Visiting Executives

The Visiting Executives program connects Ketner students with accomplished professionals who spend a day on campus sharing their expertise across multiple settings.  

Visiting Executives engage with students through class visits, small-group discussions, and campus presentations that illuminate the realities of leadership, innovation, and organizational change.  These visits create dynamic opportunities for dialogue and mentorship while deepening students’ understanding of how classroom learning translates to success in the real world.

OCTOBER 16, 2025
Melissa Shandor

MELISSA SHANDOR ’98
Business Developer & Strategy
StoragePRO Management

Melissa began her career in private investments sourcing revenue generating opportunities and focusing on client retention. She chose to change industries to residential real estate where she led target marketing initiatives and promoted lead generation and client retention. Melissa now works solely in commercial real estate specializing in strategic analysis, growth marketing, and lead generation. She converts underperforming departments into revenue-generating opportunities. In her current role, Melissa supervises the national sales team for StoragePRO Management, a third party manager based in Walnut Creek, CA.

Melissa was an Endowed Scholar at Catawba College and graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She has a Master's in Education, a VA Teaching License in Business & Information Technology, and a VA Real Estate Salesperson's License.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2024
Mike Casey		 MIKE CASEY ’78
Senior VP & Senior Advisor, JM&A Group

Mike Casey ’78 is group vice president and senior advisor for JM&A Group, a subsidiary of JM Family Enterprises, Inc., a privately held company with $18 billion in revenue and more than 5,000 associates. In his advisory role, Casey utilizes his vast experience gained at JM&A Group since 1984 to consult with the senior leadership team and to assist with the coaching and development of the JM&A Group sales teams. Casey graduated from Catawba College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Speech Communication.
APRIL 17, 2025
NORA SPENCER		 NORA SPENCER, MSW
Hope Renovations
NC Licensed Limited Building Contractor
CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist)

Nora El-Khouri Spencer began her career at Lowe’s Companies, Inc. followed by IBM. After leaving the corporate world, her education, experiences, personal at-home repairs, and passion led to the creation of Hope Renovations which builds futures and transforms lives with a multi-purpose mission. Hope Renovations is a social enterprise dedicated to creating opportunities for underemployed women and gender-expansive individuals in the construction industry. Participants are given skills to pursue sustainable careers while also addressing the critical need for aging-in-place services for older adults. Hope Renovations fosters an inclusive workforce and helps seniors maintain independence in their homes while contributing to the broader construction industry's growth.