ALUMNI AWARDS
The Robinson Alumni Awards acknowledge extraordinary individuals who have distinguished themselves through career achievement and community service. An awards program held each spring recognizes that year’s recipients.
Eligibility Requirements:
The recipients of the Robinson Alumni Awards must be graduates of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business—except in the case of nominations for “Honorary Alumni” awards.
Date and Time
Thursday, May 9, 2024
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM EDT
Location
The Foundry at Puritan Mill
916 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
2024 Honorees
Robinson GROW Alumna Award
Melanie Larkins, MBA ‘14
Melanie Larkins, a Director of Sustainability Services at Accenture, is a proud GSU J. Mack Robinson College of Business (MBA) alum and has focused most of her professional career on global ESG and Sustainability. She drives revenue growth while mitigating risks by reshapes organizations across diverse sectors using innovative approaches at the intersection of sustainability and technology. With deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory landscapes, working on global teams, and her language proficiency, Melanie connects with stakeholders worldwide.
Apart from work, Melanie has served on the LEED Advisory Board and the Indoor Environmental Quality Advisory Board for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and currently serves on the GSU Institute of International Business CIBER Advisory Board. She is a thought leader who contributes to advancing global sustainability efforts through various channels and speaks to groups such as GSU, USGBC, and the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council. In her spare time, she enjoys getting outside in nature, spending time with family, and working on creative projects.
Robinson Young Alumna Award
Victoria Wallace, BBA ‘15
Victoria is an accomplished individual, graduating with honors in 2015 and establishing herself as a respected speaker and leader in the field of IT and innovation. With over 8 years of fortune 50 experience, she has developed a specialized expertise in successfully executing new initiative vision. Victoria's innate curiosity and energy are apparent in every endeavor she undertakes, her impressive range of experience extends across various industries, including insurance, international business development, manufacturing, and more.
In addition to her professional achievements, Victoria is deeply committed to making a positive impact on her community. She is a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient and AmeriCoprs Alum. She is an advocate for woman and girls and proud to be a founding board member of WomenLead, a Robinson College of Business Signature Experience dedicated to advancing women’s leadership. Through her involvement in Atlanta based organizations such as the IT Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) and Women in Technology (WIT), she has provided a platform for young women to develop essential skills and make a significant impact in the world. Victoria is originally from the Pacific Northwest but currently calls the Silicon Valley, Bay Area, of Northern California home. When she is not leading a team of 32 direct reports or researching start-ups and emerging technology, she enjoys traveling, trying new food, and hiking.
Alumnus Award for Service to Robinson
Mike Toran, MBA ‘01
Michael Toran is a seasoned technology executive with a rich background in both domestic and international insurance sectors. With over 30 years of experience, he has held various senior financial and operational roles, offering a holistic, business-focused approach to technology management and strategic decision-making. Currently serving as the Chief Information Officer at Relation Insurance Services, Mike oversees all aspects of planning, managing, and securing corporate and business-unit IT operations, software development, and infrastructure. Mike’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University. He actively contributes to academia as a member of the Robinson College of Business Board of Advisors at Georgia State University and as an Adjunct Professor with Georgia State University teaching graduate level students about New Technologies in Insurance Markets.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Mike finds joy in his family life. His wife, Leslie, is an alumna of Georgia State University College of Law. Together, they are the proud parents of two daughters: one currently a freshman in college and the other a freshman in high school. Beyond his family and career, Mike is a Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing tennis, guitar and participating in motorcycle track days.
Robinson Honorary Alumna Award
Sophia W. Williams
Sophia Williams is Executive Vice President, Customer Services Management (CSM) and General Manager, Telecom and Technology (T&T) at NCR Atleos. As CSM leader, she is responsible for customer service management and managed services operations for the company’s global ATM banking business. For T&T, she has full P&L responsibility for all aspects of this division’s performance in providing network solutions for the world’s top service providers and technology OEMs in support of their enterprise clients.
Previously, Sophia served as Global Services Sales Vice President for NCR and Worldwide Vice President for Services Sales and Chief Marketing Officer for Avaya Global Services. She has held sales, services and customer care leadership positions at Lucent Technologies and AT&T. Sophia currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business where she works to support the growth of the university and the realization of key initiatives. Sophia is also on the Advisory Board of the Service Council, a network of executives overseeing functions of service and customer management.
Robinson Distinguished Alumna Award
Beth Finnerty, MBA/MHA ‘86
Beth Finnerty is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Skyland Trail, a nonprofit mental health treatment organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. During her 35-year tenure, Beth has grown Skyland Trail from a start- up nonprofit serving a handful of clients to a nationally recognized psychiatric treatment organization serving hundreds of clients and their families each year. She has led the development and implementation of five strategic plans, the completion of five capital campaigns totaling more than $65 million, and the development and construction of new treatment facilities across six campuses. She has also overseen a significant expansion of clinical services and programs.
Beth received her Bachelor’s degree from Davidson College and a dual Master’s degree in Business and Healthcare Administration from Georgia State University. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Institute of Health Administration (Georgia State University), the Advisory Group for the Center for Behavioral and Mental Health at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and is a current member of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS). She is a past member of the boards of the Fuqua Center for Late Life Depression (past president), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Metro Atlanta Chapter (past president), the Board of Mental Health America – Georgia (chair), the Emory Board of Visitors, the Georgia Community Trust, the Atlanta Business Leaders Initiative, and the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships (Atlanta region).