School Of Business

Pursuing an Accounting/Business Degree or Paralegal Studies Certificate at Triton College offers you many choices such as continuing your studies at one of the many colleges and universities in the Chicago area or entering the workforce with a general understanding of business. Men and women with a business degree are highly sought after by many companies for their knowledge of business operations.

Photo of School of Business Faculty with Teaching Excellence Award

At Triton College we emphasize a team approach in our business courses that can help you succeed in the real business world.

Unlike other degrees that are available, which focus on one aspect of a business’ operation, those who have degrees in business have the flexibility to make an impact in a number of different fields. Obtaining a business degree can help get you on the fast-track to a management position within an organization. When a company is looking to fill a management position, they are looking for someone who can not only focus of the specific tasks of their work group, but who can also take a “big picture” look at the company as a whole and see how the tasks that their work group completes contributes to the overall success of the company. Particularly important to the role of today’s business managers is working in a collaborative and collegial environment.

Mission & Vision

Mission Statement

Through leveraging skills, experience, and quality teaching, Triton College School of Business develops diverse business students and professionals who make a positive impact on the international economy.

Vision Statement

Fostering students’ success in their pursuit of educational and professional business goals.

Our Faculty

Dr. William M. Griffin

Dr. William M. Griffin is a full-time tenured Professor of Business and serves as The Triton College School of Business Department Chair/Coordinator. He has been teaching at the college level for 30 plus years. His area of specialty is Business Law, Principles of Finance, Labor Law, and Elementary Statistics.
Dr. Griffin has an extensive former experience in Corporate America, including positions as Chief Operating Officer of XTnrgy of Illinois, Senior Vice President of United Communications Systems, and General Manager for Commonwealth Edison Company.
He has a Doctor of Educational Leadership Ed. D. from National Louis University in Chicago, Illinois, Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from DePaul University and a Master of Business Administration Degree with a special area of concentration in Corporate Finance. Mr. Griffin also attended law school at John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Geoff Hiller is a full time tenured Professor of Accounting at Triton College School of Business, teaching ACC 101 (Financial Accounting), ACC 105 (Managerial Accounting), ACC 266 (Cost Accounting) and ACC 100 (Basic Accounting). He has also taught business and accounting courses as part of two Chicago-area MBA programs.

Mr. Hiller has had several managerial roles for mid-sized and Fortune 500 corporations, including accounting, financial analysis, auditing and corporate training. Currently, he is also an outside consultant, specializing in training development, and has participated in CPA examination item development with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

He earned a BA-Accounting from the University of Illinois-Urbana, a CPA, and an MBA-Finance from DePaul University.

Michael Mago, CPA and CFE, graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting and an MBA with a concentration in Forensic Accounting from Roosevelt University. He is the 2022 Outstanding Faculty Award winner for Triton College. Mr. Mago has been an adjunct instructor at Triton College since 2017. In Fall 2024 Michael Mago was hired as a full-time tenured accounting and business faculty.

Mr. Mago has been teaching the following courses at Triton College School of Business:
ACC 100 (Basic Accounting), ACC 103 (Basic Accounting II), ACC 101 (Financial Accounting), ACC 104 (QuickBooks for Accounting and Business), ACC 105 (Managerial Accounting), ACC 200 ( MS Excel for Accounting & Business), ACC 252 (Intermediate Accounting II), ACC 256 (Tax Accounting), BUS 146 (Business Computations), and BUS 149 (Elementary Statistics).

Business management instructor Dr. Gretchen Jorndt-Reyes began her teaching career at Triton College in 2013. Dr. Jorndt-Reyes came to Triton with over 15 years of corporate experience. She previously worked as an Account Supervisor and Training Supervisor at United Parcel Service. Reyes was awarded the Triton College Adjunct of the Year award in 2018.

She received her MBA in 2007 from National Louis University and her Masters in Online Teaching from University of Illinois in 2016. Dr. Jorndt-Reyes is a 1994 graduate of Triton College and believes that students at Triton can be and do anything!

Business Management Instructor Calvin Washington II is a high performing executive with over 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors with proven expertise in finance, accounting, business/technology solutions, human resources, operations, project management, and strategic planning. He is also known as an organized self-starter with proven business and interpersonal skills that are coupled with the ability to learn at an exceptional pace. He excelled in several managerial positions at Allstate and Kemper Insurance Companies, and Rock of Ages. Calvin graduated from Eureka College (major: Computer Science, minor: Finance). He graduated Summa Cum Laude from National-Louis University with a MBA in Management. Calvin began his teaching career at Triton College in 2007, as an Adjunct Instructor in the Business Department. He believes the primary goal of teaching is to foster learning; additionally, he works diligently to ensure students have a remarkable and positive educational experience. Calvin passionately guides students through the learning process and he stimulates conversations about the ideas and concepts being presented.

