YSU Williamson College Honors 3 Outstanding Alumni

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Williamson College of Business Administration celebrated homecoming weekend at Youngstown State University Friday evening by honoring three graduates at its 27th Annual Alumni Reception.

“Welcome home. This is Homecoming,” said the dean of the Williamson College, Kelly Wilkinson. “No matter where life takes you, you will always be a Williamson College of Business Administration Penguin.”

The reception was held in the Weir Atrium at Williamson Hall, the home of the business school and a natural-light architectural gem that opened in 2010.

Wilkinson noted the beauty of Williamson Hall – and the previous home of the business college, a dreary edifice with almost no natural light known as “The Bunker.”

“Yes, you survived The Bunker,” she quipped in a nod to alumni from decades past.

“My journey at YSU started in The Bunker,” said Charles “Chuck” George, who graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. “That was all we knew.”

Today George is vice president of the YSU Board of Trustees and CEO of Hapco Inc. and Sapientia Ventures LLC. He was honored as Outstanding Alumnus.

George told how his parents said, “If I wanted money, I had to earn it.” And so, his first job was mowing grass. He went on to work at Republic Steel, which “convinced me to finish college,” he said to laughter.

The first job David Stillwagon held was “paper boy,” he said, delivering the former Vindicator every day, no matter the weather conditions.

Stillwagon is CEO of Community Corrections Association Inc., a not-for-profit that operates community-based corrections facilities and programs. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree in 2017 and was honored as Outstanding MBA Alumnus.

Stillwagon described himself as “a servant” in service to returning citizens who deserve “dignity and respect” and a second chance.

Marcy Angelo, director of operations for White Glove Payroll, earned her Bachelor of Science in 2015 and was honored as Outstanding Recent Alumna. She expressed gratitude for her “Mahoning Valley roots,” internships and early work opportunities at Junior Achievement and the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.

“I grew up knowing the importance of hard work and good worth ethic,” Angelo said.
Angelo joked that her work with White Glove Payroll and its clients across the country has taken her to “85 racetracks in 20 states.”

Along the way, the revenues of her company have grown 400%, she said.

All three honorees expressed gratitude to their mentors, co-workers and family. And they emphasized the importance of networking to advance their careers and business goals.

As Wilkinson, the dean, put it: “No matter where life takes you, you will always be a Williamson College of Business Administration Penguin.”

Pictured at top: Kelly Wilkinson, Marcy Angelo, David Stillwagon, Charles “Chuck” George and Helen Lafferty, YSU interim president.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.