2018 Award Recipients
Alumni and friends of the college will be honored for their outstanding professional and service accomplishments during Homecoming week. These individuals serve as a representation of the values of the Haworth College of Business and as an inspiration and example to our students.
WMU Distinguished Alumni Award
Carrie Jones-Barber, B.B.A.'82
CEO
Dawn Foods
Carrie Jones-Barber serves as the CEO of Dawn Foods. In 1985, after a short stint in medical sales, Jones-Barber joined Dawn Foods in a sales role and climbed the ranks before being named to her current position in 2006. Prior to becoming CEO, Jones-Barber was president of Dawn Foods International and has also been a business development manager at Dawn Foods UK Ltd., as well as chief information officer. During her tenure at Dawn, Jones-Barber has focused on international growth of the company. She has held various cross-functional roles with progressively increasing responsibility, including CIO, where she oversaw the implementation of the company’s first ERP system, and president of international, where she successfully led a turnaround.
Jones-Barber's biographical information
Haworth College of Business Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award
Alessandro P. DiNello, B.B.A.’75
President and CEO
Flagstar Bank
Since 2013, Alessandro DiNello has served as president and CEO of Flagstar Bank and Flagstar Bancorp. Prior to his current position, he was president and chief administrative officer, and for several years, he served as executive vice president of retail banking. As CEO, he has played a critical role in strengthening the bank's risk management, compliance and quality control. Under his leadership, Flagstar has produced consistent, diversified earnings.
Gregory T. Durant, B.B.A.'80
Vice Chairman and Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Deloitte
As vice chairman and deputy chief executive officer of Deloitte and a member of Deloitte’s executive committee, Greg Durant is responsible for championing, sponsoring and catalyzing important issues and programs across the organization. Durant also oversees Deloitte’s policy and government relations efforts to navigate the impact of public policies on the profession, the capital markets and the economy. He serves as advisory partner to some of Deloitte’s most significant clients in the financial services, consumer business, and travel and leisure industries.
Haworth College of Business Outstanding Service Award
Todd A. Sanford, B.B.A.’83
CEO and President
Sanford Financial Services
Haworth College of Business Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Molly Millerwise Meiners, B.B.A.'01
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
U.S. Department of the Treasury
With nearly two decades of experience in navigating policy and crisis communications, Molly Millerwise Meiners currently serves as the principal deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In this capacity, she manages the department’s spokespersons and drives the day-to-day press strategy for regulatory and legislative priorities. This includes regulatory and financial reform, foreign investment and sanctions, as well as combating the illicit financial networks underpinning terrorist groups, rogue regimes, nuclear proliferators and narcotics traffickers.
Christine A. Walsh, B.B.A.’05
Director of Talent, Engagement and Development
Nielsen
Christine Walsh is a human resources leader with more than 10 years of experience in various HR and talent management leadership roles in global organizations. She currently serves as director of talent, engagement and development at Nielsen, a global information, data and measurement company operating in more than 100 countries. Throughout her career, Walsh has developed a wide range of innovative programs to support leaders and business growth. She has gained the respect of leaders at all levels and has a natural talent for coaching, bridging cultural gaps, and adapting to different industries and environments.
Meagan A. Ward, B.B.A.’13
Founder and Co-owner, FEMOLOGY; Owner, Creatively Flawless Branding Agency; Creator, The Powerful Women
Poised in entrepreneurial activism and global empowerment, Meagan Ward is founder of Detroit’s first modern business lounge for women, FEMOLOGY, owner of Creatively Flawless Branding Agency, and creator of The Powerful Women, a movement highlighting powerful women in Detroit. Ward’s first business, Creatively Flawless, has serviced hundreds of women across the nation in the firsthand development of their strategic and visual branding. Ward’s vocal advocacy for women’s integration and progress has led her to become an appointed speaker for the U.S. Embassy on women’s empowerment.