Contact Information

Headshot of Dr. William M. Griffin
Dr. William M. Griffin
Department Chair
Office: F-214F
(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3579
williamgriffin@triton.edu

Headshot of Lucero Berrones
Lucero Berrones
Program Assistant
Office: F-214
(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3219
luceroberrones@triton.edu

Work with an Advisor

Accreditation

ACBSP Accreditation Mark Logo

In spring 2019 Triton College School of Business received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), joining only a handful of community colleges in Illinois with the distinction.

The following programs have been accredited by the ACBSP:

Founded in 1988, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs is a global business education accrediting body and the first organization to offer accreditation to all levels of collegiate business educational degree programs around the world.

"ACBSP will provide us an external input to help the School of Business continue to be the best that we can be for our students, and continue to provide them excellent programs and services," said Dr. William M. Griffin, Professor of Business at Triton College. "Their insight will help us to become more efficient, improve operations and ensure we are taking the necessary steps to be among the top echelon of business programs."

Spring 2025

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs Chairs

On November 17-18, 2022 Triton College School of Business hosted ACBSP Great Lakes Region 4 Conference.
Conference Theme: Celebrating Collaborative Alliances: Stronger Together.
Keynote Speaker: Christine Ieuter, Chief Financial Officer of Go2Logistics. Representatives from the following 6 states were in attendance: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Degrees & Certificates

Degrees

Accounting & Business Administration (ACBSP Accredited)
Accounting & Finance (ACBSP Accredited)
Business Management (ACBSP Accredited)
Human Resource Management (ACBSP Accredited)
International Business

Certificates

Courses

Curriculum/Plan of Study
U230A06, C206B, C306B, C206J, C306F, C406D, C307D, C407K, C407D, C306K

Program Affiliations
Accounting/Finance/Human Resource/Entrepreneurial Studies

News & Current Events

The West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry Luncheon

Spring 2023
The Quality Assurance report prepared by the Triton College School of Business has been accepted by the ACBSP Associate Degree Board of Commissioners.
Click HERE for more information.

Accounting instructor Geoff Hiller gets elected for the Secretary of
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs Great Lakes Region 4 Chair

Fall 2021 - Triton College School of Business reaches the new articulation agreement with Dominican University
Triton students are now able to transfer their Associate in Applied Science in Accounting/Finance Degree and apply it toward the Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting at Dominican University.
Click HERE for more information.

Press Releases

Upcoming Events

View All Business Events

Department Highlights

Calvin Washington II received a Teaching Excellence Award
at the ACBSP Conference in Las Vegas in June 2025

Geoff Hiller received a Teaching Excellence Award
at the ACBSP Conference in Las Vegas in June 2025

Geoff Hiller, accounting & business faculty receives the 2024 ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award.
The recognition ceremony took place during the ACBSP Annual Conference on June 28-30, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

Justyna Kohtz, accounting faculty has been named a regional recipient
of the 2022 ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award.
Professor Kohtz received her award at the ACBSP Annual Conference on June 17-20 in Washington, DC.

Accounting instructor Michael Mago wins Triton College's 2022 Adjunct Instructor of the Year award.

Congratulations!

Executive Series

The Executive Series is an annual event organized by Triton College School of Business that feature inspiring guest speakers working in the business industry, who share their success stories as well as provide tips on how to compete in the global workforce.

The Executive Series is intended to inspire and encourage students to think about academic and career paths that can help prepare them to compete in the global workforce.

Past speakers

2023 – Christine Ieuter, the CFO of Go2 Logistics, with 20+ years of experience as a senior finance leader at large public and private companies. Christine is responsible for all finance functions of a $300M corporation.
2021 – Matthew "Griff" Griffin - Former special operations army ranger, West Point graduate, award-winning documentary producer, philanthropist, cofounder and CEO of Combat Flip Flops
2019 – Center for Audit Quality from Washington DC
2018 – Kelly Richmond Pope - forensic accountant, professor and filmmaker
2017 – Cindy Ivanac–Lillig – economic outreach specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
2016 - James Pieper and James Parisi – Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group
2015 – M. Schlesinger (fall) – John Marshall Law School, Director of the Business Enterprise Law Clinic
2015 – Bob "Butterbean" Love (spring) – Chicago Bulls' Goodwill Ambassador
2014 – U.S. Senator Mark Kirk – Junior United States senator from Illinois (2010-2017)
2013 – Dr. Teri Lonier – executive director of DePaul University's Coleman Entrepreneurship Center

Accounting Club

Accounting Club Logo

Membership in the Triton College Accounting Club is open to all Triton Students who have an interest in learning more about the profession of accounting and field of business. Our meetings assist our members with employment skills such as resume writing, interview skills and internship opportunities. The members participate in field trips to accounting and auditing departments of different types of businesses and fun activities.

