Outstanding departmental alumni awards presented for 2018

The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation held its second annual Outstanding Departmental Alumni Recognition event on March 22 to honor an outstanding alum from each department within the college.

Recognized during the ceremony were: Accounting – Catherine A. Sheets; Finance – Steven M. Cavanaugh; IOTM – Jason J. Hood; Management – Robin Wooddall Klein; and Marketing and International Business – John P. Greco.

The 2018 UT College of Business and Innovation Outstanding Departmental Alumni recipients are (clockwise from top) John Greco, Steven Cavanaugh, Robin Wooddall Klein, Jason Hood and Catherine Sheets. 

“Each of these individuals is a tremendous representative of our college,” noted COBI Interim Dean Hassan HassabElnaby. “We established this important award to thank them for their commitment to the UT College of Business and to congratulate each of them on their professional success…all built upon what they learned here at COBI.”

Catherine Sheets obtained both a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from UT. She started her career with Arthur Young, then moved to Plante Moran where she is a tax partner. Cathy is known for strategizing with entrepreneurial owners and private equity investors on tax minimization strategies. She uses her knowledge to assist in structuring alternatives that can be used to achieve desired results. Cathy has 26 years of experience focusing on the manufacturing and distribution and service industries, is a recipient of the “20 Under 40” Leadership award and a Woman Business Advocate for the U.S. Small Business Association.

Steven Cavanaugh serves as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of HCR ManorCare, a multi-billion dollar post-acute health care services company. Prior to being named to his current position in September 2017, Cavanaugh was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of HCR ManorCare since 2011. He joined the company in 1993, advancing through a series of financial and strategic planning positions before being elected Vice President, Director of Corporate Development in 1999. Cavanaugh is also chairman of the University of Toledo Board of Trustees. In 2014 he and his wife Tiffany made a $500,000 gift to COBI to provide scholarships to honor students and enable the college to pursue new initiatives.

Jason Hood’s career has brought his knowledge and skills through some of the most recognizable and respected major companies of America, including Hewlett Packard, Aeroquip Vickers Corporation, Dana Incorporated, Eaton Corporation, HCR ManorCare, and First Solar. Jason is currently Vice President of Infrastructure at Material Handling Services in Perrysburg, where he has been for one year. “I am a proud alumni of UT,” Hood said. “I continue to recruit for intern and full- time positions at the University of Toledo and the students and professors continue to impress me.  The students are prepared for the workforce and do a great job when we make them a part of our team.”

Robin Wooddall Klein has worked at two well-known companies. Her first job was with Sky Financial Group, now known as Huntington, where she worked for 13 years. Then, for 18 years until now, she worked at Root, where she is a senior vice president. Robin has said that her “Professional Passions” are helping people and organizations navigate change and achieve goals; creating breakthroughs and solving problems where people or organizations may be stuck; getting to the truth of the issues and communicating truth with transparency and care; building cultures that promote shared values and growth; and growing people. She obtained both her bachelors and Executive MBA degrees at UT and said her favorite UT memory was the EMBA international trip.

John Greco, center, accepted his outstanding Departmental Alumni Award in the  Marketing Department from  Dr. Ellen Pullins and COBI Interim Dean Hassan HassabElnaby.

John Greco has been an offensive lineman for 11 years in the NFL. He is currently in his second season with the New York Giants, played three years with the St. Louis Rams, also played with the New Orleans Saints, and six seasons with the Cleveland Browns. While at UT, John of course was a member of our beloved UT Rockets Football team, and he also served an internship in the UT athletics office.

Greco has said that UT & COBI faculty and staff members who made a difference for him are Tom Amstutz, Chris Hedden, Steve Murray, Don Wedding and Don Greco, who is John’s uncle and a long-time math professor at UT. Beyond that, John said his favorite UT memories are forming lifelong friendships, winning the MAC championship and meeting his wife. John and his wife Jodi have two children, Giavanna and Angelo.

As for hobbies, John said he likes playing outside with his kids and dogs, golfing, cooking and travelling.

As for his heart, John has demonstrated how big that is through his community service with the United Way, the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland, the Blessed 2 Bless Foundation of Youngstown, and the Cleveland Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

The department chair from each represented area introduced the recipient, who spoke about their favorite memories of their time at UT and about their business success.