The magnificent seven

College awards alumni and friends
for support, involvement

Seven is a lucky number.

At least it is for the College of Business Administration alumni and friends, who were honored at the College of Business Administration 2007 Alumni Award Reception in October.

“The successes and accomplishments of our CBA alumni are simply outstanding and their dedication and service to the community and the university are wholehearted and exemplary,” said CBA Senior Director of Development Jody Ackerman Patton. “CBA alumni award winners are incredible business people, conscientious citizens, and caring individuals. Every year we are honored and privileged to recognize people of this caliber who work so hard to bring so much good into the world.”

Here are the seven 2007 winners:

Alumni Commitment Award
Lynn Eady, ’84
Delphi

“Since Central prepared me so well for life after graduation, I wanted to give back. What better place to give than one that has helped make you who you are? I also have found that CMU – including its administration, faculty, and students – is a place that really appreciates the time and energy that you give.”

Alumni Commitment Award
Charles Selinger, ’94
Novartis Pharmaceuticals

“I come up here regularly to teach marketing students because I remember what it was like when alumni came back to the classroom when I was a student. I volunteer for CBA’s Dialogue Days, the alumni board, and the student mentoring program. It is a really good feeling to give back, and through CMU, I know I have the ability to touch many lives. I have so much pride in CMU.”

Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Thomas Picardy, ’01
Fortune Financial Solutions

“I was given a stock broker internship opportunity during my years in the business college. That internship was instrumental in my decision to go into financial planning. So now I want to help students achieve their goals.”

Honorary Alumni Award
James M. Williams
Governmental Accounting Standards Board

“Dr. Philip Kintzele, the School of Accounting chair, introduced me to CMU’s College of Business Administration in the 1980s. In the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, I taught governmental accounting and auditing in classes and in faculty, staff, and alumni training programs. I was very impressed by the great job they are doing at the college, so it was an easy choice to get behind them with my support.”

Entrepreneur of the Year
Bart LaBelle, ’64
LaBelle Management

“CMU’s College of Business Administration is partly responsible for my successful business career. Giving back something to the school is very gratifying for me.”

Distinguished Alumni Award
W. Sidney Smith, ’65
Smith Equities

“I have memories of CMU that go back as far as I
can remember. I grew up riding my tricycle to campus. I have CMU in my blood. My father was a professor, an administrator, and then later a vice president. I met my wife here. The question is, what memories do I have that don’t include CMU? And I continue to stay active with Central because I want to keep it that way.”

Alumni Commitment Award
Peter Beveridge, ’75
PricewaterhouseCoopers

“My education at CMU was the key to where I am today. I was able to obtain a strong accounting education, but most importantly, I was able to obtain an internship with Pricewaterhouse through the accounting department’s brand new – at that time – internship program. That opportunity was the single most important aspect for my career as it provided me the chance to learn the profession, use what I had learned at school, and better understand and coordinate my education with a real-life experience. I am very grateful to two faculty members at that time who started the intern program and made my opportunity possible.”