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Alumni Profiles

Rachelle Turiello (Col class of ’24)

Rachelle Turiello (Col ’24) was a panelist at the UVA Alumni Entrepreneurship Summit that took place in Arlington, Virginia, in 2025. We chatted with her about the UVA experiences that have prepared her for and supported her through her entrepreneurial journey and the advice she’d share with fellow entrepreneurs.

Billy Howell (Batten class of ’18)

Billy Howell (Batten ’18) was a guest speaker at the UVA Alumni Entrepreneurship Summit that took place in Arlington, Virginia, in 2025. We chatted with him about the UVA experiences that have prepared him for and supported him through his entrepreneurial journey and the advice he’d share with fellow entrepreneurs.

Ben Holmes (Engr class of ’09)

Ben Holmes (Engr ’09) was our keynote speaker at the UVA Alumni Entrepreneurship Summit that took place in Arlington, Virginia, in 2025. We chatted with him about the UVA experiences that have prepared him for and supported him through his entrepreneurial journey and the advice he’d share with fellow entrepreneurs.

Annie Page (Col class of ’17, Darden class of ’23)

Annie Page (Col ’17, Darden ’23) was a panelist at the UVA Alumni Entrepreneurship Summit that took place in Arlington, Virginia, in 2025. We chatted with her about the UVA experiences that have prepared her for and supported her through her entrepreneurial journey and the advice she’d share with fellow entrepreneurs.

William Chichester (Col class of ’05) & Patrick Payne (Col class of ’97)

William Chichester and Patrick Payne don’t shy away from the tough conversations about hiring. In this spotlight they cut through the hype around AI to share what’s actually changing, what’s staying the same, and why relationships still matter more than ever in today’s job market. Their candid perspective offers a preview of the bold insights they’ll bring as hosts of Bald, Bold, & Hired on February 19—an interactive session designed to spark honest discussion, fresh thinking, and meaningful alumni connections.

Erin McDermott (Col class of ’05, Educ class of ’06)

While at UVA, Erin McDermott could often be found making jewelry for friends and selling her handmade pieces at local boutiques. What began as a creative outlet quickly became a calling. Now the founder of Erin McDermott Jewelry in Charlotte, NC, she recently designed a UVA-inspired necklace to celebrate her Reunions year. Erin reflects on […]

Anne Marie Morán (Col class of ’08)

Anne Marie Morán is the founder of Ola Bola, a line of lightweight, water-resistant, and stylish bean bags. She was one of our 2024 12 Gifts of Hooville partners, and chatted with us about all things UVA and her journey to create Ola Bola.

Brandon Wooten (Col class of ’04), Brad Uhl (Col class of ’07), and Dan FitzHenry (Darden class of ’18)

Brandon Wooten, Brad Uhl, and Dan FitzHenry are the trio behind Grit Coffee, which started right near UVA in 2008. They’ve since expanded their food & beverage ventures to include Charlottesville-area favorites Broadcloth, The Wool Factory, Selvedge Brewing, The Workshop, and Snowing In Space. Brandon, Brad, and Dan partnered with us for our 12 Gifts of Hooville in 2024. Get to know a little bit more about them.

Susan Tynan (Col class of ’98)

Susan Tynan was a panelist at the UVA Alumni Entrepreneurship Mini-Summit that took place in Arlington, Virginia, in 2024. We had a chance to catch up with her on all things UVA and her journey to build Framebridge, a custom framing service.

Clare Spooner (Col class of ’14)

Clare Spooner is a visual artist living and working in New York City. Her abstract Rotunda painting was featured as one of our 2024 12 Gifts of Hooville partners. Clare shared some stories about her UVA days and her path to become a fulltime artist.