Board of Directors

Henry Schwartz – President

I am a senior , double majoring in Entrepreneurship and spanish. I’m an avid skate and snow boarder, I love the outdoors, and spending time around my friends and family. I have been lucky to be able to travel quite extensively over my lifetime and enjoy seeing different parts of the world. In the future i would like to start a company overseas and just see where it goes.

I wandered into entrepreneurship at age 15 when looking for my first job. When the local skateboard store was going out of business, I got a loan and purchased the business. Running Board to Death Skate Shop  throughout high school I learned a lot by doing, and knew I would be my own boss for life.

Throughout my time at UWW I have served 4 semesters on the CEO board, spent a semester in Peru and Argentina, and had a blast sticking out among the crowd.

Hopefully if your reading this you are excited about owning your own business, and willing to ask me for help in any way to reach your goals.

Giotto Troia – Vice President

I am a Junior Entrepreneurship major and this is my 4th semester as the Chief Coordinating Officer of CEO. I’m from Madison, WI. I joined CEO because I believed it would give me great opportunities to gain knowledge of the business world and the chance to network with people striving for the same things as I do. This semester, CEO will be having experienced speakers come in to help students build an award winning business plan. They will be available to work with everyone individually.

After I graduate, I have plans to start my own business. It’s just a matter of which one of my ideas to pursue!!! I’m exited about the future and I hope you are exited about this semester of CEO! I look forward to meeting you and sharing business cards and ideas!

Chris Nwakalo – Chief Business Relations Officer

My name is Chris Nwakalo and I have great aspirations for our future. Whether it be for my own personal well being, or for the betterment of society, I plan on being successful.

I have not always viewed myself as an Entrepreneur due to lack of exposure and constant outside forces encouraging me to spend my life in a cubicle or a corporate office. There is nothing wrong with that, but I realized that this is not for me.

Granted I may spend some of my time working my way up, learning in the business world, but my passion will ultimately lead me to one day be apart of a business that I can call my own!

Joining C.E.O is helping me better myself, meet real business people who have inspiring stories and meaningful advice, build relationships with people who think “outside the box” like myself, while also helping me bring my ideas to reality.

Thanks for taking interest in C.E.O and stop by one of our meetings.

Mike Fitzpatrick – Chief Public Relations Officer

Entrepreneurship defines me. I’m constantly coming up with business ideas, opportunities, and growth. I have created businesses, worked with businesses, and love to help people with their ideas.

One of the core purposes of my position is to link local high schools with our club. The linking is done by members of CEO spending their morning at a high school and speaking with a class on entrepreneurship, college, and their accomplishments. Want to get to know me? Feel free to email me at audiotrio@gmail.com

Anthony Gierzak – Chief Coordinating Officer

I grew up in Greenfield, WI, and ever since I was a little kid I had big ideas on how to change the world.  Through time, those Ideas have changed, but my passion and drive have not.  I have served CEO for the past 2 years as the director of Competition, and I can confidently boast that last year’s was one of the most successful we have had in the four years since the contest started in 2007.  I am now the Coordinating director, and i will be working to bring in a panel of experienced entrepreneurs twice this semester to help students who want to start businesses to ask questions & get the answers they need.  I am also one of the co-founders of Liquidity H2O, and through my work with Bizstarts Milwaukee I helped put together the first-ever inter-collegiate business plan competition between universities in the Milwaukee 7 county region, which ran with great success back in May.

Trae Tessman – Chief Human Relations Officer

My name is Trae Tessmann and I am the Chief Human Resources Officer of CEO. I am a Senior General Management Major. This is my second year in CEO and my second semester on board. CEO has opened my eyes to the opportunites that entrepreneurship can provide people and I plan on taking advantage of these opportunities in the future.

I have many entrepreneurial plans for the future. I want to own a variety of businesses in many fields. Some of my possible ventures include an investment firm, family recreation centers, gyms and health clubs, storage facilities, and hotels/resorts.

As the Chief Human Resources officer, I would like to see CEO grow our numbers even more than last semester. I want to help our members build their interests in entrepreneurship and become more passionate about owning their own businesses. For any questions on joining CEO, email me at tessmanntf01@uww.edu.

Ali Murphy– Chief Technology Officer

I am junior majoring in advertising with a minor in multimedia design. I’m new to the whole entrepreneurship thing but couldn’t be more excited to join the CEO board as the Chief Technology Officer.

When I joined CEO last semester, I was inspired to do great things, and I hope that you too can be inspired by our organization.

One day I hope to start a business with the Chief of Marketing.

Abbie Murphy– Chief Marketing Officer

I’m a Junior majoring in Entrepreneurship. I joined CEO last semester and couldn’t be more enthusiastic about what we have planned for this semester.

One day in the future, the Chief of Technology and I will be opening a business that operates with an emphasis on creativity and community.

Jamie Selck– Chief Financial Officer

Trevor Santarius– Chief Competition Officer

My name is Trevor Santarius and I am a senior graduating in May 2011, I am serving my second term on CEO and my first term on CEO board.  I will be running the elevator pitch competition in the fall semester as well as the early rounds of the business plan competition.  I am from Madison, WI and came to UW-W to build my business skills and learn more about Entrepreneurship, which is currently my Major.  In the 2010 Spring Semester Business Plan Competition I placed in the top 5 with my idea on a modular backpack design.  In 2008 I started my own home theater projector business under the name “Arius_Tech” using eBay as my market; in 2009 I sold over $100,000 worth of projectors and home theater accessories.  Throughout my life I have always been finding ways and opportunities to think as an entrepreneur and I will be bringing these values with me as a CEO board member.  I look forward to a great semester on CEO board and helping take our organization to new levels.