Richard F. Almada, Jr. ’96 started a new position as chief strategy officer at CareAbout Health in New York City, responsible for the company’s strategic planning and execution of all reimbursement models and payer contracts. Prior to joining CareAbout, Almada served as COO of OptumCare Network of Connecticut & Senior Vice President – ProHealth Physicians.
All News & Notes
The News & Notes is a resource for alumni and current students of the University of Connecticut School of Business to stay up-to-date with their alumni network. We hope by providing information about our accomplished alumni, students and other alumni will have the opportunity to gain a better understanding about their industry and broaden their network.
Amanuel (Manny) Haile-Mariam ’01, ’11 MBA
Amanuel (Manny) Haile-Mariam ’01, ’11 MBA has joined Hannon Armstrong in New York City as senior managing director, responsible for the company’s structured investments in Grid-Connected renewable energy markets. Prior to joining Hannon Armstrong, Haile-Mariam held roles at GE Energy Financial Services, as well as with GE Corporate Audit Staff.
Reema Narang ’06 MBA
Reema Narang ’06 MBA was appointed chief strategy and innovation officer for Lee Health, responsible for crafting strategies that uplift patient experiences and reduce healthcare costs. Narang joins Lee Health from Advocate Health in Chicago, Illinois, where she was the senior vice president for strategic growth and transformation. Narang also served as the administrative officer for value-based care at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
Susan Heffernan-Gaieski ’01, ’02 MSA
Susan Heffernan-Gaieski ’01, ’02 MSA, a managing director at Deloitte in the Hartford Office, has been named a Hartford Business Journal 2024 Women in Business Honoree. At Deloitte, Heffernan-Gaieski is also the resources and industrials industry leader for New England, where she specifically supports the growth of climate-focused companies.
Jennifer Mathieu ’09, ’23 MBA
Jennifer Mathieu ’09, ’23 MBA, executive director of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the UConn School of Business, has been named a Hartford Business Journal 2024 Women in Business Honoree. Mathieu has helped to launch UConn Brewing Innovation, an initiative that connects the craft beer industry with UConn’s premier researchers across many disciplines. Mathieu has raised over $4 million in grant and donor funding over the past two years, directly enabling entrepreneurship activities throughout Connecticut.
Susan Martinelli ’01 MSA
Susan Martinelli ’01 MSA, a partner at RSM US LLP’s Hartford Office, has been named a 2024 Women in Business Honoree by the Hartford Business Journal for her excellence in leadership. At RSM, Martinelli is also the lead for the National Assurance Inclusion Committee and a member of RSM US Foundation’s Junior Achievement Committee.
Katherine Lane ’11
Katherine Lane ’11 has been named a 2024 Women in Business Honoree by the Hartford Business Journal. Lane currently leads the financial controls program at Webster Bank. Lane graduated from UConn with a degree in accounting and has since specialized in overseeing Webster’s Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and reconciliation governance programs.
Christina Phillips ’22 MBA
Christina Phillips ’22 MBA launched a new company, Puure, that provides women with a non-toxic alternative to traditional undergarments. Phillips attended the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Summer Fellowship Program and was selected as one of six startups to compete in the Wolff New Venture Competition, hosted by the UConn School of Business.
Denise M. Whitford ’17 MBA
Denise M. Whitford ’17 MBA served as a panelist at the Women Empowering Women panel discussion Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The event was a collaboration by the Town of West Hartford’s Department of Economic Development, the West Hartford Office of Equity Advancement, and Explore Farmington to mark Women’s History Month.
Frank Murphy ’07
Frank Murphy ’07, assistant professor of accounting, has won the American Taxation Association’s (ATA) Outstanding Tax Manuscript Award for his significant contributions to tax literature. Prior to joining the business school faculty in 2017, Murphy worked at Deloitte in Hartford, Connecticut.