College Of Business

Rick Miltimore, an accomplished MBA professional with a strong background in logistics operations, distribution management, and team leadership. Rick has over two decades of experience leading high-impact operations in healthcare, disaster relief, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. He is recognized for driving operational efficiency, achieving cost savings, improving safety metrics, and executing large-scale transformations. Currently serving as Chief of Logistics Operations at Providence Health & Services, Rick oversees a $75M budget, 915 team members, and $2.5B in medical supply distribution across 53 hospitals. He has a consistent record of surpassing performance goals, streamlining supply chains, and implementing ERP systems. Previous roles include executive positions at World Vision, Weyerhaeuser, Milgard Windows, and Gordon Trucking, where he led multi-million-dollar logistics operations, implemented lean manufacturing practices, and drove cultural and operational excellence. Rick holds an MBA from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Human Resource Management from Central Washington University. He is also a certified Lean Greenbelt and has served on various advisory boards related to supply chain and business education.

Linkedin.

Jason Phelps, CPSM, a highly experienced global supply chain and operations executive with a career spanning over two decades. He has held senior leadership roles in top-tier companies including Trimlite LLC, Taphandles LLC, Fluke Corporation, and Microsoft, specializing in global supply chain strategy, logistics, manufacturing operations, and materials management. Jason’s core strengths lie in Leading global operations across multiple continents, including the U.S., China, and Europe. Driving cost savings and operational efficiency through strategic initiatives like Lean manufacturing, SIOP, advanced analytics, and digital transformation. Successfully executing large-scale organizational changes, such as new product launches, ERP implementations, and post-COVID supply network adjustments. Building high-performance teams and fostering continuous improvement cultures across supply chain and production environments.

He holds advanced degrees including a Master of Science in Information Management and an MBA in Technology Innovation Management and is a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) and Certified Demand Driven Planner (CDDP). Jason is also a respected industry leader, actively serving on multiple advisory boards and councils related to supply chain education and professional development. In addition to his professional achievements, Jason contributes to his community through youth coaching and was recognized with the 2023 Legacy Award by ISM Western Washington.

Linkedin.

Anand Vadapalli, a seasoned executive with over 35 years of experience in the private sector. He is recognized for his strong values-based leadership and deep expertise in capital markets, investor relations, technology and operations innovation, regulatory policy, cybersecurity, and labor relations. Anand is currently the President & CEO of Lightcurve, a broadband company based in Washington, and serves on the Board of Managers at Windstream, a major broadband provider in the U.S.

His previous leadership roles include serving as President & CEO of Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK), Board Chair and Interim CEO of Fatbeam, Chairman of the Board of USTelecom, Board Member of Premera Blue Cross and The Commons Project, and Various executive roles at Valor Telecom, Network Telephone, and Cincinnati Bell / Broadwing. In addition to his corporate roles, Anand has been active in community leadership, including positions with the Rotary Club, United Way, and various economic development and education boards in Alaska. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Osmania University (India) and a graduate diploma in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. Anand resides in Issaquah, WA with his wife, Prarthana, and enjoys golf, road biking, and oil painting in his free time.

Linkedin.

Kahlia Mafua is a skilled Senior Growth Marketing Specialist with a strong academic background and diverse experience in digital marketing strategy, campaign management, and leadership. She graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Management Specialization), a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics, and a minor in Digital Marketing, maintaining an impressive GPA of 3.97. Professionally, Kahlia has led multi-channel digital marketing initiatives and managed digital ad performance for over 20 clients. She currently serves as a Senior Growth Marketing Specialist at Trupanion, where she developes, implements, and manages all aspects of paid media campaigns alongside 3rd part digiatl agencies, monitors paid media budgets, and collaborates with the creative team to design compelling ad copy, imagery, and videos that align with the campaign goals and branding.

Her previous roles include Digital Marketing Coordinator and then Digital Marketing Manager at Columbia Hospitality and a Team Captain in Google’s Nonprofit Marketing Immersion program, where she was awarded the "Top Marketer" distinction. She also worked as a Digital Marketing Corporate Fellow at her alma mater, creating lessons and guiding MBA students. Kahlia has earned several professional certifications including Google Ads Search and Measurement, Student Mimic Social, and Microsoft Office Specialist. Her academic and extracurricular achievements have been recognized through multiple awards, such as Marketing Student of the Year, Top Marketer by Google, and repeated placements on CWU’s Dean’s List. Overall, Kahlia brings a well-rounded blend of technical skills, strategic insight, and leadership to the field of digital marketing, with a demonstrated ability to deliver results and drive growth across a range of marketing platforms and client needs.

