2014 Alumni Award Recipients
Alumni and friends of the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University are 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.
Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award
David C. Hoogendoorn, B.B.A.’88
Market Segment Leader, Michigan and Northwest Ohio, and Office Managing Partner, Grand Rapids, Ernst & Young
Hoogendoorn has more than 26 years of experience serving public and private clients in the consumer products, office furniture, medical device and retail industries. He is an expert in financial reporting and governance and a highly sought-after speaker on these topics. He is responsible for Ernst & Young’s brand, people, quality and operational excellence in West Michigan.
Debbie Kenyon-Cassidy, B.B.A.’89
Senior Vice President and Market Manager of CBS Radio Detroit
An acclaimed manager, Kenyon has received numerous awards locally and nationally. She was named one of Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women in Radio in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and was a national finalist in Radio Ink’s most prestigious honors, the “Radio Wayne Awards,” several times; she was also honored in the “Great Radio Managers” category.
Partner, Tax Quality Leader, Transaction Tax Practice, Ernst & Young
Stone leads the firm’s National Tax Department where he currently serves as the department’s tax quality leader for more than 1,500 tax professionals as well as the tax quality leader for the Transaction Tax practice throughout the Americas. A co-author of two books on the taxation of S corporations, Stone also served as an adjunct professor in Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Taxation program.
Haworth College of Business
Outstanding Service Award
President and CEO, Pacific Corporation (Retired)
Founder, Longview ConsultingParker has more than 40 years of diverse business experience, including 25 years in CEO roles, leading multinational organizations. His expertise spans the areas of organizational management, sales and marketing, manufacturing systems, mergers and acquisitions, and new business creation. He is an active community volunteer and an unparalleled supporter of the Haworth College of Business.
Haworth College of Business
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
CEO, BlueGraniteAn entrepreneur who started his business while a college student, Mace has built BlueGranite into a highly successful , award-winning company, which provides business analytics solutions to clients, helping them make better, faster decisions with their data. The firm’s latest growth earned it a spot on the Inc. 5000 for 2014, which lists the country's top 5,000 fastest-growing private companies.
Group Program Director, VMLRutledge leads a team of project managers who have worked on some of Kellogg’s most cutting-edge digital projects for brands such as Pop-Tarts, Froot Loops, Eggo, Cheez-It, Keebler, Frosted Flakes, Nutri-Grain, Rice Krispies, and Pringles; her team has recently embarked on revamping Kellogg’s global modules, which provide back-end services to hundreds of websites in the Kellogg digital platform.
Department of Accountancy
Outstanding Alumni Award
CEO, Crowe Horwath International (Retired)Arford has enjoyed a distinguished career. Following his retirement, he now consults with CPAmerica International. As the CEO for Crowe Horwath International, the ninth largest international accounting network with 160 firms in 110 countries, he focused on re-organizing the network’s management function by establishing a global management committee, implementing a universal, global brand and establishing a standard, global audit program and process.
Department of Business Information Systems
Outstanding Alumni Award
Chief Technology Officer, Western Michigan UniversityWolf has advanced through a variety of progressively responsible IT positions, which include 19 years of project management and 15 years of staff supervision. He was eventually named WMU’s first CTO in 2011. With a passion for WMU that has been passed down for generations in his family, Wolf approaches each day with unrivaled enthusiasm and a commitment to superior results.
Department of Finance and Commercial Law
Outstanding Alumni Award
Attorney and Counselor, Howard & Howard AttorneysHemker’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and securities law, with an emphasis on financial institutions. He has successfully completed hundreds of merger and acquisition transactions with billions of dollars in transaction value. A frequent, expert speaker on corporate governance issues and strategic planning, he has given generously of his time to WMU.
Department of Management
Outstanding Alumni Award
CEO, Dawn Food ProductsSince Jones-Barber became CEO of Dawn Food Products, the company has more firmly established its reputation as a global leader in the sweet side of bakery, expanding its reach to customers in more than 106 countries. Jones-Barber is the third generation of the Jones family to lead Dawn, working to ensure the organization retains a strong focus on people, products, customers and sustainable growth.
Department of Marketing
Outstanding Alumni Award Marketing Hall of Fame
President and CEO, Advanced Medical Innovation Crossroad, JapanAn accomplished international business leader whose commitment to performance in the context of ethical business practices makes him a successful business leader and sought-after business partner, Nakazawa-san is expert at negotiating the differences between Japanese and U.S. business cultures. He has provided exceptional leadership at Stryker, Pfizer and now at Advanced Medical Innovation Crossroad, Japan.
Food and Consumer Package Goods Marketing
Outstanding Alumni Award
Vice President Key Accounts, KeHE Distributors Inc.Feldman has led business growth in several channels of trade, including grocery, natural, mass, club, convenience and foodservice. She has worked on virtually every side of the business, including manufacturer/grower, distributor, broker, and store operator areas, uniquely equipping her with the knowledge of how to get a product from conception to distribution to consumer.
Food and Consumer Package Goods Marketing
Adrian Trimpe Distinguished Service Award
Marvin G. Imus, B.S.’78
Owner, Imus Solutions
Imus is currently an industry consultant specializing in in-store technology and card-based frequent shopper marketing programs. He is the former owner and President of Paw Paw Shopping Center in Michigan. A long-time member of the WMU Food Marketing Industry Advisory Board, he is a generous supporter of the program, devoting countless hours sharing his knowledge with students.
WMU ROTC Wall of Fame Award
Deputy G9/Chief of Staff (FMWR), U.S. Army Installation Management Command
Fort Sam Houston, TexasColonel Love’s career has been distinguished as he has led in a variety of capacities in a military career spanning more than 20 years. His awards and decorations are numerous His awards and decorations are numerous and include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Parachutist Badge and Combat Action Badge.
This listing includes all award recipients for 2014. Some may have been honored earlier this year.