Acton Scholars
Each May, a new class of Acton Scholars joins a strong network of Acton alumni that spans across the nation. Today, Acton alumni are founding or working in some of America's best companies. And from what our alumni tell us, the longer they have been out of school, the more they value the hard-fought lessons of the case classroom.
The Class of 2009 is comprised of people with the intelligence, integrity and drive to survive Acton's grueling one-year program.
Alumni Profiles
Matthew Arnold
MBA 2008
Credentials:
- Currently launching a distribution business that purchases handmade goods directly from artisans in developing countries
- Architect of Workforce Development Project, Lifeworks Ben & Jerry’s
- Former Food Security Specialist, Peace Corps, Guatemala
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship, BA in Politics, Washington and Lee University
Beau Burkett
MBA 2005
Credentials:
- Managing partner, Beau Burkett Media, LP
- Competitive golfer
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; B.B.A.(cum laude), Texas State University
Robert Conley
MBA 2006
Credentials:
- Currently works with Ashton Capital Partners
- Former Sales Director, eBlox Technologies
- Ten years of experience in sales and former owner of REC Enterprises (bar and restaurant business)
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship, B.B.A., marketing, Northeastern State University (Oklahoma)
Michael Hanson
MBA 2007
Credentials:
- Current Associate with Parkman Whaling
- Account Manager, COMSYS
- MBA, Acton School Business; BFA, Acting, Southern Methodist University
Carter Higley
MBA 2004
Credentials:
- Sales associate with Jackson Hole Real Estate & Appraisal in Wyoming
- Former 5th grade teacher in South Central Los Angeles
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; B.A., History, Southern Methodist University
Andrew Hull
MBA 2006
Credentials:
- Currently Director of Support Services with Optical Electronics Corporation
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; BS, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Tech
Roy Lamoreaux
MBA 2006
Credentials:
- Currently Manager of Investor Relations at Plains All-American Pipeline L.P.
- Former Acquisitions and Divestitures Landman for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
- Spent 2 years in Albania as a missionary
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; B.B.A., energy management, University of Oklahoma
Edward Melendez
MBA 2007
Credentials:
- Lead Account Manager, National Accounts for Convio Inc.
- Previously Director of Finance for The Indigent Care Collaboration of Central Texas
- Co-founder of The Urban Conservancy
- MBA, Acton School of Business; BGS in Language & Culture, University of New Orleans
John Poston
MBA 2005
Credentials:
- Founder, Poston Real Estate
- Cofounder, the Rise School of Dallas and the Rise School of Houston
- MBA, Acton School of Business; BS, speech communication, University of Texas
Akshay Sabhikhi
MBA 2004
Credentials:
- Currently Program Director with IBM Software Group
- Former Product Manager, Trilogy Software
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; M.S. and B.S. (with honors), electrical and computer engineering, University of Texas
Regan Sheeley
MBA 2004
Credentials:
- Center director of KinderCare Learning Center in Portland, Oregon
- Manager of training and operation Support Manager at Austin Children’s Shelter
- Teaching House Parent Settlement Home Residential Treatment Center
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; B. A., psychology, University of Montana- Missoula
Chris Shonk
MBA 2004
Credentials:
- Founder of Liahona Ventures
- Founder of Virtus Financial Group; cofounder of Gendeavor
- US Army Special Operations Forces, Special Warfare Soldier of the Year
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; B.S., Campbell University
Brandon Willard
MBA 2006
Credentials:
- Chief Operating Officer, DisplayPoints, Inc.
- Marketing Manager, TippingPoint
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; BA, History and Economics, Austin College
Nate Little
MBA 2008
Credentials:
- Currently launching a business to provide simple and innovative software for K-12 schools
- Former Director of Product Management for Indeed.com, the world’s largest job search website
- Former Program Manager at Trilogy Software
- B.S. (with honors) in Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Leo Welder
MBA 2004
Credentials:
- Co-founder and COO of Zilker Ventures, LLC
- Currently serves on two non-profit boards, Austin YMBL Sunshine Camps and The New Milestones Foundation, as well as on the EPIC Leadership Council
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; B.B.A., Finance, B.A. Plan II, University of Texas
Cheyenne Martin
MBA 2008
Credentials:
- Director of Sales and Marketing at Aldea
- Marketing and fundraising committee member for the Discover Hope Fund
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; B.B.A., Entrepreneurship and Venture Management, University of Oklahoma
Rob Larkin
MBA
Credentials:
- Currently a partner and COO of Daily Juice Enterprises & Baraka Foods
- Co-founded Growing Grace
- Partner, Buckingham Exploration
- Former Systems Engineer & Project Manager for Naval Surface Warfare Center
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Minor Economics, University of Colorado, Boulder
Class of 2009 Statistics
| Averages | |
|---|---|
| Age | 29 |
| Years of full-time work | 6 |
| GMAT score | 630 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.25 |
| Percentages | |
| Business Undergrad Degree | 30% |
| Non-business Undergrad Degree | 70% |
| Owned/Started Previous Business | 26% |
| Spent a significant amount of time working for charitable causes | 35% |