Carrillo is not among those planning to retire. He isn鈥檛 panicking either. After 30 years in underwriting, actuary work, risk management, research, and product development, Carrillo believes he鈥檚 just getting started. He embraces the workforce chasm as an enormous opportunity. It鈥檚 why he brought decades of experience to 麻豆原创 in July 2025 to direct the Center for Risk Management and Insurance Education.

鈥淚 came here because 麻豆原创鈥檚 strengths in areas like technology and innovation give us a head start to transform this field in spaces where it鈥檚 lagged and build something special from scratch.鈥�

鈥淚 came here because 麻豆原创鈥檚 strengths in areas like technology and innovation give us a head start to transform this field in spaces where it鈥檚 lagged and build something special from scratch,鈥� Carrillo says.

He credits Ron Piccolo, associate dean for strategic initiatives in the Barry S. Miller College of Business, for preparing a smooth runway. They鈥檝e worked hard to have a major and minor in risk management in place by Fall 2026. In April 2026, 麻豆原创鈥檚 Board of Trustees approved a new bachelor鈥檚 program in risk management and insurance education, pending Florida Board of Governors鈥� approval. Carrillo and Piccolo aim for an MBA and a continuing education program to follow. Experts trained at 麻豆原创 will eventually partner with industry leaders to identify problems, apply research and deliver cutting edge talent.

鈥淚 can see what鈥檚 ahead, and it鈥檚 amazing,鈥� Carrillo says. 鈥淎t the same time, I鈥檓 fully aware of the serious challenges directly in front of us.鈥�

Shattering Perceptions of Insurance

To infuse the program at 麻豆原创 with as much optimism as he exudes, Carrillo must first face down the insurance industry鈥檚 most significant obstacle.

鈥淧erception,鈥� Carrillo says, bluntly. 鈥淣egative depictions of insurance professionals are everywhere. We even see it in kids鈥� movies, like The Incredibles, where the boss at an insurance agency is a villain. People grow up believing the entire industry is complicated and greedy.

鈥淥ur first step is to blow up those perceptions.鈥�

To do that, Carrillo has been inviting professionals to show 麻豆原创 students what the future of risk management looks like (young and enthused) and where their talents are being applied (Disney, the PGA Tour, the New York Yankees, and Marriott, to name a few). The diverse skillsets (drone operators, investors, accountants, and experts in fintech and cybersecurity) and personalities (extroverts and introverts) do not perfectly match old stereotypes.

The casual 鈥済et-to-know-us鈥� events have stirred enough interest to fill as many as 144 seats, with others at The Exchange reaching the capacity of 120.

鈥淪tudents sit up and say, 鈥榃ait, we thought working in this field meant shlepping life insurance to people who don鈥檛 want it or sitting in cubicles to deny claims.鈥� Their minds open up when they hear about professional playgrounds that don鈥檛 fit the mold.鈥�

鈥淚 believe this calling is among the most noble things we can do. We鈥檙e helping people put their lives back together at a time of great loss.”

Interest heightens when 鈥渢he cliff鈥� enters the conversation. In addition to jobs opening because of mass retirement, analysts expect risk management and insurance to grow 17% per year into the foreseeable future, with average starting salaries ranging from $60,000-$90,000. Carrillo says a recession-proof career is all but guaranteed. To the skeptical question, 鈥淏ut is it fulfilling?鈥� he candidly answers from his own experience.

鈥淚 believe this calling is among the most noble things we can do,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e helping people put their lives back together at a time of great loss. Is that what people think we do? Maybe not. It鈥檚 up to us to change that.鈥�

And that leads to a second canyon-size gap: the knowledge gap. Sound personal advice has been replaced with search engines that find the cheapest rates for the minimum coverage, which can turn out horribly for customers when coverage is actually needed.

鈥淔inancial literacy has to be a big part of what we build,鈥� Carrillo says. 鈥淲ith it, graduates can help people make informed decisions and have better lives.鈥�

The 85-15 Ratio

Carrillo plans to launch a podcast soon called, 鈥淣o One Does This on Purpose.鈥� From his own research, he estimates only 15% of the people working in insurance and risk management intended to enter the industry. The other 85% have stories like Carrillo鈥檚.

As an undergraduate at Purdue University, he took a summer job in the mailroom of an insurance company. An underwriter welcomed Carrillo on his first day and told him, 鈥淵ou鈥檒l stay in this business.鈥� Shortly after, the president of the company and shared more welcoming encouragement.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 pay much attention because I wanted to be a pilot,鈥� Carrillo says, 鈥渂ut everyone at that place blew up my own perceptions. The culture hooked me.鈥�

He鈥檚 identified hooks all around Central Florida. 麻豆原创 will be the 77^th institution with a risk management and insurance education program, but Carrillo says few have a comparable location or a blank slate to do something truly new 鈥� another reason he chose to come here from one of the oldest such programs in the country at FSU. The Center will partner with major risk management companies, collaborate on research with other colleges on campus and with Daytona State, and match students to internships where fresh perspectives are coveted.

鈥淚 expect this to explode,鈥� he says, sounding very much like a man who鈥檚 about to ride a clean wave into the future with a new generation of students. Like him, they might never want to leave.

What happens when graduate students go beyond the classroom to tackle real-world artificial intelligence (AI) challenges facing the financial industry?

At 麻豆原创鈥檚 , that experience comes to life in the FinTech-AI Lab.

