Meet the 2026 College of Business graduation speakers
Marilyn Califano '19
Marilyn Califano is a serial entrepreneur focused on reimagining everyday consumer products through sustainable materials and breakthrough innovation. She is the CEO and co-founder of Hempress Hygienics, the first company to commercialize hemp fiber in period and personal care products. Founded in 2019 here at Oregon State University, Hempress is now available in more than 800 retail locations nationwide, including Natural Grocers, HEB and Market of Choice.
Alongside leading Hempress, Marilyn serves as head of growth at HIRO Technologies, a next-generation diaper-turned biotech company using mycelium to break down plastic waste. HIRO was founded by Miki Agrawal of THINX and TUSHY and is focused on tackling global plastic pollution with mycelium technology.
Marilyn studied economics and business management at Oregon State before beginning her career in finance at Bank of America, where she became a fully licensed Series 7 and Series 66 advisor. She later joined Climate Transformed, a cleantech investment education platform, before transitioning into full-time entrepreneurship.
Scott Christianson '08
Scott Christianson, CFP®, is a principal and portfolio manager at Ferguson Wellman Capital Management. He adheres to a disciplined approach and process to fully understand his clients’ goals and provides them with the best financial and investment counsel. Scott works with clients concentrated in Portland, the Willamette Valley and southern Oregon. He is a member of the firm’s wealth management committee and a shareholder of the firm.
Scott graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in business administration with concentrations in finance and management information systems. He completed the Financial Planning Certificate program from Texas A&M University in 2012. Scott is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Oregon and Southwest Washington.
He is a board member and finance committee member for Meals on Wheels People and is a past president of its board of directors. Scott serves on the Dean’s Council of Excellence and the Finance Advisory Council for the College of Business and is a 401(k) committee member for Friends of the Children in Portland.
Jerika Ferguson '23
Jerika Ferguson’s upbringing in Troutdale, Oregon, instilled in her a deep appreciation for community and family. Upon moving to Washington, she discovered her passion for community development and the public sector. After nearly a decade working in the Washington state office of the Secretary of State and House of Representatives, Jerika moved to Portland in 2020. There, she worked as an associate director for an international nonprofit while pursuing her MBA from the College of Business.
Now as an executive director with a local nonprofit, she still believes in the power of community and finds fulfillment through service. Jerika is a member of her neighborhood emergency team and neighborhood association and serves as a member of the Supply Chain and Logistics Management Advisory Council in the College of Business, Jerika is dedicated to building a brighter future for Oregon's communities.
Matt Watson
Matt Watson is a creative leader and strategist and has worked with some of the world’s most influential brands throughout his career. He began at Lippincott in New York and spent more than a decade on Nike’s senior creative team. There, he helped NIKEiD evolve into a global customization powerhouse while contributing to product, brand and campaign work across five Olympic Games and dozens of global launches.
In 2012, Matt founded Watson Creative, a research-driven agency focused on boundary-pushing, growing challenger brands. Known for his understated yet confident aesthetic, he blends business acumen with design expertise to deliver bold, effective solutions.
His portfolio includes collaborations with leading global brands, cultural institutions and professional sports organizations. Matt also serves on the College of Business's Design and Innovation Management Advisory Council, teaches in Portland and lectures nationally. His work has been featured widely, including at the Museum of Modern Art.
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