What was your vision for the College of Business听when you arrived in 2012?

When I arrived, UCF听had experienced听tremendous growth, particularly coming out of the recession. But that growth made the college feel transactional. Faculty were stretched听thin,听technology had replaced听in-person听interaction听and there听wasn鈥檛听a strong sense听of community.

What struck me most was that while we had excellent individual scholars, we听didn鈥檛听yet have a true community of scholars. People听didn鈥檛听know each other well, and without that,听it鈥檚听very difficult听to build a shared vision.

So,听I听started by听listening. I met one-on-one with every听faculty听and staff member and asked three simple questions: What do you think about UCF? What would you do if you were me? And what is your role here?

What听emerged听was powerful. Many of our faculty were first-generation college graduates, just like our students, just like Barry and just like me. They听are听here because they wanted to听help build something different. That became the foundation for our vision: creating a culture of engagement that would transform the听college听experience听for everyone.

Faculty,听students听and staff here are expected to interact with each other and with people in industry and the community at large.听This has helped make听us fiercely听practical. Faculty learn what is going on at the forefront of business. The college has a relevant curriculum with hands-on听experiences听for students.听This helps听students discover their path, develop听professionally听and fully engage with their future.

How would you describe the college鈥檚 culture today?

Today, that culture of engagement defines us.

There鈥檚听a quote听from听English听philosopher Herbert Spencer听we often reference:听鈥�The great aim of higher education isn鈥檛 knowledge, it鈥檚 action.鈥澨齀t鈥檚听not enough for students to learn concepts;听迟丑别y need to know how to apply them.

You see that in the building itself.听It鈥檚听full. Students are here, working together, interacting with faculty, and engaging with corporate partners and alumni. That connection to the real world has become part of the fabric of the college, and听it鈥檚听what makes the experience more meaningful听and more transformative.

Changing culture is one of the hardest things a leader can do. It requires people to see a future they听haven鈥檛听experienced yet. But over time, our faculty,听staff听and students have seen the value of what听we鈥檝e听built together,听and听that鈥檚听what makes it sustainable.

贬辞飞听does听迟丑别听叠补谤谤测听惭颈濒濒别谤听investment听accelerate that future?

鈥淕reat universities win by attracting great people (faculty and students) and creating the conditions for them to succeed. This gift helps us do exactly that.鈥�

This investment allows us to recruit leading scholars at the intersection of business and technology听鈥斕齠aculty who are working on the most pressing challenges facing industry and society.

They鈥檒l help us tackle critical questions around trust in technology, cybersecurity, the concentration of power and how humans and intelligent systems interact. They鈥檒l also help prepare our students to lead in that environment.

At the end of the day, great universities win by attracting great people听(faculty and students)听and creating听迟丑别 conditions听for them to succeed. This gift helps us do听exactly that.

What will听distinguish听迟丑别 college over the next decade?

Our differentiation will come from听deepening our engagement with industry听and technology.

We want to be known as a place where innovation happens first,听where companies come for talent and insight, and where students gain access to real opportunities.

Ultimately, it鈥檚听about outcomes. If we do this right, our graduates will be exceptionally well-prepared for high-impact, high-growth careers. That return on investment will set us apart.

What gives you optimism about the future?

I grew up during the听Space听Race,听and听at the time, the race to the moon was a sign of hope for people.听Technology was seen as the path to a greater future. With the recent Artemis II launch, I would like听to see听us听instill in our students, and in our leaders, a return to that kind of optimism around what technology听can do. I think those flights are the definition of how technology can enhance the human experience, rather than replace it.

鈥淚 want students to come to UCF knowing they can participate in an industry that鈥檚 about to take off, no matter what field they鈥檙e interested in. This is the place to launch the next stage of your career.鈥� 鈥� Greg Autry, 听UCF’s associate provost for space commercialization

A national leader in online education, and the top supplier of talent to the nation鈥檚 aerospace and defense industries, UCF launched a in Spring 2026. It aims to meet the expanding needs of the booming industry on Florida鈥檚 Space Coast and around the world. Graduates will emerge ready to shape a fast-growing, high-impact global industry, applying their skills across aerospace, commercial space, government, startups and emerging tech.

鈥淲e have world-class researchers, direct connections to the space industry and the very best location,鈥� says Greg Autry, creator of the pioneering program and associate provost for space commercialization and strategy at UCF. 听鈥淚 want students to come to UCF knowing they can participate in an industry that鈥檚 about to take off, no matter what field they鈥檙e interested in. This is the place to launch the next stage of your career.鈥�

The space MBA merges the university鈥檚 excellence in both space and online education to develop forward-thinking leaders ready to shape the future of the space sector. This part-time, fully online graduate business program spans 24 months and blends core MBA courses with four specialized electives in space entrepreneurship, governmental and commercial space finance, space leadership and the global space domain. With its flexible, asynchronous format, students can learn from anywhere on Earth 鈥� or even in orbit.