The lab puts fintech master’s students to work on complex AI and machine learning problems alongside faculty researchers and industry mentors. Beyond technical expertise, the experience gives students a front-row seat to how AI is being used to solve business challenges and the opportunity to contribute to what comes next.

Established to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry innovation, the lab pairs selected students with leading industry organizations to develop solutions with the potential to influence products, improve decision-making and drive innovation across financial technology.

Each semester, just two to four students are selected through a competitive process based on academic performance and faculty interviews. Instead of completing a traditional capstone project, they join a faculty-led research team conducting applied AI research for industry partners.

Partnership Powering Innovation

One of the lab’s most impactful collaborations is with Equifax, a global leader in data, analytics and technology.

Together with Miller College of Business faculty, Equifax identifies high-impact business challenges, provides resources and mentors students throughout the research process. Fintech faculty members, Associate Professor Cuneyt Akcora and Assistant Professor Yafei Zhang, lead the lab鈥檚 research initiatives, meeting weekly with student teams and collaborating with Equifax to review progress and refine projects.

Students spend more than a year working on AI research, gaining an experience that closely resembles a part-time industry internship.

鈥淭he partnership shows what makes 麻豆原创鈥檚 master鈥檚 in fintech distinctive,鈥� Zhang says. 鈥淪tudents not only learn finance, AI and data science in the classroom; they apply these tools to real industry problems with guidance from faculty and industry mentors. In the AI era, that kind of hands-on, corporate-partnered experience is essential.鈥�

Turning AI Skills Into Industry Solutions

The impact of the FinTech-AI Lab comes to life through the work of its students, whose research tackles real challenges facing the financial industry.

Fintech graduate student Michael Azzi set out to help address synthetic identity fraud, the fastest-growing financial crime in the United States.

Azzi developed an address-intelligence framework that combines Google’s Gemini large language model, the Google Places API and a rule-based risk engine to identify high-risk addresses, including virtual offices and private mailbox services. The approach could help improve fraud detection within consumer credit files.

“Working on synthetic identity fraud detection at Equifax showed me how AI can be applied to real-world business challenges,鈥� Azzi says. 鈥淏eing able to combine large language models with live address intelligence to help protect consumers made this one of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on.”

Another fintech graduate student, Clare Anandra Eric Hamissi, investigated how government intervention programs, including stimulus payments and loan forbearance, influenced consumer default risk.

Her findings revealed that lower-income consumers and those with lower credit scores experienced the greatest reductions in default risk.

The projects don鈥檛 necessarily end when the research does. When a project demonstrates strong business potential, Equifax evaluates the results for possible productization or internal implementation, giving students the opportunity to contribute to solutions that could make a measurable impact across the financial industry.

Opening the Door to Experiential Learning

The FinTech-AI Lab demonstrates the Miller College of Business鈥� commitment to experiential learning while providing students with a new way to prepare for and help shape an AI-driven future.

Students gain experience working with enterprise-scale data, collaborating with faculty researchers and industry professionals, and solving problems at the intersection of finance, AI and data science.

As the lab prepares to welcome its third cohort of fintech student researchers this fall, it continues to set 麻豆原创鈥檚 Master鈥檚 in FinTech program apart. Students don鈥檛 just learn about AI, machine learning and financial technology 鈥� they put that knowledge to work alongside faculty and industry experts, solving real business challenges with the potential to influence products and business decisions.

The 麻豆原创 master鈥檚 in fintech is a STEM-designated graduate program that prepares the next generation of fintech leaders through AI, data analytics and emerging financial technologies. The first program of its kind in Florida, the program is offered each fall with in-person and online options.

听Applications are now open for Fall 2027.

The top three finalists from the new program, organized by 麻豆原创 Alumni, are creating jobs, strengthening communities and introducing innovative approaches in industries ranging from health care and hospitality to technology, finance and motorsports.

Their origin stories are shaped by education, family, friendships, unexpected career turns and the ability to adapt. 麻豆原创 helped the Ever Upward honorees build the knowledge, relationships and confidence to turn their ideas into impact. Rodney M. Grabowski, 麻豆原创鈥檚 senior vice president for and CEO of the 麻豆原创 Foundation, connected the honorees鈥� work to the university鈥檚 founding mission.

鈥溌槎乖� was founded to support the space program … to launch humanity even further. And that spirit still defines us today,鈥� Grabowski says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e launching students into careers and leadership positions in every industry. We鈥檙e launching ideas from our classrooms and labs into the real world.鈥�

Recognizing Excellence

Ever Upward is 麻豆原创鈥檚 first program recognizing the fastest-growing Knight-owned and Knight-led businesses around the world. The 2026 rankings were based on cumulative percentage revenue growth over a consecutive three-year period, using calendar years 2022 through 2024.

Explore ways to

麻豆原创 Alumni accepted applications in January before announcing the top 25 finalists in June. Companies were ranked by percentage of cumulative annual growth in revenue. The final rankings were revealed at a special celebration in August.

