{"id":244820,"date":"2026-04-28T07:30:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=244820"},"modified":"2026-05-01T09:30:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T13:30:34","slug":"uconn-welcomes-five-exceptional-leaders-into-business-hall-of-fame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2026\/04\/uconn-welcomes-five-exceptional-leaders-into-business-hall-of-fame\/","title":{"rendered":"UConn Welcomes Five Exceptional Leaders Into Business Hall of Fame"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UConn School of Business inducted five new alumni into the Hall of Fame on Friday night. All are giants in their fields, ranging from space travel to healthcare, professional basketball, and more.<\/p>\n

Every one of them spoke passionately about the lasting impact their UConn education, experiences, and friendships had on their careers and their lives.<\/p>\n

Emeka Okafor \u201904 (BUS), an ESPN sports analyst and former UConn and NBA basketball star, said he is humbled and proud to be a UConn alum. He recalled making a commercial in which he described his alma mater as amazing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe delivery was cheesy, but truer words have never been spoken, he told the audience of more than 325 at the Hartford Marriott. \u201cThe secret sauce is that everybody is so<\/em> proud to be a Husky. We share a joy from being a part of this university.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to lean into the pack,\u201d continued Okafor, who studied finance at UConn and graduated in three years. \u201cThere are a lot of Huskies out there doing big things. All you have to do is reach out. The biggest investments you\u2019ll make are relationships. You\u2019ll have people in your corner, people who have your back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Celebration is the pinnacle event of the School of Business. UConn President Radenka Maric, men\u2019s head basketball Coach Dan Hurley, and many previous inductees attended the event along with alumni, faculty, and staff. To date, 165 people have received the Hall of Fame honor.<\/p>\n

Alumna: Don\u2019t Be Afraid to Raise Your Hand<\/strong><\/p>\n

As an MBA candidate at UConn, Melissa Cummings \u201998 MBA learned the power of fact-based ideas, strong storytelling, and team effort. She also developed the courage to lead.<\/p>\n

Formerly the executive vice president and chief customer officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island, today Cummings is the executive vice president and chief operations officer at Progyny, a healthcare benefits company focused on fertility, family building, and women\u2019s health services.<\/p>\n

Personal growth happens when someone confronts a job or a task that is just a bit frightening, the new inductee told the audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudents, you should raise your hand before you feel ready. Growth happens in that stretch,\u201d she said, encouraging students to apply for internships, build relationships, and embrace career twists and turns, as career development rarely happens in a straight pathway.<\/p>\n

Alumnus Finds Joy in Helping Today\u2019s Students<\/strong><\/p>\n

Edward F. Lange Jr. \u201986 MBA is the retired founder of 106 Rio Ventures. An adjunct professor at UConn, where he is involved with the student-run Hillside Ventures STEM Fund, he invited some 70 students to attend the ceremony.<\/p>\n

He said education matters, in part because it fosters the desire for continuous improvement. He recalled learning finance at UConn on a mainframe computer and becoming an early adopter of the spreadsheet. At graduation, he interviewed for an investment banking job along with 11 other candidates, the latter all from Yale.<\/p>\n

\u201cI may have embellished my training a little bit,\u201d he said, but he got the job. Today, Lange, who serves on the Dean\u2019s Advisory Cabinet, is determined to share that experience with the next generation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe direct feedback from students is that Hillside is a difference maker in their UConn experience. It shapes their career and their plans, and gave them an edge in interviews. This is the part of an education that really matters,\u2019\u2019 he said during his induction speech.<\/p>\n

Inductee Hints at Future Space Collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kevin Kulak \u201985 (ENG) is executive vice president of Capital Markets at Voyager Technologies, where he focuses on the construction and financing of Starlab, a commercial space station. Starlab is scheduled to launch in 2029 aboard a SpaceX Starship rocket and will replace the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

He also the founder of Fizio Health, an AI-driven musculoskeletal care platform, and serves on the UConn Foundation Board of Directors.<\/p>\n

During his induction speech, Kulak hinted that he\u2019s working on an idea that will join UConn and his firm on a future space-related project.<\/p>\n

Like the other Hall of Fame inductees, his comments reflected the nostalgia of his UConn days.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the greatest things as an alumnus is when one of your children goes to UConn and you\u2019re able to relive it through them,\u201d he said, urging alumni to reach out to the school, share what they do, and offer to mentor students who share their professional interests.<\/p>\n

Alumni Are Eager to Help<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert M. Giglietti \u201992 (BUS) said he arrived in Storrs as a first-generation college student and \u201can uncertain young man.\u201d The combination of an outstanding education, coupled with adopting his parents\u2019 strong work ethic, proved to be a driver of success. He still feels fortunate to have been given the opportunity to attend college.<\/p>\n

Today, Giglietti is group vice president, chief accounting officer, controller, and treasurer at GEO Aerospace and CEO of GE Corporate Holdings. He said he has appreciated watching how the University has grown from a strong school, in his day, to one of the best in the nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cFind what makes you tick and pursue it with unrelenting passion,\u201d he told students and young alumni.<\/p>\n

Focus on the greater good – \u201cthe we, not the me\u201d – engage in the local community, and always give back, he continued. Don\u2019t be reluctant to ask alumni for assistance as they are exceptionally dedicated and eager to help.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever I drive to campus, I\u2019m immediately taken back to my college days. The University brings out the best in us. Husky Pride carries through all of us,\u201d said the new inductee.<\/p>\n

Four Students Inducted as Hall of Fame Student Fellows<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to the alumni inductees, the Hall of Fame added four new student fellows. They are:<\/p>\n