School of Management Hall of Fame

Lottie Ferguson

2025 Early Career Alumni Achievement Award Recipient

Lottie Ferguson is a lifelong Flint advocate whose career reflects her deep commitment to community, equity and opportunity. A nontraditional student, she returned to the University of Michigan-Flint after more than a decade away, earning her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2015 and a Master of Science in administration degree from Central Michigan University in 2019.

As vice president of development and donor services at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, a philanthropic institution connecting generosity to Genesee County’s needs, Ferguson leads development efforts that include donor stewardship, fund creation and grant revenue strategy to help fulfill the vision of “a vibrant and equitable Genesee County where everyone thrives.” She has a particular interest in advancing social, economic and environmental resilience.

Before joining the foundation, Ferguson made history as the first chief resilience officer for the City of Flint, where she championed initiatives that centered residents’ voices and guided the city toward a more collaborative and hopeful future. In that role, she also led the Office of Public Health and secured more than $20 million in grants to strengthen community well-being. During her tenure, she was named one of the Top 100 Local Government Influencers by Engaging Local Government Leaders for her innovative and community-driven leadership.

Ferguson also helps ensure a tuition-free pathway for Flint students to attend UM-Flint, Kettering University and Mott Community College through the Flint Promise program. She has been involved with the program since its inception in 2018 and currently serves as chair of the Flint Promise Zone Authority. For her, this work represents an opportunity to remove barriers she once faced and open doors for future generations of Flint graduates.

As a member of the 2024-2025 Obama Foundation Leaders USA cohort, Ferguson is recognized nationally for her work in public service, philanthropy and environmental justice. She continues to serve the university through the Success Mentorship Program and mentors emerging professionals across the country, especially encouraging women of color to lead with integrity, self-care and purpose.

Deeply engaged in civic life, Ferguson has served on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Flint for more than 20 years and is a proud member of the Flint Area (MI) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Through these and other leadership roles on local, state, regional and national boards, she continues to advance collaboration and equity across sectors.

A proud UM-Flint alum, Ferguson believes that true resilience is not endless capacity but the courage to grow, adapt and lead with compassion. She is a constant reminder to others that overcoming challenges builds deep roots, strong communities and the flourishing of new possibilities. She and her husband Kyle, also a UM-Flint alum, are raising three daughters, Candice, Ava and Charlotte, in Genesee County.

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Sherri Stephens

2025 Outstanding Alumni Award Recipient

As a full-time student at the University of Michigan–Flint, Sherri also worked full-time at a local financial advisory firm, which she first joined as a high school senior. Encouraged by a mentor who recognized her potential, she pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration and minored in economics. She fell in love with the world of finance, especially the way it empowered families and transformed lives.

In 1994, Sherri took over leadership of the firm following the unexpected loss of her mentor. Today, she serves as President, CEO, and Lead Wealth Advisor of Stephens Wealth Management Group, a nationally recognized, woman-led registered investment advisory firm. Under her leadership, SWMG has quadrupled in size, built a culture rooted in integrity, and helped countless clients—from multigenerational families to business owners—navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence.

Sherri has earned national recognition for her work, consistently named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors (2018–2024) and one of the Top Women Financial Advisors in Michigan by Barron’s and Forbes. She has also been listed among the Top 100 Women Financial Advisors in America.

Her impact extends far beyond the office. A longtime trustee and past chair of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Sherri helped guide the organization through the 2008 financial crisis. She also served for 15 years on the board of McLaren Hospital and remains an active member of UM-Flint’s School of Management Advisory Board. A fierce advocate for women in finance, she co-founded the Women’s Leadership Alliance and launched the Advancement in Wealth Management scholarship at UM-Flint to support future generations in the field.

Sherri believes success without values is hollow—and she leads with integrity in every aspect of her life. She lives in Michigan with her husband and is the proud mother of four sons and grandmother to eleven. Whether mentoring young professionals, advising clients, or championing education, Sherri’s legacy is clear: when you lead with purpose and give generously, you leave every place better than you found it.

Dylan Straka

2024 Early Career Alumni Achievement Award Recipient

Waitlisted at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Dylan Straka spent his freshman fall semester at Mott Community College while waiting to transfer to Michigan State University in the winter. During this time, he was working at King Par, a local golf company. Despite transfer plans to Michigan State, Dylan soon realized that he preferred a smaller school environment.

Recognizing his goals, the CFO at King Par approached Dylan with an opportunity. They offered him an entry-level accounting position. The CFO, a University of Michigan-Flint graduate, knew Dylan could benefit from UM-Flint’s flexible class schedules, and gain professional work experience throughout college, which would allow him to accelerate his career aspirations by building his resume early. Dylan could earn the Michigan degree he desired while forging closer relationships with faculty.

