My name is Aaron Nelson and I am the Director of Regulatory Affairs for Celsense, Inc., a small biotech company in Pittsburgh. I manage the preclinical development of our key product, including the critical FDA-mandated toxicity studies. I am also implementing a novel marketing strategy for another new product offering. This strategy requires first-hand sales approaches. I earned my BS in Molecular Biology and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin. I enjoy bicycling, wine tasting, landscaping, and cooking.

My name is Josh Futrell, and I am a student in the FlexTime Class of 2011. My primary background is in the arts. After earning a BA in Theatre from the University of Pittsburgh, I spent the following years acting on various Pittsburgh stages and in the occasional commercial. While performing, I continued to develop my professional career, primarily in marketing and customer relationship management. I ultimately decided to move from acting towards arts or nonprofit management, and found Tepper to be the ideal place to learn the analytical, sound business principles that drive success in any organization, nonprofit or otherwise. I am currently employed as the Project and Client Support Specialist at the Center for Arts Management and Technology at Carnegie Mellon University, an applied research center that has developed several online software systems to help arts administrators with grant, donor, and Web management.

My name is Crystal Falco and I am a member of the Flex-Time 2011 Class at Tepper. I graduated with a B.S. in biology from Penn State University and an M.S. in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. I have worked in industry and academic research labs and I am currently managing a molecular biology lab here at CMU where I am designing new research tools called “biosensors” for the National Institute of Health. I intend to use my MBA and the skills that I am developing here at Tepper to transition into a role commercializing technologies that are developed in academic labs. I have started preparing for this transition by volunteering a few hours a week providing due diligence services for a technology investment firm affiliated with the Entrepreneur and Venture Capital Club here at Tepper. Outside of work and school I enjoy going to concerts, watching Steeler football, doing crossword puzzles, and spending time with my family and friends.  

Hi, my name is Steve Blahovec and I am currently a Flex-Time 2011 student at Tepper. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2004 with a BSBA focusing my studies in finance and marketing. In March 2008, I joined BNY Mellon as an Analytics Consultant. Before joining BNY Mellon, I worked at Cambridge Associates and held a number of different positions during my three plus years with the firm. In my current position, I primarily work with institutional and private clients to help them understand and interpret investment performance by using several of our performance and risk products. In my spare time I enjoy playing golf and attending sporting events.

My name is Elliot Wolf and I am a Tepper Flex-Time MBA candidate, Class of 2012. I graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh (1998) and the University of Delaware (2004), respectively. I am currently employed as a Development Engineer in the Performance Styrenics R&D Group at NOVA Chemicals. My professional interests are in developing innovative products and processes that are more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost effective. Currently, I am leading the technology commercialization phase of a novel foam resin that will provide a lighter and more cost effective packaging for consumer electronics. The quant-based curriculum, collaborative student community, and entrepreneurial  resources  attracted me to Tepper. I am seeking the business leadership skills necessary to drive innovation in a growth-oriented company.

My name is Stefano Gridelli and I am a FlexTime student , Class of 2012, at the Tepper School of Business. I come from Italy where I earned my Master's degree in Computer Science at the University of Milan (Universita' degli Studi di Milano), which is also my city of origin. I am currently working at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as data network engineer. With my team I am responsible for delivering a state-of-the-art network that provides reliable service for patient care. Tepper is a great opportunity for me to drive my profession  toward a business consciousness of the IT solutions I am designing. Also by joining Tepper's community, I appreciate the diversity, as it is a precious contribution to my own personal growth and because I am part of a global network of professionals. When I have a chance to escape my duties I snowboard, sail, or surf. 

My name is Larry Whyte, and I am a student in the Flex Time class of 2012. I have a B.A. in English from Louisiana State University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. I have practiced law in Michigan, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania in commercial litigation, trusts and estates, and closely held business planning. Currently, I am employed by BNY Mellon in Private Wealth Management. In my current position, I am responsible for evaluating the closely held business interests that BNY Mellon holds in trust and investment accounts and advising on transactions involving those interests. I am pursuing my MBA at Tepper to aid my transition from attorney to financial professional and to advance my career in financial services. Outside of work and class, I enjoy weight training, reading, and cheering on the Steelers and the Michigan Wolverines.  

My name is Gilles Eggenspieler and I am a first year student in the FlexTime Class of 2012. I completed my undergrad in Europe, moved to the US 9 years ago, and graduated with a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005. I currently work as a Senior Engineer for ANSYS, Inc., an engineering software company headquartered in Pittsburgh. My goal is to complement my technical skills with business and management skills to continue to progress in my career and move to project or business management positions. I chose the FlexTime Tepper program for two main reasons: its rigorous analytical decision making oriented curriculum and the opportunity of being able to pursue a MBA degree while working full time. When not at work or in class, I enjoy travelling, sailing, or simply spending time with friends and family around a good dinner.

My name is Kathryn Gorman and I am a member of the Flex-Time Class of 2011. My undergraduate degree in accounting from Penn State led me early on to a career at Deloitte as a CPA. While taking time off for family, I began my own firm helping small businesses with accounting needs on a part-time basis. As I help my youngest child find her dream college, I chose Tepper, and the option to take  courses offered by other schools at Carnegie Mellon, to enhance my skills as I re-enter the workforce full time. I hope to bring my energy and passion for the environment to a company that shares my concern for our future. Along with working to conserve the earth’s resources, I enjoy cooking, interior decorating, and aerobic activity of various sorts.

Hello, my name is Cristin Smith, and I am a Flex-Time 2012 MBA candidate. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002 where I earned a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor in Italian. After graduation, I spent a few years as a research specialist conducting Orthopaedic research at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2005, I joined the Human Health Division at Merck and Co., as a sales representative. I chose to pursue an MBA at Tepper in order to transition my career from the sales department to the marketing and operations divisions. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, SCUBA diving, and skiing.

My name is Michael Jura and I am a student in the FlexTime class of 2012. I have a B.S. of Information Systems from Carnegie Mellon University (2003). I am currently employed by BNY Mellon and work in the Operations Strategy Group. The Operations Strategy Group is an small internal consulting group focused on streamlining operations using a quantitative approach as well as developing and implementing new products in the organization. I decided to pursue my MBA at Tepper to complement my technical background with the goal of moving to the investment management side of the financial world. In the little free time I now  have, I enjoy golfing, skiing, and watching football.