At the forefront of this future-ready pathway is Zaheer Ali, a new instructor in the College of Business, and program director of UCF鈥檚 space commercialization and strategy initiative. He spent more than a decade at NASA and previously led space efforts across the defense and national security enterprise.

“The space industry isn鈥檛 the future. It鈥檚 happening now. Our new space MBA will put talent at the center of that movement.鈥濃�� Paul Jarley, UCF College of Business dean

Ali is ready to guide the next generation of space business leaders at SpaceU 鈥� and he鈥檚 hoping to recruit students from every major to find their place in space.鈥淚鈥檓 here helping build what I think is the greatest program in the world for space

business,鈥� Ali says. 鈥淥ur students are 鈥� given direct access to leaders in every aspect of space, creating a space network for them that will be unmatched by graduates of any other program.鈥�

Through more than 25 years of providing highly ranked online degrees, UCF is a trusted source for innovative academic programs and pathways, and is recognized among the nation鈥檚 leaders in online education. Courses across more than 130 fully online degree programs are led by world-class faculty with extensive industry and academic experience, equipped to prepare students to succeed in their

careers and advance their fields. 鈥淭he space industry isn鈥檛 the future. It鈥檚 happening now. Our new space MBA will put talent at the center of that movement,鈥� says Paul Jarley, dean of the College of Business, which houses the program. As the business school at Florida鈥檚 Technological 海角直播, our goal is not just to fuel the talent pipeline, but to help shape the market 鈥� even if it鈥檚 in space.

Miller was impressed by our reputation as an early leader in technology and STEM fields, our connection to the space program and our success expanding into other areas. In fact, UCF boasted one of the highest certified public accountant (CPA) pass rates of any public university 鈥� impressive to an aspiring accountant.

So Miller applied, was accepted and committed to UCF sight unseen. It was the beginning of a journey that would change his family鈥檚 trajectory, along with the university鈥檚.

Today, he committed a transformational $50 million gift 鈥� the largest single philanthropic investment in the university鈥檚 history 鈥� to position UCF as a global leader in fintech, artificial intelligence (AI) and business innovation by establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

First-Generation Student

Miller is president and co-founder of both Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health. He also founded and sold another successful business in his entrepreneurial career.

But back when Miller was attending UCF, he was paving the way as the first in his family to go to college. His dad, a self-taught contractor and developer and a single father, saw the value of higher education for his son.

鈥淢y father had a deeply ingrained work ethic that he passed on to me,鈥� Miller says. 鈥淚n the summer, he would get me out of bed early and have me carrying lumber and working on roofs. I learned to work hard, but I also learned that [it] was a tough job to do for 50 years. I wanted to try a different path.鈥�

Once he started on that path, there was no stopping him.

Building Foundations

At UCF, Miller became a star student. He excelled in accounting, learned numerical analysis and had a knack for understanding financial markets. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance.

鈥淚 learned how to really study and apply myself academically at UCF. Essentially, I was learning strategy and project management as I made my way through school,鈥� Miller says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how impactful those habits would be until later in life. I realize now that everything I learned at UCF has been foundational to my success.鈥�

“I realize now that everything I learned at UCF has been foundational to my success.鈥�

Outside of class, Miller became a student-athlete, playing football when he initially came to UCF. That鈥檚 where he met then-quarterback Darin Hinshaw 鈥�90 鈥�94MBA, who encouraged him to join his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), and became his big brother.

鈥淚nitially, I wasn鈥檛 interested in joining a fraternity. I had this idea that fraternities weren鈥檛 serious about school or life, and I was,鈥� Miller says. 鈥淏ut my experience in PIKE ended up being formative. It鈥檚 where I learned about being a gentleman, dressing for success, networking and more.鈥�

鈥淭o this day, so many of my friends are former fraternity brothers, including one of my best friends, Sean Hayes 鈥�95, who has also been my business partner for nearly 30 years,鈥� Miller continues. 鈥淎s I look back, everything in my life has a connection to UCF 鈥� my friends, my business partners, my career and even my wife Rosie 鈥�95, since we met in college.鈥�

Leaving a Legacy

As he built his career and found success in the business and financial world, Miller wanted to give back to UCF. Over time, he has invested in first-generation and STEM student scholarships, UCF Athletics鈥� Knights Leadership Academy, the John T. Washington Center mural and more.

Each gift has been based on a personal connection or conviction.

鈥淏eing a first-generation student myself, having that opportunity to support students who are the first in their families to go to college is personal to me,鈥� Miller says.

As his capacity to give grew, Miller wanted to make a transformative gift that would have an impact today and for generations to come. That led to conversations with university leaders about the opportunity to establish as a global leader in fintech, AI and business innovation.

To help bring that vision to life 鈥� and to build early momentum for , UCF鈥檚 comprehensive campaign to fuel bold ideas and build its future 鈥� Miller has committed to a $50 million gift, establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

The investment will accelerate an innovative new model of business education听designed for a world听where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will prepare听students with the skills the marketplace demands.

