2017 Alumni Fellow Awards
As a part of our 50th anniversary celebration, the Mitchell College of Business inducted our first class of Alumni Fellows at our annual Scholars Banquet. This program formally recognizes Mitchell College alumni whose lives, professions, and contributions to society exemplify the highest ideals of the College and the University. The program also enriches the Mitchell College students through the sharing of the honoree’s professional knowledge and experience. The six individuals in this inaugural class represent the true spirit and intent of the award.
Mr. James J. (Jake) Gosa earned his Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the
Mitchell College of Business. He is the former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of American Woodmark. Prior to joining American Woodmark, Jake spent 18 years
in sales, marketing, and operational positions with Owens-Corning and the Thomas Somerville
Company. He is a former Trustee of the Burke Mountain Academy and member of the Economic
Development Council of Virginia. Jake resides in Amelia Island, Florida where he
serves as Chair of the Parish Council, St. Michaels Parish.
Mr. Daniel A. (Dan) Grafton earned his Bachelor of Science degree in finance with
a minor in economics from the Mitchell College of Business. Dan retired as Chairman
of the Board of Trustmark Corporation and Trustmark National Bank in 2016. He previously
served as President and Chief Executive Officer of L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace,
one of the largest aerospace and technical services companies in the world. He serves
as Vice-Chairman of the Board at St. Dominic’s Hospital and is a member of the President’s
Council of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. He received the Distinguished Alumni
Award from the University of South Alabama in 2015. He is a past chairman of The
Nature Conservatory-Mississippi and was inducted into the Mississippi Business Hall
of Fame in 2004.
Mr. Christopher C. (Chris) Melton earned his Bachelor of Science degree in finance
from the Mitchell College of Business. He has over 35 years of business experience
emphasizing corporate turnarounds and restructuring. Chris currently serves as Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of The White Oak Group in Atlanta. Prior to founding
White Oak, he served as CEO of CNP, Inc., CEO of Amplified Holdings, and spent 19
years at IBM where he served in numerous executive positions including President of
IBM Asia Pacific Investment Corporation and CFO of IBM’s Asia Pacific Services Corporation.
Chris is a Lifetime Member of the USA National Alumni Association and serves on the
50th Anniversary USA Annual Fund Leadership Council. He is a member of the Business Executives
for National Security Board of Directors, and serves on the boards of a number of
privately held companies and a number of non-profit and faith-based organizational
boards. He is a past director of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce board and is an
active member of the Society of International Business Fellows.
Mr. Jimmy Shumock earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the Mitchell
College of Business. A CPA, he currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Thompson Holdings, Inc. Jimmy also serves as the Vice Chair of the USA Board of
Trustees, is the Jaguar Athletic Fund President, and is a Lifetime Member of the USA
National Alumni Association. He served as a member of the Alabama Commission on Infrastructure
and is active in the community serving on a number of local charity and professional
boards including the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, the Mobile Jaycees, the Greater
Gulf State Fair, and the Coastal Conservation Association.
Dr. Jeanne Sylvestre is a native of Belize. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree
in accounting and an MBA from the Mitchell College. She has the distinction of being
the first undergraduate of the Mitchell College to return to teach at USA. During
her tenure with the Department of Accounting she served as Chair of the Department
and Beta Alpha Psi chapter advisor. She holds the rank of Professor Emeritus. Jeanne
currently serves as Treasurer of the University of South Alabama Foundation. She
is a long-time member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and is an active officer of the
Order of St. John.
Although not an alumnus, Mr. Abraham Mitchell holds a singular place among supporters of the University of South Alabama. The philanthropy of Mr. Mitchell, his late brother Mayer, and Mayer’s wife, Arlene has been transformative in the life of the University of South Alabama and the Mitchell College of Business. We are pleased to welcome him as a member of the inaugural class.
Each Alumni Fellow receives a commemorative award designed and hand cast by nationally-known sculptor and medalist Jeanne Stevens-Sollman. In addition, each Fellow receives a ceramic sculptured jaguar created by alumnus and nationally recognized representational sculptor Sam Nettles.