Distinguished Alumni and Friends
The Poole College of Management is proud of the strong tradition of achievement and community service among our more than 25,000 alumni. Our graduates are CEOs, vice presidents, entrepreneurs, managing directors, and more. Around the world, they have taken on important and prominent roles as international business leaders in a wide range of industries.
Each year, the Poole College and NC State recognize an alumnus for his or her career successes as well as outstanding support of the university. Honorees are presented with an Alumni of the Year award at the NC State Alumni Association’s prestigious annual recognition celebration, the Evening of the Stars.
Evening of Stars
Each year, celebrated alumni from across the globe gather in Raleigh for the Evening of Stars Gala – a time-honored event where the Alumni Association celebrates the winners of the College Distinguished Alumni Awards.
Recommend an Alumnus
If you would like to recommend an alumnus who you believe should be considered for this great honor, please contact our alumni relations director at poolepackalumni@ncsu.edu.
Poole College Alumni of the Year Honorees
2021 | Richard Bryant (1981), Co-Founder and CEO of Capital Investment Companies, Distinguished Alumni Award
2020 | Herb Bales (1984), Chief Financial Officer of Atlantic Investment Management, Distinguished Alumni Award
2018 | Charles (Chuck) A. Keeley III (1985), President of CGR Products, Distinguished Alumni Award
2017 | Ken Torok (1975), Former President Asia Pacific Region, UPS, Distinguished Alumni Award
2016 | Robert F. Andrews, III (1966), Former Chairman and CEO of FMI Corporation, Distinguished Alumni Award
2015 | Clifton B. Knight, Jr. (1969, 1970), Executive Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Bookspan LLC, New York, NY, Distinguished Alumni Award
2014 | Charles Stallings (1977), Senior Vice President, BB&T Capital Markets’ Institutional Fixed Income Group, Distinguished Alumni Award
2012 | Kevin Beasley (1979), CPA, Grant Thornton Raleigh office, Distinguished Alumni Award
2011 | Jon Bartley (1969), professor, graduate faculty, NCSU, Distinguished Alumni Award
2010 | Jon Rufty (1977), President and Owner, Rufty Homes, Raleigh, N.C., Distinguished Alumni Award
2009 | Christine Holmes (1988), senior partner, EY, Rutherford, N.J., Distinguished Alumni Award
2008 | JR Shearin (1981), managing partner, Deloitte, Raleigh, N.C., Distinguished Alumni Award
2007 | David Morgan (1982), executive vice president and chief banking officer, Capital Bank, Raleigh. N.C., Distinguished Alumni Award
2006 | Gary Massey (1978), Owner, Good Health Services Inc., Raleigh, NC, Distinguished Alumni Award
2005 | Stan Kelly (1980), president, wealth management, Wachovia, Winston-Salem, N.C., Distinguished Alumni Award
2004 | Michael Constantino (1984, 1985), CPA, Ernst & Young, Cary, N.C., Distinguished Alumni Award
2003 | Dr. H. Fred Gallasch Jr. (1967, 1973), General Motors, Franklin, MI, Distinguished Alumni Award
2002 | Dr. Alvin M. Cruze (Economics Ph.D., 1972), vice president of Research Triangle Institute, RTP, N.C., Distinguished Alumni Award
2001 | Dr. Hans Peter Binswanger (Economics, Ph.D., 1973), World Bank economist, Washington, D.C., Distinguished Alumni Award
2000 | Shawn A. Dorsch (1986), Derivatives Net, Charlotte, N.C., Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
2000 | Billy Ray Hall (Economics 1969 and 1970), Distinguished Alumnus Award
1999 | Dr. James W. Owens (Economics Ph.D., 1973), president and chief executive officer (retired), Caterpillar, Distinguished Alumni Award; 2008, College of Management Person of the Year Award.
1998 | Harold S. Lichtin (1970), Distinguished Alumni Award
1997 | Richard K. Bryant (1981), Raleigh, N.C., Capital Investment Group, Inc., Raleigh, N.C., Distinguished Alumni Award
1996 | Mrs. Anne Marie (Rompalske) Pecht (1979), senior attorney, Department of Justice Civil Rights Divsion, Distinguished Alumni Award
1995 | Will B. Spence, Jr., president and chief operating officer, Wachovia Bank, South Carolina, N.A., Distinguished Alumni Award
1994 | Johnny B. Kerr (1980), president, Kerr Drug Stores, Inc., Distinguished Alumni Award
Poole College Person of the Year Honorees
Poole College of Management makes a Person of the Year Award to a distinguished individual, or individuals, who has made outstanding contributions to the college, to his or her profession and to the NC State community. Recipients of this award include:
2018 | Ron E. Doggett, Former Chairman & CEO of Goodmark Foods
2017 | Hampton Pitts (1986), partner and chief operating officer for LStar Management, LStar Communities
2016 | Cara and Russ McLauchlan, Calvert Holdings
2015 | Smedes York (1963 Engineering), Chairman, McDonald-York Properties
2014 | Jon Bartley (1969), professor, graduate faculty, NC State
2013 | Henry Campen, Partner, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP
2012 | Michael T. Constantino (1984, 1985), Assurance and Managing Partner, EY
2011 | Lonnie C. Poole, Jr. (1959 Engineering),
2010 | Stephen P. Zelnak, Jr., Chairman, Martin Marietta Materials & ZP Enterprises, LLC
2009 | Dr. James W. Owens (Economics Ph.D., 1973), president and chief executive officer (retired), Caterpillar, Board of Trustees (Chair)
2008 | Benjamin P. Jenkins, III (1968, Textiles), Former Vice Chairman and President of The General Banking Group of Wachovia Corporation, Board of Trustees (former Chair)