About the UNE College of Business Executive Advisory Board
Who The Members Are and What They Do
The University of New England’s College of Business Executive Advisory Board are a group of seasoned industry executives consisting of senior leaders and founders, each with 20+ years of demonstrated success. Drawing on their collective expertise, they:
- Advise on curriculum and strategy, ensuring academic programs reflect real-world business trends and skill requirements.
- Serve as industry ambassadors, opening their networks to UNE faculty, students, and recruiters, and facilitating partnerships, internships, and guest lectures.
- Champion student recruitment and career outcomes, providing insights into talent needs and helping the College attract, prepare, and place high-quality candidates.
Why They Are Important
In today’s fast-changing business environment, close ties to industry leaders are crucial. Our board:
- Keeps us on the cutting edge, continuously scanning market shifts so UNE graduates emerge with the right mix of technical skills and strategic thinking.
- Acts as a powerful advocacy group, raising the College’s profile among employers, alumni, and peer institutions, and amplifying UNE’s reputation regionally and beyond.
- Provides philanthropic and in-kind support, advising the Dean on fundraising initiatives and helping secure resources to enrich student programs and faculty research.
What the Partnership Means for UNE Business Students
By partnering directly with veteran executives, UNE students gain:
- Industry-vetted learning experiences, where coursework is shaped by the very people hiring tomorrow’s leaders.
- Mentorship and networking pathways, unlocking internships, job placements, and one-on-one coaching that fast-track early career success.
- Strategic foresight, as the board’s guidance ensures our programs evolve alongside emerging trends, positioning UNE graduates to lead in a global marketplace.
Together, these efforts create a dynamic learning ecosystem where theory meets practice, opening doors for UNE College of Business students today and well into the future.
Meet the Executive Advisory Board
Advisory Board Chair
Andy Brenner, MBA, CPA
Vice Chairman, National Alliance Securities
Andy Brenner brings 25+ years of fixed-income trading experience on Wall Street to the UNE College of Business Executive Advisory Board.
A graduate of both the Wharton School (B.S., accounting magna cum laude; MBA, finance) and Penn’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (B.A., international economics), he has held leadership roles at Nomura Securities and Guggenheim Partners. Brenner has served on the University of Pennsylvania Basketball Board for over two decades and sits on the boards of the Maine Jewish Museum and the Children’s Cancer Fund of New York Medical College. He is a frequent contributor on Fox Business, CNBC, Bloomberg, and the NYSE.
Dave Anderson, Ph.D.
Managing General Partner, Supply Chain Ventures, LLC
Dave Anderson is a venture investor and consultant specializing in supply chain, sales, and marketing software.
He retired as managing partner of supply chain consulting at Accenture. Anderson holds a Ph.D. in econometrics and finance from Boston College and a B.A. in economics from the University of Connecticut. He joined the EAB to support innovation and entrepreneurship among UNE students.
Charlie Buckley
Owner, Kennebunk Outfitters and Investment Committee Chair, Family Office
After 25 years in finance at UBS, formally named the Union Bank of Switzerland, Charlie Buckley moved full-time to Kennebunkport in 2019 and opened Kennebunk Outfitters.
He chairs his family office’s investment committee and remains active in youth sports coaching, golf, running, and fishing. Buckley sits on the boards of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and Kennebunk Business Association.
Haj Carr
CEO and Founder, Trueline
Haj Carr is a business strategist and entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience founding and scaling companies.
He launched Trueline in 2011, growing it into a full-service recruiting and marketing agency with a dedicated talent division serving construction, legal, finance, and tech clients. A passionate mentor, Carr guides entrepreneurs through growth and leadership challenges. He’s also a salsa dancer of 17 years and a committed health-and-fitness advocate.
Peter Dufour, J.D., MBA, CPA
Founder and Principal, Dufour Tax Group, LLC
Peter Dufour began his tax career at Hill & Barlow in Boston, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and strategic planning for corporations and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
After chairing the tax department of a regional accounting firm in Maine, he launched Dufour Tax Group in 2015, serving clients nationwide. Earlier he taught mathematics in the Peace Corps in Zimbabwe and at Hebron Academy. Dufour holds a B.S. in applied mathematics from the University of Maine, and earned his J.D. (cum laude) and MBA from Boston College.
