Professor Wesley Clay

Profile: R. Wesley Clay, MS is presently a Field Training Manager at Banker's Life & Casualty Co. He joined the MKTG department in the VCU School of Business in 2005 after receiving his Master of Science in Global Marketing and being a graduate assistant in the School of Business. Prof. Clay has extensive professional experience in merchandising, marketing, administration, and management. He is also familiar with branding, product development, branding strategy, brand identity, and overseas experience in the European and Asian markets.

Education: Prof. Clay received his Bachelor of Science in Retailing and his MS in Global Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

Teaching Interests: Prof. Clay teaching interests include retailing and merchandising, brand management, and product development. He currently teaches Retail Management (MKTG 320).

Contact information: Prof. Clay can be reached through email at rwclay@vcu.edu.

Professor Brydon DeWitt

Profile: Mr. DeWitt is currently the President of DeWitt & Associates, Inc in Richmond, Virginia. His organization serves university, college, school, health care, museum, foundation, religious organization, cultural organization, retirement and nursing home, library, theatre, and social service clients in building and strengthening their development programs and in capital campaigns. He has been involved in the nonprofit sector and advancement services for universities in both Virginia and Michigan. He is actively engaged in the community with organizations including the Rotary Club and the Midnight Basketball League. Mr. DeWitt has also been the author of The Development Companion since 1995 which is an educational quarterly for nonprofit CEOs, board members, and development officers.

Education: Mr. DeWitt is an alumnus of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master's degree in Fine Arts (1973). He also received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Bridgewater College in 1965.

Teaching Interests: Mr. DeWitt's teaching interests are focused on marketing, advancement, and the nonprofit sector. He teaches Nonprofit Marketing (MKTG 445).

Contact information: He can be reached at (804) 828-1618.

Professor Dennis Elwell

Profile: Currently, Dennis Elwell, National Director, Verizon Enhanced Communities, leads a coast to coast Sales and Marketing Team for Verizon Communications. In this role, Prof. Elwell directs 5 national teams in strategy, engagement, and attainment of the Verizon Fiber Optic FIOS solution into the Multi Dwelling Unit (MDU) marketplace. He has the overall responsibility for the creation, development, and implementation of integrated marketing communications programs. His responsibilities also include the extensive use of data mining, the development of value-based sales and marketing campaigns, and the delivery of strategically integrated communications and media elements.

Prof. Elwell has held a variety of senior marketing roles including the Executive Director of Verizon's Business Recovery and Contingency Planning Customer Solutions, as well as the Director of Converged Services with responsibility for teleworking/remote access programs. He currently manages the Executive Liaison role between Verizon and the Higher Education consortium known as Internet2, in which he is currently serving as the Industry Council Executive for the Advanced Middleware and Applications Advisory Board.

Education: Prof. Elwell received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from East Carolina University in 1982, with concentrations in Management and Marketing. In 1999, he completed Verizon's Management Leadership Development Program which included certificated programs at The University of Virginia's Darden School, Pace University and The Brookings Institute.

Teaching Interests: His teaching interests include Sales Leadership, Strategic Marketing, and Internet Commerce. He currently teaches Integrated Marketing Communications (MKTG 330) and has frequently taught Personal Selling and Sales Management (MKTG 435).

Contact information: Prof. Elwell can be reached at dselwell@vcu.edu.

Professor George Hiller

Profile: George L. Hiller, JD is the Director of International Programs at the SW Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia. He began with the MKTG department in the VCU School of Business in 2002. George L. Hiller founded and directs the Global Virginia project at the SW Virginia Higher Education Center. He works with a consortium of small two and four-year colleges to develop international education and study abroad programs for faculty and students. Prof. Hiller and the Higher Education Center have received regional and national awards for the development of innovative short term international business study abroad programs in rural America. Prof. Hiller is also a consultant for the VCU Business and International Education grant and the VCU Business School program with the Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico.

Earlier in his career, Prof. Hiller was an international trade banker with commercial banks in Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Richmond. He served as an International Trade Manager for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and established Virginia's export promotion office in Mexico City. He is a licensed attorney in Virginia and previously worked for the Office of the Attorney General in Virginia. Prof. Hiller is fluent in Spanish and has traveled extensively in Mexico and South America.

Education: Prof. Hiller received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Mexico, an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a Juris doctorate from the University of Richmond. He also has completed the economic development training program at the University of Kentucky.

