Brit Talks – Gerstackers: Where Are They Now?

Four alumni of the Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management will share their inspiring stories about their work and personal lives at the Brit Talks Friday, Nov. 10 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Norris 101.

Register for Brit Talks
The event is part of the Gerstacker Institute’s 50th Anniversary Celebration and is free and open to the public.

Guest Speakers

Josh Fales, ’06

Josh is a 2006 graduate of Albion College’s Gerstacker Institute, is president and founder of CreateMyTee. He sold his first t-shirt at Albion College in 2005. Josh started his career working for Coherix, a hi-tech startup in Ann Arbor, where he focused on purchasing and operations. Josh made the transition to fulltime CreateMyTee in 2009. CreateMyTee has averaged a growth rate of almost 30% year over year and will print over half a million shirts in 2023. The company currently employs 30+ people, from NJ to CA, with the manufacturing based in Grand Rapids, MI. Josh currently resides in the Ann Arbor area, is married to Dr Jane Chargot and a proud father to Teddy (4) and Oliver (2).

John W. Pearce, ’11

John is a Portfolio Manager at Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. IMRF serves nearly 500,000 employees representing more than 3,000 employers throughout Illinois. IMRF is nationally recognized for excellence in the public pension community having received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2019 and maintaining an actuarial funding ratio near 100%. Pearce joined IMRF in 2019 to launch an internal equity management program and brings his experience in quantitative portfolio management to provide cost-efficient exposure to beneficial factor premia for the fund. Pearce and his team were responsible for ~$5 billion of assets representing ~10% of IMRF’s total portfolio.

Previously, Pearce served as Director of Quantitative Research for NorthPointe Capital where he oversaw the development of quantitative models and application to domestic equity strategies. Pearce graduated with an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business as a Wallman Scholar (High Honors) with concentrations in Analytic Finance and Behavioral Science. He completed his undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Economics at Albion College, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Pearce is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago and Chicago Quantitative Alliance, and was recognized in Chief Investment Officer magazine’s Class of 2023 NextGens.

Caroline (Dobbins) Hurteau, ’12

Caroline is a 2012 graduate of Albion College and the Gerstacker Institute. Since graduation, Caroline has worked in the non-profit sector with a focus on marketing, program management, events, and fundraising, first in Detroit and now back in her hometown of Albion. While in Detroit, Caroline completed her Masters in Community Development at University of Detroit Mercy, School of Architecture & Community Development. An Albion native, Caroline knew that community-based work was most impactful when done in a place you love, so she returned to work her hometown of Albion in 2018.

Caroline currently serves as the Community Liaison at Caster Concepts, Inc., and Executive Director of INNOVATE Albion. As Community Liaison, her role is diverse and reflects Caster Concepts’ commitment to Civic Engagement, Education and Economic Development. From race management for Run Albion to fundraising for Swingin’ at the Shell, her work centers on creating opportunities for community members and visitors to experience Albion together. As Executive Director of INNOVATE Albion Caroline works to bring hands-on STEM Education and Robotics experiences to students throughout Albion and the greater Albion area.

Outside of her work as Community Liaiso, Caroline and her husband Andrew, also class of 2012, own The Ryan Club Cigar Lounge in downtown Albion. Caroline serves at Board Chair for Kids ‘N’ Stuff Children’s Museum in Albion and as a member of the Albion College Alumni Board. Caroline and Andrew moved to Albion in July of 2022 and have enjoyed making their own home in Albion including flying the Briton flag for home games and walking their dog Abby around campus.

Natalie Krauss, ’18

Natalie Krauss graduated from Albion College in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management with an Emphasis in International Business and International Economics, and a minor in Business and Organizations within the Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management. During her time at Albion she was a Goalkeeper in Women’s Lacrosse, a sister of Alpha Xi Delta, President of the Canoe and Kayak Club, and a proud member of the Gerstacker Institute. Following graduation, Natalie entered a rotational leadership development program at Faurecia Clean Mobility. She worked in various positions in the US until moving to France to be an Acquisitions Program Manager for zero emissions products. She continued working as a Program Manager in the Zero Emissions Division until taking a role as a Marketing Intelligence and Corporate Business Strategy Analyst for Faurecia Hydrogen Solutions in 2021. Currently, Natalie has begun a new role as a Program Manager at Aludyne focused in aluminum die cast products for automotive. Her aptitude and passion for managing teams began at Albion and has allowed her to embrace a career of hands-on leadership.