Business alumni are strengthening Warrington

When Saby Mitra arrived as dean at Warrington in 2020, he reshaped the Business Advisory Council to be more actively involved in shaping the college’s strategy.

Mitra worked with two key members – City Furniture Co-Founder and Chairman Keith Koenig and retired Accenture CEO Jorge Benitez – to turn the board into one that drove strategy instead of only serving as an accountability group for the college as it had historically.

The active approach strengthens Warrington’s connection with the professional world. Senior leaders who are shaping the business world are now directly involved in guiding Warrington’s future.

“We’re highlighting our commitment to listening to input from the business community,” Mitra said. “It’s no longer only people with academic backgrounds helping us make decisions. We’re hearing from people who are leading major companies to know what our students need and where we need to focus in the future.”

The 36 active members currently on the board hold titles like CEO, CFO, Co-Founder, President and others at leading companies like Bloomin Brands, JPMorgan, KPMG, Procter & Gamble, Truist and Wells Fargo. Led today by retired Primerica CFO Alison Rand, the council meets twice a year in Gainesville to engage with Warrington leadership about the future direction of the college.

The meetings have already created into positive change. The council quickly identified an increased focus on the undergraduate program as an opportunity, as well as multiple options for growing executive education programs. The council will play an important role in directing college strategy for years to come.