College of Business Hall of Fame
2019 - 2020 Alumni Inductees
From senior-level executives at top corporations to highly successful entrepreneurs, we are proud to welcome our 2019-2020 College of Business Hall of Fame inductees back to Illinois State University to interact with students, faculty, alumni and industry partners. Their accomplishments and commitment to excellence not only reflect their professional dedication and service to others, but also add value to our programs and the Illinois State brand for all of our graduates. For past inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Hall of Fame [Read More...]
Holding this induction ceremony and luncheon during Business Week provides students, faculty, and other alumni the chance to interact with the inductees and learn from their experiences.
DAVID R. BEAN, '77
ACCOUNTING
Director of Research and Technical Activities Governmental Accounting Standards Board
J David R. Bean is the director of research and technical activities for the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). He assigns and provides oversight to the GASB’s research, technical, and administrative activities. Prior to joining the GASB in 1990, David worked in public accounting and government.
He also has served as Deputy Chairman of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB). He was the lead author on the 1988 Governmental Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting and was the founder of the GAAFR Review. He was the last director of the National Council on Governmental Accounting before the formation of the GASB in 1984.
WENDY CAMA, '90
ACCOUNTING
Partner | Crowe LLP
Wendy Cama is a Partner in the Financial Institutions practice at Crowe LLP, a top ten public accounting firm in the United States, with revenue of approximately $950 million. Crowe LLP is a public accounting, consulting and technology firm with offices around the world. Crowe uses its deep industry expertise to provide audit services to public and private entities.
Crowe is a leading firm in the financial services industry and audits more publicly traded financial institutions than any other firm in the U.S. Wendy is the partner leading the Northeast Audit Practice, including New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Connecticut and Vermont. She specializes in audits of financial institutions. Her experience includes securities offerings, including initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, SOX 404 and various consulting services.
Wendy currently also holds the roles of the Office Managing Partner for the New York office, serves on the Firm’s audit management team, serves on the Firm’s Inclusive Excellence Council, and recently completed a term of six years on the Firm’s Board of Directors, serving the last three as Chair.
Wendy was selected as one of NJBIZ Top 50 Women in Business in New Jersey in 2016. She was also honored to be selected to receive an award in March of 2018 in the Inaugural Great Places to Work for All as a representative of Crowe. Honorees were women leaders from Companies on the FORTUNE 100 best places to work for and best places to work for women. She was chosen by senior leadership of Crowe for being a leader who has consistently played a critical role in helping the organization deliver on strategic growth and business goals by creating a high-trust culture that is a great place to work for every employee.
Wendy is actively involved in the New York Bankers Association, New Jersey Bankers Association and the Financial Managers Society. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Union County, New Jersey and Junior Achievement of North Jersey.
MIKE ESSINGTON, '81
BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS
IT Architect | State Farm Insurance - Retired
Mike Essington is a 1981 graduate of Illinois State University. Graduating with a degree in Business Administration and the Business Information Sequence. After graduation, he began working at State Farm Insurance in Bloomington as a COBOL programmer. He had several different roles in Information Technology over his 34-year career.
In 2015, he retired as an IT Architect in the Enterprise Data Architecture area. Since retirement, he has been volunteering his IT skills at Epiphany Catholic Church and School as Director of IT. .