At the Jenkins Master of Accounting Program’s annual celebration, Mike Owenby and Robin Thomas each received awards for their contributions to the program. Owenby was named a Distinguished MAC Alumni and Thomas was given the Friend of the MAC Program Award.

Distinguished MAC Alumni: Mike Owenby ’96

Mike Owenby earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from UNC Asheville, and graduated from the Jenkins MAC program in 1996 as part of our second ever class. He joined Deloitte soon after as a staff consultant and, over nearly 30 years, worked his way up to managing partner of their Raleigh office.

He still maintains strong ties with the MAC Program, having spent time on the MAC alumni board and Department of Accounting Advisory Board. “NC State really sets you up,” Owenby told the MAC program in 2022. “Everything they do is to help you get that first job after school. It was a huge help to my career.”

He met his wife Kate during the MAC Program – they were part of the same class, and she is now the chief finance and business officer of the American Board of Anesthesiology. In his spare time, he runs and cycles, and has previously competed in ironman events.

Friend of the MAC Program Award: Robin Thomas

Robin Thomas was presented with the Friend of the MAC Program award, which is given to a non-alumnus who has made a significant impact on the program. Thomas is a senior lecturer in Poole’s undergraduate accounting program. Though she only teaches undergraduate students – and indeed earned her accounting undergraduate degree from NC State – she plays a key role in the admission and development of MAC students.

Thomas developed multiple important courses in the ASAP Program, through which 40% of MAC students enter the program. MAC Program Director Scott Showalter encouraged ASAP students in attendance at the MAC Celebration to raise their hands to help emphasize its importance. She is also on the MAC admissions committee, and Showalter said that “her experience with the NC State undergraduates who apply to the MAC Program is invaluable.”

She also organizes the Accounting Labs that provide additional help for accounting undergrads, which are taught by MAC graduate fellows under her guidance. As part of the ASAP courses, Thomas makes the Intermediate Accounting Course Packs, which show up as refreshers in MAC courses and have even helped a few MAC alumni after they graduate from the MAC Program.

This post was originally published in Poole College of Management News.