Department of Accountancy Outstanding Alumni Award
Gregg A. Agens, B.B.A.’76
Lead Engagement Partner and Quality Review Partner (Retired)
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Department of Business Information Systems Outstanding Alumni Award
Salvatore N. Mosca, B.B.A.’97
Principal Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation
With more than 20 years in the IT industry, Sal Mosca is presently the principal program manager leading financial and compliance health engineering at Microsoft. Prior to his current role, he spent the last two years leading the partner incentive operations organization, where he was responsible for hundreds of employees and vendors across the U.S., Ireland and Singapore. Fifteen years at Microsoft placed Mosca in a variety of positions, including group program manager. In this role, he helped lead the development of the first enterprise data warehouse and a new organization known as the business intelligence center of excellence, centralizing and distributing data across Microsoft.
Department of Finance and Commercial Law Outstanding Alumni Award
Marshall L. Mohr, B.B.A.’77
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Intuitive Surgical
Marshall Mohr is senior vice president and chief financial officer of Intuitive Surgical, a global technology leader in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery. His prior roles include serving as vice president and chief financial officer of Adaptec Inc. and as an audit partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers. In Mohr’s most recent position at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he served as managing partner of the firm’s west region technology industry group and led the Silicon Valley accounting and audit advisory practice.
Department of Management Outstanding Alumni Award
R. Craig Hopkins Jr., MBA’97
Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Technology Services
Craig Hopkins is the chief information officer and director of information technology services for the city of San Antonio. With more than 13,000 employees and an annual operating and capital budget of $2.8 billion, Hopkins is responsible for all information technology operations, applications support, service delivery, cybersecurity, project management and business relationship functions for 40 departments spanning more than 500 facilities. He also has enterprise leadership experience in customer experience design, employee workplace of the future, smart cities strategy and implementation, technology research and innovation, and workforce leadership and development.
Department of Marketing Hall of Fame
Michael P. Williams, B.B.A.’71
Founder and President
SignArt, Inc.
Michael Williams is the founder and president of Kalamazoo’s SignArt, Inc., a nationally ranked company that designs, manufactures and installs business and institutional signs throughout the country. Under Williams’ leadership, the company has been a pioneer in developing a culture of corporate social responsibility and is an early innovator of low energy alternative light sources for retrofits and other products, creating a more sustainable process. As a member of the International Sign Association Education Committee, Williams has contributed to the development of many industry-specific training tools.
Food and Consumer Package Goods Marketing Outstanding Alumni Award
Ashley A. Roehm, B.B.A.’93
Vice President of National Accounts
Clorox
Ashley Roehm serves as the vice present of national accounts for Clorox, where she has responsibility for the grocery, pet and natural foods channels. In this role, she works with a cross-functional team to develop plans that position Clorox and its customers to win. Having been with Clorox for more than 18 years, Roehm has held a variety of roles in both field sales and sales planning, successfully working with her teams and customers to enable sustainable business growth. Prior to her current role, she served as vice president of sales planning, director of sales, national account manager, sales merchandising manager and regional sales manager for the company.
Food and Consumer Package GoodS Marketing Adrian Trimpe Award
Art F. Sebastian
General Manager
Groceryshop
Art Sebastian is currently working with Groceryshop, a leading innovation event in retail and consumer package goods. At Groceryshop, he focuses on building a best in class event agenda filled with executive speakers, audience development, sponsorship sales and overall experience. Groceryshop is committed to bringing together established and startup companies to understand disruptive new trends, technologies and business models people must embrace in order to win in a rapidly changing industry. Its inaugural event is set to launch in late October in Las Vegas.
WMU ROTC Wall of Fame Award
Colonel Americus “Chip” M. Gill III, B.S.’92
Division Chief Operational Contract Support and Joint Staff Director of Logistics
Pentagon
Colonel Americus Gill currently serves as the Division Chief Operational Contract Support and Joint Staff Director of Logistics at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. He was commissioned as an Armor officer in 1992 from Western Michigan University, graduating as a ROTC distinguished military graduate. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (five Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Parachutist Badge.