鈥淲e are at a seminal moment in business, and AI and new technologies are creating fundamental shifts at a dramatically faster speed than ever before,鈥� says Miller, who was inducted into the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame in 2022. 鈥淚 want UCF to become the leader in business education, paving the way for everyone else.鈥�

Inspiring Others

鈥淔inding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.鈥�

Until recently, Miller has made most of his gifts to UCF anonymously. But as UCF unveiled Go For Launch, he saw a powerful opportunity to step forward and encourage others to do the same. By sharing his commitment more openly, Miller hopes to help build momentum and invite broader participation in UCF鈥檚 vision.

鈥淚 hope this gift inspires people to be part of UCF鈥檚 mission to create a bold new future and give at whatever level they can. Maybe it鈥檚 $10, $100 or $1,000 鈥� it all makes a difference,鈥� Miller says.

鈥淚 want to tell people this: If it鈥檚 not your time to make a gift today, maybe it will be a year from now, or five years from now,鈥� he continues. 鈥淔inding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.鈥�

鈥淯CF is being trusted to lead, and Barry鈥檚 investment reinforces that UCF is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don鈥檛 just succeed in the world 鈥� they come back to help build what鈥檚 next.鈥� 鈥� Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF President

The investment will accelerate a bold new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will position UCF as a national leader in emerging fields that prepare students to lead with the skills the marketplace demands.

鈥淭his is a defining moment for UCF and for the College of Business,鈥� says Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins 鈥�01MBA. 鈥淎s an alumnus, I have seen firsthand how UCF transforms lives by opening doors to opportunity, and this extraordinary gift takes that mission to an entirely new level, giving future generations of Knights access to a world-class business education and an opportunity to achieve their full potential.鈥�

鈥淲e are deeply grateful to Barry for his extraordinary belief in this university and in the impact our students make. This is a defining moment for UCF and a powerful signal of who we are and where we are going,鈥� says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淯CF is being trusted to lead, and Barry鈥檚 investment reinforces that UCF is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don鈥檛 just succeed in the world 鈥� they come back to help build what鈥檚 next.鈥�

鈥淯CF gave me the opportunity to build my future,鈥� Miller says. 鈥淭his investment is about creating that same opportunity for others 鈥� and ensuring students are prepared for a world where technology and business are constantly evolving.鈥�

A Defining Moment for UCF

Few universities of UCF鈥檚听young听age听have alumni giving back at this level.

At the center of this听milestone听is longtime听supporter and entrepreneur Barry S. Miller,听president of听迟丑别 Florida-based听听and听Voloridge听Health.听Miller is听a first-generation听college听graduate whose early partnership and belief in鈥痶he university鈥痟elped accelerate鈥疷CF鈥檚 trajectory.

His leadership and commitment to widening听opportunity鈥痟elped lay鈥痶he groundwork for a future-focused strategy that will transform how students learn,鈥痠nnovate鈥痑nd launch their careers.鈥疢iller鈥檚听latest听investment reflects UCF鈥檚 ability to听produce听talent that succeeds at the highest levels and inspires听that talent to return听not just with pride, but with capacity and conviction to shape听what鈥檚听next.

Building the Future of Business Education

鈥淯CF gave me the opportunity to build my future. This investment is about creating that same opportunity for others.鈥� 鈥� Barry Miller 鈥�95, 听Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health president

will听operate听as a hub for technology-driven business leadership where students, faculty and industry collaborate in real time to solve complex challenges听in emerging fields like artificial intelligence,听fintech听and digital risk.

The focus is not simply on technical skills, but on empowering graduates to take action to address organizational obstacles and lead in fields fueled by rapid technological change.

This vision is grounded in the region UCF calls home.

Orlando has rapidly听emerged听as one of the nation鈥檚 fastest-growing technology hubs,听with听demand for talent in fintech and听AI continuing听to听evolve.听Across Florida, one of the largest clusters of banking and insurance firms in the country is fueling new opportunities in financial technology,听risk听and data-driven decision-making.

UCF sits at the center of this momentum,听uniquely positioned to develop the talent and ideas that will power听迟丑别 future.

The investment will support听a multi-phase strategy designed to position UCF as听迟丑别听destination for business and technology education, including:

• Five endowed faculty chairs in fintech, AI strategy, cyber risk,听trust听and disinformation
• A new听master鈥檚听in听technology听leadership and听innovation
• Expanded access to applied learning, including internships, simulations, Bloomberg听training听and industry-led projects
• Growth of UCF鈥檚 corporate partnership ecosystem.

Together, these investments will create a learning environment that mirrors modern workplaces 鈥� fast听moving, data听driven and deeply connected to industry.

鈥淭echnology is advancing rapidly, and the real opportunity is in how organizations use it to perform,鈥� says听College of Business Dean听Paul听Jarley. 鈥淭his investment allows us to build a business school focused on how the work actually gets done听鈥斺�撎齱here students learn to apply judgment, navigate ambiguity, and lead in environments shaped by technology, data, and organizational complexity.鈥�

Accelerating Momentum

Miller鈥檚 leadership gift听marks a milestone in听听鈥� a听$3.5 billion听campaign to听expand听opportunity,听advance听discovery,听and drive impact across the university.

