The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation (COBI) and the Business Engagement and Leadership Council recognized both business and academic excellence during their 55th annual Pacemaker Awards on Friday, April 13 at the Inverness Country Club.
The 2018 Business Pacemaker award was presented to Alan H. Barry, a 1966 graduate of the University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation, is a certified public accountant, retired president and chief operating officer of the Fortune 200 company Masco Corporation, and a member of the UT Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
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Alan H. Barry
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Barry joined Brass Craft Manufacturing Company in 1972 as controller and became president of the Masco division in 1988. In 1996, he became a group president of Masco, a manufacturer of home improvement and building products. He has broad business experience that includes finance, manufacturing, customer development, acquisitions and general operating management.
Barry currently serves on the board of directors of the H. W. Kaufman Financial Group. He is the retired director of Arch Aluminum & Glass Co. Inc., Scotts Miracle Gro Company, and IPS Corporation. He also served as an executive board member of the Plumbing Manufacturing Institute from 1985 through 2000, and as chairman of the Institute in 1994. In addition, Barry served on the executive board of the associate member division of the American Supply Association during 1995 and 1996.
Barry and his wife, Karen (UTCTC, ’64) have a history of philanthropy at The University of Toledo. In 2014, the University named a new accounting lab in the College of Business and Innovation for Alan Barry. At the time the lab was established, it was the first one nationwide to have a certified management accountant (CMA) license, in which students could access for free the CMA review material from Wiley, a leading provider of educational programs for professionals and students who are preparing for the CMA exam.
The Barrys also endowed the Alan and Karen Barry Scholarship Fund, which provides support for full-time UT business accounting students, based on both merit and needs. Alan Barry, a native of Toledo, is an active member of the UT Alumni Association’s Phoenix Chapter as well as being active in UT’s Blue Key organization, and also serves on the executive committee for the children’s charity Variety. In 2017 the Barrys donated a $1 million gift to establish an endowment that supports The Alan H. and Karen A. Barry Endowed Professorship in Accounting at The University of Toledo.
“Recipients of the Pacemaker Award over the past five decades read as a Who’s Who of current and legendary business leaders in the Toledo region,” said Dr. Hassan HassabElnaby, Interim Dean, UT College of Business and Innovation, "and Alan Barry certainly belongs in that impressive roster. The Pacemaker Award is the College of Business and Innovation’s highest honor, recognizing individuals for outstanding achievement in business as well as contributions to the community and the University. We are also pleased to recognize the excellence of students from each of our departments through the Student Pacemaker Awards.”
Student Pacemaker Awards are presented to UT College of Business and Innovation graduate and undergraduate students for their outstanding academic achievement, University and community service, and leadership. The 2018 student Pacemakers are:
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| Aanchal Senapati |
Aanchal Senapati
Aanchal Senapati is a recipient of the MBA Pacemaker Award. She is majoring in Information Systems and Operations Management and has a cumulative grade point average of 3.834. Aanchal is currently the Director of Live Event and Entertainment for Campus Activities and Programming, is a member of the Student Allocation Committee and is a past Treasurer of the International Student Association. She has also been involved in the Indian Students Cultural Organization, the Second UT Kalahari International Leadership Conference, UT Leadership Conference, the Advanced Leadership Academy, the International Youth Academy, and a member of APICS. She is serving as a graduate assistant in the College’s Business Career Programs Office and has Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and ITIL Foundation Certifications. Her bachelors degree was received from VTU University in India where she served in positions with Cisco Systems and Tata Consultancy Services. Aanchal is from India, can speak 5 languages and has lived in more than 15 cities and has visited 4 countries.
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| Mitchell Howard |
Mitchell Howard
Mitchell Howard has also been chosen as an MBA Pacemaker Recipient. He is majoring in Leadership and has a grade point average of 3.8 and will graduate this May. Mitchell already holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UT and as a graduate student he has been a member of the Advanced Leadership Academy, Beta Gamma Sigma, on the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Pharmacist Association New Practitioner Network Transition, serves as an Ohio Delegate to the American Pharmacy Association, is a Faculty Adviser and Volunteer of the Ohio Pharmacist Association Legislative Day, a member of the OPA Emergency Preparedness Task Force, a Mentor for the APHA and APHA-ASP and the Student Volunteer Director and Pharmacist in Charge for the Community Care Clinic. Mitchell has a wide range of activities, experience, journal publications and presentations. He has been involved with the UT Medical Center, various pharmacies and has served on a Medical Mission to Guatemala and this June will travel to the Philippines on another Medical Mission. Mitch enjoys the outdoors and traveling and in fact in August, back packed across Isle Royale National Park located in Lake Superior.
