Executive, professional and full-time MBA graduates from the Haslam College of Business held their first joint alumni gathering on April 30. The event, held at Club LeConte in Knoxville, drew more than 25 alumni representing 20 years of MBA graduates.

Andy Ussery (MBA ’96) of Averitt Express said that he appreciated the opportunity to connect with more MBAs from his alma mater. “I met graduates from the executive and professional MBA tracks at UT’s Supply Chain Forum but rarely on other occasions,” Ussery said. “Any time you can make cross-generational and cross-industry contacts helps you to learn and provides a resource down the road.”

Mei Ling Davis (ProMBA ‘12), who is Chief Financial Officer of the Gingrich Team, also appreciated the broader alumni base at the event. “I knew there were other levels of MBAs at Haslam, but with this event my network multiplied in literally 30 minutes. I can’t miss this kind of business opportunity,” Davis said. “Seeing UT’s expansion from above the city and meeting fellow MBAs made me so proud to be a Haslam alumna.”

The alumni connect event was held preceding an MBA advisory board meeting on May 1. The meeting is the first official gathering of the 20-member board under Director of Graduate Programs, Trent Thurman, who joined the Haslam College of Business in August 2014.