Research and Teaching Fellows
The Center for SEV Research and Teaching Fellowships
The SEV Fellowship programs provides a way for the Center to engage its constituents as proscribed by Tenet 9 of the Return Driven Strategy framework “Engage Others”. The SEV Research Fellows and Teaching Fellows are a select group of highly motivated SEV alumni volunteers who work with the professors in the Center on research and participate in our SEV courses, thereby continuing learning and participating in teaching and sharing of knowledge.
Center for SEV Research Fellows Fall 2009
Michael L. Frigo
Research Fellow (Fall 2009 Strategic Risk Management Lab)
Michael Frigo is working on a stream of research projects in the Strategic Risk Management Lab in the Center for Strategy, Execution, and Valuation. The research led by Richard J. Anderson, Clinical Professor in the Center, focuses on describing leading practices in Strategic Risk Management which is a foundation for effective ERM, GRC and governance. Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree in the Finance Honors program at DePaul University, and his MBA in Finance, Accounting and Strategy, Execution, and Valuation in the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. He has professional experience at Deloitte in assurance services; Dresner Companies (where he worked as an intern in investor relations); and Ziegler Companies (a boutique investment bank where he worked with the CEO and executive on corporate strategy using the Return Driven Strategy framework). Michael is an avid weight lifter and holds the rank of 1st Degree Brown Belt in Shotokan Karate.
Fiyaz A Khan
Research Fellow (Fall 2009 Strategic Risk Management Lab)
Fiyaz is an officer at Northern Trust in Corporate and Institutional Services and completing his Masters of Science in Finance (MSF) program at the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University
Center Teaching Fellows Fall 2009
Thomas M. Walker
Teaching Fellow (Fall 2009 GSB 611 Return Driven Strategy)
Tom Walker is a Section Manager at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Inc. based in Northbrook, IL. He came to DePaul for advanced studies in the Center for SEV after completing his MBA at Marquette University. Tom’s background is in engineering with a BS in Electrical Engineering and a MBA from Marquette University. He was the first recipient of an Executive Certification in Strategy, Execution, and Valuation from the DePaul Kellstadt MBA program in Chicago. At UL, his team is focused on evaluating and certifying products to comply with UL Safety Standards so that UL is the fastest, highest quality and most customer friendly safety certification organization in the world. A certified Green Belt in Lean Sigma he pioneered an approach utilizing Attribute Agreement Analysis in evaluating the repeatability and reproducibility of technical decisions. His career experience includes project management, quality engineering, teaching classes at UL University, ISO auditing, Lean Sigma DMAIC execution and training, sales, and leading a team of engineers. Tom is the recipient of the 2008 Helene Ramanauskas-Marconi Award for distinguished achievement in Advanced Managerial Accounting Education through the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. Tom is married with two daughters, enjoys reading, personal financial management, fishing and is an avid amateur photographer. He studies Akidio at the Lake County Aikikai and holds the rank of Yonkyu (4th Kyu).
Michael Kohnen
Teaching Fellow (Fall 2009 GSB 611 Return Driven Strategy)
Michael Kohnen is the Team Leader at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). In this capacity, he is responsible for managing and coordinating the strategic direction of the Midwest banking team who is engaged in providing business and consulting services to technology, life science and private equity firms in the Midwest region from its office in Chicago. Previously, he served as First Vice President in the commercial banking group at LaSalle Bank where he managed a portfolio of public and private middle-market companies. He was also an active member of LaSalle Bank’s Commercial Banking Strategic Initiatives Committee from 2002-2005. Prior to his position at LaSalle, Michael served as a senior associate at the Bank of Nova Scotia’s Wholesale Banking group. In this position, he gained fundamental experience dealing in large corporate transactions to Fortune 500 companies located primarily in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He has been involved with several external boards and committees, including his membership with the Finance Oversight Committee at El Valor (a not-for-profit organization located on the southwest side of Chicago). He is also the founding Chairman of the Strategy, Execution, & Valuation Alumni Association at DePaul University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance with a minor in Communication Studies at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa and completed his M.B.A. at DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business in autumn 2005 with concentrations in Strategy, Execution, and Valuation and Corporate Finance. Michael was honored as the 2005-2006 recipient of DePaul’s Helene Ramanauskas-Marconi Prize. This recognition is awarded annually to the top student in the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. Michael resides in Chicago, Il.