Alumni honored as 40 Under 40 professionals
Several McDaniel alumni were recently named 40 Under 40 professionals for exceptional contributions to their professions and communities. Aaron Slaughter ’10 was nationally recognized as a 40 Under 40 Black CPA, and Ashley Day-Gibbs ’12 and Bryan Hamper ’06 were recognized by Baltimore Business Journal as 40 Under 40 Baltimore professionals. Baltimore Business Journal also recognized Joe Dominick, a partner in Gauge Digital Media, who attended McDaniel while launching his first business.
Aaron Slaughter '10 was recognized with the Young Alumni Award in 2020.
Aaron Slaughter ’10 has made strides in his 11-year career as a certified public accountant (CPA) at Withum Smith+Brown since graduating from McDaniel College with his dual degree in Accounting and Economics. He is a senior manager in the audit department and values mentoring younger CPAs at Withum. He is also a member of McDaniel’s Board of Trustees and in 2020 he was selected Young Alumni of the Year at McDaniel.
Slaughter told the Black CPA Centennial project that receiving the award “is a testament to all the tremendous people that I’ve had in my life who have helped me get here. This award is for them. But it’s also confirmation for me that I’m on the right path.” He went on to say that the most rewarding aspect of his career is “being a role model for young men and women who look like me,” since he hadn’t known any Black CPAs when he was younger. Looking to the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the CPA profession, he adds, “It’s far from the time to rest now, because we’re just getting started. This is a motivator.”
The inaugural 40 Under 40 Black CPA award was given in honor of the 100th anniversary of the first Black CPA, John W. Cromwell Jr. The award recognizes the continuation of his legacy and the influence of young Black CPAs in the profession and their communities across the United States. According to a survey by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, in 2019 only 2% of CPAs were Black. The centennial is a year-long celebration of the efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the CPA profession.
Honorees were recognized in a virtual celebration on Nov. 12, 2021.
Joe Dominick established the Gauge Digital Scholarship Fund at McDaniel.
Bryan Hamper ’06, Ashley Day-Gibbs ’12, and Joe Dominick were named among Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Honorees represent a diverse group of professionals who have made an impact at their organizations and in the Greater Baltimore community.
Bryan Hamper ’06 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Art and is now the president of SuckerPunch Entertainment, a mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete management and marketing company. He is also an active agent for MMA athletes and clients in Major League Baseball. He played a role in SuckerPunch Entertainment joining Alliance MMA in the first publicly traded MMA entity on the NASDAQ, according to the Baltimore Business Journal. “You have to love it. If you are not passionate about the sports you are in and the players you represent, it will show. Don’t burn bridges, always act in the best interest of your client but never burn contacts,” he told the Baltimore Business Journal.
Ashley Day-Gibbs ’12 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Studies and went on to found the nonprofit organization Women Leading Baltimore, which provides professional mentorship to high school girls in the Baltimore area. She also works as a college counselor at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore. Her mission for Women Leading Baltimore is to “create space and opportunities for high school girls to embrace their power and authority through sisterhood, nurturing mentorship, and access to meaningful experiences.”
Ashley Day-Gibbs '12 with her husband and daughter.
Day-Gibbs’ dedication to her community was further recognized by The Daily Record’s Leading Women accolade. Leading Women honors women under 40 years of age for their exceptional career accomplishments. Day-Gibbs’ professional and philanthropic efforts to support youth in Baltimore City demonstrate the community involvement and commitment to inspiring change that Leading Women exemplify. Leading Women honorees will be honored in an event on Dec. 7, 2021.
Joe Dominick is a partner in Gauge Digital Media, an online marketing agency, and created Maryland IT & Voice and APS SmartHub. He was the mayor of the City of Westminster, Maryland, from 2017-2021. Alongside other philanthropic efforts, Dominick established the Gauge Digital Scholarship fund at McDaniel College, which benefits first-generation college students from single-parent homes.
Honorees for the BBJ’s 40 Under 40 were recognized in a ceremony on Nov. 18, 2021.