Grabowski says, 鈥淭he success of Knight-led businesses is part of the momentum shaping 麻豆原创鈥檚 future. Through the university鈥檚 $3.5 billion campaign, 麻豆原创 is investing in people, ideas, research and partnerships that will help bring tomorrow within reach.鈥�

鈥淭hese companies demonstrate the transformational power of entrepreneurship,鈥� says Mike Harding, 麻豆原创 associate vice president for partnerships. 鈥淎s they grow, their success creates opportunities for employees, strengthens the industries and communities they serve and inspires other entrepreneurs to pursue their own ideas.鈥�

Learn more about this year鈥檚 top three finalists.听

No. 3: Reception 24/7

Ryan Rapolti 鈥�11MBA, founder and CEO of Reception 24/7, traces his approach to leadership to experiences he had at home.

Rapolti watched his mother return to college while raising a family, which shaped his understanding of perseverance. His stepfather鈥檚 work in vocational rehabilitation also influenced his belief that business can be a vehicle for helping people.

Those influences became part of the foundation for Reception 24/7, which provides around-the-clock answering services for businesses. As artificial intelligence reshapes customer service, the company combines aspects of that technology with human support so clients can remain responsive and accessible. Rapolti applies the same people-first philosophy to the company鈥檚 workplace culture.

For Rapolti, innovation begins with understanding what both clients and employees need, then using technology to strengthen rather than replace human connection.

“You take away so many things from the 麻豆原创 experience 鈥� not just what you learn in a textbook or from the professor, but from the people sitting next to you,鈥� says Rapolti. 鈥淚 am so excited to have been in the top three. Being able to grow quickly is great. Hopefully it will allow us to hire more 麻豆原创 graduates and continue to do great things with the university.鈥�

No. 2: Sebring Driving Club

Four years ago, W. Paul Jones 鈥�94 had a choice to make: accept his fate or pivot.

Jones was the longtime managing director of the Palm Beach Driving Club before the historic raceway shuttered its gates in 2022. When an opportunity to purchase the听Sebring International Raceway appeared in front of him, Jones decided to take action.

Jones, who had extensive hospitality management experience, returned to his longtime interest when he founded the Sebring Driving Club, creating memorable experiences in the form of a private driving community. The club gives members access to Sebring International Raceway and a place to connect through a shared interest in motorsports.

By turning the traditional track experience into a year-round membership community, Jones found a new business model.

Jones challenges aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap and dare to chart their own paths forward.

鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to fail,鈥� says Jones. 鈥淪tart your company and keep on going. Go at it with passion.鈥�

No. 1: Coastal Investment Company

For Coastal Investment Company founders Keith Ahrens 鈥�08, Travis Barr 鈥�09, Tyler Bloechinger 鈥�09 and Carey Sobel 鈥�09, entrepreneurship was shaped by friendships that began at 麻豆原创.

The partners built a diversified investment company that acquires and grows businesses across multiple industries. Their model combines complementary expertise with a hands-on approach to identifying opportunities, supporting leadership teams and helping companies reach their next stage of growth.

They credit 麻豆原创 with providing the mentors, networks and entrepreneurial environment that gave them the confidence to take risks and ultimately launch Coastal together. Those connections remain central to the company鈥檚 culture, from hiring fellow Knights and drawing talent from their 麻豆原创 networks to mentoring students and young alumni.

“We met at 麻豆原创, continued on, kept in touch and pushed each other,鈥� says Bloechinger. 鈥淩elationships are so important. People are what will lead to your success.鈥�

Coastal鈥檚 approach shows how different perspectives and complementary strengths can create a more collaborative model for growth.

Celebrating the Top 25

Interested in Ever Upward? Details about the next application period, including eligibility for 2027 honorees, will be announced at .

See the final rankings below.

