ABOUT THE OBSA
The Online Business Student Association is an online group of high achieving W. P. Carey Business students who are looking to connect with the ASU Business student body in order to enhance their ASU experience and benefit their path of becoming a business professional. The OBSA will provide academic, networking, and social resources and meetings for online W. P. Carey students through solely an online platform. Our goal is to make every online W. P. Carey student feel connected, valued, and set up for success upon graduating ASU.
THE OBSA FOUNDERS
Established January 2017
RACHEL PRUITT
Rachel graduated from Arizona State University in August of 2017 with a major in Business Communication and a minor in religious studies. She is currently attending ASU online to pursue an MBA with an emphasis in Supply Chain Management. She lives in Seattle with her husband, Michael, and her dog, Lulu.  In her free time she enjoys reading, exploring Seattle, and weight lifting.
EMIKO BANKSON
Emiko is a half Japanese and half Swedish, Texas dwelling, online W. P. Carey Global Leadership student.  She grew up all around the world and still can’t get rid of her love for different cultures and adventure. She currently works at Lexis, composes and performs music, and is starting a small creative business with her dad. Emiko hopes to one day manage the communications and creative content of an international business, working specifically with performing artists. Until then, she is enjoying every step of the journey!
MEET THE OBSA EXECUTIVE BOARD
RACHEL PRUITT
Cofounder & President
Rachel graduated from Arizona State University in August of 2017 with a major in Business Communication and a minor in religious studies. She is currently attending ASU online to pursue an MBA with an emphasis in Supply Chain Management. She lives in Seattle with her husband, Michael, and her dog, Lulu.  In her free time she enjoys reading, exploring Seattle, and weight lifting.
.jpg)
ANTHONY FORTIER
VP of Marketing
Anthony Fortier is a transfer Junior Business Administration major from Los Angeles, California. As a life long athlete, Anthony has excelled in various leadership positions in multiple sports. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 2011 & has since led in various roles in sales, theater production, and non-profits. Â Entrepreneurship has been a newly discovered passion since retiring from competitive athletics and he believes excelling at one of the best business schools in the US will prepare him to use business to transform lives. Anthony has welcomed the challenge of becoming the new VP of Marketing for the OBSA and is ready to serve!
LUCY HERNANDEZ
VP of Finance
Lucille is a senior in the Business- Global Leadership program. She's been interested in finance since high school and now has a job at Navy Federal Credit Union. Lucille is married and has two toddlers at home, as well as two dogs and a cat. She grew up in Michigan and now lives in Maryland, and would love to hear from all of you!
MARISSA AHLER
VP of Events
Marissa is pursuing her undergraduate degree in Business Administration. She has over 10 years of customer service experience, is a licensed cosmetologist, and is currently working as a Human Resources Coordinator for a dental insurance administrator. Marissa enjoys training, process improvement, and projects. She hopes to build a career in organizational learning and development, or project management. Marissa is a Wisconsin native. Once she graduates, she hopes to find career that helps strengthen her professional skill-sets and allows her to travel.
ALI MARIE BAKER
VP of Membership
Ali is currently a Senior Technical Support Engineer at Optimizely who specializes in data analysis, integrations, and solutions. With long-term career goals of becoming a data or back-end engineer, Ali is currently pursuing a BS in Data Analytics. She loves connecting with others and learning new things, and is excited to bring that passion for people and data-driven approach to the OBSA. She currently lives and works in foggy San Francisco, CA, and enjoys exploring beautiful Northern California with her boyfriend Keith and Mcnab dog, Winston.
ASU ADVISOR
JOHN EATON
Marketing Professor
John Eaton (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is a Clinical Professor of Marketing. His research has been published in the Journal of Advertising and the Journal of Consumer Psychology in addition to several leading national conferences. Â His research and teaching interests include Strategic Performance Relationships, Brand Image, Brand Community, and Sport Sponsorship. Â He created the Sports Business Association, an undergraduate student organization helping to connect students with the sports business industry. Â Additionally, he serves as faculty advisor for the student chapter of both the American Marketing Association and the Online Business Students Association. Â His teaching has been recognized with multiple awards from the W.P. Carey College of Business, most recently being named the Huizingh Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher for 2016 and Huizingh Outstanding Service to Students in 2017.
PROJECT MASTERS
Members of OBSA who have stepped up to lead their own projects
ALESSANDRA HICKMAN
Graduate School Entrance Exams Master
Alessandra Hickman is a pre-law undergraduate student completing her degree in Business Communication and English. Currently she is a course-embedded writing tutor for the Writers’ Studio at Arizona State University and in her free time she advocates on behalf of the autistic community. Welcoming complexities, she is keen to quickly synthesize information to formulate alternative and innovative ideas and solutions. An achiever, taking a great deal of satisfaction maintaining an assortment of responsibilities and staying productive meeting strict deadlines with high levels of stress.
