A NIGHT OF REUNION AND RECOGNITION

“Leaders are made they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile” – Vince Lombardi

View the pictures here.

Over 135 EMBA alumni from Seattle and across the United States, representing 20 classes from 1985 to 2003, attended the 3rd Annual EMBA Alumni Celebration of Leaders. Several faculty and EMBA staff members were present to welcome alumni and socialize. The event was held on March 11, 2004 at the Columbia Tower Club, located in downtown Seattle. Celebration of Leaders is an opportunity to reunite and reconnect with classmates and friends and to recognize alumni who have shown extraordinary leadership in the areas of business, entrepreneurship and community.

Bev Franklin (2000), a member of the Celebration Steering committee, welcomed the alumni. Following Bev’s welcome, the Director of Executive MBA Programs, Louise Kapustka, spoke about the exciting changes at the business school and ways for EMBA alumni to become involved.

The Keynote Speaker for the evening was President and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company, Orin Smith.

AWARD RECIPIENTS:

• COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP – Alice Ray (1987) and Jens Saakvitne (2000)
  

• BUSINESS LEADERSHIP – Michael Fancher (1986)
  

• ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP – Dennis Weston (1987)
  

The award recipients were nominated by the alumni and selected by the Celebration of Leaders steering committee. The steering committee, an assembly of EMBA alumni, spent several weeks developing program objectives and determining the criteria by which recipients would be chosen. The steering committee members were Committee Chair Mary McCoy (2001), Bev Franklin (2000), Kathleen Deakins (2001), Brian Evison (2002), Gary Gunderson (2000) and Chris George (1989).

Alumni continued to socialize well after the close of the program and some alumni even gathered for class photos. It was an evening of sharing memories, reuniting with good friends, making new friends and celebrating the leader with in us all.