1. Coastal Investment Company

• Tyler Bloechinger 鈥�09听

• Keith Ahrens 鈥�08听

• Travis Barr 鈥�09听

• Carey Sobel 鈥�09听

2. Sebring Driving Club

• W. Paul Jones 鈥�94听

3. Reception 24/7

• Ryan Rapolti 鈥�11MBA

4. Orange Tree Staffing

• Mardly Smith 鈥�95听

• Craig Smith 鈥�94听

5. Quadrant Engineering, P.C.

• Rafiqul Chowdhury 鈥�09 鈥�11MS听

6. Island Direct Primary Care

• John Rothwell III 鈥�13 鈥�15MS 鈥�18DNP

7. Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering

• Josh Martin 鈥�07听

8. Maymont Senior Care

• Nichole Blake-Little 鈥�15听

9. Boys Electrical Contractors

• Kyle Nylander 鈥�02 鈥�09听

10. Brewlando

• Shara Sooknarine Pathak 鈥�04

11. Qu5 Services, Inc.

• Zachary Quandt 鈥�84听

12. I’m All Ears

• Shelby Roemer 鈥�08

13. Strategos Group

• Adam Giery 鈥�08 鈥�11MA听

14. CJS Communications

• Christopher Slaven 鈥�13听

• Alexander Fackler Sr. 鈥�11听

15. Space Coast Pool School

• Lauren Broom 鈥�00听

16. Buckalew Hospitality

• David “Skee” Buckalew 鈥�05

17. Knight Federal Solutions

• Chris Baeten 鈥�03听

18. Boston Data Pro, LLC

• Rajeev Verma 鈥�04MS

19. McGinniss Himmel Insurance Agency

• Allen McGinniss 鈥�05

20. Threaded Marketing Group

• Kelly Jo Jefferis 鈥�04听

21. Garney Construction

• Matthew Reaves 鈥�05听

22. aVenue Event Group

• Sean Hughes Jr. 鈥�10听

23. S Cook Productions, LLC

• Stacey Cook 鈥�99听

24. Global Ktech

• Kannan Srinivasan 鈥�96MS听

25. Kavaliro

• Mark Moore 鈥�99听

• John Mahony 鈥�96

• Diane Mahony 鈥�96 鈥�01MEd听

• Bill Peppler 鈥�96听

The more Jake Rose鈥檚 colleagues at 麻豆原创 and his neighbors around Chuluota, Florida, get to know him, the more he surprises them. The California native surfs and gardens. He is as comfortable building barns as he is building frameworks for AI-driven interfaces. He studied premed, minored in information systems and at heart admits to being 鈥渁 closet psychologist.鈥� He and his wife, who is now a visiting lecturer in the Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting at 麻豆原创, raised their two children in New Zealand and recently purchased seven acres of workable land in the Orlando area.

The man with the callused hands is one of only a handful of professors in the world merging artificial intelligence (AI) and neuroscience to shape the future of the field he鈥檚 best known for at 麻豆原创 鈥� accounting.

Welcome to the dawn of neuro-accounting.

鈥淲hen my master鈥檚 students hear about these new ways to view and practice accounting and the tremendous difference technology can make, it heightens their interest,鈥� says Rose, 麻豆原创’s Kenneth G. Dixon Eminent Scholar. He adds with a smile, 鈥淚鈥檓 also more relatable when they find out how I spend my weekends.鈥�

“Accounting provides the information needed for [business] decision-making, and that鈥檚 why neuro-accounting will eventually impact the entire global economy.”

On his most recent Saturdays, he鈥檚 been using his hands to dig postholes for 2,000 linear feet of fencing while letting his mind do what comes naturally to him: envisioning the future. In this one, he sees Paso Fino horses and an orchard.

Then, fully refreshed on Monday, he鈥檚 Professor Rose again with his thoughts laser-focused on what he calls 鈥渢his unusual combination鈥� of behavioral science, technology and accounting.

鈥淚鈥檝e never viewed accounting as just credits and debits,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen you take a step back, you see business is about decision-making. Accounting provides the information needed for this decision-making, and that鈥檚 why neuro-accounting will eventually impact the entire global economy.鈥�

Trailblazing with Technology

Rose joined 麻豆原创 in August 2025 after directing accountancy programs at universities from the South Pacific to America鈥檚 heartland. He made the move because he recognized a unique culture in , which recently received a $50 million gift from entrepreneur and alum Barry Miller 鈥�95 to strengthen tech-driven business education 鈥� including Rose鈥檚 work.

鈥淭his is one of the very few business schools that want to pursue experimental work with technology,鈥� Rose says. 鈥淚 saw it as a unique place to make progress in neuro-accounting, which, other than 麻豆原创, only exists in a colleague鈥檚 lab in Australia.鈥�

He鈥檚 made rapid progress. Within weeks of arriving at 麻豆原创, Rose was named the university’s Kenneth G. Dixon Eminent Scholar for excellence in accounting research. At the award ceremony, Rose emphasized the larger mission driving his work: 鈥淲e can literally improve the world.鈥�

When he says 鈥渨e鈥� in this context, he refers to a collaboration between people and advanced tech.

“When we design systems and interfaces that allow people and AI to make important decisions together, then every business and government can benefit.”

鈥淭he basic mechanics of accounting are already being automated,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he future will be about how people perceive risks within financial data and how technology can improve professional judgment. The consequences of good judgment are massive and affect businesses and lives worldwide. The truth is, we鈥檙e bad at dealing with large amounts of data because our brains are limited. But AI and other new technologies are expanding our limits. When we design systems and interfaces that allow people and AI to make important decisions together, then every business and government can benefit. The implications are massive.鈥�

Those improvements, the way Rose sees them, will have their origins at 麻豆原创鈥檚 Dixon School of Accounting, in the first neuro-accounting lab of its kind in the U.S.

Fun and Fresh: The Future of Accounting

Rose already knows what the future lab could look like because he鈥檚 worked in the Business Behavioural Laboratory at Monash University in Australia. The Dixon School鈥檚 director, Jay Thibodeau, is currently seeking funding to bring the concept to 麻豆原创.

Once complete, the lab would allow researchers to measure how new technology and financial information influence crucial judgment factors like stress and attention.

鈥淯ltimately, we鈥檒l be able to help firms make better decisions,鈥� Rose says.

However, he doesn鈥檛 want to be one of the only people in the world who understands neuro-accounting.

鈥淭his is why I love teaching,鈥� Rose says. 鈥淚 get to spread the word with students and let them experiment. It鈥檚 fun. They鈥檙e enthusiastic about taking accounting where no one has taken it.鈥�

At 16, he opened his first brokerage account听in 2008, with his grandmother鈥檚 help, during the Great Recession because he saw a market that had no place to go but up.

When cloud accounting platforms were just starting to become viable in the early 2010s, he was an early adopter, eventually building a firm that served clients remotely.

Now as听artificial intelligence (AI)听reshapes听迟丑别 business landscape, Hubenthal decided to embrace this听latest inflection point by enrolling in 麻豆原创鈥檚听.

