Three School of Business alumni were recognized for outstanding leadership, service and impact at the annual Alumni Awards Reception in April. Carrie Ross, associate director, alumni engagement, catches up with the winners to reflect on their accomplishments.
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Carol Spann Joyner (’90) was named the inaugural recipient of the Allegacy Center for Leadership & Character Excellence in Leadership Alumni Award. As summarized in her nomination, Carol exemplifies the values of character and Pro Humanitate, evidenced by her leadership in the male-dominated field of commercial real estate and currently at Levi Strauss & Co., where she has consistently been a powerful asset and distinguished industry expert. She mentors junior colleagues, particularly fellow Deacons, and engages with various civic organizations, like Jack and Jill of America, to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Her mentorship extends beyond her profession, as she volunteers to mentor youth and shares her experiences as a woman in the industry. Carol’s innovative strategies and commitment to excellence have led to success in negotiating leases and exceeding revenue goals. She remains loyal to Wake Forest, actively promoting the institution and crediting it for her foundation as a leader. Carol’s integrity and dedication to ethical practices make her an outstanding School of Business representative and a beacon for the next generation of leaders.
Carrie: As an alumni award winner, what was your reaction? What did it mean to you to be selected?
Carol: Receiving an alumni award was truly a humbling and exhilarating experience – a moment of sincere gratitude for both the recognition and the journey that led me here. It meant a great deal to be acknowledged by my alma mater, an institution that not only instilled in me a passion for learning but also a commitment to service, embodied in the motto Pro Humanitate. Wake Forest played a significant role in shaping who I am today, and this recognition reaffirmed the value of the education and values instilled in me during my time at WFU.
Carrie: Any advice to other alumni looking to make an impact in their chosen field or industry?
Carol: My advice to fellow alumni aspiring to make a meaningful impact in their fields is to stay true to their passion and purpose. Embrace every opportunity to learn and grow, and never underestimate the power of perseverance. Building a network of support and mentorship can also be invaluable. Most importantly, always strive to make a positive difference, whether it’s through innovation, advocacy or mentorship.
Carrie: Any last thoughts you want to share?
Carol: I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude for this incredible honor and to everyone who has supported and inspired me along the way. I am deeply thankful to the professors and mentors at the School of Business whose guidance and expertise have shaped my path and inspired me to strive for excellence. Additionally, I am immensely grateful for the support of the Z. Smith Reynolds Scholarship, which provided me with the opportunity to pursue my education at Wake Forest. As I reflect, let’s all remember the importance of giving back and embodying the spirit of Pro Humanitate in everything we do.
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Jamey McDowell (MSBA ‘18), a data scientist at Meta, was named the 2024 winner of the Center for Analytics Impact Alumni Award. The project he was nominated for identified and addressed a 30% overcounting issue in Oculus’s hand tracking metrics, which significantly impacted Meta’s analytics capabilities. He deployed a machine learning classifier to differentiate real hand tracking from incidental tracking and led a team to implement new logging fields for the classifier. Jamey conducted company-wide sessions to generate ground truth data, resulting in improved accuracy. The new metric suite he developed is now instrumental in informing various aspects of Meta’s operations, including reporting, investments and future VR use cases. Additionally, Jamey demonstrates a strong commitment to the Wake Forest University School of Business by ‘always saying yes’ and serving as a stellar alumni ambassador.
Carrie: As an alumni award winner, what was your reaction? What did it mean to you to be selected?
Jamey: I have met with dozens of amazing Wake Forest alumni both during my time in graduate school and during my time serving on the MSBA alumni advisory board. As the second alumni award recipient for the Center of Analytics, I’m mostly grateful that there are many more recipients to be recognized in the future. I wouldn’t be where I am without the career advice and support I’ve received both through Wake Forest and through its alumni base over the years. To be selected from among such a prestigious group of peers has been an honor.
Carrie: Any advice to other alumni looking to make an impact in their chosen field or industry?
Jamey: Adopt a problem-first mindset, rather than a tools-first mindset. Wake Forest’s MSBA program does an excellent job developing your statistical tool set. But on the job, not everything needs a hammer! Before reaching for the advanced solution see if there is a simpler calculation that delivers most of the impact but in far less time. Don’t get swept up by the latest deep-learning hype without understanding the problems that it solves.
Carrie: What are the next steps in your career? Where do you see yourself in five years?
Jamey: Virtual reality and augmented reality have not had their “aha” moment where everything just makes sense – yet. But I think we’re going to get there in five years. I want to be at Meta when we finally cross that bridge!
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Adam Holtzschue (MBA ‘92, P ‘18), executive affiliate with the Allegacy Center for Leadership & Character, is a seasoned leader with over 35 years of experience in financial services, most recently as executive vice president at Wells Fargo prior to his retirement. He is recognized for his inclusive leadership style, fostering high employee engagement and creating a supportive work environment. Additionally, he is actively engaged in community service, particularly in promoting economic empowerment and arts education through organizations like ASPIRE Community Capital and JazzArts Charlotte. Adam is deeply committed to the Wake Forest University School of Business, where he mentors students and contributes to academic initiatives. He embodies the values of integrity, character and ethical decision-making, making him a deserving winner of the 2024 Judson D. DeRamus Distinguished Alumni Award.
Carrie: As an alumni award winner, what was your reaction? What did it mean to you to be selected?
Adam: We have such an engaged alumni network and so many who give back to the University and the School of Business, so it was a bit surprising. But certainly an honor – and humbling! Being an alumnus is special and different at Wake Forest. Deacs actively give back to their communities and they reach out to help other Deacs. The connections are strong. It’s a culture.
Carrie: Any advice to other alumni looking to make an impact in their chosen field or industry?
Adam: I’ve had an opportunity to engage with students in both the undergraduate and graduate business programs. What I tell them is that it isn’t hard to differentiate yourself. Be present. Be engaged. Bring value – in everything you do. Those are the attributes that distinguish you and lead to the best outcomes for yourself and for your industry or chosen field. Each of us has so much to offer.
Carrie: Any last thoughts you want to share?
Adam: Special thanks to the faculty and staff of the business school. You are making a difference!
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