Dr. Ervin “Vinny” Caraballo Endowed Scholarship Fund

Dr. Ervin “Vinny” Caraballo passed away in February 2017 at the age of 59. He was born on October 16, 1957 in Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in New York. Vinny graduated from Intramerican University of Puerto Rico, received his MBA from Webster University and his DBA from Nova Southeastern University. He lived in the Chicago area for many years and was a prominent leader in the Hispanic community.



Following graduation from Intramerican, Vinny was commissioned in the U.S. Army. He was a helicopter pilot and served with distinction for 20 years. Vinny’s professional life began after his military service and included very successful stints in varied roles: senior sales executive with Fortune 500 companies, respected professor at Capella University, published author, and finally visionary founder and CEO of Global Targeting, an international strategy and consulting firm with expertise in innovation and cultural adaptation.



Vinny was a 5th-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a key leader in the National Society of Hispanic MBA’s (NSHMBA) Chicago Chapter, a leader in the Chicago chapter of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals and former chairperson of the board of the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE). Vinny loved to travel and had visited five continents before his passing. He left behind his wife of 37 years, Ada; two children, Michelle Caraballo Shannon and Ervin Caraballo.



So why this endowed scholarship in his name at Dominican University? Mr. Luis (Lou) Nieto, Mr. Eric Douglas Keene, and Mr. Felix Mantilla all knew and loved Vinny. Lou for 28 years, Eric for 15, and, Felix for 10. To hear the three of them tell it, Vinny was a warm, driven, and focused man. He was a “connector” - personally and professionally - of people. He had a “big umbrella” philosophy in terms of life and his relationships. He believed strongly and passionately in higher education for Latinos, especially the study of business.



Dominican University is classified as a Hispanic-serving institution (HIS) by the U.S. Department of Education. Led by Dean Roberto Curci, the Brennan School of Business enrolls many first-generation, financial aid eligible students, particularly at the undergraduate level. These are hardworking young men and women. Many hold down at least one, and often two part-time jobs to help fund their education. They are just the kind of bright, driven young people that Vinny enjoyed mentoring and guiding.



Lou, Felix, and Eric have combined to establish the Dr. Ervin “Vinny” Caraballo Endowed Scholarship at the Dominican University Brennan School of Business. The goal is to, over time; continue to add to it so that up to four “best and brightest” students per year can each receive $2,000 scholarships.



Thank you for supporting the Dr. Ervin “Vinny” Caraballo Endowed Scholarship Fund.

If you have any questions, please contact Roberto Curci, Dean of the Brennan School of Business, at rcurci@dom.edu or (708) 524-6321.