David Engle
Co-Founder and Advisor, Upright Labs
David Engle co-founded Upright Labs, steering it to seven-figure profitability before its 2022 sale.
He continues advising startups focused on sustainability and previously launched Startup Village in partnership with the University of Maryland to support student entrepreneurs. Engle earned his B.S. and M.S. in business (logistics and supply chain focus) from UMD’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.
John W. Geissinger, CFA
Former CIO, Christian Brothers Investment Services
With over 40 years in portfolio and risk management, John Geissinger pioneered advanced immunization strategies, mortgage-prepayment models, and fixed-income option pricing.
He has led senior teams at Bear Stearns, Putnam Investments, Aetna, Chancellor Capital, and, most recently, as CIO for Christian Brothers Investment Services. Geissinger earned his B.S. in mathematics and economics from Wake Forest University and his MBA (statistics) from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Karin Gregory, J.D., M.P.H.
Managing Partner, Blue Highway Capital
Karin Gregory co-founded Blue Highway Capital after serving as chair of CEI Ventures and is vice president at Mass Ventures, focusing on socially responsible early-stage investments.
She also co-founded FGD Law, representing tech startups and investors across New England. Gregory holds a B.A. from Wells College, an M.P.H. from Boston University, and a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire’s School of Law (with advanced licensing certificate). She is admitted to practice in Maine and Massachusetts and serves on multiple for-profit and nonprofit boards.
David H. Jackson, Ph.D.
Independent Consultant and Former Partner, Marsh McLennan Companies
David Jackson, recently retired from Oliver Wyman and Mercer, now advises boards on executive succession and governance.
His clients have included Microsoft, Aramco, AstraZeneca, The World Bank, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. A former associate professor of English at Centenary College, he serves on the Occidental College Board of Governors and will chair American Friends of Sussex University. Jackson earned a B.A. in English from Occidental College and a Ph.D. from Columbia University, where he is a guest executive lecturer in organization and leadership.
Sean Miller
Co-Founder and COO, Rarebreed Veterinary Partners
Sean Miller co-founded Rarebreed Veterinary Partners, ranked #35 on the 2023 Inc. 5000, and earned Ernst & Young’s 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year in the veterinary sector.
He also leads Mattie’s Treats, a specialty dog-treat company funding AKC Canine Health Foundation research. Before founding these ventures, Miller held leadership roles at IDEXX, PTC, Accenture, Sprint Nextel, and State Street. He serves on the boards of the Animal Welfare Society and Kennebunk Soccer Club and coaches youth sports. Sean holds an MBA from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School and a bachelor’s in finance from Villanova University.
Sean O’Leary, MBA
VP of Sales and Marketing, Hussey Seating Co.
Sean O’Leary holds a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Maine and an MBA from the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School.
After running his own west-coast contracting firm, he joined Hussey Seating in 1995, left to lead Unilock in New York, then returned as vice president of sales and marketing in 2015, guiding Hussey into its 190th year. O’Leary lives in Scarborough, Maine, with his wife and four adult children.
Karen Osterheld, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Center for Advancing Accounting Education, AAA
Karen Osterheld leads best-practice initiatives in accounting education at the American Accounting Association.
Previously a senior lecturer at Bentley University for 31 years, she managed the department’s internship program. Osterheld earned her Ph.D. in accounting and joins the EAB to give back to a community she’s served throughout her career.
Gregg Paulhus ’79
Co-Founder and President, Paulhus Brothers, Inc.
UNE alumnus Gregg Paulhus ’79 holds a bachelor’s with a double major in Business Administration and Psychology from UNE and an M.S. in Counseling from the University of Maine.
After five years in HR at a Fortune 500 computer manufacturer, he co-founded the regional flooring and construction firm, Paulhus Brothers, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026. Paulhus has chaired the UNE Alumni Council, including four years as President.
Partner with Us
Looking to host a guest lecture, offer meaningful internship opportunities, organize a networking event, or explore other ways to collaborate with UNE’s College of Business? We’d love to hear your ideas. Email Dylan Thomas to connect.