Michael Butler, ’05, MBA ’11

Mike Butler serves as the chief technology officer (CTO) at First Merchants. He’s created new technology teams, built custom software, helped lead cybersecurity initiatives, designed cloud architecture, and changed data centers. A graduate of the computer information systems program, Butler began his career with an internship for First Merchants.

In 2005, he started full-time with the bank, shortly being promoted to business intelligence and application strategy manager and working his way up to director of Business Intelligence and IT Customer Services before serving as CTO. Butler is an active member of the Ball State Information Systems Advisory Board and serves as our Miller College Business Analytics Advisory Board chair. A longtime supporter of the Association for Information Technology Professionals student chapter, he has also been a guest panelist during Miller College Dialogue Days. Butler has also been a member of the President’s Circle giving society. In 2017, the Indianapolis Business Journal named him CTO of the Year.

Jeffrey Payne, ’11

Jeff Payne earned his degree in operations management. He started his career as master scheduler at Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company, before being promoted to operations readiness manager, and then director of Program Management. Payne is also a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He is currently serving on our Logistics and Supply Chain (LSCM) Advisory Board.

Payne participated in the mentorship program with our LSCM student group, and he has sponsored the Department of Information Systems and Operations Management student projects with Progress Rail. He has also served as guest speakers for various LSCM classes.

Henry O. Hall, ’93

Henry O. Hall earned his degree in finance and insurance. His professional background includes finance, accounting, capital procurement, wholesale and retail distribution, and business growth strategies and processes. Since 2012, he has been president of Skytech Products Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of control systems for the hearth, heating, and cooling industries. In addition to his business success, the Ball State Board of Trustees member volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana and the Fort Wayne Urban League.

He has given back to Ball State with both his time and his treasure. In the Miller College of Business, he has served on the Executive Advisory Board, including as vice chair and the college’s Strategic Planning Committee. Hall is a member of the Northeast Indiana Alumni Chapter and Black Alumni Constituent Society and has spoken to students about the transition from college to career. He is a member of the Cardinal Varsity Club and an avid fan of Ball State football.

Shelley Meador, ’93

Shelley Meador is the chief human resource officer (CHRO) of Allegion. She is responsible for leading their overall human resources strategy, CEO and executive succession, inclusion and diversity, leadership development, compensation and benefits, human resources operations and technology, as well as corporate communications, brand management, and company reputation. Before this leadership role, Meador spent over 23 years in the finance area—primarily in tax leadership roles—and was most recently vice president of tax for Allegion from 2013–2016.

Since graduation, Meador has stayed involved with Ball State and Miller College by participating in Dialogue Days, serving on the Accounting Advisory Board, and currently serving on the Executive Advisory Board as vice chair. She is also engaged within her community as a board member of Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and attends ITown Church in Fishers. She most recently served as the co-chair of the 2020 Indiana’s Go Red for Women movement with the American Heart Association.

Marie Virgilio

Marie Virgilio, chief people officer, joined Weidner Apartment Homes in 2007 with an extensive background in recruiting top talent in a variety of industries and has helped them grow from under 500 associates in 2007 to currently over 1,500 associates. Virgilio successfully developed the Manager-in-Training program and college recruiting strategy establishing Weidner as the industry leader for attracting and developing talent into the apartment industry.

In addition to her involvement with the Ball State University Residential Property Management (RPM) program, Virgilio’s involvement with the overall apartment industry is impressive. She is on the board of the National Apartment Association Education Institute. She has helped establish property management degree programs at the University of Alaska/Anchorage, University of Wisconsin/Stout, McEwan University, Oklahoma State University, and Seattle Community Colleges.

Marie is responsible for Weidner’s partnership with Miller College, serving on the RPM Advisory Board for many years, and helped establish the Ball State Weidner Center for Residential Property Management. Under her leadership, Weidner has hosted and mentored over 25 summer interns from Ball State and has hired more than 25 Ball State students into permanent positions. Weidner is a significant contributor to the Ball State RPM program by establishing a substantial endowment and annual contributions to the RPM advisory board. Virgilio regularly speaks to Ball State’s RPM classes about the apartment industry.