Category: Alumni

Retired College of Business Lecturer Paul Aho Passes Away

Michigan Technological University’s College of Business honors the memory of Paul Aho, a faculty member dedicated to student success.

The College of Business is saddened to announce that long-time College of Business faculty member Paul Aho passed away November 2 at age 71. Aho served as a lecturer in management information systems from 1987 until his retirement in 2006.

In 1978, Aho completed a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in information systems at Michigan Tech, then working in the accounting industry for several years. Later, he a earned a master’s degree in economics from DePaul University.

“Paul was a great inspiration to me as an undergraduate,” said Adam Mitteer ’03 ’17, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Management and a master’s in Data Science at Michigan Tech. “Taking his classes changed the course of how I looked at technology and really academia in general. It was a pleasure to get to know Paul through clubs, as a TA (teaching assistant) for his class, and taking many of his courses.”

Mitteer said Aho also served as a mentor to students through his connections to industry and University alumni, always helping students find the best path for pursuing fulfilling careers.

Read Aho’s full obituary.

COB Alumni Sharon Pickering-Polzin ’93 Appointed the Chief Financial Officer of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center

College of Business students on campus

Sharon Pickering-Polzin ’93 (B.S. Business Administration) has been appointed the chief financial officer of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. In this role, Pickering-Polzin will leverage her expertise in non-profit accounting and strategic planning and her passion for people to drive organizational success and make a meaningful impact within the community. Her educational background complements her extensive career dedicated to the non-profit sector, including significant roles with the YMCA of the Fox Cities and the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes.

Pickering-Polzin’s appointment to the role was covered by Fox Cities Chamber and Broadway World mentioned Michigan Tech alumna Sharon Pickering-Polzin (B.S. Business Administration) in stories about her appointment as chief financial officer of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.

Chelsea Rheault ’22 Offered Houghton County Administrator Position

The Michigan Tech campus

After candidate interviews for the Houghton County administrator position on October 16, the county board voted to offer the job to current county finance director Chelsea Rheault ’22 (B.S. Accounting). Rheault was praised for her strong financial management skills and her contributions over the past three years

Read more in the Daily Mining Gazette.

Ben Stelzer ’15 (B.S. Finance) Appointed Assistant Coach for the Santa Cruz Warriors

Former Michigan Tech basketball player and assistant coach Ben Stelzer ’15 (B.S. Finance) was mentioned by The Daily Mining Gazette in a story about his appointment as assistant coach for the Santa Cruz Warriors. During Stelzer’s career with the Huskies, he finished as the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers and was also named NCAA Division II All-American, Academic All-American and Midwest Region Player of the Year.