It sets the tone听for what comes next,听accelerating the pride and vision that will inspire others to invest in UCF鈥檚 future.

鈥淭his is what momentum looks like,鈥� says听Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. 鈥淚t reflects confidence in UCF鈥檚 vision and signals to partners, alumni and investors that this university is building something meaningful and worth being part of.鈥�

Together, talent, opportunity and partnership are converging,听positioning听UCF听to听be a leading force in shaping听what鈥檚听next in business,听technology听and innovation.

鈥淯CF is not waiting to be recognized. We are being chosen, invested in and trusted to lead,鈥� Cartwright says. 鈥淭his milestone gift reflects a growing sense of pride across the university and signals the momentum others will want to help build 鈥� and it is only the beginning.鈥�

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) selected the Florida Small Business Development Center at UCF (FSBDC at UCF) as the National Small Business Development Center of the Year 鈥� recognizing its outstanding performance, innovative programming, and leadership in supporting Central Florida鈥檚 entrepreneurs and small businesses. The UCF center was selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants nationwide.

鈥淭his award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network.鈥� 鈥� Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at UCF

鈥淲e are humbled yet immensely gratified to be honored as the SBDC of the Year by the SBA,鈥� says Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at UCF. 鈥淥ur team takes great pride in its unwavering commitment to serving the small business community and advancing SBA鈥檚 mission. This award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network.鈥�

The FSBDC at UCF is located in the National Entrepreneur Center inside the Orlando Fashion Square Mall near downtown. It serves serves eight counties including Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia. At the Orlando main office, as well as six service center offices, small business owners have access to seminars and no-cost one-on-one consulting with experts who can assist across the following areas:

• Accounting: asset management, record keeping systems and procedures
• Finance: ratio analysis, breakeven analysis, financial projections and business valuation
• Marketing: pricing, advertising and promotion, marketing planning, market research and exporting
• Operations: production and inventory control, project management, risk management and energy conservation
• New Venture Planning: start-up information, feasibility analysis, business planning and general business consulting
• Technical Assistance: preliminary patent searches, patent, copyright and trademark, and technology transfer and SBIR/STTR

Each year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week (May 3-9 this year) by recognizing exceptional small business owners, entrepreneurs and resource partners from across the country. This year鈥檚 winners have been invited to Washington, D.C., May 3鈥�4, where they will be honored during national ceremonies.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 NSBW celebration is particularly historic as our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when our Founding Fathers laid the groundwork for the liberty that powers the engine of free enterprise. The result is our nation鈥檚 prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit 鈥� the very spirit your leadership exemplifies,鈥� SBA Administrator Kelley Loeffler stated in a letter congratulating to the FSBDC at UCF.

With its numerous industries to sustain a career and vibrant culture to build a life, Orlando isn鈥檛 a hard sell. Still, when it comes to promoting all this city has to offer, you鈥檇 be hard pressed to find someone who loves it more than Andrea (Rodrigues) Sage 鈥�12.

The advertising-public relations grad spent the last decade in various sales-related positions with the Tampa Bay Rays, Orlando Magic and insulated beverageware company Corkcicle (headquartered in Orlando).

That experience along with the leadership and life skills she developed at UCF and her beloved hobby as the mastermind behind 鈥� an immensely popular social media account that explores new activities, restaurants and happenings in Central Florida 鈥� gave her what she needed to land her dream gig as marketing manager for Visit Orlando.

鈥淚 get to marry my love for this community and something I鈥檓 passionate about doing 鈥� marketing this city. It鈥檚 perfect for me,鈥� Sage says. 鈥淭o find this opportunity with Visit Orlando, it truly has been a dream come true.鈥�

Tourism Shapes Orlando

Sage鈥檚 mission in her role at Visit Orlando as a marketing manager, specializing in domestic tourism, is to bring visitation to the destination, period.

Orlando is the most visited destination in the U.S. bringing more than 75 million visitors. According to Visit Orlando, tourism supports 37% of all jobs in the region.

Central Florida鈥檚 tourism industry generated an economic impact of $94.5 billion in 2024, a 2.2% increase over the previous year, according to a study by Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics and a leader in industry research.

As 2025 numbers work on being finalized, all signs point to the continued momentum of the region鈥檚 tourism.

It鈥檚 not hard to see why Orlando is in demand:

• Standard-setting theme parks
• Marquee sporting events 鈥� earning Orlando the No. 1 spot for Sports Event Cities in the U.S., according to Sport Business Journal
• Vibrant arts scene
• Top-of-the-line hotels and resorts
• 58 Michelin-recognized restaurants
• Proximity to beautiful beaches and Port Canaveral鈥檚 cruise ships

Sage gives a glimpse into what goes into helping shape Orlando鈥檚 reputation as one of the world鈥檚 most desirable destinations.

Advertising All of Orlando

Sage鈥檚 role with Visit Orlando oversees many facets. She might be placing a billboard in Baltimore, a well-timed ad on a streaming platform, or organize a tropical oasis in the middle of New York City on a 30-degree Fahrenheit day, enticing winter-weary New Yorkers to plan their next vacation.