鈥溌槎乖� is ready for every Knight who dares to lean in.鈥�

鈥溌槎乖刺齞oesn鈥檛听just educate you. It finds you. It amplifies who you are and prepares you to make a difference,鈥� says Hubenthal, who is from Elon, North Carolina. 鈥淪ometimes听I鈥檓听amazed that this small-town kid has ended up consulting with business leaders in boardrooms across the globe. Somewhere out there, another teenager is watching the world shift and feeling that pull. 麻豆原创 is ready for every Knight who dares to lean in.鈥�

Leading With a Spirit of Innovation

It鈥檚 Knights like Hubenthal who inspired Barry S. Miller 鈥�95 to invest a transformational $50 million gift into the College of Business to further strengthen 麻豆原创鈥檚 reputation as a global leader in fintech, AI and business innovation.

A graduate of 麻豆原创鈥檚听听program in the听,听Hubenthal听initially came to 麻豆原创 to study听听补苍诲听engineering. But听after听witnessing听迟丑别 impact of the听Great Recession听on听families, including his own,听he听switched听to business and finance.

鈥淚听made it my mission to听understand what happened, why it happened and how to help prevent it,鈥澨鼿ubenthal says.

Early听in his career,听Hubenthal听worked in corporate听finance,听gaining听hands-on experience听补苍诲听learning听how established organizations manage their financial infrastructure.

In 2015,听just two years after听earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree,听he听co-founded听a data analytics firm with fellow 麻豆原创 graduates,听bringing听enterprise-grade听big听data and听analytics听services听to local businesses at an accessible price point.听That听venture earned Hubenthal听recognition听as part of听Business听North Carolina听magazine鈥檚听cover story听on听innovation听in听2016.

Building on Success

He听has since founded firms rooted in data analytics, accounting and finance 鈥� including his firm Bookscaping 鈥� started a financial literacy podcast to share his expertise with small businesses, and published a book, The Simple Fiscal Method: 17 Financial Lessons for Every Small Business Owner to Succeed in Life.

In 2022, he signed on as vice president of finance for ryco.io, an educational startup where he built and still leads the company鈥檚 financial strategy and operations.

He is currently beta听testing听an automated system for the company, which almost fully manages its payable function with safeguards, audit trails and authorizations built in. He envisions this empowering ryco.io to scale its financial operations.

Hubenthal wanted to fully immerse himself in this new era of business and tech, so he is turning to 麻豆原创鈥檚 fintech program to prepare him for what鈥檚 ahead.

鈥淔or me, the real world is the lab. And thanks to 麻豆原创, I鈥檓 just getting started.鈥�

鈥淭he program put me in a room with nearly 30 students from four continents who felt like family within the first month,鈥澨鼿ubenthal听says. 鈥淛ust weeks ago,听I built a portfolio optimization tool for my own retirement account 鈥斕�1听million simulated market days听补苍诲听almost听4,000听years of data, solved by a听supercomputer听in under three seconds 鈥� using what I learned in this program.

鈥淔or me,听迟丑别 real world is the lab,鈥� he continues.听鈥淎nd thanks to 麻豆原创,听I鈥檓听just getting started.鈥�

What was your vision for the College of Business听when you arrived in 2012?

When I arrived, 麻豆原创听had experienced听tremendous growth, particularly coming out of the recession. But that growth made the college feel transactional. Faculty were stretched听thin,听technology had replaced听in-person听interaction听and there听wasn鈥檛听a strong sense听of community.

What struck me most was that while we had excellent individual scholars, we听didn鈥檛听yet have a true community of scholars. People听didn鈥檛听know each other well, and without that,听it鈥檚听very difficult听to build a shared vision.

So,听I听started by听listening. I met one-on-one with every听faculty听and staff member and asked three simple questions: What do you think about 麻豆原创? What would you do if you were me? And what is your role here?

What听emerged听was powerful. Many of our faculty were first-generation college graduates, just like our students, just like Barry and just like me. They听are听here because they wanted to听help build something different. That became the foundation for our vision: creating a culture of engagement that would transform the听college听experience听for everyone.

Faculty,听students听and staff here are expected to interact with each other and with people in industry and the community at large.听This has helped make听us fiercely听practical. Faculty learn what is going on at the forefront of business. The college has a relevant curriculum with hands-on听experiences听for students.听This helps听students discover their path, develop听professionally听and fully engage with their future.

How would you describe the college鈥檚 culture today?

Today, that culture of engagement defines us.

There鈥檚听a quote听from听English听philosopher Herbert Spencer听we often reference:听鈥�The great aim of higher education isn鈥檛 knowledge, it鈥檚 action.鈥澨齀t鈥檚听not enough for students to learn concepts;听迟丑别y need to know how to apply them.

You see that in the building itself.听It鈥檚听full. Students are here, working together, interacting with faculty, and engaging with corporate partners and alumni. That connection to the real world has become part of the fabric of the college, and听it鈥檚听what makes the experience more meaningful听and more transformative.

Changing culture is one of the hardest things a leader can do. It requires people to see a future they听haven鈥檛听experienced yet. But over time, our faculty,听staff听and students have seen the value of what听we鈥檝e听built together,听补苍诲听that鈥檚听what makes it sustainable.

贬辞飞听does听迟丑别听叠补谤谤测听惭颈濒濒别谤听investment听accelerate that future?

鈥淕reat universities win by attracting great people (faculty and students) and creating the conditions for them to succeed. This gift helps us do exactly that.鈥�

This investment allows us to recruit leading scholars at the intersection of business and technology听鈥斕齠aculty who are working on the most pressing challenges facing industry and society.

