Where are they now?
Cincinnati, Ohio
Co-founder and CEO, Oros Apparel
What have you been doing since receiving your award?
Since last fall..
- OROS continues to grow 250 percent year over year.
- Both Rithvik Venna '15 (fellow Miami alumnus and OROS co-founder) and I were named to Forbes 30 under 30 for Retail & E-commerce .
- Our core technology, Solarcore, now powers Cabela's footwear, L.L.Bean footwear and more.
- Always Onward. Forever Upward.
Michael Markesbery '15
2017 18 of the Last 9 honoree
Cincinnati, OH
B.S. in Zoology
Co-founder and CEO, Oros Apparel
Michael is the CEO and co-founder of OROS. OROS is a performance outerwear company that uses NASA spacesuit insulation, aerogel, to keep you warm without the bulk or layers. An alumni of Miami University, Michael is a self-proclaimed science geek with a passion for learning. Michael is also an avid adventurer, having climbed the tallest mountain in the Swiss Alps and run with the bulls in Spain. While at Miami, he combined his love for science and adventure into an idea scribbled on a napkin that grew into OROS with the help from a great friend and some incredible mentors.
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: St. Xavier High School
First-year residence hall:
Emerson
Were you involved with student organizations? If so, which ones?
Honors Program
Favorite place to study?
Architecture Library
Has a Miami alum opened any doors for you?
YES. OROS' advisory board is built on Miami alumni. They have been instrumental to our success.
What Miami moment most influenced or continues to influence your life today and how/why?
Being accepted into the Entrepreneurship program and feeling like I had a second family on campus.
Favorite quote?
The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me. –Howard Roark, The Fountainhead
One thing you would change about your college experience?
Not a thing.