The law firm of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel (CB&S) has established an endowment to honor the legacy of its late senior partner, John C. Stophel, known throughout the Chattanooga area for his solid business acumen, leadership style, and service to his community, including UTC. The endowment will support the Chambliss Bahner & Stophel Student Recognition Banquet, where the John C. Stophel Distinguished Students are formally recognized.
The purpose of the banquet is to debut UTC’s top business students to the business community and community-at-large. The John C. Stophel Distinguished Students are high-potential students at the senior or graduate level, who like John Stophel, have made significant and meaningful civic contributions to UTC and COB while maintaining a strong academic record. These students provide evidence of exceptional extracurricular leadership and community service and possess strong leadership skills, a self-motivating initiative, exceptional presentation skills, and a strong academic record with minimum GPA of 3.0.
The 2007-2008 John C. Stophel Distinguished Students are:
Undergraduate students
Shannon Acree
B.S. Business Administration: Marketing
Acree has been a student assistant in the College of Business since 2004. She works directly with Dr. Richard Becherer, Harris Chair of Excellence. Acree is a member of the University Honors Program, a four-year interdisciplinary program for academically gifted and motivated students, made up only 35-40 students at each class level. She is a member of Chi Omega Sorority, Presbyterian House Campus Ministries, and the American Marketing Association. Acree has volunteered for the American Cancer Society and interned at Chattanooga Goodwill Industries.
Acree is spending the summer as an intern with Fitzgerald+CO in Atlanta, Georgia.
Pierre Dabit
B.S. Business Administration: Entrepreneurship
B.S. Business Administration: Marketing
B.S. Business Administration: General Management
Pierre Dabit, manages his family’s business. He sponsors community-wide events for inner city high schools, and civic organizations such as 100 black men, 100 black women, and NAACP. He was the first non-Greek, minority student to ever run for SGA president. He tutors current students in business classes and has helped them achieve their academic goals.
Krystal Godfrey
B.S. Business Administration: Marketing
Godfrey completed a one-year marketing internship at Covenant Transport. She was a student worker in the Dean’s Office in the College of Business and assisted the College in its efforts to begin the Certified Financial Planning course. Additionally, Godfrey worked with CenterBrain Partners as an account coordinator and assisted the CEO with marketing research. She was Vice President of Programs for UTC’s American Marketing Association.
Godfrey graduated in December 2007 and is now employed in Chattem’s marketing department.
James Hendricksen
B.S. Business Administration: Finance
Hendricksen was active in Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honors society. He helped organize Meet the Firms, an annual recruiting event for accounting and finance majors, and increased recruiter participation to include the Knoxville and Nashville markets. Hendricksen volunteers at his church and the Ronald McDonald house. He outsold other salespeople in the district for three consecutive months while working part time.
Hendricksen graduated in December 2007 and is employed as a Data Analyst at Beacon Verification Services.
Natasha Romanova
B.S. Business Administration: Finance
B.S. Business Administration: Accounting
Romanova served as President of the International Student Organization. She is an alumnus of the University Honors (UHON) Program, a four-year interdisciplinary program for academically gifted and motivated students, made up only 35-40 students at each class level. Romanova has published two articles. She served on the UHON Publications and Social committees. An active member of the campus community, Romanova coordinated over thirty social and fundraising events. She volunteered at the VITA Tax Clinic for low income families and individuals.
Romanova graduated in December 2007 and has accepted a position with KPMG in Denver, CO.
Jack Shearer
B.S. Business Administration: Accounting
Shearer is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honors society. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving in Iraq, and was promoted four times. Shearer spent a year teaching urban warfare skills to 200-300 marines weekly. This training was solely dedicated to savings lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Naval Achievement Medal. He has been accepted into Ernst & Young’s internship program.
Shearer plans to enroll in the Master of Accountancy program at UTC and take the CPA certification exam.
Kendra Teffeteller
B.S. Business Administration: Accounting
Teffeteller is active in a number of organizations on campus, including Beta Alpha Psi, Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and the University Honors Program. She works as a student assistant in the management department of the College of Business. Teffeteller also participates in intramural sports and volunteers for the Ronald McDonald House. Her hobbies include wakeboarding, running, and playing the piano. She also has an interest in travel and has visited 11 different countries.
Teffeteller plans to enroll in graduate school to obtain a Master’s of Business Administration. She will take the CPA certification exam and hopes to work for one of the big four public accounting firms.
Graduate Students
J. Michael Bradshaw
Master of Business Administration
While entering the fourth decade of his professional career, Bradshaw returned to school to pursue his MBA. He launched Next Knowledge, LLC, an internet-based training company specializing in fire and electrical safety that achieved profitability in its first year of operations. He has been involved with several local charities including fund-raising for the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, the aquarium, and animal adoption efforts. Additionally, he provides pro-bono consulting services to the non-profit economic development agencies Southeast Local Development Corporation and The Appalachian Fund for Growth.
Bradshaw completed the MBA program in December 2007.
Wayne Collins
Master of Business Administration
Collins is Vice President of Marketing/Communications at United Way of Greater Chattanooga. He led the United Ways of Tennessee state marketing committee; improving communication among United Ways across America. He is the executive-level officer and public relations director for Knights of Columbus Council 6099 in Chattanooga. In the past year, Collins has contributed more than 100 hours to community and church services. He served as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Collins completed the MBA program in December 2007.