Linkedin.

Sabrina Wilkins is an accomplished marketing professional with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Marketing Management Specialization from Central Washington University, graduating magna cum laude. With extensive experience in strategic marketing, brand development, and digital advertising, Sabrina has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead data-driven campaigns and manage multimillion-dollar budgets effectively. Currently serving as Marketing Manager at Merit Homes, she oversees a $400K marketing budget, leads cross-channel campaigns, and drives brand consistency and lead generation strategies. She also holds a concurrent role as PNW Marketing Manager at Thomas James Homes, where she develops customer-centric brand messaging and analyzes marketing performance using platforms like Google Analytics, SEM tools, and CRM dashboards.

Her prior experience includes roles at D.R. Horton, where she coordinated region-wide digital marketing campaigns, and internships that deepened her skills in social media management, content creation, and marketing analytics. Proficient in a broad range of digital tools including HubSpot CRM, Canva, Facebook Ad Manager, and Sitecore CMS, Sabrina pairs her technical abilities with a strong foundation in strategic planning and creative execution. Beyond her professional work, Sabrina is deeply involved in community engagement and mentorship, notably through her work with Treehouse for Kids and her leadership role with Alpha Kappa Psi. Recognized for her impact and leadership, she received Central Washington University’s Young Philanthropist of the Year award in 2021.

Linkedin.

Bjorn Bonholzer is a highly credentialed leadership coach and organizational development expert with over 15 years of experience in designing and implementing leadership and talent development strategies. Recognized as a Top 80 Executive Coach by Real Impact 2025, Bjorn holds multiple professional certifications, including credentials from the International Coach Federation, Gallup, Hogan, and the Center for Creative Leadership. He currently leads Voyager Strategy, LLC as Principal Coach and Consultant, where he specializes in executive leadership coaching, team development, and organization design. His coaching is deeply informed by assessments and leadership frameworks, focusing on aligning strategy, structure, and performance metrics to business goals.

Previously, Bjorn held key roles in major organizations including the State Bar of California, BitTitan, and Nintendo of America. His responsibilities spanned talent management, leadership development, and change management, with a strong emphasis on data-driven, competency-based development systems. In addition to his corporate experience, he has served as a Management Lecturer at Central Washington University, creating and teaching curriculum on training and development for business students. Bjorn also brings a commitment to community engagement, having served as a board member and vice president of the Oregon Outdoor Alliance. His academic background includes a Master’s in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University, further grounding his work in theory and best practices.

Linkedin.

Alec P. Stais is an accomplished Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager with over three decades of experience leading investment strategy across multi-asset portfolios for public, corporate, and nonprofit pension funds. He currently serves as Chief Investment Officer at Providence Health, overseeing a $30 billion portfolio and managing investment strategies for 51 hospitals and over 122,000 active employees. Alec is known for pioneering liability-driven investment mandates and for his strategic leadership in building resilient and effective investment teams.

His previous roles include senior leadership positions at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, where he helped establish and lead the Global Portfolio Solutions group and managed client relationships across institutional portfolios. He also directed investment operations for the Employees Retirement System of Rhode Island, where he launched innovative 529 plans and implemented ESG investment strategies. Alec holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from New York University and a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from Haverford College. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and an Associate of the Society of Actuaries. His professional involvement includes leadership roles with the CFA Society Seattle and the Council of Institutional Investors. Alec is also engaged in the arts as a film and theater producer and currently serves as Treasurer for the Seattle Repertory Theatre.

Linkedin.

Lorenzo Singletary is a servant leader and lifelong learner with a passion for people and a proven ability to drive meaningful business impact. With over 19 years of experience in the Manufacturing and Technology industries, he brings deep expertise in solving complex business challenges, leading high-performing cross-functional teams, and delivering results through strong collaboration and relationship-building.

Currently serving as the Director of Operations at Microsoft Corporation, he specializes in strategic problem solving, project management, and executive communication. He has a track record of success working across all levels of leadership to align teams, optimize operations, and execute initiatives that create measurable value.

Linkedin

Afsaneh Haddad is an accomplished tax and finance professional with over 10 years of experience in tax planning, financial management, and consulting. Passionate about leveraging her expertise in financial analysis, leadership, and client relations to support and collaborate with Central Washington University’s Corporate Fellowship Program. She is eager to contribute to CWU’s academic community by sharing industry knowledge, mentoring students, and advancing strategic initiatives within the university’s business and finance programs.

