10 Under 10

Reinhardt University 10 Under 10

Reinhardt University Alumni are active in many communities throughout the world. Each year, Reinhardt recognizes distinguished alumni who exemplify the mission of our institution. The 10 under 10 award is given to a group of alumni who graduated within the last 10 years and are successful in business, the military, nonprofits, government, ministry and/or the arts. Their pictures hang in the Student Center as a reminder of how Reinhardt alumni make a difference!

Maria Flores Blackburn '15

Maria Flores Blackburn works for Smith & Howard, PC, a top Atlanta certified public accounting firm, as a staff member in its tax department. Maria discovered her passion for public accounting during her time at Reinhardt where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Maria was the recipient of the 2011 Goizueta Foundation Scholars Fund Scholarship, was student body president and received the Outstanding Female in SGA and Student Leader of the Year awards. She also was her class’ student speaker at graduation. Maria currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, Benjamin, and cats, Rousey and Luna. Maria and Ben love to travel and have recently obtained their PADI Advanced Open Water Scuba Certifications.

Cade Fowler '07

Cade Fowler earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Reinhardt. Two days after graduation, he began his career in TV news as a general assignment reporter for WALB News 10 in Albany. Cade currently serves as co-anchor WALB's Today in Georgia. Cade also has anchored WALB News 10 at 7 on ABC and spent two years as a weekend anchor/producer. In 2010, Cade was named Best Anchor/Reporter Class B Television by the Georgia Associated Press. His reporting has been recognized by the Georgia Commission on Family Violence and the South Georgia MADD campaign. He recently was nominated for an award for his wall-to-wall coverage of the deadly Americus Police Shootings. Cade lives in Albany with his wife, Alli, and their Dachshund, Ellie.

Jamie Gianfala '16

Jamie Gianfala graduated from Reinhardt in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management Leadership, magna cum laude. He was a non-traditional student, as he began his degree path while employed with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, where he served in the undercover narcotics division, criminal investigations and uniform patrol. He now is the deputy chief for the Cherokee Marshal’s Office. The opportunity to attend classes at night and learn in an accelerated format was exactly what Jamie wanted and needed to earn his degree. The amount of required work was demanding, but so was the reward in completing the work. Jamie is married to Donna and they have two daughters, Madison, 19, and Kendall, 16. Madison is a Reinhardt student and plays softball. Kendall is a high school junior.

Kaitlyn Henderson '13

Kaitlyn Henderson is the Brand Ambassador and Social Media Specialist for Atlanta’s 680 The Fan. She previously worked as the Digital Content Director for Cumulus Atlanta, which included Q100, Kicks101.5, Rock 100.5, 99x, OG 97.9 and News Radio 106.7. Kaitlyn received her Bachelor of Communication and Arts with a Public Relations and Advertising concentration in 2013. As a student, she was a member of Sigma Lambda and was awarded the Excellence in Leadership by the McCamish School of Business. Kaitlyn was also awarded the Academic Degree Program Awards for Public Relations and Advertising and the Student Success and Leadership Scholarship. Kaitlyn lives in Atlanta and is involved in a nonprofit organization called IC13. When she is not traveling to Honduras for mission work, she can be found by the river with her two dogs, Waylon and Bluebell.

Stephen Long '09 '14

Stephen Long has found his place in the classroom at Etowah High School in Woodstock, passing his love of music on to younger generations. He serves as the Director of Bands at Etowah High School. Since joining Etowah High in 2015, the band program has grown in size and continues to make strides each year. He currently is working with other band directors in the district to create a larger Jazz presence by offering an Honor Jazz Band event. Long earned his Bachelor of Music Education in 2009 from Reinhardt and continued to earn is Master of Music with a focus in Conducting in 2014. He had the opportunity to teach in Fulton County, Georgia, and in Long Beach, Mississippi. He is active in District 9 of the Georgia Music Educators’ Association. He, his fiancée and their dog live in Woodstock.

Jose Resendiz '14

Jose Resendiz graduated in 2014 summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, and minors in Marketing and Advertising. While at Reinhardt, Jose was a Goizueta scholar. He also received his master's degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Currently working as a Graphic Design Associate with Advance Illinois, Resendiz designs publications and data visualization to help foster public understanding of the education system. Jose is working toward his goal of one day giving back the same opportunities that higher education opened up for him. He has established a foundation in which the first $1,000 scholarship will be awarded in spring 2018 to a Cross Keys High School senior, with a Hispanic background, seeking a post-secondary education.

Dr. N. Alexandra Riccardi '10

Alex Riccardi graduated summa cum laude from Reinhardt in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. While at Reinhardt, she played softball and was a part of the 2010 AAC regular season championship team. During her senior year, she was awarded the Thelma Rogers Silver Eagle Award. After graduation, she stayed on at Reinhardt as the pitching coach while she prepared for the Dental Admissions Test and completed dental school. During her time as pitching coach (2010-2011), the team was 2011 AAC regular season and conference tournament champions, advancing to the NAIA World Series. In 2015, Alex earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine. She returned to Americus to working alongside her father at his dental practice. They have been practicing dentistry together for two years.

Jeremy Roberts '10

Jeremy Roberts graduated from Reinhardt University in 2010 with his bachelor’s degree in sports studies. He also played on the Reinhardt Eagles baseball team. Today, Jeremy works for Pittman Industrial Marketing, a company that provides technical engineering assistance to manufacturing facilities in the southeast, the Caribbean and China. His experience at Reinhardt, both on and off the field, prepared for life and his career. He said he learned teamwork, work ethic, resiliency and community. In 2014, Jeremy married his high school sweetheart, Anna Roberts, and together they have a beautiful 2-year-old girl, Fae Elaine Roberts. Anna Roberts is a distinguished graduate of Oglethorpe University where she was an All-American basketball player who also had her jersey retired. In Jeremy’s words, “She is a big deal.”

Brett Shirley '07

Brett Shirley attended Reinhardt College (University) from 2005-2007, graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in History, magna cum laude. Brett was hired by the Gwinnett County Police Department and has remained with the department since then. Brett and his wife, Corrie Shirley, are the founders of the nonprofit organization, The Harvest Ministries. The organization provides various humanitarian aid to people of northern Gwinnett County and southern Hall County. It also provides humanitarian aid in El Salvador through financial support for children who need books, pencils, paper, etc. in order to attend school, as well on boots-on-the-ground assistance in El Salvador. Brett said he made a good choice when he transferred to Reinhardt in 2005, and he fondly remembers the friendly nature of the faculty and their care for his academic success and personal growth.

Stacey Williams '12 '14

Stacey Williams graduated in 2012 with a bachelor’s in organizational management and leadership and again in 2014 with a master’s in business administration. He joined the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office in 2008 as the director of administrative services/CFO, where he managed a $35 million budget. In October 2016, Stacey became the Administrative Services Agency Director for the Cherokee County Government Offices. Stacey serves on the Reinhardt University President's Advisory Council and is an Adjunct Professor for the McCamish School of Business. His memberships include Rotary Club of Canton, International and Georgia City/County Managers Associations. He and his wife, Debra, have two daughters, Blake and Torie. He is a member of The Way, The Truth, and The Life Christian Center where he teaches various workshops and Sunday School classes. He enjoys outdoors activities including mountain biking and tournament fishing.

Information

Office of Alumni Relations & Giving
770.720.5508
Alumni@reinhardt.edu

10 Under 10

Alumni