They鈥檒l help us tackle critical questions around trust in technology, cybersecurity, the concentration of power and how humans and intelligent systems interact. They鈥檒l also help prepare our students to lead in that environment.

At the end of the day, great universities win by attracting great people听(faculty and students)听and creating听迟丑别 conditions听for them to succeed. This gift helps us do听exactly that.

What will听distinguish听迟丑别 college over the next decade?

Our differentiation will come from听deepening our engagement with industry听and technology.

We want to be known as a place where innovation happens first,听where companies come for talent and insight, and where students gain access to real opportunities.

Ultimately, it鈥檚听about outcomes. If we do this right, our graduates will be exceptionally well-prepared for high-impact, high-growth careers. That return on investment will set us apart.

What gives you optimism about the future?

I grew up during the听Space听Race,听补苍诲听at the time, the race to the moon was a sign of hope for people.听Technology was seen as the path to a greater future. With the recent Artemis II launch, I would like听to see听us听instill in our students, and in our leaders, a return to that kind of optimism around what technology听can do. I think those flights are the definition of how technology can enhance the human experience, rather than replace it.

鈥淚 want students to come to 麻豆原创 knowing they can participate in an industry that鈥檚 about to take off, no matter what field they鈥檙e interested in. This is the place to launch the next stage of your career.鈥� 鈥� Greg Autry, 听麻豆原创’s associate provost for space commercialization

A national leader in online education, and the top supplier of talent to the nation鈥檚 aerospace and defense industries, 麻豆原创 launched a in Spring 2026. It aims to meet the expanding needs of the booming industry on Florida鈥檚 Space Coast and around the world. Graduates will emerge ready to shape a fast-growing, high-impact global industry, applying their skills across aerospace, commercial space, government, startups and emerging tech.

鈥淲e have world-class researchers, direct connections to the space industry and the very best location,鈥� says Greg Autry, creator of the pioneering program and associate provost for space commercialization and strategy at 麻豆原创. 听鈥淚 want students to come to 麻豆原创 knowing they can participate in an industry that鈥檚 about to take off, no matter what field they鈥檙e interested in. This is the place to launch the next stage of your career.鈥�

The space MBA merges the university鈥檚 excellence in both space and online education to develop forward-thinking leaders ready to shape the future of the space sector. This part-time, fully online graduate business program spans 24 months and blends core MBA courses with four specialized electives in space entrepreneurship, governmental and commercial space finance, space leadership and the global space domain. With its flexible, asynchronous format, students can learn from anywhere on Earth 鈥� or even in orbit.

At the forefront of this future-ready pathway is Zaheer Ali, a new instructor in the College of Business, and program director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 space commercialization and strategy initiative. He spent more than a decade at NASA and previously led space efforts across the defense and national security enterprise.

“The space industry isn鈥檛 the future. It鈥檚 happening now. Our new space MBA will put talent at the center of that movement.鈥濃�� Paul Jarley, 麻豆原创 College of Business dean

Ali is ready to guide the next generation of space business leaders at SpaceU 鈥� and he鈥檚 hoping to recruit students from every major to find their place in space.鈥淚鈥檓 here helping build what I think is the greatest program in the world for space

business,鈥� Ali says. 鈥淥ur students are 鈥� given direct access to leaders in every aspect of space, creating a space network for them that will be unmatched by graduates of any other program.鈥�

Through more than 25 years of providing highly ranked online degrees, 麻豆原创 is a trusted source for innovative academic programs and pathways, and is recognized among the nation鈥檚 leaders in online education. Courses across more than 130 fully online degree programs are led by world-class faculty with extensive industry and academic experience, equipped to prepare students to succeed in their

careers and advance their fields. 鈥淭he space industry isn鈥檛 the future. It鈥檚 happening now. Our new space MBA will put talent at the center of that movement,鈥� says Paul Jarley, dean of the College of Business, which houses the program. As the business school at Florida鈥檚 Technological University, our goal is not just to fuel the talent pipeline, but to help shape the market 鈥� even if it鈥檚 in space.

Miller was impressed by our reputation as an early leader in technology and STEM fields, our connection to the space program and our success expanding into other areas. In fact, 麻豆原创 boasted one of the highest certified public accountant (CPA) pass rates of any public university 鈥� impressive to an aspiring accountant.

So Miller applied, was accepted and committed to 麻豆原创 sight unseen. It was the beginning of a journey that would change his family鈥檚 trajectory, along with the university鈥檚.

Today, he committed a transformational $50 million gift 鈥� the largest single philanthropic investment in the university鈥檚 history 鈥� to position 麻豆原创 as a global leader in fintech, artificial intelligence (AI) and business innovation by establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

First-Generation Student

Miller is president and co-founder of both Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health. He also founded and sold another successful business in his entrepreneurial career.

But back when Miller was attending 麻豆原创, he was paving the way as the first in his family to go to college. His dad, a self-taught contractor and developer and a single father, saw the value of higher education for his son.

鈥淢y father had a deeply ingrained work ethic that he passed on to me,鈥� Miller says. 鈥淚n the summer, he would get me out of bed early and have me carrying lumber and working on roofs. I learned to work hard, but I also learned that [it] was a tough job to do for 50 years. I wanted to try a different path.鈥�

Once he started on that path, there was no stopping him.

