Two COBI alumni to be honored during UT’s Homecoming gala

During The University of Toledo’s 2016 Homecoming Gala, William Carroll (Class of 1969) will receive the College of Business and Innovation Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Additionally, Robert A. Bleile (COBI Classes of 2004 and 2010) will receive the Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum Award.

William Carroll

Rob and Ala Bleile

Carroll is CEO at Limo-Reid Technologies, a Toledo-based automotive company, since 2009. Prior to that he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Dana Corporation, and served on the Board of Directors of Graco, Inc. Carroll also serves as Chair of the Business Engagement and Leadership Council of the UT College of Business and Innovation, and was the 2012 recipient of the college’s prestigious Business Pacemaker Award.

“As a UT College of Business alumnus and Chair of the UT COBI Business Engagement and Leadership Council (BELC), Mr. Carroll continues to display his deep personal commitment to the College of Business and Innovation and its important activities within the business community,” noted COBI Dean Gary Insch. “Mr. Carroll’s highly successful career, community involvement and outstanding integrity and leadership in the regional business arena make him the ideal business professional to receive this year’s Outstanding Alumnus Award.”

Mr. Carroll, a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve for six years, obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting at UT and completed an advanced management program at Harvard Business School. Beginning in 1987, he held several key positions at Dana Corporation, including President of the Automotive Systems Group from 1997 to 2004, and President and Chief Operating Officer from 2003 to 2004. Mr. Carroll also has been Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Toledo, Chairman of the Lucas County Port Authority, and a member of the Toledo-Lucas County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Bleile is a two-time grad of the UT College of Business and Innovation, having obtained both his bachelor's and Executive MBA there, and is a past president of the COBI Alumni Affiliate. He is co-founder of Shopmetrics and president of American Timber and Steel. A recent profile of Bleile published in Rocket Business News can be found here.http://rocketbusinessnews.blogspot.com/2015/09/two-time-cobi-grad-focused-on-giving.html

“Rob has already been of tremendous service to the College of Business through his commitment to the Alumni Association,” Dean Insch said, “and we are proud of the fact that he obtained both his bachelors and Executive MBA here.  We congratulate him for receiving the Outstanding Young Alum award and look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship.”

The 2016 Homecoming theme is Rocky's 50th Birthday, Celebrating 50 Years of Rocky. Ticket information for the event can be found here.