FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – David Douglas, University Professor of information systems in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, was presented with the Sam Bruno Lifetime Achievement in Leadership Award at the 2012 Federation of Business Disciplines conference.

Douglas has been affiliated with the Federation of Business Disciplines – an umbrella organization made up of 10 professional organizations – since 1994, holding a variety of positions over the years. He was secretary-treasurer from 1997 to 2002, became vice president and general program chair from 2003 to 2004, president from 2005-2006, immediate past president from 2006 to 2007 and was director of marketing from 2006 to 2008.

This is only the second Lifetime Achievement in Leadership Award handed out by the federation. Sam Bruno, the man for whom the award is named, earned the first in honor of his 28-year stint as executive director.

“It is an incredible honor to be the first recipient following Sam,” Douglas said. “I am honored and humbled to be recognized in this way, and I will treasure the award forever.”

The first annual FBD conference was held in Dallas in 1974 with about 850 attendees. Today, about 1,000 people attend the conference, including attendees from 60 countries outside the United States. Representatives from each of the 10 organizations of the Federation of Business Disciplines make presentations at the conference.

“It is very much an academic conference with each association having research papers and workshops,” Douglas said. “The best papers for both faculty and students are also recognized.”

Douglas was recognized not only for his nearly 20-year affiliation with the federation, but for his role in helping the federation survive a turbulent time.

In the words of one of his cohorts: “[Douglas helped us] during a particularly tumultuous time, when important associations to FBD were contemplating disassociation with FBD.” He said during the award ceremony: “This man, quietly and with tremendous leadership, pulled the federation together.”