2017 Award Recipients

Jeanne Carlson, B.B.A.’68
CEO (retired)
Blue Care Network

Jeanne Carlson served in executive positions for both Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network before retiring from BCN of Michigan as president and CEO in 2010. In addition to expanding product offerings to include new commercial and government business products, which increased members, Carlson was responsible for building HIPAA compliant operations and procedures. Under her leadership, BCN successfully entered the senior market, introduced a health reimbursement account product and was one of the first in the Detroit area to offer a plan that incorporated wellness and preventative care.

Birgit Klohs, B.B.A.’83 
CEO
The Right Place

Birgit Klohs has spent her career in economic development and working to make the West Michigan region an economic leader in the Midwest. Since 1987, she has served as the CEO of The Right Place, Inc., the regional economic development organization for Grand Rapids and West Michigan. Under her leadership, more than $4 billion in capital investments have been made and more than 40,000 jobs have been created in the region. Klohs was appointed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to the International Crossing Authority to oversee construction of the North American International Trade Crossing.

HAWORTH COLLEGE OF BUSINESS OUTSTANDING ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Kay Benesh, B.B.A.’81
Partner, Global Audit Succession and Deployment
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Kay Benesh is a senior partner with over 36 years of experience in Deloitte & Touche LLP’s energy and resources industry group. She currently serves large, complex global public organizations in the construction, energy and utility industries. Benesh is also responsible for the global deployment of U.S. audit professionals and is a leader in the transformation of the audit of the future. Benesh has a broad range of experience, serving large security and exchange commission registrants.

Benesh's biographical information

Robert S. Kaiser, B.B.A.’78
Owner and Chief Executive Officer
Gallagher-Kaiser Corporation 

Robert Kaiser is the owner and CEO of Gallagher-Kaiser Corporation, the world’s premiere automotive paint shop supplier. Kaiser’s father, Joe Kaiser III, started the company in 1952 in Detroit. GK maintains multiple manufacturing facilities in Detroit, with a corporate headquarters in Troy, Michigan. Under Kaiser’s leadership, the company has grown to become a world leader in engineering, procurement and construction and further expanded their capabilities when he purchased Universal Piping Industries in 2010.

Kaiser's biographical information

HAWORTH COLLEGE OF BUSINESS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

David L. Rozelle, M.S.A.’75
Associate Professor of Accountancy (retired)
Western Michigan University 

David Rozelle dedicated his career to Western Michigan University students as associate professor of accountancy and faculty advisor for the international honor organization Beta Alpha Psi. Throughout his 38 years of service, Rozelle received two University-wide Teaching Excellence Awards, the University Distinguished Service Award, the Interfraternity-Panhellenic Council Teaching Excellence Award, the MACPS Outstanding Educator Award, and two Beta Alpha Psi Faculty Advisor of the Year Awards. He has impacted thousands of lives through his teaching.

Rozelle's biographical information

HAWORTH COLLEGE OF BUSINESS YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

Ryan Blanck, B.B.A.’02
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Deviate

Ryan Blanck is the founder and chief executive officer of Deviate, a leadership company specializing in performance coaching and partnering with influential leaders to help change the way they lead and live their lives. With a gift for bringing out the best in people, Blanck enables clients to ascend to the top of their professions without losing themselves in the process. The common denominator for Deviate is always the same: develop healthy leaders worth following and build cultures people genuinely want to join.

Blanck's biographical information

Saidal Mohmand, B.B.A.’12
Partner and Director of Research
GrizzlyRock Capital

As partner and director of research at GrizzlyRock Capital, Saidal Mohmand plays an integral role in investment idea generation, analysis and portfolio management. He spearheads GrizzlyRock’s investment strategy and assists with identifying investments in companies that are dramatically undervalued. Mohmand also spends a portion of his time investigating corporate malfeasance, business models and product fads. Prior to GrizzlyRock, Mohmand served as an analyst for a regional bank’s leveraged finance team based in Chicago.