Currently serving as a Partner and Executive VP at Kovarik & Kim, PLLC where she leads the strategic vision and management of the firm, oversees operations, financial management, and client relations along with providing executive leadership. 

Linkedin

Professor Hargrave is proud and happy to be on the faculty of CWU's Management and Marketing department. He never ceases to be impressed by the drive and dedication of CWU students, nor by the faculty's commitment to the well-being and success of students. His main contributions come from sharing his knowledge of management and organizations, and particularly business ethics, stakeholder management, and sustainable business. His teaching emphasizes the development of critical thinking skills, and he has been awarded the CWU College of Business Leadership Board Award for Faculty Excellence in Research.

Email: Timothy.Hargrave@cwu.edu

Linkedin.

Dr. James Avey was born in Leavenworth Washington and grew up in southern Oregon and Eastern Washington. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of Research at Central Washington University’s College of Business. The son of a U.S. Forester and a Nurse, he worked at The Boeing Company and earned a Ph.D. in 2007 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He grew up in the mountains. He is not good at golf, sales, auto-repair, social media or exercise. He is good at wilderness survival, smoking brisket and publishing academic papers. He loves God, his wife, his four kids and his friends in his small town of Ellensburg. He has traveled all over the world to dozens of countries, delivered babies, performed weddings, buried loved ones, worked at a Fortune 100 firm, harvested wild game, broken bones, built fences, reconciled broken relationships, been robbed in Rome, milked cows, gone cliff jumping, rolled a car, been surrounded by Orcas, snorkeled in Fiji, been broke, canoed the Mississippi, built tree houses and built orphanages.

Email: James.Avey@cwu.edu

Linkedin.

Dr. Sayantani Mukherjee is a Marketing Professor at CWU’s College of Business with a Ph.D. from UC Irvine. She is passionate about mentoring and teaching students while advancing her research in consumer behavior, digital marketing, and public policy. Before joining academia, she worked as a senior market research analyst at global firms such as AC Nielsen, consulting for major brands like Unilever.

She created CWU’s highly popular Digital Marketing Program, which is designed to give students hands-on, real-world skills. When she’s not teaching digital marketing and consumer behavior, she leads curriculum development projects and high-impact initiatives both on campus and in the community.

Dr. Mukherjee has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Consumer Marketing and as a board member for the Women’s University Club, Seattle. She is honored to have received the College of Business Teaching Excellence Award and Service Awards.

Email: Sayantani.Mukherjee@cwu.edu

Linkedin.

Dr. Fang Wang is a Professor of Finance at Central Washington University and Director of the MBA program, where she has been a faculty member since 2007. She holds a Ph.D. in Financial Economics from West Virginia University. Throughout her tenure, she has been honored to receive the College of Business Advisory Board Excellence in Teaching Award twice, as well as the CWU Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award, recognizing her dedication to fostering student learning and engagement. Dr. Wang is passionate about mentoring and supporting students outside the classroom. She regularly supervises internships, serves as the faculty advisor for the CFA Research Challenge, and has led student groups to conferences such as the G.A.M.E. Forum. These experiences provide students with valuable practical insights and networking opportunities, complementing their academic studies.

LinkedIn

Professor Zuckerman was born in Canada, grew up on the East Coast, and spent almost 10 years in California before joining Central Washington University as an assistant professor of economics in Fall 2022. He loves being outdoors: hiking, trail running, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, and floating down the Yakima.

Dr. Han Donker is a Professor of Accounting and Chair of the Accounting Department. He holds a Ph.D. from Tilburg University's CentER Graduate School for Economics and Business.

His research focuses on important topics in accounting and finance, including International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), corporate governance, affirmative action, Native corporations, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and the role of accounting in financial decision-making.

Dr. Donker also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Corporate Governance and the International Journal of Accounting and Information Management, where he helps foster the exchange of ideas and research in these fields.

Through his teaching, research, and editorial work, Dr. Donker aims to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities in modern accounting and governance.

Ph.D. Manufacturing Management University of Toledo

M.S. Industrial Engineering University of Toledo

B.E. Machine Design and Manufacturing Tsinghua University

Areas of interest include supply chain strategy, supply chain risk, AI and other technologies in supply chain, supply chain analytics, lean and continuous improvement, innovation management, and new product development. 

LinkedIn