She recently spent a week overseeing the production of an eco-tourism campaign video shoot at several locations to highlight the area鈥檚 natural beauty, hiking and springs.

鈥淐ulinary, arts, theme parks, nature, cultural experiences, whatever your travel bug is, this destination brings it all.鈥� 鈥� Andrea (Rodrigues) Sage 鈥�12

鈥淎dults with kids, adults without kids, this vacation has all your needs 鈥� culinary, arts, theme parks, nature, cultural experiences, whatever your travel bug is, this destination brings it all,鈥� Sage says.

Competing on the Global Stage

Orlando鈥檚 prime competitors in the tourism market depends on who you鈥檙e talking to.

It could be California (theme parks), Las Vegas (conferences), or Spain and Italy (international visitation). As cruise lines have come roaring back after the pandemic, the Caribbean is now in the mix, too. Orlando doesn鈥檛 just compete with other cities for tourists, but entire states and countries.

鈥淥ur destination is amazing, but every Jan. 1 the visitor tally resets, and there is a lot of work happening behind the scenes to make sure we remain top of mind,鈥� Sage says.

Success Fueled by UCF

A St. Petersburg, Florida, native, Rodrigues was recruited to UCF to play for the women鈥檚 soccer team. From 2008-12, she helped lead the Knights to five NCAA postseason appearances, including the 2011 Elite 8, three conference championships and one of the program鈥檚 highest national rankings (No. 6) in school history.

During her collegiate career, she also joined the Portuguese National Team, which exposed her to places and cultures that would ultimately spark her interests in travel and exploration today.

As an elite scholar-athlete, she points to the intangible soft skills she gained 鈥� work ethic, goal-setting, communication, collaboration and time management all at an elevated standard of excellence 鈥� as formative to her life as a working parent.

鈥淏eing a UCF student-athlete has made who I am.鈥�

鈥淏eing a UCF student-athlete has made who I am,鈥� Sage says. 鈥淚 take interviews today as a 36-year-old and still talk about how it has positively shaped me. I would go from a 6 a.m. strength training to study hall to three classes to practice to a night class, still have homework and study and then travel to a road game the next day.

鈥淭he controlled chaos I lived in then, it is innate in me and still my normal today. I have two little kids, I鈥檓 married, I have a full-time job, I work out every day, I have a hobby. It just feels right. It is a controlled chaotic environment that I love.鈥�

Living Where the World Vacations

Rodrigues says what she appreciates most about living in Orlando is getting to explore new places in her own backyard. She started @cheatdayorlando in 2021 after becoming a mother. Since then, she has grown the account to nearly 100,000 followers and landed a regular gig on the 106.7 FM morning show Johnny鈥檚 House spreading the word about new experiences in the area.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 feel like you鈥檙e stagnant in Orlando 鈥� you can have a different experience just 10 minutes away,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 love that there鈥檚 something for everyone to feel like home because we have a melting pot of culture.鈥�

Spring Break Scene

Whether you鈥檙e a local enjoying a staycation or coming to Orlando for your Spring Break, Rodrigues shares her pro tips on some new experiences worth checking out:

• ICON Park will soon feature Ripley鈥檚 Crazy Golf, a glow-in-the-dark immersive indoor miniature golf course with many unconventional ways to putt.
• Harlow Grove Restaurant and Lounge, a new trendy restaurant in Winter Garden, opened this month and features a rooftop terrace and elevated menu.
• Maitland鈥檚 Enzian Theater is a single-screen independent cinema cafe that offers cozy, vintage decor and seating, with a full kitchen menu. For the parents out there with little Spring Breakers, consider the theater鈥檚 Peanut Butter Matinee Family Film Series, which offers free admission to kids 12 and under. Cars 2 will be featured at noon on March 22.

Laura Bollier 鈥�99, former CEO of VENUS Fashion Inc.;听Taylor Gerring 鈥�05, co-founder of Ethereum; and听Serguei Melnik 鈥�98MS, president and chairman of the board of directors of Nutriband Inc., will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Longtime FAIRWINDS Credit Union CEO and 2016 Hall of Fame inductee Larry Tobin 鈥�83听will receive the Legendary Knight Award, and听Sherwin-Williams听will be named Corporate Partner of the Year. The college will also celebrate a group of accomplished alumni, rising stars and entrepreneurs.

The UCF College of Business Hall of Fame recognizes alumni who have achieved exceptional success in their field and brought recognition to the university through their professional achievements. This is the highest honor awarded to College of Business graduates and is typically presented to alumni who have spent 15-20 years making a significant impact in their industries.

This year鈥檚 celebration will feature a Harry Potter-inspired theme, highlighting the college and university as magical places of transformation and discovery.

2026 UCF Business Hall of Fame Inductees

Laura Bollier ’99

Bollier served as the CEO of VENUS Fashion Inc., where she led a full-scale modernization and reimagination of the brand, culminating in its successful acquisition by American Exchange Group last summer. As CEO, she transformed the direct-to-consumer company into a multichannel enterprise that expanded into travel retail and online marketplaces including Amazon, Target and Walmart.