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| Tyler Hecht |
Tyler Hecht
The Accounting Department has selected Tyler Hecht as its Master of Science in Accountancy recipient. Tyler holds a 3.8 grade point average and is the current Vice President of Beta Alpha Psi, the current Becker Campus Ambassador, and has been involved with Alpha Kapa Psi as the Standards Board Chairman. He was also a member of the KLAR Leadership Academy. Tyler has been a tax intern with Weber O’Brien and currently serves as a graduate assistant in the Accounting Department. He has already passed one of the four parts of the CPA Exam.
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| Martin Linthicum |
Martin Linthicum
Marty Linthicum has a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 and is a junior double majoring in Accounting and Political Science. He is a member of Beta Alpha Psi and is also involved with UT Student Government, the Student Allocations Committee, the Institute of Management Accountants, the Student Legal Services and the Political Science Students Association. Marty is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, was named the UT Student Government Executive Member of the year, was a presenter at the Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference and is a Student Ambassador to the College of Arts and Letters. He is also a Student Tutor in the College of Business and Innovation. In addition, Marty is an Eagle Scout and is proud of the work he completed with the Veterans Memorial Park to attain the Eagle Scout status. Interestingly, Marty can recite all 15 federal executive cabinet positions.
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| Sarah Avina |
Sarah Avina
Sarah Avina is a senior with a 3.5 grade point average double majoring in Accounting and Finance and minoring in Spanish. She was chosen by the Accounting Department as one of its Student Pacemakers. Sarah is the Service Chair for Beta Alpha Psi and a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. She is also a member of the KLAR Leadership Academy and a UT Academic Coach, is a recipient of the State Farm Insurance Scholarship, the Charles Sullivan Scholarship, a recipient of the BP Scholars Fund, a winner of the Shapiro Essay Contest, a member of the Spanish National Honor society and has consistently appeared on the Dean’s List. She traveled to Spain with the UT Study Abroad Program. She has also served as an IFS Start Intern with Pricewaterhouse Coopers and has been a Certified Volunteer Tax Preparer with United Way of Greater Toledo. Sarah has studied abroad in Spain and is fluent in the Spanish language.
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| Alex Odenweller |
Alex Odenweller
Alex Odenweller is a junior majoring in Financial Services with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He serves as the Recruiting/Communications Executive and Board Member of the Institute of Management Accountants, is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the Financial Management Association and the Habitat for Humanity. He consistently appears on the President’s List and the Dean’s List and is a recipient of the Prestige Transfer Scholarship. Alex has been an insurance agent, a legal intern, the head coach of the Delphos St. Johns 5th Grade Basketball team and currently is employed as a Finance Tutor in the O-I Tutoring Lab and works at Ameriprise Financial as an intern. Last summer, Alex studied abroad in London and Berlin.
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| Brianne Michel |
Brianne Michel
Brianne Michel was chosen by the Finance Department as its senior Student Pacemaker of the Year. She is double majoring in finance and accounting and has a grade point of 3.9. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, was the Marketing Chair and Vice President of SHARP UT Investments, is a member of CHAARG and was a participant in the 2017 Accounting Professionals in Residence with Plante Moran. Off-campus Brianne is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Toledo Young Professionals Network and EPIC Toledo. Brianne consistently appears on both the President’s and Dean’s Lists, is a recipient of the Rockets Honors Award, a Hanf Scholarship, a Student Spotlight Honor and will graduate summa cum laude in May. She has done all this while completing internships at Welltower, Plante Moran, Scottrade and while studying and sitting for sections of the CPA exam. This summer, Brianne will run in 6 races, including 3 half marathons.
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| Brandon Stewart |
Brandon Stewart
Brandon Stewart was chosen by the IOTM Department as a Student Pacemaker. He is a junior majoring in Supply Chain Management and Information Systems with a 3.753 grade point average. He resides in Cleveland, Ohio and is a distance learning student in our partner institution, Lorain County Community College, where is an Honors Associate of Applied Business. His efforts are spent learning the material taught in class and in his spare time teaches himself python programming and plans to learn the R programming language next. He has been on the President’s List and the Dean’s List, is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. He was a team leader for Eaton Corporation where he led a Rapid Improvement Event which saved the company 20-30 thousand dollars a year. Brandon has climbed Mt. Washington in New Hampshire in perfect weather, has run a half-marathon, collects board games and played acoustic guitar for 7 years.
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| Lindsey Wittenauer |
Lindsey Wittenauer
Lindsey Wittenauer is a senior double majoring in Information Systems and Management with a 3.953 grade point average. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, President of the Association of Information Technology Professionals, President of Golden Key International Honor Society, a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, a participant of the KLAR Leadership Academy, and a Peer Career Assistant. She is a regular volunteer for the COBI Job Fair and the UT Invitational Sales Competition. Also, she attended the UT Leadership Conference. Lindsey has been an intern at Material Handling Services, Eaton Corporation, Toledo Lighthouse Church, was a participant in the Cleveland Leadership Program and a team member at Menards. She has appeared on both the Dean’s List and the President’s List, was the student keynote speaker at the KLAR Graduation and was a homecoming queen nominee. Lindsey has been a competitive baton twirler for most of her life and is now a certified baton judge for competitions.