Teaching interests: His teaching interests include international marketing, trade finance, globalization, and international commercial law. At VCU, he is the Co-Director with Dr. Van R. Wood of MKTG of the International Business Certificate Program (MKTG 697). This course, which is offered in partnership with a number of Richmond-area economic development organizations, is a practical, broad-based view of what it takes to be successful in the international marketplace.

Contact Information: Prof. Hiller can be reached through email at glhiller@vcu.edu.

Professor Connie Kympton

Profile: Connie Kympton, MS is currently president of Domenica’s Homemade, LLC, a food product development company. Her professional experience includes working for state government as an Assistant State Supervisor for school foodservice and as a Senior Marketing Promotions Representative for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In addition, Connie has held management positions with Vie de France Corporation and WestPoint Pepperell.

Education: Professor Kympton has earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education from James Madison University in 1970 and a Master of Science from Virginia Tech University in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management in 1983.

Teaching Interests: Her teaching interests include marketing principles and sales. She currently teaches Integrated Marketing Communications (MKTG 330).

Contact Information: Professor Kympton can be reached at ckympton@vcu.edu.

Dr. Julie Ranson

Profile: Julie Ranson, Ph.D. has a professional background in the teaching, sales, retail management, and office management. She has experience in several industries including public education, web design, internet marketing strategy, insurance, women’s apparel sales and management, training and development, and small business consulting. She is currently Associate Professor of Business at John Tyler Community College in Midlothian. Her work experience includes roles at Thalhimers, J.C. Penney, Mutual of New York Insurance, as well as Chesterfield County Public Schools and Southside Virginia Community College.

As Board chairwoman of the Blackstone Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Ranson worked with small businesses and local government to create an environment conducive to successful business operations. She has taught courses in the disciplines of marketing, human resource management, organizational behavior, operations and supply management, and management. Dr. Ranson has spoken and written professionally on topics related to adult learning, student engagement, entrepreneurship, internet marketing, and small business marketing.

Education: From VCU, Dr. Ranson earned both a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1984 and a Master of Science in Business with a specialization in Marketing in 1994. Her Ph.D. in Education earned in 2009 from VCU focused on Adult Education and Human Resource Development.  Her dissertation study was titled, “A Case Study of the Self-directed Learning of Women Entrepreneurs in the First Four Years of Business.”

Teaching interests: Her teaching interests include marketing and business management. She currently teaches Marketing Principles (MKTG 301).

Contact information: Dr. Ranson can be reached at (804) 828-1618.

Professor Butch Sarma

Profile: Butch M. Sarma, MBA is the Senior Marketing Director for Media General Incorporated, a Richmond headquartered holding company for numerous media outlets including the Richmond Times Dispatch, InRich.com, Richmond.com, the Charlottesville Daily Progress, and NBC17 in Raleigh. He has been a member of the adjunct faculty since 2007. He has extensive expertise in technology consulting, marketing sales, product management, international marketing, market research, and brand consulting. Brands that he has been a part of developing include Paladin Tools CrimpAll, Hohner harmonicas and Eclipse guitars, and DealTaker.com. He is also a veteran of the US Army, 10th Mountain Division, from upstate New York.

Education: He has a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art in 1985 and a MBA in 1991 from Old Dominion University.

Teaching interests:  His teaching interests include marketing management, digital media marketing, and branding. Prof. Sarma currently teaches Marketing Management (MKTG 671).

Contact Information: Prof. Sarma can be reached at msarma@mediageneral.com.

Dr. Wayne Slough

Profile: Wayne Slough, Ph.D. has a professional background in the sales, marketing, and delivery of diverse products and services. He has experience in several industries including insurance, information technology, corporate education and development, and organizational effectiveness consulting. He is currently the Managing Director of Development at Saint Bridget Parish in Richmond. His work experience includes roles at Jefferson Pilot, AT&T, Dale Carnegie Training, and Right Management Consultants. A former Dale Carnegie instructor and instructor-trainer, he has also taught courses in the disciplines of marketing, human resource management, and organizational behavior at Virginia Commonwealth University, John Tyler Community College, Averett University, and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Dr. Slough has spoken and written professionally on topics related to sales effectiveness and workplace performance.

Education: Dr. Slough earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Virginia Tech in 1981. He earned a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Education in 2008, both from VCU and concentrating in Adult Education and Human Resource Development.

Teaching interests: His teaching interests include personal selling, sales management and marketing. He currently teaches Personal Selling and Sales Management (MKTG 435).

Contact information: Dr. Slough can be reached at sloughwm@vcu.edu.