Inspiring Accomplishments

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas will hold its 13th annual honors banquet Thursday, April 20, at the Center for Continuing Education in Fayetteville.

The Walton College will honor two distinctive alumni and an individual who has contributed to the advancement of the college:

• Carl S. Rosenbaum, chairman, Safe Foods Corp., North Little Rock, Ark. - Lifetime Achievement Award;

• Gerald B. Alley, founder and CEO, Con-Real Inc., Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas - Entrepreneur of the Year Award; and

• Harold M. Korell, chairman, president and CEO, Southwestern Energy Co., Houston, Texas — Outstanding Service Award.

Walton College Dean Dan Worrell said: “We have chosen these business leaders because they exemplify the very essence of what we are trying to teach our students. Their accomplishments provide inspiration to the students as well as to our faculty and staff.”

Rosenbaum is chairman of the board of Arkansas Glass Container Corp., a partner in Rosenbaum Brothers Partnership, and chairman of the board of Safe Foods Corp. He is also a highway commissioner with the Arkansas State Highway Commission and has been active in Rotary International. He has served on the advisory council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and on the board of directors of Regions Bank of Little Rock. He has been a member of the Walton College Dean’s Executive Advisory Board since 1999 and on the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame selection committee. He has been involved in many civic and charitable organizations.

Alley’s company, Con-Real Inc., is the largest African American-owned construction and real estate firm in Texas and the southwest region. The company has offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and Oakland, Calif. and provides program management, construction management and general contracting to a wide array of Fortune 500 corporations. He has a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. His brother Troy, who holds an engineering degree from the University of Arkansas, joined forces with him in Con-Real. Alley is a member of the Walton College Dean’s Executive Advisory Board, and he will receive the Silas Hunt Legacy Award from the University of Arkansas on April 28.

Korell is a member of the Walton College Dean’s Executive Advisory Board. He is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines with a professional degree in chemical and petroleum refining engineering. He has a long career in the oil and natural gas industry and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, American Gas Association and Independent Petroleum Association of America. Korell also received the Distinguished Achievement Medal from the Colorado School of Mines in May 2004.

WALTON COLLEGE OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARDS

The Walton College’s outstanding undergraduate senior awards include:

• Accounting — Rivka Berman, Millie Jones, Lacey La Rue
• Economics — Elizabeth Dodson
• Finance — Taylor Atwood, William M. “Trey” Srygley III, Luke Terrell, Chenin Vadalma  
• Information Systems — Guy Hendricks, Matthew Willey
• International Business — Catherine St. Clair
• Marketing and Transportation — Stephen Fox, Caryn Croxton, Meggan Marie Sexton, Heather Story, Kristen Thibodeaux, Allison Glahn
• Management — Callan Cornett, Kelly (Cooper) Keyes, Matthew Schilb
• Ralph Treat Outstanding Cooperative Student Award — Taylor Atwood

Graduate student awards include:

• Master of Business Administration — Matt Taylor (Full-time MBA), Joe Ratner (Managerial MBA)
• Master of Accountancy — Sarah Garton
• Master of Arts in Economics — Li Yang
• Master of Information Systems — Michael Gibbs
• Master of Transportation and Logistics — Sandhya Sundaram

The Sam M. Walton Student Leadership award will be given to Phillip M. Brick Jr. The Doyle Z. Williams Student Leadership Award will go to Craig DePew.  The Helping and Nurturing Diverse Scholars Award will go to Justin Grimes and Carl Mathis and Beta Alpha Psi and the National Association of Black Accountants. The University of Arkansas and Walton College student awards, which will also be recognized at the university-wide ceremonies, include: First-ranked Senior Scholars — Rivka Berman, Corey Coston and Andrea Parker. These students completed all of their course work at the U of A with a grade point average of 4.0. The Senior Scholars are Guy Hendricks, Millie Jones and Catherine St. Clair. They have been enrolled at the university for at least four semesters and had the highest grade point in the college. Sarah Wilcoxson will receive the Beta Gamma Sigma award, and Kyle Story will receive the Presidential Scholar award. The Walton College’s Outstanding Graduating Senior is Rivka Berman.

OUTSTANDING WALTON COLLEGE FACULTY AND STAFF

Dean Worrell will recognize the outstanding Walton College faculty and staff for the 2005-2006 academic year. He said: “It takes the combined efforts of all of our faculty and our staff to provide these students with the best business education possible. We are grateful for all of their work this year to produce a top graduating class.”

Jon Johnson, associate professor of management, will receive the “Outstanding All-Around Faculty” award for excelling in teaching, research and service. The “Excellence in Teaching” award will be given to Gary Ferrier, professor of economics and holder of the Lewis E. Epley Jr. Professorship. The “Excellence in Research” award will be presented to Daniel Ganster, professor and holder of the Charles C. Fichtner Chair. Carole Shook, instructor in accounting, will receive the “Excellence in Advising” award. The “Excellence in Service” award will be presented to Deborah Thomas, associate professor of accounting and holder of the Nolan E. Williams Lectureship in Accounting. Kyle Huggins, doctoral student in marketing and logistics, will receive the “Outstanding Graduate Assistant Teaching” award.

Worrell will recognize eight faculty and staff members for their length of service to the Walton College and the University of Arkansas: 10 years of service — Karen Boston, Susan Bristow, Kenley Haley, Michele Halsell, David Hyatt, Jon Johnson, Shirley Johnson, Barbara Lofton and Shirley Thrash; and 20 years of services — John Ozment

The Walton College “Major Contribution” award will go to Pam Styles, assistant director of the Center for Retailing Excellence. The “Superior Service” award will go to Elizabeth Golden, assistance director of the Graduate School of Business. The “Rookie” award goes to Christy Dean, and the “Staff Diversity” award goes to Sandy Kizer.

The Walton College “Outstanding Team” award will go to the RFID Research Center. Team members include Bill Hardgrave, Justin Patton, David Cromhout and Jeff Riemenschneider. The “High Performance Team” award will go to the Undergraduate Programs Office for their work with students. Members include: Assistant Dean Karen Boston, Nancy Bunch, Autumn Parker, Zeak Naifeh, Rebel Smith, Bill Ragan, Jeff Hood, Erin Cohen, Gloria Brown, Jami Coker, Jeff McLaughlin, Barbara Lofton, Diane Smith, Patsy McKinney, LaTonya Jackson, Taunya Kopke, Garrick Hildebrand, and Stephanie Qualls.