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| Kathleen Kurman |
Kathleen Kurman
The Management Department has chosen Kathleen Kurman as one of its Student Pacemakers. Kathleen is a junior with a 3.7 grade point average who is double majoring in Human Resources and International Business. She has been on the recruitment team for Pi Sigma Epsilon, has been the Secretary and Treasurer of the South American and Hispanic Students Association, a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the International Students Association and the Society for Human Resource Management. In the community, Kathleen is involved with Creating Family Readers, St. Paul’s Community Center, Boys and Girls Club, PetSmart Charities and Adopt-a-Family. She consistently appears on the Dean’s List, received an International Student Scholarship and an Honors Award. She has participated in RocketThon and UT’s Big Event. Kathleen was a Human Resources Intern for Dana and also for MaritzCX. Kathleen speaks four languages: German, Spanish, English and French. She is from Venezuela but has lived in 6 different countries.
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| Jenna Jeffers |
Jenna Jeffers
Jenna Jeffers is a senior majoring in Human Resources. She holds a 3.555 grade point average, is the Vice President of Finance for the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women and the New Member Professional Development Chair for Pi Sigma Epsilon. She has participated in the Big Event, is a member of the Society for HR Management, the Vice President of Communications for Lambda Sigma, a member of Levis Leadership UT and Basketball intramurals. Jenna is a volunteer for Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA. She has appeared on both the President’s List and the Dean’s List and is a recipient of a Levis Leadership Award and a Savage National Merit Award. She has participated in the Pi Beta Phi Leadership Institute and the China U.S. Rising Star Study Tour. She has also served as an intern for Owens Corning in their Human Resources Talent Management area. Jenna’s parents own a greenhouse and she can actually name a lot of flowers.
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| Haley Orr |
Haley Orr
Haley Orr is a junior with a double major in Professional Sales and Organizational Leadership with a perfect grade point average of 4.0. She has held various positions in Pi Sigma Epsilon such as New Member Service Chair, Executive Associate for the President, Prospective Member Training Assistant and the VP of Administration. She is a Presidential Ambassador, is a competitor in the UT Invitational Sales Competition, and is a member of the Lambda Sigma National Honor Society. She also is a competitor with UT Club Tennis. Haley works with the organization Helping Other People Everywhere and is an assistant Basketball coach for 5th and 6th grade girls. She consistently appears on the President’s List and the Dean’s List, placed third place in the UT Invitational Sales Competition, first place in the UT Internal Sales Competition and was on the Pi Sigma Epsilon national Future Leaders Team. Haley could not be with us tonight as she is in San Diego competing at the National Conference/Competition for Pi Sigma Epsilon. Haley thrives on competition and enjoys competing on the UT Club Tennis team and in sales competitions.”
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| Amanda Martin |
Amanda Martin
Amanda Martin is a senior majoring in Digital Marketing and minoring in Digital Art and Visual Communication with a grade point average of 3.845. She is the President of the Searles Ambassadors, VP of Membership for Beta Gamma Sigma, the Vice President of the Family Business Student Association, a volunteer for the UT Invitational Sales Competition and a member of the American Marketing Association, CHAARG, Pay it Forward and the Rucking Club. Amanda has also been involved with the Catholic Student Association, the Marketing Edge Collegiate Summit, the Youth Nations Global Leadership, the Toledo Air Show, Special Olympics Flag Football and the Cuyahoga Valley Alternative Spring Break. She is a regular on the Dean’s List and the President’s List. Amanda has been a Sales and Management Intern at Menards, a Special Events Intern at Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and an Orientation Leader for the UT Office of New Student Orientation. Amanda is both a Presidential Service Award winner and a Jefferson Nobel Award winner.
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| Julia Foley |
Julia Foley
Julia Foley is the Dean’s Award Recipient. She is a senior double majoring in Information Systems and Management and holds a 3.7 grade point average. Julia is the Treasurer and Vice President of the Association of IT Professionals, a student leader with the KLAR leadership Academy, Vice President of Programming for Beta Gamma Sigma, a student and national member of the Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement and a student leader with the H20 Church. She is a Peer Career Assistant and a student participant in the Ball State Case Competition. She has consistently appeared on the Dean’s List, has received the Honors Award Scholarship, the OSFA Department Award, a Skilliter Memorial Scholarship and a Certificate of Achievement from the KLAR Academy. Julia volunteers for the Howard Hanna organization and is a member of the SCLA Honors Society. She has been an IT Intern with the FRAM Group in Perrysburg. Julia plays guitar and bass guitar.
