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.

Olympic champion advises to Pursue Victory with Honor at Edwin Dodd Distinguished Lecture Series

Multiple Olympic gold medalist and sportscaster John Naber entertained and challenged an auditorium of students and community leaders during the March 22 Edwin Dodd Distinguished Lecture Series in Business Ethics. The event was sponsored by Dana Incorporated and Owens-Illinois, Inc. and co-hosted by The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation, College of Law and the Jesup Scott Honors College.

In 1976, John Naber became the most highly decorated member of the U.S. Olympic Team, winning four gold medals and one silver and setting four world records in the sport of swimming. He became the first swimmer in Olympic history to win two individual medals on the same day. In 1977, he was named the recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete.

“Sport is a good metaphor for work,” Naber said during his presentation.  “Sport helps men and women how to follow the rules, work hard, and sport tries to teach character.  The Olympic charter seeks to create a way of life with respect for universal, ethical principles. We were not paid to swim, we did it for the thrill of the competition. I would rather win the title than make the money.”

“But the standards are slipping,” Naber observed. “Lance Armstrong. Oscar Pistorius. Doctor Nassar. A badmitton scandal! What happened to the system designed to make better people?  People used to say ‘I was tempted to do something,’ but now say ‘We are pressured to produce results.’ Today nothing matters but winning, and society encourages that. Competition only matters if we all play by the same rules.”

Naber provided several examples of Olympic athletes doing things to help competitors, from replacing a broken ski pole to providing a bolt to repair a brochure sled to a German Nazi helping Olympic Champion Jesse Owens find his starting point mark during a long jump event, all because it was the right thing to do, even if it meant that their own finishes/results were lowered.    

Naber stated, “Sportsmanship is the desire to win on an opponent’s best day, but the opposite of sportsmanship is gamesmanship, a willingness to do anything to win. “

Naber also explained that this applies to the corporate world as well. “Winning the contract is not the same thing as earning the business.

He observed that there are forms of rationalization, and they need to be cured. “Myopia is the thought that if nobody is watching, nobody knows. People will behave differently at work than they would want their children to behave at home.  But you will know! Be accountable to yourself. How would you act if you knew your actions would be in the news tomorrow?”

“There is the pitfall of ethical relativity, the thought that everybody does it. But what would happen if everybody really did it, if everyone cheated on their taxes, or if everyone drove 95 miles an hour….there would be more accidents and death? Don’t justify what you do, the solution is to change the rules.”

Naber said, “What are the rewards for good character today?  They are respect, friends and reputation.”

Students in the Klar Leadership Academy and Advanced Leadership Academy celebrate their program commencements

Students, faculty and staff throughout the UT College of Business and Innovation daily pursue the COBI mission of Developing Lifelong Leaders for the World of Business. Beyond that, through the Center for Leadership and Organizational Excellence, COBI is nurturing the seeds of leadership in students across the University, regardless of their major through the Klar Leadership Academy and the Advanced Leadership Academy.

This month, both programs celebrated the graduation of their program participants.

“Some say leaders are born. We know leaders can be developed, that they need to be nurtured,” noted Dr. Clint Longenecker, the Center’s Director.”

“We believe that many students can - - and should - - be leaders in their chosen fields; leaders who will enrich their own lives, as well as those of their coworkers and their communities. Their organizations will not only be more profitable and successful, but also better corporate citizens. Subsequently, they will make their communities better, and the quality of life will rise for thousands, even tens of thousands of people.”

The Klar Leadership Academy is all about creating the next generation of exceptional leaders who will carry on the COBI and University of Toledo legacy of leaders who are changing the world. Students are Its stated mission is to expand and accelerate the development of the leadership acumen and talents of a select cadre of outstanding undergraduate students from the College of Business and Innovation and all  University of Toledo Undergraduate Colleges. This is an effort to increase each Academy member’s career success, their ability to lead and influence others to impact the world for good, and help each member capture a “personal vision” as to what they can do to improve the human condition.

During their recent commencement program, participating students were joined by family members to celebrate. Several Klar students shared stories of their personal journeys throughout the program, of working together to solve their projects, of struggling and of rejoicing. All explained how they felt stronger as a result of being part of this program.

“The KLAR Leadership Academy is such an amazing organization to be a part of,” noted Alexis Marok. “Being able to gain knowledge on effective leadership through the teachings of extremely successful leaders was an experience like no other. Being able to attend multiple events and put our leadership skills into play was an amazing opportunity. The things that I learned in the KLAR Leadership Academy about being a leader have changed my view of leadership and how to treat people in general. I am extremely grateful that I was able to be a part of such an amazing organization.”

Lindsey Cousino said, “After reflecting over my experience with the KLAR academy many memories reside with me. Over the past year I have learned that the KLAR academy focuses on leading students to harness their ability to lead their peers in the most efficient and effective way as possible. As a biology major and chemistry minor my professional field of interest will involve individual research along with collaborations with other scientific researchers. The KLAR Academy has allowed me to develop my own Leader's Creed that I can use and further build upon as I build my career. Prior to being a KLAR member many people would say I had silent confidence; now my confidence is no longer silenced. The most rewarding experience from the KLAR Academy was to learn from my peers of all ages of how to set great examples and to lead others. One golden rule everyone is taught in their life is to "treat others how you would like to be treated." Well I would say that every good leader will guide their peers how they would like to be guided. I feel blessed to have been a part of the KLAR academy for overall it was an extremely rewarding experience.”

Former UT and 11-year NFL quarterback Bruce Gradkowski also spoke at the celebration. He told his story of struggles and successes that accompany the high-profile life of playing, winning and losing on a national stage, and how they all strengthened him for other businesses he now operates.

The Klar Leadership Academy was founded in 2015 with the support of Steven Klar, a 1971 COBI alumnus and a New York City builder and real estate developer. 

Steven Calhoun, who participated in the most recent Advanced Leadership Academy program, said, "I want to let people know how beneficial the Advanced Leadership Academy was to me, not only from a leadership standpoint, but from a motivational one. For me especially, I struggle to wake up in the morning. Working through the Winter months in Toledo makes it even more of a struggle. However, I found myself waking up excited to attend the sessions that were held. The leadership advice, insight, and wealth of knowledge I gained from the speakers, and members in attendance, have been invaluable towards fulfilling my career goals. I am exceedingly grateful for the opportunity to take a part in the ALA this year, and strongly recommend it to anyone that has the privilege to take part in it."  

Sign Up now for a UT COBI Executive MBA Exploration Event

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