Welcome to the UToledo Rocket Career Center’s Alumni Spotlight page! Here, students and our campus community can explore diverse career paths, gain valuable insights, and hear inspiring stories from University of Toledo alumni. Our curated video playlists and individual alumni features provide firsthand advice and experiences to help you navigate your own career journey.
Why Explore the Alumni Spotlight?
Inspiration and Guidance: Learn how past Rockets have navigated their careers, overcome challenges, and achieved success.
Diverse Career Paths: Discover a wide range of industries and roles from UToledo graduates who have made their mark across the globe.
Practical Advice: Gain tips on job searching, networking, personal branding, and professional growth from those who have been in your shoes.
Get Involved
Are you a UToledo alum with a story to share? We’d love to hear from you! Join our Alumni Spotlight series and inspire the next generation of Rockets. Please contact the Rocket Career Center at rocketcareercenter@utoledo.edu to be added to our alumni spotlight outreach list.
Featured Alumni Videos
Check out our collection of video interviews and playlists featuring UToledo alumni sharing their experiences, career paths, and advice for current students. Each video offers a unique perspective to help you dream big and achieve your goals.
Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manger, PNC Financial Services Group
Reggie is a Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manger for PNC Financial Services Group. Reggie focuses on the Corporate & Institutional Banking side of PNC, handling everything from lending capital to businesses to servicing commercial checking and investment accounts as well as the other unique banking needs of businesses and business owners.
Director of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, Crate and Barrel
Melanie is the Director of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion for Crate and Barrel, one of the largest home furnishings and decor retailers in the U.S.. Melanie spearheads the company’s commitment to creating an inclusive organization for both the customers and the employees.
CEO, Flyght
Chris is the CEO of Flyght, a business technology company he founded to bring new solutions to the restaurant and retail industries. Chris advises any student interested in working for a start-up like his to present their most authentic self throughout the application process.
Vice President of Commercial Lines, Financial Design Insurance Agency
David is the Vice President of Commercial Lines at Financial Design Insurance Agency in Toledo, Ohio. Although David has an educational background in finance, he stresses that any background can find a home in insurance sales, provided they have a passion for helping people and the willingness to continually learn.
K-8 Spanish Teacher
Donna is a K-8 Spanish Teacher with Toledo Public Schools in Toledo, Ohio. Working with students from kindergarten through 8th grade means handling a wide range of both ages and development. Whereas her 8th grade classes are all textbook-based learning, walking into Donna’s kindergarten classroom you would be met with singing and gesture-based learning.
High School Science Teacher, Central Catholic High School
Patrice is a High School Science Teacher at Central Catholic High School in Ohio. She brings her passion for teaching along with her real-world lab experience to the classroom everyday. Patrice’s day isn’t over when the final bell rings; she can often be found staying after to help students, coaching athletics, or leading tutoring sessions into the evening.
Nursing Instructor, The University of Toledo
Holly is a Nursing Instructor at The University of Toledo in Ohio. A graduate of the university herself, Holly now educates first-year nursing students on the fundamentals of patient care. When not in a lab or classroom, Holly is developing new curriculum and research projects, such as measuring and increasing nurses’ empathy towards pregnant women.
Attorney and Advisor, Environmental Protection Agency
Nicholas is an Attorney and Advisor with the Environmental Protection Agency. Based out of Washington, DC, Nicholas currently serves on the legal team on detail at the White House. Although his role can encompass advising his clients on all legal matters, the bulk of his experience is handling Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Nicholas explains the FOIA request process, describes a day at the White House complex, and shares what he thinks are the top skills needed to land a job like his.
Organizer, Toledoans for Safe Water
Markie is the Organizer of Toledoans for Safe Water, a nonprofit grassroots organization in the Toledo area “working to establish a Bill of Rights to protect Lake Erie and the communities that rely on its health and viability.” Starting out as a signature-collecting volunteer, Markie now runs the entire enterprise, from organizing community events and writing press releases to lobbying the city government to pass clean water legislation.
Global Vice President – Environmental, Health & Safety, PepsiCo
Jana is the Global Vice President of Environmental, Health & Safety at PepsiCo. She is responsible for ensuring the safety of all employees, managing byproducts to maintain environmental health, and ensuring compliance with governmental standards across manufacturing operations.
Senior Regional Specialist, EHS – Grain Operations, The Andersons
Dan is a Senior Regional Specialist of Environment, Health, and Safety for the Grain Operations division at The Andersons, an agriculture company based out of Ohio that “makes it easy as possible for farmers to bring grain to market.” As a safety specialist, Dan has ten locations he routinely visits for both staff training and healthy and safety compliance audits.