After supporting the company鈥檚 transition through September 2025, Bollier is now exploring new CEO opportunities while founding a venture where she can continue driving growth, transformation and value creation.

Earlier in her career, Bollier spent a decade as vice president of global merchandising at pioneering shapewear company SPANX, where she worked closely with founder Sara Blakely to help scale the business into a global category leader and contribute to its $1 billion valuation and majority investment by Blackstone. She also held leadership roles at VF Corporation (Nautica and Kipling), Coach, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s. after earning her finance degree at UCF.

A finance graduate of UCF, Bollier returned to campus last spring to share her career journey with more than 1,200 incoming business students during the college’s Welcome to the Majors event held each semester at Addition Financial Arena.

Taylor Gerring 鈥�05

Gerring is a co-founder of Ethereum, one of the world鈥檚 largest cryptocurrency companies. A pioneering entrepreneur and blockchain innovator, Gerring played a key role in Ethereum鈥檚 evolution from a scrappy underdog to a cornerstone of the blockchain ecosystem with applications that power billions in value today.

Now Gerring spends time as a public speaker, appearing at speaking engagements around the country, including back on UCF鈥檚 campus at the Blackstone LaunchPad.

Before co-founding Ethereum, Gerring honed his technical expertise and spearheaded projects across a variety of disciplines and companies, strengthening security, scalability and innovation. As a co-founding member of the Ethereum Foundation, he helped develop the world鈥檚 leading smart contract platform, serving on its board and presenting around the world.

After earning his management information systems degree from UCF in 2005, Gerring has remained a strong supporter of the university. In 2024, he made the largest single cash pledge commitment to UCF Athletics.

Serguei Melnik 鈥�98MS

Melnik is the president and chairman of the board of directors of Nutriband Inc., an innovative science company focused on providing safer products for patients.

A Moldovan native, Melnik led Nutriband to a successful initial public offering and a spot on the NASDAQ in 2021. He also provides legal and financial advice based on U.S. financial markets, drawing on his law degree from Moldova State 海角直播.

After practicing law in his home country, Melnik moved to Orlando through a foreign exchange program to earn a from UCF. He later worked with several Central Florida companies, including Market Management International Inc. and Asconi Corporation Inc., before serving as vice president and director of U.S. operations for UNR Holdings Inc.

In addition to his work with Nutriband UNR Holdings, Melnik is president of consulting company Wolf Blitz Corporation. As a proud UCF alum, he also frequently returns to campus to share his career story with Business Knights as a presenter at in the College of Business.

Alumni Awards

Along with the Hall of Fame inductees, the college will recognize several alumni for their professional achievements.

Legendary Knight Award recipient:

• Larry Tobin 鈥�83, CEO of FAIRWINDS Credit Union

The Legendary Knight Award recognizes outstanding contributions that will transform teaching, research and learning through extraordinary philanthropy and commitment to the College of Business.

Notable Knight Awards recipients:

• Kala Bryant 鈥�18 鈥�19MS, vice president, data manager at Bank of America
• Ryan Williams 鈥�19PMBA, contracts manager for Lockheed Martin鈥檚 Rotary and Mission Systems division

The Notable Knight Awards recognize alumni who have displayed promise and excellence early in their career paths and have less than 10 years of experience.

Entrepreneurial Alumni Awards recipients:

• Anthony 鈥淏iggie鈥� Bencomo 鈥�98, owner and chief sandwich officer of Deli Fresh Threads
• Alfredo Dooley 鈥�23EMBA听and听Tom Hines 鈥�23EMBA, co-founders of FDTH Imports
• Laine Powell 鈥�07MSM, founder and CEO of Tech Sassy Girlz
• Natalie Rogers Soto 鈥�16, co-founder of e-commerce fashion brand Klassy

The Entrepreneurial Alumni Awards honor UCF business alumni from any discipline who exemplify commitment, vision, calculated risk-taking and growth potential. These Knights demonstrate perseverance in the face of adversity and overcome obstacles in their professional careers.

Honorable Knight Awards recipients:

• Antonetta “Toni” Caracciolo 鈥�90 鈥�14MBA, executive vice president of marketing and branding at Falcon鈥檚 Beyond
• Elizabeth Ellis 鈥�02, senior program manager at Blue Origin
• Thomas Hall 鈥�25EMBA, president of Chuy鈥檚 Tex-Mex at Darden Restaurants
• Charles “Charlie” Ritter 鈥�95 鈥�98, partner in charge of Audit Southeast for KPMG LLP
• Michelle Katz Segal 鈥�10 鈥�12MBA, corporate director of strategy for AdventHealth鈥檚 Multi-State Division

The Honorable Knight Awards recognize alumni with more than 10 years of professional experience who have displayed excellence in their respective fields.

2026 Partnership Award Recipient

The Partnership Award recognizes organizations that have built successful partnerships with, or on behalf of, the College of Business, advancing the college鈥檚 academic offerings and public outreach. These organizations embody the spirit of collaboration and are recognized for their initiative, leadership and involvement in the betterment of business education.

