For alumni of Purdue’s Mitch Daniels School of Business, the annual Business Toast has become much more than a tradition. It is a global gathering that blends school pride, professional networking and the simple joy of reconnecting with fellow Boilermakers. What began in 2014 as a small experiment has evolved into a signature event celebrated across multiple time zones, and in 2025, across 16 U.S. cities and 11 international locations with 420 attendees — both records.
From those early toasts in Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, New York, Shanghai and West Lafayette, the event has grown steadily. That growth is due in large part to alumni hosts who bring energy, community spirit and a sense of local identity to the gatherings. Hosting gives them a chance to build professional connections and strengthen ties within their regional Purdue networks.
“The Toast is a great way for recent graduates who are new to Chicago to get out and meet other Boilermakers,” says longtime Chicago host Nick Sickler (BS '00). “As an alum, I always enjoy meeting younger graduates to hear about their experiences on campus and learn how Purdue and the business school continue to forge the way in innovation and leadership.”
In 2023, former Chicago resident Yasmina Slimani, now living in the United Kingdom, returned to the Windy City specifically to attend the Toast. In 2025, Daniels Alumni Board member Matt West and his family joined the gathering as well, further illustrating how the event anchors alumni to the school — and to each other — no matter where life takes them.
This year, organizers added a new layer of flexibility: instead of a single day, hosts were encouraged to hold their Toasts anytime between October 5 and 19. The change reflects the realities of alumni schedules and the spread of locations across the U.S. and the globe.
Offering a date range “gives hosts more freedom in deciding what is a good time for their city,” says Daniels School Associate Director of Alumni Engagement and Events Stacey Sharp. It also “opens up the possibility of current students attending,” especially in locations near campus or where students may be traveling for fall break or professional events.
Alumna Liz Forman (MSHR '90) and Leanne Bourdage (BS '13) cohosted the event in Milwaukee on October 9. “Leanne and I are both members of the Daniels School Alumni Board, and we are actively trying to engage more Daniels alumni across the country,” says Forman. “Stacey did such a great job organizing and creating communications about the event, she made it easy to be a host!”
“I was hosting for the first time and I truly appreciated the camaraderie we established quickly across the group, connecting over West Lafayette experiences and our shared love of gold and black,” adds Bourdage. “Having recent grads from Daniels at the event was fantastic and I hope to grow that contingent in the future through further outreach and personal connection.”
Alumna Rose Kelly-Falls hosted the event on the southside of Indianapolis. “I volunteered to host the event because we have many alums in the area and I wanted to start building a community,” she says. “I really enjoyed having current students as well as alums join the event. It was a well-rounded group — both young and old — that allowed everyone to share their experiences not only as Purdue grads but to also discuss careers.”
Ashlyn Smith (BS '16, MBA '17) has hosted the New York City toast since 2019. “I always love trying to find ways to connect fellow Boilers in New York, so it seemed natural to me to volunteer,” she says. “With the flexibility on the date, we tried to capitalize on finding a convenient time and location. Thanks mostly to word of mouth, email and social media, we had our highest attendance that I've seen for NYC.”
After more than a decade, the Business Toast remains, at its core, a celebration — of community, of shared history and of the global impact of Purdue’s business alumni. And with more cities joining each year, that family continues to grow — one raised glass at a time.
