A. Gary Anderson
Graduate School of Management

Zaid Assi ’23 MPA

A Firm of His Own

Zaid Assi had already set the foundation for his own accounting firm when he finished his Master of Professional Accountancy degree at the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management in December 2023.
By Laurie McLaughlin |
Michael Saldana ’09

What It’s Like to Sell Residential Real Estate

During an episode of HGTV’s “House Hunters” reality show, Michael Saldana ’09 led a newly engaged couple through three properties in the Los Angeles area. The groom-to-be wanted a condo, and the bride-to-be wanted a house; they both wanted a 1,000 square-foot home close to public transportation with inside washer and dryer and no stucco...
Mickey McGuire ’97, ’99 MBA

‘I Don’t Want a Job; I Want an Opportunity’

Mickey McGuire ’97, ’99 MBA has always had an entrepreneurial mindset. The first business he launched was a lawn-mowing service in his hometown of Modesto, Calif., at the age of 12.
By Darin Estep |
Kabir Singh ’08

Putting His Voice to Work

Currently the voice of Mazda and NASCAR, Kabir Singh ’08 is also the voice that callers hear when contacting T-Mobile’s customer service. Football fans heard him a few years back as the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs during their Super Bowl run. “I’ve worked with Nike, and I did Nintendo Switch when it first...
By Laurie McLaughlin |
Brandon La Bella ’21, ’23 MBA

Landing a Career in Finance

During his studies, Brandon La Bella ’21, ’23 MBA, was laser focused on building professional connections both on and off campus. So, it comes as no surprise that he was hired by PIMCO while earning his MBA. “After numerous job applications and networking, I received a recruiting email from PIMCO about a compliance role that...
By Laurie McLaughlin |
Erick Campos

Alumnus Finds the Stories Hidden in the Data

Big Data is a big deal and getting bigger every day — but businesses need help making sense of the ever-increasing flood of information available to them. That’s where data analysts like Erick Campos ’16, ’18 MBA come in. “It doesn't matter whether you’re a food and beverage business or a marketing business, or any...
By Darin Estep |
MPAC Alumni

Opportunity Adds Up for MPAc Alumni

As a lifelong musician, Jack Adams ’21, ’22 MPAc, discovered the importance of accounting when he decided to start his own band.
By Darin Estep |
David Gutierrez

First-generation Student to Corporate Executive

David Gutierrez ’04 says UC Riverside graduates have a superpower. And he knows what it is. “They’ve worked hard to get where they are. Many are the first to graduate college in their family,” he says. “It leads to what I call the fire in the belly.” Gutierrez speaks from experience: He was a first-generation...
By Darin Estep |
Ndeye Thiaw

Promoting Economic and Social Development

nspired by a capstone course during her undergraduate studies, Ndeye Thiaw ’99, ’04 MBA decided to earn an MBA with an emphasis in finance and entrepreneurship. “I wanted to know more about organizational strategy, how American companies and brands were able to dominate global finance,” says Thiaw. “And, how one day, I could be part...
By Laurie McLaughlin |
UCR campus aerial view

Fresh from College, Business Alumni Give Back

Two days after graduating from the UCR School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in business finance, Alec Harold ’18 was on a plane to North Carolina for training in his new job as a financial analyst for Wells Fargo. And he hasn’t slowed down since.
By Darin Estep |