Nearly 40 students from Notre Dame’s upper division gathered in the school’s media center yesterday for the most recent edition of the Alumni Career Speaker Series, which is sponsored by the Notre Dame Alumni Association.
The focus of this event was business and centered around the marketing, accounting and finance industries. It featured three Notre Dame graduates: Eleni (Nicholaou) Johnson ’04 (NDP), U.S. sales—incentives manager for Fiat Chrysler; Jack Ventimiglia ’70 (NDHS), a franchise owner with Papa John’s Pizza; and Stephen Skok ’02 (NDP), a CPA at Doeren Mayhew CPAs and Advisors. Last month, a number of alums spoke to Notre Dame students about small business and entrepreneurship.
Notre Dame Alumni Association Chair Scott Lockhart ’98 (NDP) introduces a panel of alumni business professionals on Dec. 7, 2016.
“We’re very happy that the association can continue to host these events,” he said. “It’s always rewarding when our very busy alums can find time to talk to our kids about their own successful careers.”
Bios on the alums who participated in the career day on December 7, 2016, are available below.
Eleni (Nicholaou) Johnson, U.S. Sales—Incentives Manager, Fiat Chrysler
Johnson spent four years working in finance in Tempe, Arizona, at Toyota Financial Services and Limelight Networks. In 2012, she relocated back to Michigan with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), where she worked in supply chain management as a program manager responsible for launching global powertrains. She was selected to complete a two-year commercial leadership development program and is in her first rotation as a U.S. sales incentives manager. In April, she will join the Jeep brand as a brand manager. Johnson holds an MBA from Arizona State University and a BS in economics from The University of Michigan. She is a 2004 graduate of Notre Dame Prep.
Jack Ventimiglia, Franchise Owner, Papa John’s Pizza
Ventimiglia spent 31 years in the financial services industry with Paine Webber and UBS, serving in positions ranging from financial adviser to branch manager, and then retired as a regional director from UBS. Currently, Ventimiglia owns six Papa John's franchises in Metro Detroit. He also serves as the president of the Metro Detroit Franchisees Co-op. He is a 1970 graduate of Notre Dame High School.
Stephen Skok, CPA, Doeren Mayhew CPAs and Advisors Notre Dame graduate Jack Ventimiglia, left, discusses his experience in business alongside fellow alums Eleni Johnson and Stephen Skok.
Skok spent his first eight years in business at Doeren Mayhew as a specialist in their tax department developing innovative and effective tax-planning and preparation strategies, all while ensuring compliance with state and federal tax regulations. For the past two years, he has moved into and helped develop the healthcare division at Doreen Mayhew, where he has has become an expert in accounting, tax, and practice management for doctors, dentists, and veterinarians. In addition, he assists doctors in growing their practices by developing internal business plans, monitoring costs and creating tax strategies. Skok also prepares and reviews practice valuations and analyzes buy-sell agreements. He is a licensed certified public accountant and a member of the AICPA and MICPA. He holds a master’s degree in taxation from Walsh College and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University. Skok is a 2002 graduate of Notre Dame Prep.
NDAA Chair Scott Lockhart ’98 (NDP), left, is with Eleni (Nicholaou) Johnson ’04 (NDP), Stephen Skok ’02 (NDP), Jack Ventimiglia ’70 (NDHS), and Notre Dame Director of Alumni Relations Beth Campbell.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.