Environmental Paralegal, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Molly is an Environmental Paralegal with Marathon Petroleum Corporation, one of the country’s largest oil refining, marketing, and transportation companies. As an environmental paralegal, Molly’s main role is to research and stay current on EPA regulations that would effect how Marathon does business, ensuring Marathon stays legally compliant with all environmental codes.
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine – Residency Program Director, University of Toledo College of Medicine & Life Sciences
Dr. Moussa is a seasoned Emergency Medicine physician with over 20 years of experience serving the Toledo and Detroit areas. Currently practicing at the University of Toledo, Dr. Moussa balances patient care with his role in the emergency department.
Clinical Pharmacist, ProMedica
Angelo is a Clinical Pharmacist at ProMedica in Toledo. His daily work involves handling referrals from doctors and nurse practitioners while collaborating directly with patients to ensure the best possible treatment plans.
Physical Therapist, The University of Toledo Medical Center
Eman is a Physical Therapist with The University of Toledo Medical Center. Specializing in neurotherapy, Eman treats patients suffering from neurological disorders such as ALS and Parkinsons Disease as well as patients with spinal cord injuries or have had a stroke.
Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Pharmacist, ProMedica
Brett is an Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Pharmacist with ProMedica. Unlike their retail counterpart, as a clinical pharmacist Brett is busy evaluating patients and discussing care plans with physicians to find the best antibiotic for each patient. As for the Stewardship designation, Brett’s mission is to find the narrowest drug treatment formula for the patient and to then have a de-escalation plan the medication.
Durable Medical Equipment Supervisor, ProMedica
Ryan is a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Supervisor with ProMedica, a large healthcare network in Ohio and Michigan. As a supervisor, his role is to oversee the discharge and continued care of his network’s patients to ensure they have the medical equipment and knowledge necessary for a fast recovery.
Licensed Independent Social Worker & Mental Health Therapist, Toledo Counseling and Mental Health
Robyn is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist with Toledo Counseling and Mental Health. Robyn will take 6-10 sessions per day, seeing individuals, couple, and families to assess their mental health and plan a way to overcome roadblocks that are preventing their wellbeing. When not seeing patients Robyn is also teaching classes as an adjunct instructor at the University of Toledo.
Director of Pharmacy Operations, Meijer
Shawn is the Director of Pharmacy Operations for Meijer, one of the largest supermarket chains in America. Shawn’s role is to develop and execute leadership training programs for his area’s pharmacies. Developing leadership skills in a pharmacy will not only yield more knowledgeable employees, but also healthier customers.
Perinatal Social Worker, Mercy Health Partners
KaZonte is a Masters-level Perinatal Social Worker with Mercy Health Partners in Toledo, OH. Every day she meets with a handful of patients, typically pregnant women and their families, to both educate them on vital healthcare information as well as link them to the necessary community resources. Whether she is solving a patient’s transportation problems or helping to fight an opiate addiction, KaZonte’s ultimate goal is to contribute to lowering the infant and maternal mortality rates.
Assistant Athletic Trainer, University of Toledo
Kiana is an Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Toledo. Working with the Sports Medicine Department, Kiana’s goal is to provide the best care to the school’s student athletes in softball and women’s golf, helping students prevent and return from injuries as quickly and safely as possible.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kayla is a Speech-Language Pathologist with ProMedica, a health care provider based out of Ohio and Michigan. Kayla works in the acute care and outpatient settings at her hospital, performing swallow evaluations and cognitive tests to make sure her patients are able to be safely discharged.
Recreational Therapist & Owner, Pure Abilities Therapeutic Services
Ethan is a Recreational Therapist and the owner of Pure Abilities Therapeutic Services in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ethan’s company offers recreational therapy, behavioral therapy, and music therapy to individual of all ages with intellectual disabilities. Ethan helps individual reach goals ranging from brushing their teeth on their own to speed dating and skydiving.
Clinical Educator, Gift of Life Michigan
Liz is a Clinical Educator with Gift of Life Michigan, a company that facilitates organ and tissue donation across the entire state of Michigan. Based out of Ann Arbor, Liz is responsible for training new team members on the processes and procedures of organ donation. Additionally, Liz oversees continuing education plans for established team members.
Organ Recovery Manager, Center for Organ Recovery & Education
Laura is an Organ Recovery Manager with the Center for Organ Recovery & Education in Pittsburgh, PA. After walking us through the recovery process, from discussions with the donor’s family to traveling with the organ to surgery, Laura shares her best advice for interested students from any background to work in organ recovery.
Mayor, The Village of Oak Harbor
Quinton is the Mayor of The Village of Oak Harbor in Ohio. A village council member since the age of 19, Quinton was selected by the council at the age of 22 to serve as mayor and has spent his time in the role working on projects to bring economic growth to the village while maintaining safety and happiness of its citizens. Whether meeting with the Chief of Police or cheering at the high school football game, Quinton is devoted to making his village the best place to live.
