CBA and UA Well Represented in 30 For the Future Award

Each year, the Young Professionals Network’s 30 For the Future Award recognizes 30 young professionals (ages 25-39) who live and/or work in the Greater Akron Region and who have made an impact on the region through dynamic leadership and community service. This year, The University of Akron was well represented with honorees including alumni Bryson Davis (Chemistry and Post-Bacc), Erick Chojnacki (B.A. Business and Organizational Communication Activities and Societies), and CBA graduates, Trevor Chuna (BBA, Finance), Karen Cheong (MTax, Taxation), David P. Miller (Marketing and Sales Management), Christopher Teodosio (MBA Management), and Pat O’Neill (B.S. Accounting). Also honored were current CBA Director of the Institute for Leadership Advancement, Kevin Smith, and UA alumnus and faculty member Anoo Vyas.

As Director for the Institute for Leadership Advancement since its inception in 2012, Kevin Smith’s work has included the development of experiential learning activities that prepare students from all majors to become strong, effective leaders, in addition to related efforts throughout the community. Under his guidance, students have created initiatives benefiting the Akron community as well as communities abroad, such as the student-led nonprofit organization, Zips for Haiti, which works to fund a four-year scholarship to send a Haitian student to The University of Akron. Other initiatives include a Financial Literacy Summit for local high school students, and annual and semi-annual service and learning trips to Haiti, Jamaica, and Italy.

Anoo Vyas, visiting professor of law at The University of Akron School of Law and alumnus of UA’s Law School, was appointed as Co-Director of The Experiential Learning Center for Entrepreneurship and Civic Engagement (EXL Center) in 2016. Vyas employs his significant experience with business incubation and with creative and entrepreneurial community partners to develop new opportunities for students within the greater Akron business and arts communities. EXL is currently working with a wide array of schools, for-profit and non-profit businesses, and community partners in northeast Ohio.

In addition to his work with The University of Akron, Vyas teaches Business Planning Law and Cyber Law at the School of Law, assists with the Small Entrepreneur & Economic Development (SEED) Legal Clinic, and has extensive involvement with numerous community initiatives. He is the founder and co-organizer of PechaKucha Akron, a series of events that feature “rapid fire” community-focused PowerPoint presentations, as well as NEXTOhio, an annual startup conference.

Our congratulations to all the 2017 30 For the Future Award recipients!