Leeds Alumni and Service Awards

Since 1971, Leeds School of Business has honored alumni, faculty, and business school community members who have distinguished themselves with outstanding professional achievement, impact, leadership and/or exemplary service to the community.

The Leeds School of Business is proud to celebrate and give thanks to the people and corporate partners who are supporting the next generation of business leaders.

Alumni and Service Awards Current Winners

Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Service Award

Jeremy May (Acct鈥92)

The Leeds Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Service Award is the highest award granted to alumni from the Leeds School of Business for a lifetime of support and philanthropy to the Leeds School of Business, and for exceptional achievement in the business community.

Jeremy May is founder and CEO of Paralel Technologies, a FinTech company in the asset management industry. 听

Prior to founding Paralel, he spent 24 years as president of ALPS Fund Services, and before joining ALPS, he was with Deloitte, where he earned his CPA. 听

May serves as an independent director on various investment company boards. Passionate about philanthropy, he also serves on the advisory board for the Ren茅e Crown Wellness Institute at 缅北禁地 and as a trustee of the A.V. Hunter Trust. He recently retired after serving 18 years on the board of directors of the CU Foundation, the last two as chair. 听

Jeremy May

Corporate Partner Award

Mercer Advisors

The Corporate Partner Service Award recognizes sustained commitment, support, and exceptional service to the Leeds School of 缅北禁地, the 缅北禁地, and the community.

Mercer Advisors is a leading wealth management firm that has existed for 40 years. The company鈥檚 mission is to help clients achieve economic freedom. Currently, nearly 1,300 professionals serve more than 35,000 clients who entrust the company with $77 billion in client assets.*

Mercer moved its headquarters to Denver in 2018 and supports more than 3,900 clients with approximately $6 billion in assets through eight regional offices. As a wealth management firm, the company鈥檚 unified team spans investment management, financial planning, tax, estate, insurance, and trust services. 听

In the past year, Mercer added a new private markets program, the ability to manage outside retirement plan assets, and dramatically expanded its tax services. The company supports clients across the wealth spectrum, spanning those who are just starting their journey to families who have amassed significant wealth. 听

*Disclosure: Company statistics as of May 31, 2025. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and delivers all investment-related services.听

Mercer Advisors

Luminary Award

Amanda Freeberg Donovan (Mktg鈥03)

Inspired by the 缅北禁地 motto, 鈥淟et Your Light Shine,鈥 this award recognizes individuals who serve as guiding lights for our community through their leadership, ethics, commitment to social responsibility, philanthropy, and service to the Leeds School of Business.

Amanda Freeberg Donovan (Mktg’03)

William H. Baughn Faculty Service Award

Richard Wobbekind (MEcon鈥79, PhD鈥84)

The William H. Baughn Award for Faculty is awarded to a Leeds faculty member for听exceptional service to the Leeds School of Business, and for consistent and ongoing commitment to its students, faculty, and programs.

Richard L. Wobbekind is associate dean for business and government relations, associate professor of business economics and finance, and faculty director of the Business Research Division (BRD) at the Leeds School of Business. He joined the faculty in 1985 and served as executive director of the BRD from 1993 to 2021.

Since 1988, Wobbekind has led the BRD鈥檚 Colorado annual economic forecast and oversees various reports, including the Business Leaders Confidence Index, and quarterly economic indicators done in partnership with the Colorado Secretary of State. His team also provides revenue forecasts and strategic analyses for regional agencies.

Wobbekind regularly contributes to national economic surveys and media, and he served on the Governor鈥檚 Revenue Estimating Committee for more than three decades. His honors include the CU Community Outreach Award, the Robert L. Stearns Award, and recognition as a fellow of the National Association for Business Economics. He was named to the top 50 list of influential business leaders in Northern Colorado by BizWest in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Wobbekind teaches macroeconomics and public policy to MBA and executive students and has received four awards for teaching excellence. He is past president of several professional organizations and remains active in economic development circles.

A Colorado resident for 49 years, Wobbekind holds degrees from Bucknell University and the 缅北禁地. He and his wife, Carol, have raised three children.听

Richard Wobbekind (MEcon’79, PhD’84)

Young Alumni Achievement Award

Kate M. Harris (Fin鈥16)

The Young Alumni Achievement Award recognizes recognizes an alumnus or alumna for their exceptional achievements.

Kate M. Harris is an attorney currently clerking on the Supreme Court of the United States. Before that, she worked for a litigation boutique and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Her writings have appeared in national publications, including the New York Times, with one article resulting in her permanent ban from Russia. 听

Harris received her J.D. with high honors from the University of Chicago Law School. There, she was inducted into the Order of the Coif, served as the executive articles editor of the Law Review, won the annual Moot Court Competition, and received the Ann Watson Barber Outstanding Service Award, given to students who make exceptional contributions to the quality of life at the law school. 听

She received her bachelor鈥檚 degree with high distinction from Leeds, graduating first in her class.听

Kate M. Harris (Fin’16)

Previous Award Recipients

2024
Cain Travel
Bill Mark
Gary & Melissa Porter
Don Oest
Jsessica Yan

2023
J Braxton Carter
Deloitte听
Anne Dupont
Yonca Ertimur
Mark Yabut

2022
The Bascom Group鈥
Peter B. Cushman
Walter A. (Buz) Koelbel, Jr.听
Katherine Lewis
Lori Seward
Adam Warner

2021
Ball Corporation
Dr. Robert C. Hummel听(in memoriam)
Dan Ivanoff '86
Stephen Katz '71
John Lynch
Axton Salim '02
Dr. Jerome D. Williams '86听(in memoriam)

