FMA Magazine 2021 - 2023

In 2022, we hosted Stephen Davis, founder
and president of The Will Group. Mr.
Davis established Electrical Resource
Management, the first Will Group company,
in 1986. Since then, the Will Group has
launched numerous additional companies,
created hundreds of jobs and won largescale
projects including a ComEd and City of
Chicago project to manufacture and replace
over 300,000 high-quality LED lighting
fixtures, a Chicago Housing Authority
contract to manage the construction of
the Altgeld Gardens public housing’s Plan
for Transformation, and the Kennedy
King College campus at 63rd and Halsted
in Chicago. Since 2010, The Will Group
has been recognized by Black Enterprise
Magazine as one of the country’s Top 100
Black businesses. “This was my first FMA
event as a new candidate,” said freshman
Patrick Sullivan. “Mr. Davis was relatable
to the students. His biggest message – stay
humble and always remember those that
gave you opportunities. It was obvious that
Mr. Davis lived by his words - crediting
those that helped him, especially his family,
along the way.”
In 2023, the Forum keynote speaker was
AU Trustee and civil litigation attorney
Elizabeth (Liz) Huntley. Liz earned a
bachelor’s degree in political science from
Auburn University in 1993, and a law degree
from the University of Alabama in 1997.
Trustee Huntley has served as a member of
various business and civic organizations and
boards and is a committed child advocate.
She spoke to a full room of student
attendees – none left unaffected by her open
and honest story. Senior co-president, Nick
Thompson: “This is my fourth year in FMA,
and I’ve never seen a speaker impact the
students to the level that Trustee Huntley
did. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the
room. For her to get up and openly share
her life story, wounds and all, it truly sent
the message that it didn’t matter where you
came from or what your life circumstances
were. Ultimately, we are all given this life to
live, and if we use our innate abilities and
drive, anything is possible.”
FMA added on to the Forum with a women’s
only Been There Done That breakout session
led by Trustee Huntley, AU Provost Vini
Nathan, and HCOB Associate Dean, Dr.
Mueller-Phillips. The breakout was a
time for the women in FMA to learn from
the speakers’ unique experiences and
challenges and added a personal experience
where FMA women were challenged by
inspiring leaders from across the state. This
roundtable setting provided an intimate
atmosphere to hear about each speaker’s life
story. Their collective career paths include
corporate and civil litigation, architecture,
education, and accounting, along with
multiple publications. The respect for what
each speaker has accomplished along with
the energy that they brought to the room
created an uplifting environment. Students
were encouraged to be diligent and resolute
EXPANDED PROGRAMMING
in their work and challenge their peers to
do the same. “It was a perfect setting to
discuss the unique challenges that women
face in a male-dominated industry. We left
reenergized for the rest of the semester
and our futures,” said sophomore Hallie
Ramsey.
The break-out reinforced FMA’s emphasis
on women’s leadership. In fact, women are
often FMA’s highest performers – since
inception, half of the FMA presidents
have been women. National studies
show investors are 78% male, yet FMA
is composed of over 40% women, who
enter their careers with equitable salary,
expectations, and endeavors for their
future.
FMA 2021-2023 MAGAZINE 35