Four West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics alumni who have trailblazed their way to success in the business world will join this year’s Roll of Distinguished Alumni. This year’s class includes Tina Bigalke, Glenn Carell, Dan D’Arrigo, and Albert Lewis.
A group of four West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics alumni who have trailblazed their way to success in the business world will join this year’s Roll of Distinguished Alumni.
This year’s class includes Tina Bigalke, chief diversity officer of PepsiCo; Glenn Carell, managing director of Global Trading Systems Designated Market Making Operations; Dan D’Arrigo, former executive vice president and chief financial officer of MGM Resorts; and Albert Lewis, owner and chairman of Glass Inc.
The 2020 class is the 10th to be inducted into the Roll of Distinguished Alumni, joining 38 Chambers College graduates who have been recognized for their leadership and accomplishments in business since the award was established in 2011 during the College’s 60thanniversary. While inductees have historically been honored during Homecoming weekend in Morgantown, this year’s ceremony will be conducted virtually on Sept. 25 to ensure a safe celebration due to COVID-19.
“We are proud to honor an innovative and accomplished group of Chambers College alumni this year,” said Javier Reyes, Milan Puskar Dean of the Chambers College and vice president of Start-up West Virginia. “Because of their courage to think differently about business, they have impacted major sectors from start-ups to multinational food, hospitality and finance corporations. They exemplify the tenacity needed to lead their companies into the changed world that awaits us on the other side of the pandemic.”
Tina Bigalke
Bigalke was recently named as the chief diversity officer for one of the world’s largest multinational corporations, PepsiCo.
She is responsible for the continued evolution of the company’s culture, the development of behaviors that embrace diversity, inclusion and engagement at all levels of the company and promotion of the company’s external reputation as a great place to work. She assumed the role in June.
As a 20-year PepsiCo veteran, she will work with leadership to create a sustainable roadmap for PepsiCo’s “Winning with Purpose” mission. This includes heading PepsiCo’s efforts for racial equality while also continuing to progress the company’s gender-parity mission.
Bigalke, a 1993 graduate, holds a MSILR (now MS in Human Resource Management) and a BBA in International Studies/Spanishfrom WVU. She is a member of the board of directors of the WVU Foundationand a member of the Chambers College visiting committee.
Glenn Carell
Carell’s stock has been rising since he graduated from WVU with a degree in financein 1992.
Carell is among those bringing order to the frenetic energy on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange in his role as managing director of global trading systems. He is a senior trader with 27 years of experience on the trading floor and is a NYSE Executive Floor Governor.
Carell currently runs and manages the risk book for the NYSE Designated Market Making Operations Unit. He has brought many “unicorn companies” to the marketplace such as Alibaba, Twitter, and Snapchat. He also trades one of the highest profile panels on the trading floor, featuring companies such as Berkshire Hathaway, Oracle, Dell Technologies, Pinterest, and Blackstone.
Daniel D’Arrigo
If you would have bet on Class of 1991 Business Administration D’Arrigo succeeding in business, you would have won — big-time.
From 2007-19, D’Arrigo served as executive vice president and chief financial officer at MGM Resorts. In all, he was with the company for 20 years.
During his tenure, the gaming industry boomed and MGM was part of that wave, growing from one Las Vegas resort to over 30 hotels and resorts. Already churning along with $1 billion in annual revenue when D’Arrigo joined the company, MGM grew to a $12 billion a year operation by the time he left.
Playing a key role in leading the company’s growth and development initiatives, he was at the forefront of some of the largest acquisitions in the gaming and hospitality industry, including MGM Resorts’ $6.4 billion acquisition of Mirage Resorts in 2000, the $7.3 billion acquisition of Mandalay Resort Group by MGM Resorts in 2005, as well as several other high profile transactions. D’Arrigo also led MGM’s expansion into China, creating the IPO for MGM China Holdings LLC.
Albert Lewis
Lewis was already on his way to an extraordinary life before he attended WVU.
The Morgantown native, son of Albert and Clara Lewis, was born into the Great Depression and thus got an early start in the workforce. At 11, he became a caddie at Morgantown Country Club, eventually working his way up to the roles of caddie master and groundskeeper.
Lewis enrolled in the United States Marine Corps near the end of World War II, then returned to enroll at WVU when his tour was completed. He was in ROTC all four years, then returned to the military just two weeks after graduating from the School of Business in 1951. Lewis, a Second Lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps, was named company commander and adjutant to the battalion commander at Fort Hood, Texas.
Lewis’ military experience served as an entry point to his business success. Working for Houze Glass Company, he was given the opportunity to develop glass fiber technology for commercial and military applications, especially for the Naval Research Office.
When his department at Houze was purchased by Aerojet General, Lewis and his family relocated to Southern California. It was there that he went into business on his own, starting Glass Inc. International in 1968. He remains the owner and CEO.
He holds 25 U.S. and international patents on glass technology and glass chemistry. Additionally, 13 patents are pending.
Lewis helped to establish the Helen Lewis Medical Research Foundation, an achievement he considers to be his greatest accomplishment.
-WVU-
ah/09/09/20
CONTACT: Heather Richardson
Assistant Dean of Communications
John Chambers College of Business and Economics
304.293.9625; hrichard@mail.wvu.edu
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