This year鈥檚 recipient, Sherwin-Williams, has become an active corporate partner of the college through its engagement with students and recruiting efforts.

From speaking in The EXCHANGE and connecting with more than 1,200 incoming business majors at Welcome to the Majors to recruiting Business Knights at the college鈥檚 Invitational Career Fair, the听Sherwin-Williams听Orlando District team has embraced the college鈥檚 mission of engagement and invested in students throughout its two years as a corporate partner.

Sherwin-Williams is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution and sale of paints, coatings and related products, operating more than 5,000 company-owned stores and branches worldwide.

鈥�There鈥檚 a lot of places that say, 鈥楬ey, look at all the things we鈥檝e done.鈥� And then there鈥檚 UCF that says, 鈥楲ook at all the things we鈥檙e doing,鈥� 鈥� Sleppy says. 鈥淚 wanted to be part of building the future.鈥�

鈥淚 wanted to be part of building the future.鈥� 鈥� Joe Sleppy

In his first year, he landed undergraduate research opportunities thanks to UCF鈥檚 , which offers students opportunities for career exploration and experiential learning in STEM the first two years of their college career.

In UCF Professor of Nanotechnology Jayan Thomas鈥� lab, the two partnered on the idea that would eventually become Capacitech Energy, where Sleppy has served as CEO since its inception in 2016 during his sophomore year.

Future-Proofing the Power Grid

Capacitech is a rapid response energy storage leader building high-power and space-conscious energy storage systems for an increasingly complex grid. Essentially, Sleppy and his team turn supercapacitor components into modular, plug-and-play systems that harden power infrastructure against power demand spikes, outages and equipment damage.

Sleppy explains traditional power infrastructure, such as generators and batteries, are like a marathon runner whereas supercapacitors are more like a sprinter. Modern facilities 鈥� like data centers that power AI 鈥� demand power 24/7 but also demand even more power than normal for just a few seconds. Ideally, both a sprinter and marathon runner are required. So, Capacitech鈥檚 products make it practical to form relay teams between the traditional infrastructure (marathon runners) and supercapacitors (sprinters).

鈥淚f we can use supercapacitors to complement batteries, generators, fuel cells and the broader grid to serve this demand profile that鈥檚 coming from manufacturing facilities and data centers, then we鈥檙e making the world a better place 鈥� economically, but also in terms of power sustainability and security. And I think that that鈥檚 very important,鈥� Sleppy says.

They made their first commercial sale in 2022 to Red Bull and have been running full force ever since.

Built by UCF

The company was bolstered by many resources at UCF on its way to raising the $2.5 million it has so far through investors and federal research and development programs. To this day, UCF鈥檚 continues to house Capacitech鈥檚 operations with adaptable leasing structures, physical space, mentoring programs and community that have adapted to their needs as they鈥檝e grown. This year, they鈥檒l expand into new warehouse in research park, adjacent to UCF鈥檚 campus.

鈥淭he world is watching. Let鈥檚 use innovation and entrepreneurship to make it better.鈥� 鈥� Joe Sleppy

鈥淯CF encouraged me to think outside of the box,鈥� he says. 鈥淯CF is an innovative university because they鈥檒l ask, 鈥榃hy not?鈥� I think I share the same philosophy with running Capacitech. Let鈥檚 try it. The world is watching. Let鈥檚 use innovation and entrepreneurship to make it better.鈥�

In 2026 Sleppy expects Capacitech to announce new partnerships and pilot programs in industry. And they鈥檙e already engaged in mentoring the next generation of Knights with internship opportunities for students.

鈥淓ntrepreneurship is how the world gets better 鈥� whether it鈥檚 a nonprofit or a tech startup like ours,鈥� Sleppy says. 鈥淏y reducing strain on the grid and extending the life of critical infrastructure like batteries and microgrids, we鈥檙e making energy systems more resilient and accessible. That means fewer vulnerable communities at risk and more room for innovation to grow. It鈥檚 hard not to get excited when your work genuinely makes the world better.鈥�

Joe Sleppy was recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Energy & Green Tech list in 2026.

Emboldened by a campus culture of exploring 鈥渨hat if?鈥� and the university鈥檚 support system of expertise and resources to back them, five Knights who started their companies while they were still students are making undeniable noise in their respective industries 鈥� so much so that Forbes just honored them on its annual 30 Under 30 list.

The UCF engineering grads are recognized among peers from the likes of Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT, Yale, Princeton and Columbia.

Joe Sleppy 鈥�18 serves as CEO of Capacitech Energy, which is making supercapacitor technology practical by delivering plug-and-play, modular systems that eliminate power quality issues in data centers and microgrids responsible for downtime and equipment damage.

