Three Fowler Alums Named CFO of the Year

Three alumni of San Diego State University’s Fowler College of Business were honored during the San Diego Business Journal’s 2021 CFO of the Year Virtual event, held March 25, 2021. Nominations were submitted to the publication through various sources and judged by six local finance and accounting experts. To determine the finalists, nominees were asked to give a two-minute presentation on February 23, where judges evaluated them on a point system. 

The three winning SDSU alumni are: 

Jay Rembolt (’92, MSA)

Jay Rembolt, (’92, MSA) CFO at WD-40, Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree: “One key area where my studies at SDSU helped in my professional career was simply getting my first accounting/finance job. The accounting program at SDSU is well respected by the accounting community and its graduates are highly desired. The faculty and the various accounting clubs and fraternities have been and continue to be quite active in connecting students with job opportunities. I and many of my classmates benefited from the various outreach opportunities provided and I know it goes on today as there have been a number of times when professors reach out and ask if I have any place for a recent or soon-to-be graduate.”

Mary Jo Ray  (’81, ACCTG)

Mary Jo Ray, (’81, ACCTG) Managing Partner at RCR Financial, Most Innovative Team Honoree: “I enjoyed my time at school and SDSU developed a number of my talents. In my senior year, they had just started a course on business writing. That class alone gave me some negotiating skills that has saved clients and companies that I work for millions of dollars (cumulatively).”

Barbara Wight (’87, ACCTG/’96, MBA)

Barbara Wight (’87, ACCTG/’96, MBA) CFO at Taylor Guitars, Private Large Company Honoree: “My bachelor’s degree in accounting set me up to immediately provide value at the CPA firm I joined and really left me in a good position to pass the CPA exam. Thirty-three years later, I have no regrets, as my bachelor’s degree became the foundation for my entire career. Years later, I became an Executive MBA student at SDSU, and that really boosted my career. I never gave up my CPA, but I went on to become a CFO for a privately held company and have enjoyed my career tremendously.”