Madison Network Event | Richmond, VA
May 11, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Experience the power of the Madison Network during Career and Networking Month's Networking Event in Richmond, Virginia. Food/drink ticket and a gift of appreciation included.
Alumni panelists include Avrum Elmakis (’01), Nicole Martorana (’07) , Tripp Hughes (’09) and Jill Livesay ('90).
Cost to attend is $25.
Open to Alumni and friends/family!
Deadline to register is May 9.
Agenda:
- 6:00 p.m. - Guests arrive/network and enjoy food/drinks
- 6:15 p.m. - Welcome from Heather Hedrick ('00)
- 6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. - JMU Alumni Panel
- 7:15 p.m.- Alumni Panel Q/A and networking
- 8:00 p.m. - Conclusion
Panelist Bios
Avrum Elmakis (’01)
Avrum Elmakis is a 2001 graduate of JMU’s Integrated Science and Technology program. He describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur and investor,” who has built multiple successful businesses in various markets.
Elmakis and his wife Lauren McKay (’01) started a natural dog treat company in their kitchen soon after graduating from JMU. TDBBS, specializes in the manufacture, distribution and sale of pet related products in domestic and international markets. The company now employs around 125 people in Richmond, Virginia and has numerous facilities around the world.
In 2013, Elmakis was named an Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year. The company has been named to Inc. Magazine's list of the 500/5000 fastest growing businesses in America every year since 2012. In 2016 the company earned a spot on the lauded Inc. 500/5000 Honor Roll, for making the list for five consecutive years. In addition the company has also won numerous awards for being one of the fastest growing businesses in the greater Richmond, Virginia area. Elmakis is active in the community and serves on numerous boards primarily for non-profits.
Elmakis and his wife live in Midlothian, Virginia with their four daughters Ava, Olivia, Sophie and Piper.
Nicole Martorana (’07)
Graduating from JMU in 2007, Nicole majored in Media Arts & Design, Producing & Directing for Digital Video, and minored in Writing & Rhetoric. She returned to school for a Master in Food Culture & Communications from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy
She built on her Italian experience with graduate internships at Food First/Institute for Food & Development Policy in Berkeley, California and the Food Connections Festival in Bristol, England.
She moved to Richmond, Virginia in 2015, where she works as the Business & Marketing Manager and a tour guide for Real Richmond Food Tours and as the Cider Storyteller and Wholesale Rep to Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and the Shenandoah Valley for Blue Bee Cider.
Tripp Hughes (’09)
Tripp graduated magna cum laude with honors in history. He attended the University of South Carolina School of Law for his first year of law school before transferring and graduating cum laude from the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law in 2012. Hughes has held a number of legal positions in Richmond, ranging from a boutique insurance defense law firm to a general practice firm. Hughes is currently an in-house attorney with the legal department at PIEtech, Inc., a software development company in Powhatan, Virginia, that produces financial advising software for financial advisors and firms. In this role, he negotiates a variety of contracts and analyzes and advises the company of risks in its contracts. He is actively involved with the Richmond JMU Alumni Chapter, the JMU College of Liberal Arts Alumni Advisory Board and the Richmond Jaycees.
Jill Livesay (’90)
Jill Livesay is the Chief Accounting Officer and Controller for CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. CarMax is a Fortune 200 company operating 173 super stores in 39 states with over $15 billion in revenues.
Prior to joining CarMax, Jill was the Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer for Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket parts retailer in the U.S. When Jill joined Advance Auto Parts in 1995, they had 500 store locations, ultimately growing to more than $10B in revenues and 5,400 store locations. During her tenure at Advance, she served in several leadership roles in accounting and finance including serving as the support center business leader for integration and transformation of the $2 billion acquisition of Carquest, Inc.
Jill started her career with KPMG after graduating summa cum laude from JMU in 1990.
Hostess Bio
Heather Easley Hedrick (’00)
Heather Easley Hedrick (’00) is the president of the JMU
Alumni Association. As a student, Heather Hedrick worked
at Madison Connection and at The Breeze as an advertising
account executive. The Danville, Virginia native currently
lives in Richmond and is involved in local chapter events, including Crabfest. She is the director of accounting at Carmax and assists with the company’s recruiting at JMU.
Hedrick met her husband, Brandon Hedrick (’00) while they were students at JMU. They have two “future Dukes,” Shelton and Kate. Her favorite thing about JMU is football and tailgating.