The SUNY Old Westbury School of Business welcomed 20 students and three alumni into its chapter of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society on April 8, 2026.
The campus’ Beta Gamma Sigma chapter was chartered in 2024 following the School’s accreditation by AACSB International.
“Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society is the leading business honor society globally,” said Shalei Simms, dean of the School of Business. “Membership is reserved for the top students from AACSB-accredited business schools. The students we honor tonight certainly fit the bill, having shown their excellence through their coursework in class and comportment amongst their peers.”
To be eligible as an undergraduate student for an invitation to join the honor society, candidates must be in the top ten percent of their class and in their second semester of sophomore year or further. Graduate students must be in the top 20 percent of their class and have completed at least half of their program. The students earning entry in 2026 are:
- Metin Yiğit Balta ‘28 (Finance)
- Kevin Demesie ‘26 (Taxation, M.S.)
- Olivia V Doupe’ ‘26 (Marketing)
- Samantha M Ferreira ‘28 (Business Administration)
- Gina Gallardo ‘28 (Business Administration)
- Fahim Hasan ‘26 (Accounting)
- Maxwell Keller ‘26 (Accounting)
- Sara G. Marcillo ‘27 (Accounting)
- Dario Marticio Jr. ‘26 (Accounting)
- Brad Ethan Matrai ‘27 (Accounting)
- Fareeha Mishel ‘26 (Business Administration)
- Andre Morgan ‘26 (Accounting, M.S.)
- Maham Mubashar ‘26 (Accounting)
- Robert Hannibal Ottaviano, Jr. ‘26 (Accounting, M.S.)
- Christopher Ramos ‘26 (Accounting)
- William T. Sesack ‘26 (Accounting)
- Curtis K. Stephenson Sr. ‘26 (Finance)
- Justin C. Taneo ‘26 (Accounting)
- Dimitri Tsakiris ‘27 (Marketing)
- Zahra Yarahmadi ‘27 (Finance)
Along with the students who were inducted, the School of Business recognized three alumni with Chapter Honoree Awards during the campus’ 2026 Installation and Recognition Ceremony. Honoree Awards can be presented to any person who is not a student, who has achieved distinction primarily in business and administration, and who possesses those qualities that Beta Gamma Sigma fosters. The 2026 Chapter Honoree Award recipients are:
- Daniel DePinho '99 (Marketing), president of the global financial services and public sector, general manager SMB, and corporate sales enablement for Circana
- Michael Genova '11 (Marketing), vice president and branch manager, Apple Bank
- Luis Gomez, ‘06 (Management Information Systems), Head of Technology Strategy and Planning at the Suffolk County Water Authority
Founded in 1913, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society is an international business honor society for AACSB-accredited schools, which are the top five percent of business school programs around the world. Members currently reside in all 50 states and more than 190 countries. Members can participate in their collegiate and local alumni chapters, attend additional events regionally, nationally and internationally, and receive educational and professional benefits.
Read more about the campus' Beta Gamma Sigma chapter.
SUNY Old Westbury has been preparing students for careers in business for 50 years. With undergraduate and graduate degree programs centered in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance and Marketing, the School of Business pursues its mission of empowering students with the knowledge, skills, and values to think critically, communicate effectively, and act responsibly in the constantly changing landscape of business today. An accredited member of AACSB International, the School of Business offers rigorous academic training in a small class atmosphere to more than 700 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs.
About Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society
Founded in 1919, Beta Gamma Sigma seeks to fulfill its mission to honor student excellence in business education, develop forward-thinking business leaders, and foster a global community to be catalysts for good. The organization has more than 900,000 lifetime members in all 50 states and 190 countries. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest national recognition a student in business can receive in an undergraduate, master's, or doctoral program at a school accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Page Banner Caption: SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy Sams interviews Chapter Honoree Award recipients (from left) Daniel DePinho '99, Michael Genova '11, and Luis Gomez ‘06 during the induction ceremony.