Building Foundations

At 麻豆原创, Miller became a star student. He excelled in accounting, learned numerical analysis and had a knack for understanding financial markets. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance.

鈥淚 learned how to really study and apply myself academically at 麻豆原创. Essentially, I was learning strategy and project management as I made my way through school,鈥� Miller says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how impactful those habits would be until later in life. I realize now that everything I learned at 麻豆原创 has been foundational to my success.鈥�

“I realize now that everything I learned at 麻豆原创 has been foundational to my success.鈥�

Outside of class, Miller became a student-athlete, playing football when he initially came to 麻豆原创. That鈥檚 where he met then-quarterback Darin Hinshaw 鈥�90 鈥�94MBA, who encouraged him to join his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), and became his big brother.

鈥淚nitially, I wasn鈥檛 interested in joining a fraternity. I had this idea that fraternities weren鈥檛 serious about school or life, and I was,鈥� Miller says. 鈥淏ut my experience in PIKE ended up being formative. It鈥檚 where I learned about being a gentleman, dressing for success, networking and more.鈥�

鈥淭o this day, so many of my friends are former fraternity brothers, including one of my best friends, Sean Hayes 鈥�95, who has also been my business partner for nearly 30 years,鈥� Miller continues. 鈥淎s I look back, everything in my life has a connection to 麻豆原创 鈥� my friends, my business partners, my career and even my wife Rosie 鈥�95, since we met in college.鈥�

Leaving a Legacy

As he built his career and found success in the business and financial world, Miller wanted to give back to 麻豆原创. Over time, he has invested in first-generation and STEM student scholarships, 麻豆原创 Athletics鈥� Knights Leadership Academy, the John T. Washington Center mural and more.

Each gift has been based on a personal connection or conviction.

鈥淏eing a first-generation student myself, having that opportunity to support students who are the first in their families to go to college is personal to me,鈥� Miller says.

As his capacity to give grew, Miller wanted to make a transformative gift that would have an impact today and for generations to come. That led to conversations with university leaders about the opportunity to establish as a global leader in fintech, AI and business innovation.

To help bring that vision to life 鈥� and to build early momentum for , 麻豆原创鈥檚 comprehensive campaign to fuel bold ideas and build its future 鈥� Miller has committed to a $50 million gift, establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

The investment will accelerate an innovative new model of business education听designed for a world听where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will prepare听students with the skills the marketplace demands.

鈥淲e are at a seminal moment in business, and AI and new technologies are creating fundamental shifts at a dramatically faster speed than ever before,鈥� says Miller, who was inducted into the 麻豆原创 College of Business Hall of Fame in 2022. 鈥淚 want 麻豆原创 to become the leader in business education, paving the way for everyone else.鈥�

Inspiring Others

鈥淔inding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.鈥�

Until recently, Miller has made most of his gifts to 麻豆原创 anonymously. But as 麻豆原创 unveiled Go For Launch, he saw a powerful opportunity to step forward and encourage others to do the same. By sharing his commitment more openly, Miller hopes to help build momentum and invite broader participation in 麻豆原创鈥檚 vision.

鈥淚 hope this gift inspires people to be part of 麻豆原创鈥檚 mission to create a bold new future and give at whatever level they can. Maybe it鈥檚 $10, $100 or $1,000 鈥� it all makes a difference,鈥� Miller says.

鈥淚 want to tell people this: If it鈥檚 not your time to make a gift today, maybe it will be a year from now, or five years from now,鈥� he continues. 鈥淔inding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.鈥�

鈥溌槎乖� is being trusted to lead, and Barry鈥檚 investment reinforces that 麻豆原创 is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don鈥檛 just succeed in the world 鈥� they come back to help build what鈥檚 next.鈥� 鈥� Alexander N. Cartwright, 麻豆原创 President

The investment will accelerate a bold new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will position 麻豆原创 as a national leader in emerging fields that prepare students to lead with the skills the marketplace demands.

鈥淭his is a defining moment for 麻豆原创 and for the College of Business,鈥� says Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins 鈥�01MBA. 鈥淎s an alumnus, I have seen firsthand how 麻豆原创 transforms lives by opening doors to opportunity, and this extraordinary gift takes that mission to an entirely new level, giving future generations of Knights access to a world-class business education and an opportunity to achieve their full potential.鈥�

鈥淲e are deeply grateful to Barry for his extraordinary belief in this university and in the impact our students make. This is a defining moment for 麻豆原创 and a powerful signal of who we are and where we are going,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥溌槎乖� is being trusted to lead, and Barry鈥檚 investment reinforces that 麻豆原创 is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don鈥檛 just succeed in the world 鈥� they come back to help build what鈥檚 next.鈥�

鈥溌槎乖� gave me the opportunity to build my future,鈥� Miller says. 鈥淭his investment is about creating that same opportunity for others 鈥� and ensuring students are prepared for a world where technology and business are constantly evolving.鈥�

A Defining Moment for 麻豆原创

Few universities of 麻豆原创鈥檚听young听age听have alumni giving back at this level.

At the center of this听milestone听is longtime听supporter and entrepreneur Barry S. Miller,听president of听迟丑别 Florida-based听听补苍诲听Voloridge听Health.听Miller is听a first-generation听college听graduate whose early partnership and belief in鈥痶he university鈥痟elped accelerate鈥槎乖粹�檚 trajectory.

