News

Cynthia, a senior at Kennesaw State University majoring in Accounting, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! With her focus on building a strong foundation in accounting, Cynthia is eager to gain industry insights, explore career paths such as auditing and financial reporting, and prepare for professional opportunities after graduation. Through this mentorship, she will have the chance to connect with an experienced professional who can guide her transition from student to accounting professional.

Samuel, a Finance major at Virginia Tech, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! We're excited to connect Samuel with a mentor who can provide valuable insights into the finance industry and share perspectives on career opportunities in banking, investment, and corporate finance. Through this mentorship, Samuel will have the opportunity to expand his professional network, gain industry knowledge, and receive guidance to help him excel academically and prepare for future career success.

Ike, a junior at University of Pennsylvania majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics with minors in Japanese and Fine Arts, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! We're excited to support Ike as he explores his passion for business consulting and his diverse academic interests spanning critical thinking, policy analysis, economic principles, cultural studies, and creative expression. Through the guidance of a mentor, he'll have the opportunity to deepen his understanding of consulting methodologies, develop his problem-solving skills, and build valuable professional connections that will help him transition into a successful career in business consulting.

Marshall Bettendorf has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program as a mentor, bringing four decades of leadership and event management experience in college athletics and professional golf. For 18 years at Furman University, Marshall played a pivotal role in shaping the school’s athletic programs—starting in marketing, then leading fundraising initiatives, and ultimately serving as Director of Athletic Events. He advised on two NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, ensuring world-class experiences for athletes, coaches, and fans. After Furman, Marshall spent 22 years with a PGA Tour event, where his expertise in operations, volunteer coordination, and community engagement became a defining asset. He also served as Volunteer Chairman for 14 AJGA tournaments and one USGA Girls Championship, building a reputation for flawless execution and a deep commitment to amateur and professional golf.

Jason High has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program as a mentor, bringing more than two decades of global supply chain leadership across aerospace, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries. A change leader who connects people and strategy, Jason has built his career working across complex, matrixed organizations to deliver measurable impact. Jason's leadership journey began with his service in the United States Marine Corps, where he started developing his supply chain skills before knowing this would become his career path. As an experienced Lean and Six Sigma practitioner, he thrives on challenging the status quo and inspiring improvement in every aspect of operations. His leadership style is rooted in candor, humility, and an entrepreneurial spirit, balanced by a passion for coaching others and developing the next generation of supply chain leaders. Throughout his career, Jason has built credibility and trust with customers, employees, regulators, and community stakeholders alike. His genuine passion for supply chain excellence and commitment to staying hungry, remaining humble, and never losing the drive to make things better make him a valuable addition to the Sparks Mentorship Program.

Neil, a sophomore at Santa Clara University majoring in Finance and Mathematics, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! We’re excited to support Neil as he builds his expertise at the intersection of finance and quantitative analysis. With the guidance of a mentor, he’ll have the opportunity to expand his professional network, gain valuable industry insights, and develop the skills that will help him achieve success in both academics and his future career.

Adelya S., a junior at Bentley University majoring in FinTech and Business Administration, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! We're excited to support Adelya as she explores her diverse interests in financial technology, business administration, and the innovative intersection of finance and digital solutions. With the guidance of a mentor, she'll have the opportunity to gain deeper insights into these rapidly evolving fields, develop her analytical and strategic thinking skills in the fintech space, and build valuable professional connections that will help her navigate the many career paths available in today's technology-driven financial services landscape.

Derek Delisle has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program as a mentor! As a CPA and senior manager in the CFO Accounting and Advisory Practice at CohnReznick Advisory LLC, he brings deep expertise in financial strategy, operational excellence, supply chain management, and the critical intersection of accounting and manufacturing operations. With a strong foundation in manufacturing and production environments, Derek has built his career on delivering measurable impact—consistently boosting profits, accelerating inventory turnover, and enhancing vendor performance across global operations. His specialized focus on inventory costing gives him unique insights into one of the most complex areas of financial management. Derek's hands-on experience spans the full spectrum from factory floor realities to C-suite financial strategy, allowing him to bridge the gap between operational challenges and financial solutions. This dual perspective enables him to tackle complex business problems with both analytical rigor and practical understanding.

Molly Lynch has joined the SetFire Foundation Advisory Board! We are thrilled to announce that Molly Lynch has joined the SetFire Foundation Advisory Board in the role of Advisor & Student Recruiting Director! As SetFire Foundation continues to grow and broaden our impact, attracting and developing exceptional talent is crucial to our mission. Molly's appointment comes at a pivotal time as we expand our reach and deepen our influence in supporting the next generation of leaders. Molly brings invaluable expertise in student development and mentorship. As a Learning & Development Program Lead at Amwins, she designs and delivers impactful programs that drive business results. She has successfully mentored over 200 college students through learning programs and internships at Red Ventures and Coca-Cola Consolidated. Her talent for connecting with students and helping them realize their potential makes her the perfect addition to guide our recruiting strategy. In this critical role, Molly will help us recruit undergraduate students from across the country. Her expertise will be instrumental in identifying students for our mentorship program as we achieve our ambitious goals and create lasting change. Please join us in welcoming Molly to the SetFire Foundation family. Her leadership in student recruiting will be essential as we scale our impact and reach more communities. Welcome aboard, Molly!

Amandeep, a senior at University of Washington-Tacoma majoring in Accounting with a minor in Business Analytics, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! We're excited to support Amandeep as she explores her interests in accounting, financial reporting, and data-driven business insights. With her comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and analytical expertise, she's well-positioned to navigate the evolving landscape of modern finance and business intelligence. Through the guidance of a mentor, she'll have the opportunity to deepen her knowledge of industry best practices, develop her technical and professional skills, and build valuable connections that will help her transition successfully from her academic pursuits into a thriving career in accounting and business analytics.

Cem Ersolmaz has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program as a mentor, bringing more than three decades of global leadership in manufacturing, supply chain, and quality operations. A retired global operations and quality executive from Colgate-Palmolive, Cem most recently served as Vice President of Quality for Oral Care Products & Warehousing, overseeing quality and compliance for 18 manufacturing sites, 15 contract facilities, and over 200 warehouses—managing a $35M budget and 525 employees while driving $100M+ in new product revenue and $50M+ in cost savings. Cem’s career highlights include spearheading a $400M+ annual savings transformation as Global Director of Supply Chain Strategy & Planning, building Colgate’s highest-efficiency low-cost plant in Istanbul, and leading global engineering innovations for brands like Suavitel, Palmolive, and Fabuloso. His leadership has impacted thousands of employees across 30+ plants worldwide, consistently improving efficiency, margins, and speed-to-market. Since retiring in 2024, Cem has continued to share his expertise as an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers Business School, mentoring over 100 students and coaching future leaders with a focus on technical excellence, strategic thinking, and ethical leadership. His deep global perspective and passion for developing talent make him a powerful addition to the Sparks Mentorship Program.

Sunober has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program as a mentor! She brings extensive experience as a Director of Marketing and Planning at The Coca-Cola Company, with expertise spanning brand strategy, communications operations, and stakeholder alignment. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated excellence in leading multifunctional teams, developing global campaigns, and creating scalable processes that enable others to achieve clarity and impact. She is passionate about empowering emerging leaders to unlock their potential, build confidence, and successfully navigate uncertainty, with a particular focus on supporting young professionals from underrepresented backgrounds.