whitman through philanthropy. Thesuccess of the Whitman School's students and the trajectory of the school is highly correlated to this support from alumni, corporate partners, and friends.
This story was written by Caroline Reff
Sources:1. Syracuse University News. (2025). Whitman School of Management Honors Outstanding Alumni and Supporters. Retrieved from https://news.syr.edu/whitman-school-of-management-honors-outstanding-alumni-and-supporters/2. Whitman School of Management. (2025). Whitman Scholars Recognized for Outstanding Achievements. Retrieved from https://whitman.syr.edu/news/whitman-scholars-recognized-for-outstanding-achievements/3. Whitman School of Management. (n.d.). Whitman Alumni Impact. Retrieved from https://whitman.syr.edu/alumni/alumni-impact/4. Whitman School of Management. (n.d.). Whitman Office of Engaged Student Learning. Retrieved from https://whitman.syr.edu/academics/oesp/5. Whitman School of Management. (n.d.). Whitman Internship Opportunity Fund. Retrieved from https://whitman.syr.edu/academics/internships/Whitman_Internship_Opportunity_Fund.aspx
- The honorees of the Whitman School of Management's awards, such as Douglas Present, Blake Brossman, Gisele Marcus-Thomas, Warren Johnson, Tyler Newman, and Matty Simon, are commended for their educational self-development that contributes to personal growth and their commitment to learning, which sets an example for current students.
- The Whitman School of Management emphasizes the significance of involving alumni and supporters, including Douglas Present, Blake Brossman, Gisele Marcus-Thomas, Warren Johnson, Tyler Newman, and Matty Simon, in education-and-self-development activities, career guidance, and philanthropic efforts to ensure the school's continued success and the growth of its students.
