Tyrone Brooks ’96
Professional Scout,
Cleveland Indians
San Francisco, CA

As a 1996 Smith School of Business graduate double-majoring in Accounting and Marketing, I learned sound business principles and acquired skills that provided a foundation that I could apply to any industry -- including Major League Baseball. As a Professional Scout with the Cleveland Indians based in San Francisco, CA, I am responsible for evaluating baseball talent at the major league and minor league levels for potential trades, free agent signings and general roster management. Prior to joining the Cleveland Indians after the 2006 season, I spent considerable time as a valued front office administrator for the Atlanta Braves working in major league administration, scouting and player development, and contributing to the organization winning ten National League East Division titles in 11 seasons (including two World Series appearances-1996 and 1999, during the Braves' unprecedented 14-year run of division titles).  

I look forward to hearing from you.  

Tyrone
tbrooks@indians.com

Noah Kaufman, CPA, CGFM, MBA’06
Accountant,
Financial Policy and Systems Modernization Branch,
USCIS OCFO Financial Management Division

I received an undergraduate degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia and a MBA from the Smith School of Business in 2006. A few years after getting my MBA, I got a position as an Accountant for DHS / US Citizenship and Immigration Services. In my role, I analyze, document, modify and provide answers to questions on financial management policy and procedures, serve as the lead trainer that creates and delivers training on financial management and other topics, and work on payment and other system implementation. Prior to that, I had approximately ten years experience in financial management and teaching. As an auditor in Arthur Andersen I worked on audits of non-profit, governmental, and public companies, including NASA. I was the financial analyst for the Federal Reserve Board where I worked on financial reports and performed reviews of accounting functions of Federal Reserve Banks. As a Senior Consultant at CGI Federal, I worked on system design, implementation, post-implementation support, testing and requirement analysis of logistics, acquisition, fixed assets, and core financial systems at the US Department of State, GSA, EPA and other federal clients. I also participated in recruiting.

In addition to my experience in financial management, I am a part time instructor. I have also taught classes in Intermediate Accounting for the University of Virginia. I am currently an Adjunct Professor teaching Taxation and Accounting Information Systems at the University of Maryland University College and an instructor for Becker CPA Review. During my free time, I am a volunteer coach for high school wrestling and am an active volunteer in Smith School’s programs and events.
Please feel free to contact me if you like to learn more about financial management, I look forward speaking with you!

Best,
Noah
Noah.kaufman@dhs.gov

Jared Piche ’00
Assistant Vice President &
Senior Regional Consultant,
AllianceBernstein Investments
New York, NY

I graduated from the Undergraduate Finance Program at the Robert H. Smith School of Business in May of 2000. It was a challenging time in the financial industry as a result of the “technology bubble.” Job opportunities were scarce, but with a lot of hard work and effort, I got a great job at the small financial services firm Axiom Capital Management. At Axiom, I learned many different aspects of the financial services business. During that transition from college to the workforce, I learned that no matter what – you cannot take anything for granted.  In order to accomplish what you want you need to work hard.  

I am currently an Assistant Vice President and Senior Regional Consultant at AllianceBernstein. I have been here for three years, and in my current role I am a consultant and business partner to financial advisors helping them and their clients meet customized needs. It is once again a challenging time in the financial services industry and it is important to educate our clients on the markets and the economy in order to help them make the right decisions.  

I look forward to helping current Smith undergraduates navigate the industry and welcome your outreach.  

Regards,
Jared
jared.piche@alliancebernstein.com

Rachel Soronson ’07
Customer Operations Analyst, Unilever
Trumbull, CT

I graduated in 2007 from the Smith School in Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain Management (LTSCM) and International Business.  My LTSCM degree helped me in beginning my career with Unilever, a multinational consumer products company.  In my transition from school to work I have learned that I can still achieve my goals and follow my dreams, though not without patience and flexibility.  Working for a large company provides a myriad of opportunities, but similar to the University of Maryland, you must seek out opportunities rather than expecting them to come to you. As a result of being proactive, I was assigned to a high profile project that involved integrating Unilever’s Ice Cream business into the larger Unilever Foods and Personal Care business.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like assistance in deciding and planning your career.
 
Regards,
Rachel
Rachel.Soronson@unilever.com