Dylan became an active student at UM Flint, where he served as the Vice President of Financial Affairs for Student Government, Treasurer of his fraternity, Theta Chi, and a tax preparer for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, a program that processed free tax returns for students and low-income individuals. He was also a member of Beta Alpha Psi, the honors accounting society, and Treasurer of the Entrepreneur Society.

In the winter of his sophomore year, Dylan completed an internship with Plante Moran and returned to King Par afterward. Through his extracurricular involvement that he would soon find a new opportunity. Phil Hagerman, through his gift to the School of Management, had helped create the entrepreneurship major and hired the President and Vice President of the Entrepreneur Society as interns to work on small businesses in Flint through his family office, venture capital, and commercial real estate firm, SkyPoint Ventures.

As SkyPoint rapidly expanded, the accounting team needed additional help, and the interns recommended Dylan. He joined SkyPoint Ventures as a staff accountant while continuing his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan-Flint. Dylan graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s in accounting and immediately began working toward an MBA in accounting and finance. He was promoted to accounting supervisor, then to director of finance at SkyPoint. In 2019, Dylan became CFO of both SkyPoint Ventures and the Hagerman Family Office. He played a key role in the company’s activities in Flint, including business development, supporting entrepreneurship, and contributing to philanthropic efforts across the city. He was also involved in several SkyPoint Ventures investments, and served on the board as financial adviser to Skypoint’s primary investment in Forum Health Enterprises, a network of integrative functional medicine clinics.

In 2022, Dylan was named an honoree of Flint &Genesee County’s 40 Under 40. This biannual honor celebrates regional individuals who are excelling professionally and making a significant impact within the community. In 2023, Dylan was appointed CFO of Wild Bill’s Tobacco, the second-largest tobacco retailer in the U.S., with over 200 locations across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. That same year, Dylan founded Straka Financial Services, where he focuses primarily on succession planning, estate planning, and family office services for high-net-worth families and individuals.

As an alumni of Theta Chi fraternity, Dylan served on the local chapter’s Advisory Board for three years. He is currently the Treasurer of the Theta Chi Alumni Foundation Board, where he helps award scholarships to UM-Flint undergraduates. Dylan also serves on the board and Finance Committee of the Flint Children’s Museum and is a member of Excel Networking, a private networking group dedicated to helping professionals and entrepreneurs in Southeast Michigan.

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Steve Whitener

2024 Outstanding Alumni Award Recipient

Steve Whitener hasn’t forgotten the support he received as a college student at UM-Flint. He was slated to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business. He worked 32 to 40 hours a week at Kroger to help pay for school, but as a senior, he struggled to pay for college, along with basics like groceries, gasoline, and rent. But university officials helped Whitener land a series of scholarships. Several of them came from small organizations or clubs. This helped Whitener to stay in school and graduate.

Since then, Steve Whitener has carved out a long and successful business career. After graduating, Whitener purchased several real estate properties, and had a successful career at Westinghouse Electric. Co., Eaton Cutler Hammer, Pirelli International, and Anixter. Whitener founded National Systems Installers in 1993 to provide infrastructure cabling services to companies. In 1999, he founded Nuspire Networks, which offers managed IT security services to companies.

Whitener expressed his gratitude to the university by establishing two endowed scholarships: Stephen A. Whitener Scholarship for Innovators, and Whitener Merit Plus. Whitener said these are intended to leverage and support the talent on campus with 2-3 full-ride scholarships per year. Both scholarships supported more than 50 students since 2017. Whitener visits the campus on many occasions, as the chairman of the School’s business advisory board and attends many of the events, during which he talks to students about his business career and keys to entrepreneurial success.

Holly Kilburn

2023 Early Career Alumni Achievement Award Recipient

Holly earned a Bachelor Business Administration degree with a major in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management in 2016. She was recognized UM-Flint as a Maize and Blue Award winner. With her continued high academic achievement, she was also recognized as a James B. Angell Scholar. Speaking during the spring 2016 commencement ceremony, Holly offered a message of hope and inspiration, sharing challenges that students had to overcome as single mothers, first-generation college students, and English language learners. 

As the Grants and Special Initiatives Manager for CS Partners, Holly puts students at the center of every decision and plan. She expertly manages grant requests for schools across the state serving more than 11,000 students and managing over 40 million dollars in grants for the 22-23 school year.

Holly continues to deliver her message by providing practical advice to University of Michigan-Flint students. She has served as a panelist during School of Management Alumni Career Panel events; collaborated with the school to start an internship program with her company; and continues to mentor students while sharing her experience and knowledge. As a Flint native, Holly believes that the lessons learned at the university will continue to serve her well as she endeavors to contribute to the community.