Notable Alumni

Oakland University School of Business alumni are an accomplished group. We congratulate the following alumni for their notable accomplishments and achievements.

Finance alumna appointed to OU Board of Trustees
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Trina Govan Scott, FIN ’96, to an eight-year term on the Oakland University Board of Trustees in September 2020. Scott is Chief Diversity Officer at Quicken Loans and the Rock Family of Companies. Under Scott’s guidance, Quicken Loans is cultivating an inclusive environment along with attracting diverse candidates. Prior to joining Quicken Loans in 2017, Scott was with Ernst & Young as an assistant director, managing diversity and inclusion and corporate responsibility programs. Governor Whitmer also appointed Reverend Joseph Jones, CAS ’94, to the OU Board of Trustees at that time. Read the full story in the OU News article here.

Crain’s recognizes MBA alumna
Crain’s Detroit named Laura Casai, MBA ’15, IIDA, LEED AP, director of interior design and senior educational planner at TMP Architecture, to its inaugural list of Notable Women in Design in 2020. In the past three years, Casai has been instrumental in facilitating successful bond initiatives with a total value of over one billion dollars, directly impacting the physical and programmatic landscape of learning in Michigan.

Gail Allevato, President of TMP Architecture says, “Laura has been an invaluable part of TMP for many years, not only leading our exceptional interiors group, but also participating as one of our firm’s Senior Educational Planners. We are proud of her accomplishment as one of Michigan’s Notable Women in Design and we applaud all the women who have earned this honor.”

OU Alumni Awards
Three Oakland University business alumnus were honored for their service and achievements by the Oakland University Alumni Association in 2020. We join in congratulating:

Bryan Barnett, MKT ’98, mayor, City of Rochester Hills; president, U.S. Conference of Mayors; and chair, OUAA Board of Directors, who received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award. The highest alumni honor, this award recognizes peerless volunteer leadership in service to OU or its alumni association.

Gary and Elspeth Coats, ACC ’95 and MIS ’91, who received the Spirit Award, which recognizes exemplary volunteer service to the university. Gary, senior tax analyst, American Axle and Manufacturing; and Elspeth, senior business systems analyst, NetSol Technologies, are members of the Black and Gold Loyalty Society and founders of the OU Student Life Endowed Scholarship and the Gary and Elspeth Coats Student Involvement Scholarship. Elspeth also serves on the OU Honors College Board of Visitors and as a mentor in Leadership OU.

Emily Paula, HRM ’12/MBA ’15, university relations specialist, Stellantis (formerly FCA), who was named to OUAA’s Young Alumni 10 within 10 Class of 2020, which recognizes the impact young alumni make within their professions and throughout their communities.