Category: Majors

Denny Socha ’86 to Share Time and Talent with Marketing Students

College of Business identifier

Michigan Tech alumni Denny Socha ’86 (BS in Mechanical Engineering) will present a lecture on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 9:30 am in ChemSci 101. The talk is part of a Principles of Marketing (MKT3000) class instructed by Junhong Min, Associate Professor of Marketing.

In his talk, Socha will discuss STP marketing—Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning— a marketing model that helps businesses identify and target their audience, and position their products to be more effective.

Also, on October 10, Socha will share his career success journey with the American Marketing Association (AMA) student organization at 5:30 pm in AOB 101. Pizza and drinks will be served.

Socha’s visit to campus is part of the Time & Talent initiative of the Michigan Tech Office of Alumni Engagement, which aims to connect successful MTU alumni with students, faculty, and staff through guest lectures, presentations, and learning opportunities.

Socha worked in consumer research and product research throughout his 26-year career at General Motors. He retired as Senior Manager, Global Product Research.

Denny Socha is a marketing professional with over three decades of experience working in the automotive industry. Most of his experience, which also included four years in Switzerland with the GM Europe marketing team, supported Chevrolet with Brand and Advertising Research. Providing the customer insights behind such memorable campaigns as An American Revolution, Chevy Runs Deep, Find New Roads and Real People/Not Actors, his efforts were recognized by the Advertising Research Foundation with the prestigious David Ogilvy Gold Award. Denny is a member of the Advertising Research Foundation and Association of National Advertisers. Denny has been married for 35 years to Kristi and they have three children. He enjoys traveling with family and snowboarding.

Transforming Healthcare Through Technology: Insights From Dr. Giridhar Reddy Bojja’s Research


Dr. Giridhar Reddy Bojja’s journey from India to the United States, coupled with his extensive academic and professional experience, has positioned him as a leading expert in his field. Bojja is a newly-hired assistant professor in the College of Business.

The following article about Bojja’s research is from Outlook, a current affairs and news magazine from India. By Manish Saini; published August 1, 2024.

Giridhar Reddy Bojja

Laura Sieders Named Edward and Betty Robinson Endowed Faculty Fellow in Accounting

The Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs has announced that College of Business faculty member Laura Sieders (COB) has been named the Edward ’66 and Betty Robinson Endowed Faculty Fellow in Accounting, which was created to attract, reward and retain highly talented faculty who focus on growing the College of Business’ accounting program.

Sieders serves as director of the MS in Accounting program and co-teaches the Applied Portfolio Management Program. Her teaching philosophy contains elements that provide experiential education, mutual respect and progressive expectations. To assure that her students are prepared for success in their courses and in their careers, Sieders serves on the external engagement committee and is the advisor to the Kappa Sigma Iota (KSI) Accounting Club, which aligns very well with her student-centric philosophy. Outside of campus, she serves as the accounting advisor for two local nonprofits.

Madison Mattila, BS in Accounting and MIS, Receives PCAOB Scholarship

Madison Mattila (left)

College of Business undergraduate Madison Mattila has been awarded a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholars Program scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholarship funds tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment.

Mattila has a double major in Management Information Systems and Accounting (with a concentration in Data Analytics). She is also pursuing a master of science in accounting and a certificate in accounting analytics. She expects to complete her bachelor’s degree in spring 2025, and her master’s degree in fall 2025.

The PCAOB Scholars Program seeks to benefit students who are likely to become auditors and to make a difference to students who might otherwise choose a different career path. Participating educational institutions nominate a scholarship recipient from among students enrolled in their accounting degree program.

Mattila was recognized as an outstanding student by the accounting faculty in spring 2024. Also in spring 2024, she received the 2024 Dean of Students Award for Possibilities.

Mattila is the president of Kappa Sigma Iota (KSI) Accounting Club, the College of Business representative and public relations chair for Undergraduate Student Government, and vice president of the Women’s Golf Club. She is also engaged in the Applied Portfolio Management Program and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Mattila also coaches girls’ soccer at Houghton High School and serves as a Big Sister for Big Brother Big Sisters of America.

Alexander Maze Contributes to Geology Lab Guide Publication

Alexander Maze ’27 Management has contributed to the recently published lab guide, “Investigating the Earth: Exercises for Physical Geology,” published by the University of Houston. View the publication.

Maze enhanced the images in the publication, digitally improving the appearance of illustrations that were lacking in color quality and detail.

Alexander Maze