Join Accounting Club

Accounting & Business Society Meeting Information

Michael Mago is the advisor of the Triton College Accounting Club. The mission of the club is to educate the students beyond the classroom about accounting topics, opportunities, and the accounting profession. The club membership has grown to 46 members in the Fall 2019 semester.

Various guests from professional organizations such as the Illinois CPA Society, the American Association of Government Accountants, and the Illinois Board of Examiners have visited the Accounting Club sessions. The club has also held LinkedIn and resume building workshops, presentations on transfer process to four-year colleges, and finding and securing accounting internship opportunities.

There have been field trips to the ILCPA Society and the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago. Multiple Accounting Club members have been awarded the Mary T. Washington Wylie Scholarship.

The Accounting Club has also won the Program of the Year Award presented by the Triton College Student Association for the Jumpstart to Accounting event in April of 2018.

Spring 2025 - Triton College Accounting Club/Business Society visits Dominican University with Professor Michael Mago as the advisor.

Spring 2025 - Accounting Club/Business Society Members

Spring 2023 - Accounting Club Field Trip
On April 14th, members of the Triton College Accounting Club visited University of Illinois at Chicago and Grand Thornton accounting firm downtown Chicago.

Stock Market Society

The Triton College Stock Market Society grew to over 60 student participants in its first semester as a club. The organization focuses on the current market and cryptocurrency. Members are broken into groups and are given a program to buy and trade real stocks using simulated funds. The club provides students with hands-on learning opportunities, promotes student engagement, and helps members learn about investing while building community. The Stock Market Society is always looking for new members. Meeting information will be shared beginning February 2026.

Kappa Beta Delta Honor Society

Kappa Beta Delta is the international honor society for associate degree business schools accredited by ACBSP, the Accreditation Council for Business Programs. ACBSP is present at more 1,000 campuses across the globe including over 160 associate degrees institutions. Kappa Beta is one of the benefits ACBSP accredited program can offer their students. Only institutions with ACBSP accredited business programs are eligible to establish a Kappa Beta Delta Chapter.

After receiving its accreditation from ACBSP in spring 2019 Triton College School of Business has opened its Kappa Beta Delta Chapter with Dr. Gretchen Reyes as the advisor.

Students are eligible for lifetime membership based upon the following criteria:

They must rank in the upper 20% of students pursuing business degrees at the time of invitation to membership
They must have completed a minimum of 15 semester hours of credit, of which a minimum of six are in business subjects toward the degree program
They must have a minimum grade point of average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

As the highest national recognition an associate degree candidate in business can earn, it is appropriate to include KBD membership on a resume.

KBD members are eligible to apply for exclusive scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000.

For more information of Kappa Beta Delta at Triton College please contact Dr. Gretchen Reyes at gretchenreyes@triton.edu

Learn more about Kappa Beta Delta

Student Achievement

Student Success Stories

Lixia Liu, CPA
Assistant Commissioner - Chief of Staff
Office of the Managing Deputy Commissioner

Back in 2020, I was considering sitting for the CPA Exam but had only 9 credit hours in accounting, so I needed to complete additional coursework. At the same time, I was working full-time at O’Hare Airport. Triton College’s CPA Pathway Program was a perfect fit. The teachers were patient, supportive, and always willing to help. Taking evening classes made it possible for me to balance my studies with work, and I truly appreciate the flexibility and encouragement I found at Triton.

After finishing my classes, I wasn’t able to take the exam right away. I had just stepped into a new role at work, and with added responsibilities, it was difficult to give the CPA Exam the time and focus it deserved. It wasn’t until 2023 that I passed REG. While most people start with FAR, I chose REG because it was the section I feared most, and passing it gave me the confidence to keep going. For preparation, I relied on Becker materials, which were very helpful.

In 2024, I again found myself busy at work and had to put studying aside. But in early 2025, I realized my REG credit would soon expire, so I committed myself to finishing the remaining three sections in time. With some discipline and the support of family and colleagues, I was able to dedicate focused study hours and keep moving forward.

What I’ve learned from this process is that steady, concentrated study is better than spreading it out too long. And when your practice scores are consistently strong, it’s best not to wait—just go and take the exam.

I’m deeply grateful to Triton for providing the foundation that helped me reach this goal. The program, the teachers, and the community gave me the confidence I needed to persevere.

Congratulations to Maria Campos on her new job at the Oak Park Library!

Francesca Gore has been hired as an intern by M & R Ferber, a local tax and accounting firm.
Congratulations Frankie!

Congratulations to Angelica Dziekan for being hired as a marketing intern by Go To Logistics, a local company providing freight transportation and logistic services.
We wish you well Angelica!