Mohmand's biographical information

Psyche Terry, B.B.A.’03
Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer
UI Global Brands 

Psyche Terry is the founder and chief inspiration officer of UI Global Brands. UIGB started in 2009 when, after becoming pregnant and experiencing body changes, Terry formed Urban Intimates with her husband Vontoba to create lingerie and sleepwear to make women of various body types feel empowered and beautiful. UI Global Brands has expanded into hair and skincare as well as home cleaning, with products in 6000-plus stores. Terry became the first black woman to have a lingerie line sold in Walmart, Ross and Macy’s.

Terry's biographical information

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTANCY OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD

Mark Crawford, B.B.A.’76
Shareholder and Chairman
Doeren Mayhew

With a notable career spanning more than 40 years, Mark Crawford serves as shareholder and chairman of the Board of Doeren Mayhew, the 57th largest CPA and consulting firm in the nation. As leader and steward of the company, Crawford guides the firm’s client service, growth, people development, risk management, and cultural and strategic direction. Under his guidance, the firm has grown its revenue by more than 700 percent and expanded its footprint across the U.S. as well as abroad.

Crawford's biographical information

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD

Richard Hook, B.B.A.’96
Chief Information Officer, Penske Corporation
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Penske Automotive Group, Inc.

Richard Hook is the chief information officer for Penske Corporation, an on-highway, diversified transportation services company employing more than 50,000 worldwide. Hook also serves as senior vice president and chief information officer for Penske Automotive Group, Inc. Hook has more than 20 years of experience in information technology, infrastructure, business process, security and compliance. Prior to being named CIO, he was vice president of IT Infrastructure for Penske Automotive.

B=Hook's biographical information

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND COMMERCIAL LAW OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD

David Ellis, B.B.A.’74, MBA'80
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management
West Shore Bank

David Ellis has been in the trust and personal financial advisory business more than 40 years. He founded Ellis Capital Management in 1997. As president and CEO, he provided investment advisory services to individuals and trusts on the premise of offering a high level of personal financial service and protecting peoples’ wealth. He also founded Ellis Fiduciary Services, which provided trustee, probate and conservator administration services in West Michigan. He recently merged his business with West Shore Bank of Ludington, Michigan.

Ellis' biographical information

DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD

Kevin McManus, B.B.A.’79
President
TECHNI Waterjet

Kevin McManus was appointed president of TECHNI Waterjet, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of profile waterjet cutting systems, in 2016. With more than 35 years of experience, McManus is a recognized global leader in the robotic automation and waterjet cutting industries. He also serves as global director of business development for the company, helping organizations around the world significantly improve their operating performance through the utilization of TECHNI’s industry-leading products and technology.

McManus' biographical information

DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING Hall of Fame

Jeff Williams, B.B.A.’83
President, Europe, Middle East and Latin America
Johnson Controls

Jeff Williams has spent his entire 33-year career with Johnson Controls in multiple leadership positions, including leading large businesses for the company. He has served two international assignments in Brazil and Germany and has extensive global experience managing operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Recently, Williams led the successful spin-off of Johnson Controls’ $16 billion automotive business that operates in more than 35 countries with 200 manufacturing plants and 75,000 employees, culminating in the creation of Adient, which is listed on the NYSE.

Williams' biographical information

FOOD AND CONSUMER PACKAGE GOODS MARKETING Outstanding Alumni AWARD

Trent Weller, B.B.A.'96
Vice President, Consumables
Sam's Club

As vice president, consumables, at Sam’s Club, Trent Weller focuses on elevating private brand, improving packaging and cross-category merchandising. Under his leadership, 12 management associates have been promoted out of the consumables division. Prior to his current position, Weller spent four years serving as vice president over adult and non-adult beverages. In this role, Weller’s team delivered above market growth by enhancing quality assortment and focusing on emerging beverages and core brands through the instant savings program.

Weller's biographical information

FOOD AND CONSUMER PACKAGE GOODS MARKETING ADRIAN TRIMPE AWARD

Craig Jacobi
Vice President, Strategic Accounts
Constellation Brands

Craig Jacobi is vice president of strategic accounts for Constellation Brands, a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, Italy and Canada. Starting with the company nearly 15 years ago as region manager for the Southeast division, Jacobi’s current responsibilities include category management and sales functions for off-premise retailers in the United States. 

Jacobi's biographical information

WMU ROTC WALL OF FAME AWARD