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Spring Marlin Business Conference: Riding the Wave of Innovation
CEO Clarissa Thurston ‘27 leads the student team responsible for coordinating this semester’s big event, April 14 - 17
University News |March 13, 2025
This semester, Clarissa Thurston ’27, a Battten Honors College student double majoring in Business and International Studies with a concentration in International Business, has a new title to add to her already impressive resume. As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Spring 2025 Marlin Business Conference, she says that it is her goal to lead, inspire, and execute a conference that leaves a lasting impact on the VWU campus.
Thurston, a first-generation college student from Monpelier, Virginia, along with her classmates in Frank Futyma’s MBE 301: Principles of Management class have been actively engaged in implementing all aspects of the four-day conference, scheduled for April 14 – 17. With the theme, “Riding the Wave of Innovation,” as their vanguard, the students’ plans for the event represent the culmination of months of work in facilitating every aspect of the event as C-suite executives. The biannual experience helps business students to gain practical knowledge in essential management skills such as product development, networking, and project and financial planning.
“I want to ensure that every student walks away with valuable knowledge, meaningful connections, and real-world experience that will help them in their careers whether they were a member planning the conference or an attendee at one of our events,” notes Thurston. “Through strategic planning, collaboration, and problem-solving, my team and I are working hard to create an event that is engaging, inclusive, and tailored to our student body. Most importantly, I hope to set a high standard for leadership and innovation, showing that when students take initiative and work together, we can create something truly incredible!”
Thurston’s high standards for leadership and innovation shine through in the drive she exemplifies in other aspects of her life. She’s also a member of VWU’s Field Hockey and Track & Field teams, primarily competing in hurdle and pole vaulting. She also serves on Virginia Wesleyan’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Morgan's Message group. In high school, she competed in DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) and attended the International Career Development Conference three times, placing in the top 20 her junior year for her startup business plan on a “Sodium Content Detector.” Currently, she’s an economic development executive intern with the City of Virginia Beach, where she’s gaining valuable professional experience, and this summer, she has plans to complete an internship with Lantia in Seville, Spain.
In addition to Thurston, talented members of the student leadership team include: Chief of Staff Nick Barnes; Chief Technology Officer Garrette Kellam; Chief Financial Officer Tudor Vlad; Co- Directors of Finance Matthew Smith and Ashlyn Boykin; Chief Operating Officer Hovohannes Madanyan; Chief Marketing Officer Tuva Flink; Director of Marketing Coy Camiscioli; and Chief Logistics Officer McKenna Howenstine.
Thurston says that their April event agenda is coming together.
“We have been working hard to bring this conference to life,” explains Thurston. “We’re collaborating as a team to find common ground solutions, secure our own guest speakers, and organize key professional events. From fundraising efforts to logistics planning, we’ve tackled every challenge head-on to ensure a seamless experience. Whether refining competition details or coordinating networking opportunities, our team’s dedication and hard work are making this conference a reality. We can’t wait to see it all come together!”
The opening event will include guest speaker Andrew Cohen, an academic entrepreneur and distinguished master lecturer of finance. Cohen is an award-winning financial educator and a former top Wall Street trader who is best known for creating the Future Traders platform, which is designed to revolutionize financial education by providing hands-on, real-world trading experience. Cohen's keynote address will focus on Bernie Madoff and will offer insights into one of the most infamous financial fraud cases in history, sharing valuable lessons on ethics, risk management, and the evolving landscape of finance.
The week continues with popular and traditional Marlin Business Conference events such as the ISP and Ethics Competitions and the widely-regarded Shark Tank Competition. A Linked-In Networking event will offer students the opportunity to connect with industry professional and fellow students. A visit to The HIVE in Virginia Beach’s Town Center is also planned for students to meet with the Director of Economic Development and learn about the city’s international incubator and strategies for growing small businesses. In addition, several guest speakers will be on campus to share their expertise and wisdom. So far, Bill Murray (Dominion Energy), Sean Wetmore (Introships), and Chris Anderson and Jade Edwards (Anderson Edwards PLLC) have been confirmed.
“While we are still waiting for a few more confirmations from potential guest speakers, this semester's conference is shaping up to be an incredible, experience-filled event with education, networking, and professional development opportunities,” says Thurston.
The leadership team has been working hard to generate excitement for the upcoming conference across campus. They have been posting almost daily on Instagram —so those interested can follow for the latest conference news and updates.
“To make this conference as engaging as possible, we’ve carefully looked for guest speakers that appeal to a wide range of students,” Thurston explains. “Whether you're an athlete, interested in city development, or passionate about sustainability, there’s something for everyone. We’ve made it our mission to create an event that truly speaks to our student body.”