Eleven alumni from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University were named to the Sun Devil 100 Class of 2023, which recognizes the achievements of some of the university’s most accomplished graduates.
The ASU Alumni Association highlights graduates each year who own or lead organizations from around the world that demonstrate innovation, growth and entrepreneurial spirit. Multiple alumni can be honored from the same company. The Class of 2023 features 125 organizations represented by 157 Arizona State University alumni.
This year’s Sun Devil 100 includes five Cronkite alumni who are appearing on the list for the first time.
The Alumni Association announced the conferral rankings on April 27 during a ceremony at Mullett Arena in Tempe.
Below is the list of the Cronkite alumni named to the Sun Devil 100:
Justin Hodge received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication in 2006 and is the co-founder and president of Muscular Moving Men and Storage. Hodge was named to the Phoenix Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list in 2018. He also made the Sun Devil 100 list in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Laura Capello is the president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, a nonprofit organization in Phoenix whose aim is to “create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.” Capello earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1997. She’s made the Sun Devil 100 every year since 2019.
Danielle Feroleto, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1994 and a master’s degree in mass communication in 1998, is the president of Small Giants, which specializes in marketing and business development for architecture, engineering, construction and commercial real estate companies. Feroleto has been included in every Sun Devil 100 since 2018. She is joined on the list by her colleague, Tiffany Ellington, who made the list for the first time. Ellington is the client services manager at Small Giants. She received a bachelor’s degree in digital audiences in 2020.
Ann Noder is the CEO and founder of Pitch Public Relations, a boutique firm specializing in national media for consumer and business-to-business companies. Noder obtained a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism in 1994. This is her first appearance on the list.
Richard Wanninger is the senior associate commissioner of the Patriot League, a collegiate athletics conference. This is the first time Wanninger has been listed in the Sun Devil 100. Wanninger earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1984.
Anne Landers and Sam Alpert of Junior Achievement of Arizona are both on the list. Landers, who is vice president of the organization, was named one of the Outstanding Women in Business issued by Phoenix Business Journal in 2023 and a CAP Under 40 Honoree by the Arizona Capitol Times in 2022. She made the Sun Devil 100 in 2022. Landers earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication in 2006. Alpert, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication in 2002 and an MBA from ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business in 2018, is the chief development officer of Junior Achievement of Arizona. This is Alpert’s first appearance in the Sun Devil 100.
Cary Truelick graduated from the Cronkite School in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting. He is now a partner, producer and director at True Story Films. Truelick specializes in the production of commercials and documentaries. He co-founded the company in January 2003. Truelick has made the Sun Devil 100 every year since 2019.
Danny McManus, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication in 2011, is the CEO and founder of D-MAK Productions, a film and video production agency in Phoenix. McManus also was included in the Sun Devil 100 in 2022.
Jan Bracamonte, is the founder and president of J. Lauren PR, a boutique PR, social media and marketing firm specializing in luxury and lifestyle brands. Bracamonte graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication in 2004. This is her first appearance on the Sun Devil 100 list.