Grounded in faith, driven by innovation, and committed to serving the region’s future business needs—a new advisory board is born.
On Oct. 30, 2025, more than a dozen professionals—business leaders and alumni—gathered to discuss the future of the Batterman School of Business. Equipped with institutional knowledge and hands-on experience, these thought leaders are poised to propel Concordia’s business school to the next level. The result: students who will graduate ready to meet the demands of today’s evolving workforce.
“Higher education is changing rapidly, and by listening closely to the voices of today’s business leaders, we can remain relevant and forward-thinking,” said Scott Niederjohn, Ph.D., dean of the School of Business. “Together with our faculty, staff, and advisory board, we are committed to ensuring that our students gain real-world experiences while at Concordia.”
Experiential Learning in Action
The School of Business is composed of professors who come from the business world. They’ve rolled up their sleeves, opened doors, and achieved their goals. As teachers, they’re prepared to guide students toward quality internships and C-suite mentors. Students gain hands-on experience through ventures such as Concordia Red Elephant Chocolate, The Mentor Initiative, AI & Quantum Innovation Lab, and CU Ventures Fund Management.
The advisory board was strategically composed of returning members who bring valuable past perspectives, along with new community leaders who offer fresh insights into higher education.
One board member, David Latona, president of the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation, said he was very impressed by the new members’ depth and diversity of professional experience.
“With a wide range of industries represented, the board should be well positioned to provide the new dean and the university with real-time insights and feedback,” Latona said. “Drs. Niederjohn and Griffin led an efficient meeting with concise and engaging discussion from the entire group. The opportunity to meet current CUW students topped off the day; they were smart, engaging, and I believe each of them will be successful, in part because of the education and experiences they are receiving at CUW.”
Finance student Micah Hoehner, a senior completing his MBA through the Business Scholars program, was invited to attend the meeting to offer a student perspective. Hoehner serves as chief financial officer of the Student Government Association, president and fund manager of the Investment Club, and is involved in The Mentor Initiative, Study Abroad programs, Capitaf Scholars, and more.
Offering his unique, behind-the-scenes perspective, Hoehner said the meeting was productive and will lead to many wonderful opportunities for students.
We Are Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
Rooted in Christian principles, the School of Business remains committed to delivering a value-based education that connects faith with practice. By engaging with the business community, students develop lasting relationships and an entrepreneurial mindset—empowering them to lead and transform our global society.
Hoehner urges current and prospective students to be as involved on campus as possible. “Join clubs, take on student leadership roles, participate in activity organizations, and attend speaker events and career fairs,” he said. “Dr. Niederjohn’s Liberty, Faith and Economics Summit is a must-attend event.”
Previous speaker events included names such as Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media; Kyle Mann, editor-in-chief of The Babylon Bee; Sen. Phil Gramm; and Mollie Hemingway, senior editor at The Federalist.
Dean Rennicke, assistant dean of external relations for the School of Business, said,
“The vision for the School of Business, pioneered by Scott Niederjohn, is to be nimble, excellent, and a place where values matter in the business world.”
Rennicke noted that companies want CUW students to work for them and emphasized that the advisory board is composed of great people who will help the school grow and stay ahead of trends.
We Are Guided and Supported
“We are deeply grateful to these business leaders for taking time out of their busy schedules to help guide the strategy, planning, and direction of the Concordia Batterman School of Business,” Niederjohn said.
A special thanks to the 2025–26 Advisory Board members:
- Joel Dykstra, PWSB, senior vice president/chief credit officer
- Bob Peiffer, retired Sargento vice president of marketing
- Jessica Wolff, assistant city administrator for Mequon
- David Latona, president of the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation
- Jill Busch, director of learning and development for ManpowerGroup
- Diana Barnett, retired MillerCoors executive
- Larry Baab, chief executive officer of Four Wheel Campers
- Richard Egleston, president of national sales for Arthur Gallagher
- Dan Fraid, regional human resources manager for XPO Logistics
- Joe Wood, chief marketing officer for Sendik’s Food Market
- Dale Kooyenga, president of MMAC
- Beth Kern, retired John Deere marketing executive
- Jack Craemer, retired alum
- Matt Chiappetta, Harley-Davidson franchisee
- Brandon Goldbeck, chief executive officer of Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin
- Danica Holt, marketing manager for Capture Sports & Entertainment
- Rebecca Ehlers, vice president of marketing for the Milwaukee Public Museum
Niederjohn said the group left the meeting inspired, with several actionable ideas for the future. “We look forward to incorporating their input into our continued growth.”
This is the start of a new era for the Batterman School of Business—one that will solidify CUW as a top regional business school. Are you ready to grow with us?
Want in?
Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.
The Batterman School of Business offers a complete range of business education programs and degrees including bachelor’s programs in:
- Sport and Entertainment Business
- General Business
- Finance
- Healthcare Administration
- Marketing
- Accounting
- Business Analytics and Organizational Performance
- Actuarial Science
Business undergraduate students also participate in the Concordia Core, a rigorous, liberal arts curriculum integrated with Lutheran distinctives. Graduate programs include Concordia’s highly ranked Master of Business Administration (with 14 concentrations), Master of Science in Leadership, Master of Science in Accountancy, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and two doctoral programs—a Doctor of Business Administration and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Business Administration.