Associate Vice President of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, The University of Toledo Foundation
William is a two-time graduate of the University of Toledo. He works closely with his team to engage the 170,000+ alumni, ensuring they stay connected, supported, and involved with the university.
Youth Services Coordinator, The Arts Commission
Natalie is the Youth Services Coordinator for The Arts Commission in Toledo, Ohio. Running the “Young Artists at Work” program means Natalie is always busy fundraising, staffing, and ensuring the program’s success and the participants’s safety. As a true dedicated artist, when not in the office you might find Natalie touching up downtown murals with some fresh paint.
RISE Unit Leader, The Salvation Army
Nora is the RISE Unit Leader for The Salvation Army in Toledo, Ohio. As the sole full-time staff member on her team, Nora has her hands full developing and executing program initiatives for RISE or Recovering Individuals from Sexual Exploitation.
Program Coordinator, The University of Toledo
Aleiah is the Program Coordinator for the Office of Multicultural Student Success at The University of Toledo. Whether hosting events at area museums or inviting students in for family meals in the office, Aleiah is always striving to make all students feel welcome at the university.
Disability Rights Advocate, The Ability Center of Greater Toledo
James is a Disability Rights Advocate with The Ability Center of Greater Toledo. His main role is to research different initiatives and programs to send to legislators, developers, and local businesses. A recent project saw James working with the Toledo Zoo to ensure their facilities were 100% accessible.
Police Major, Lucas County Sheriff’s Office
Tricia is a Police Major with the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office. She oversees many of the department’s sections, such as training, finance, personnel, sex offender registration, and maintenance and support services. Tricia is also the Public Information Officer and oversees the social media section and all county-wide communications.
Grant Writer, County of Fulton, Ohio
Genna is a Grant Writer with the County of Fulton government in Wauseon, Ohio. As a grant writer, Genna’s primary responsibility is to seek out funding for various public works projects for her county.
General Counsel, Pratum Companies
Corey Minor Smith is a distinguished attorney, author, and mental health advocate whose career spans law, public service, and community leadership. A former elected official, she brings a wealth of experience and insight to her current role as General Counsel at Pratum Companies, where she leverages her legal expertise to guide and support the organization’s mission.
Engineer V, FirstEnergy
Matthew has been an Engineer with FirstEnergy for over 20 years, serving as an Automation Software Distribution Operations Manager. He oversees systems that support over 6 million customers across five states.
Digital Customer Journey Analyst, Owens Corning
Lance is a Digital Customer Journey Analyst with Owens Corning. Based out of Toledo, Ohio, Lance’s main role is to ensure that his customer’s experience through their journey of doing business with Owens Corning is “seamless, enriched and smooth as possible.” Currently Lance is working on implementing a new digital infrastructure for handling customer lead data; a project that the company has decided to roll out worldwide!
Chemist, NAMSA
Jennifer is a Chemist with NAMSA, a contract research organization for medical devices. Operating as both a lab chemist and results analyst, Jennifer runs various tests on various medical devices to ensure they are safe for human use.
Materials Area Supervisor, Fiat Chrysler
Cornelius is a Materials Area Supervisor for Fiat Chrysler in Ohio. Working on the Jeep Gladiator line, Cornelius ensures that both the automotive materials necessary for assembly as well as the workforce is operating smoothly. Utilizing lean methodologies to minimize waste, both material and talent, is the key to successful manufacturing on the line.
Senior Solutions Sales Engineer, Incorta
Zach is a Senior Solutions Sales Engineer with Incorta. Based out of Oxford, Michigan, Zach works with both existing and prospective clients to help solve data architecture problems.
President, Dmytryka Jacobs Engineers, Inc.
David is a civil engineer and the President of Dmytryka Jacobs Engineers, Inc.. Based out of Toledo, David’s company specializes in automation of water and sewer facilities. As president, David has the responsibility of ensuring his team has the tools and training they need to complete every project.
Principal Engineer, First Solar
Geethika is a Principal Engineer with First Solar in Ohio. Geethika manages product output and yield to ensure the company’s high-volume manufacturing line is continuously meeting customer demand.
Editor & Photographer, WTOL 11
Aliyah is an Editor and Photographer with WTOL 11 in Toledo, Ohio. Working the second shift that covers the evening news broadcast, Aliyah is responsible for covering news events as a photographer as well as editing video packages for the nightly broadcast. Her best networking advice is for students to form strong bonds with some of the closest experienced professionals: their teachers.
Associate Marketing Manager, PPG Industries
Caitlyn is an Associate Marketing Manager with PPG Industries, a global supplied of paints and specialty materials. Based out of Toledo, Ohio, Caitlyn is responsibly for maintaining and growing the company’s relationship with retail giant Home Depot, ensuring PPG products are easily located by customers in every retail location.