2019
Russell Cropanzano
Carol Frank
Mary Hunter Kimble '60
Eric Kramer '81
R. Jordan Pap茅 '01
Zayo

2018
Richard M. Burridge Jr. '84
Michael A. Hitt '74
KPMG LLP
Katie Kramer '97
Manuel Laguna
Jane S. Miller
Al Olson '62 & Carol-Ann Olson '64

2017
Steve Bosley '68
Charles Schwab
Stratton R. Heath, III '87
Steve Rock
Chantal Veevaete

2016
Arrow Electronics
Cathleen S. Burns
Kile Morgan, Jr. '69
Lisa A. Pauley '87
Mary M. Sullivan and the late Sherman R. Miller, 4th '79
George S. Writer, Jr. '57

2015
Dan Caruso
Michael P.听Huseby '76
Thomas G. Thibodeau
KeyBank
David J.听Steiner '75
Melissa Young听Brownstein '94

2014
Larry Jones
Bill Marolt '67
Sharon F. Matusik
Phillips 66
William W. Reynolds '60
Mary K. Rhinehart '80
Tandean Rustandy '87

2013
Ambassador David B. Bolen '50
John and Patrice Callies
EKS&H
Thomas Stix Guggenheim Family
Laura J. Kornish
Edward C. Mitchell, Jr. '69
Gordon Trafton '77

2012
Ellen M. Balaguer 鈥82
Peter Behrendt
Peter M. Burridge 鈥85
Jerry D. McMorris 鈥62 (in memoriam)
C. Page Moreau
Charles A. Parker 鈥56
Dee J. Perry 鈥74, MS 鈥81
George H. Solich 鈥83

2011
J. William Freytag
Jeanne Jackson 鈥74
J. Chris Leach
Randy Nichols
Christy Bieber Orris 鈥92
Lyal E. Quinby, Jr. 鈥55, MS 鈥58

2010
G. Chris Andersen 鈥61
Richard Connor 鈥71
Jo Marie Dancik
Walter A. Koelbel Jr. 鈥74
Donald R. Lichtenstein
Michael S. Maurer 鈥64
Mark Retzloff
Sarah Siegel-Magness 鈥95

2009
Sanjai Bhagat
John Fischer
John E. Freyer 鈥71
L. Calvin Fulenwider III 鈥74
Richard Knowlton 鈥54 and
Nancy Van Derbur Knowlton 鈥57
Sherri Leopard
C. Roderick O鈥橬eil
Patrick Tierney 鈥67
David Wolf JD/MBA 鈥01

2008
F. Daryl Gatewood 鈥70
Robert Gill
Marley Hodgson MBA 鈥03
David Mallery JD/MBA 鈥99
Bill Moore 鈥54
Barbara Mowry
Blaine Rollins 鈥89
Frank Selto

2006
Robert H. Deming 鈥56, MS 鈥59 and听Beverly A. Deming
Larissa Herda 鈥80
Walter A. Koelbel 鈥47
Paul Larkins
Stephen Lawrence
Jeffrey Lovell 鈥74
Storm Metzger 鈥62
Joseph Piper MBA 鈥98
Marcia Pryde 鈥66, MBA 鈥72
John Shaw
Chris Wand

2005
Jerry Briggs 鈥63 (in memoriam)
Dick Burridge 鈥51
Ned Cooney
Dick Engebretson MBA 鈥72
John E. Freyer 鈥71
Ann Heinz 鈥80
Dan Japha 鈥74
Ray Joyce 鈥49 and Dottie Joyce 鈥48
Steve Manaster
Lyal Quinby 鈥55, MS 鈥58
Rod Slifer 鈥56 and Beth Slifer
George Writer 鈥57 and听Judy Writer 鈥61

1998
Kevin J. Burns MBA 鈥73
Larry D. Singell

1997
Ambassador David B. Bolen 鈥50
Robert F. Charles Jr.
John 鈥淩on鈥 Moore 鈥59

1996
Louis W. Menk
William W. Reynolds 鈥60
Thomas M. Shane 鈥70

1995
G. Chris Andersen 鈥61
Richard Knowlton 鈥54

1994
Jerry D. McMorris 鈥62
Craig E. Weatherup

1993
John C. Crane 鈥58
Duane C. Hansen 鈥57
M. Ann Padilla

1992
Steven K. Bosley 鈥68
Derek E. Faison 鈥70
Roger V. Smith 鈥64

1991
William H. Baughn
Barbara B. Grogan 鈥69
D.D. 鈥淒ell鈥 Hock 鈥56

1990
G. Lee Thompson 鈥57

1989
Henry E. Kates 鈥60

1988
William R. Lennartz 鈥63

1987
Dianne V. Ingels 鈥63

1986
Roger L. Reisher 鈥50

1985
Robert H. Deming 鈥56

1984
Robert B. Decker 鈥42

1983
William D. Johnson 鈥42

1982
George B. McKinley 鈥51

1981
Dwight L. Johnson 鈥61

1980
Thomas M. Hallin 鈥55

1978
Hank Brown 鈥61

1977
Thomas S. Guggenheim 鈥50

1976
Donald G. Brotzman 鈥43

1974
Herschel R. Shwayder 鈥31

1973
Robert G. Bonham 鈥40

1972
Walter A. Koelbel 鈥47

1971
Thomas S. Moon 鈥44

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact LeedsAlumni@colorado.edu.