His leadership and commitment to widening听opportunity鈥痟elped lay鈥痶he groundwork for a future-focused strategy that will transform how students learn,鈥痠nnovate鈥痑nd launch their careers.鈥疢iller鈥檚听latest听investment reflects 麻豆原创鈥檚 ability to听produce听talent that succeeds at the highest levels and inspires听that talent to return听not just with pride, but with capacity and conviction to shape听what鈥檚听next.

Building the Future of Business Education

鈥溌槎乖� gave me the opportunity to build my future. This investment is about creating that same opportunity for others.鈥� 鈥� Barry Miller 鈥�95, 听Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health president

will听operate听as a hub for technology-driven business leadership where students, faculty and industry collaborate in real time to solve complex challenges听in emerging fields like artificial intelligence,听fintech听and digital risk.

The focus is not simply on technical skills, but on empowering graduates to take action to address organizational obstacles and lead in fields fueled by rapid technological change.

This vision is grounded in the region 麻豆原创 calls home.

Orlando has rapidly听emerged听as one of the nation鈥檚 fastest-growing technology hubs,听with听demand for talent in fintech and听AI continuing听to听evolve.听Across Florida, one of the largest clusters of banking and insurance firms in the country is fueling new opportunities in financial technology,听risk听and data-driven decision-making.

麻豆原创 sits at the center of this momentum,听uniquely positioned to develop the talent and ideas that will power听迟丑别 future.

The investment will support听a multi-phase strategy designed to position 麻豆原创 as听迟丑别听destination for business and technology education, including:

• Five endowed faculty chairs in fintech, AI strategy, cyber risk,听trust听and disinformation
• A new听master鈥檚听in听technology听leadership and听innovation
• Expanded access to applied learning, including internships, simulations, Bloomberg听training听and industry-led projects
• Growth of 麻豆原创鈥檚 corporate partnership ecosystem.

Together, these investments will create a learning environment that mirrors modern workplaces 鈥� fast听moving, data听driven and deeply connected to industry.

鈥淭echnology is advancing rapidly, and the real opportunity is in how organizations use it to perform,鈥� says听College of Business Dean听Paul听Jarley. 鈥淭his investment allows us to build a business school focused on how the work actually gets done听鈥斺�撎齱here students learn to apply judgment, navigate ambiguity, and lead in environments shaped by technology, data, and organizational complexity.鈥�

Accelerating Momentum

Miller鈥檚 leadership gift听marks a milestone in听听鈥� a听$3.5 billion听campaign to听expand听opportunity,听advance听discovery,听and drive impact across the university.

It sets the tone听for what comes next,听accelerating the pride and vision that will inspire others to invest in 麻豆原创鈥檚 future.

鈥淭his is what momentum looks like,鈥� says听Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships and CEO of the 麻豆原创 Foundation. 鈥淚t reflects confidence in 麻豆原创鈥檚 vision and signals to partners, alumni and investors that this university is building something meaningful and worth being part of.鈥�

Together, talent, opportunity and partnership are converging,听positioning听麻豆原创听to听be a leading force in shaping听what鈥檚听next in business,听technology听and innovation.

鈥溌槎乖� is not waiting to be recognized. We are being chosen, invested in and trusted to lead,鈥� Cartwright says. 鈥淭his milestone gift reflects a growing sense of pride across the university and signals the momentum others will want to help build 鈥� and it is only the beginning.鈥�

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) selected the Florida Small Business Development Center at 麻豆原创 (FSBDC at 麻豆原创) as the National Small Business Development Center of the Year 鈥� recognizing its outstanding performance, innovative programming, and leadership in supporting Central Florida鈥檚 entrepreneurs and small businesses. The 麻豆原创 center was selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants nationwide.

鈥淭his award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network.鈥� 鈥� Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at 麻豆原创

鈥淲e are humbled yet immensely gratified to be honored as the SBDC of the Year by the SBA,鈥� says Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at 麻豆原创. 鈥淥ur team takes great pride in its unwavering commitment to serving the small business community and advancing SBA鈥檚 mission. This award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network.鈥�

The FSBDC at 麻豆原创 is located in the National Entrepreneur Center inside the Orlando Fashion Square Mall near downtown. It serves serves eight counties including Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia. At the Orlando main office, as well as six service center offices, small business owners have access to seminars and no-cost one-on-one consulting with experts who can assist across the following areas:

• Accounting: asset management, record keeping systems and procedures
• Finance: ratio analysis, breakeven analysis, financial projections and business valuation
• Marketing: pricing, advertising and promotion, marketing planning, market research and exporting
• Operations: production and inventory control, project management, risk management and energy conservation
• New Venture Planning: start-up information, feasibility analysis, business planning and general business consulting
• Technical Assistance: preliminary patent searches, patent, copyright and trademark, and technology transfer and SBIR/STTR

Each year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week (May 3-9 this year) by recognizing exceptional small business owners, entrepreneurs and resource partners from across the country. This year鈥檚 winners have been invited to Washington, D.C., May 3鈥�4, where they will be honored during national ceremonies.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 NSBW celebration is particularly historic as our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when our Founding Fathers laid the groundwork for the liberty that powers the engine of free enterprise. The result is our nation鈥檚 prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit 鈥� the very spirit your leadership exemplifies,鈥� SBA Administrator Kelley Loeffler stated in a letter congratulating to the FSBDC at 麻豆原创.