鈥淯CF encouraged me to think outside of the box,鈥� he says. 鈥淯CF is an innovative university because they鈥檒l ask, 鈥榃hy not?鈥� I think I share the same philosophy with running Capacitech. Let鈥檚 try it. The world is watching. Let鈥檚 use innovation and entrepreneurship to make it better.鈥�

Mason Mincey 鈥�23, Derek Saltzman 鈥�23, Matthew Jaeger 鈥�22 and Patrick Michel are co-founders of Soarce, which takes underutilized plant resources like hemp, seaweed and grass and transforms them into nanomaterials eight times stronger than steel.鈥淲e鈥檙e on pace to build what we feel is going to be the largest global nanocellulose production facility in the world,鈥� Saltzman says. 鈥淎nd we are not afraid to say that and stand behind it. That鈥檚 a big dream, but that鈥檚 kind of what we鈥檙e here to do 鈥� make big changes.鈥�

These grads all credit their rise in large part to the immense support and knowledge they gained from UCF鈥檚 and . UCF invested $10-20,000 of alumni-funded awards from the annual competition and UpStarts program to support their venture development.

鈥淐apacitech and Soarce illustrate how investments in technology development and entrepreneurship education can work together to increase innovation diffusion and societal impact,鈥� says Cameron Ford, William and Susan Crouse Endowed Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Blackstone LaunchPad at UCF. 鈥淭hey also illustrate the arduous, fraught, years-long paths that entrepreneurs commonly travel when no one is watching to achieve 鈥榦vernight鈥� success. We are immensely proud of the example they are setting for current and future Knights by combining their disciplinary expertise with entrepreneurial knowhow to positively impact others.鈥�

To learn more about how these Knights are putting in the work today that is shaping the future around us, check out their stories (with video) on UCF Today:

• Forbes 2026 30 Under 30 Winner: Capacitech
• Forbes 2026 30 Under 30 Winner: Soarce

They had been tasked in a semester-long class assignment to build a carbon fiber rocket that would successfully carry the professor鈥檚 payload. While their design may have failed epically 鈥� while being broadcast live on the internet 鈥� they noticed one very important element that turned out to be the spark for their future company.

鈥淲hen we walked up to the rocket, we saw that the motor had gone through a 2-inch-thick steel plate, but the carbon fiber that we had made was intact and still super strong and actually protected the professor鈥檚 payload after exploding and crashing,鈥� Saltzman says. 鈥淲e said, 鈥楬ey, we鈥檙e pretty good at manufacturing this [carbon fiber] stuff.鈥� 鈥�

They took it as a sign to change their majors from aerospace engineering to materials science and engineering, and the earliest roots of Soarce were planted.

Sustainably Strengthening Industries

Soarce is at the forefront of bio-based nanomaterials and seeks to solve society鈥檚 greatest climate challenges by leveraging natural materials to create products that can outperform those made synthetically.

Drawn from seaweed, hemp and elephant grass, their nanocellulose coating can be applied to and fortify carbon fiber structures 鈥� everything from hockey sticks to electric vehicles to rocket ships.

鈥淭hat allows engineers to design parts that are lighter, stronger and more efficient,鈥� Saltzman says. 鈥淔or electric vehicles, they can now go farther. In the world of aerospace, we鈥檙e making those materials stronger so now you have more payload mass that you can put into space.鈥�

Their innovation has so much promise it has already secured $3.2 million in funding.

鈥淯CF is about dreaming big, going as big as you can. And that鈥檚 how we feel.鈥� 鈥� Derek Saltzman

鈥淯CF is about dreaming big, going as big as you can. And that鈥檚 how we feel,鈥� Saltzman says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on pace to what we feel is going to be the largest global nanocellulose producer in the world. And we are not afraid to say that and stand behind it. That鈥檚 a big dream, but that鈥檚 kind of what we鈥檙e here to do 鈥� make big changes.鈥�

UCF-Backed Entrepreneurship

Their entrepreneurial journey has gone through several iterations since Saltzman and Mincey were randomly assigned as roommates in during their freshman year. The pair dabbled in enterprises involved with agriculture and drone racing, cutting their teeth on the business side of running a company through resources UCF offers including the 鈥檚 .

To this day, they鈥檙e still partnering with the UCF ecosystem, utilizing the UCF Business Incubation Program鈥檚 Life Sciences Incubator in Lake Nona, which gives Soarce access to a fully equipped, Biosafety Level II wet lab to foster their work in advanced materials.

鈥淯CF has really strong partnerships and connections to industry that allow you to funnel your idea from a lab-benchtop scale all the way to integrating into a Fortune 500 company to get that product off the ground,鈥� Saltzman says.

Now, along with fellow UCF alums and Soarce co-founders Matthew Jaeger 鈥�22, an actuarial science alum, and Patrick Michel, a former management student, they鈥檙e looking forward to expanding their operations into an 8,000-square-foot facility in partnership with Tavistock and heading into pilot trials with Fortune 500 companies.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool to see how far we鈥檝e come, from an idea in a notebook that we started eight years ago to now within the next three to five years, we鈥檒l have that material not only created, but actually being flown into space and amongst the stars,鈥� Saltzman says.

The Soarce co-founders were recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Manufacturing & Industry list in 2026.