At the time of induction, Boston served as division vice president and was responsible for procuring and negotiating non-merchandise contracts for Sears Holdings Corporation (SHC). Non-merchandise procurement includes the selection and supplier management for core functions such as marketing, finance, legal, HR, travel and outsourcing. Boston has served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board and was honored with the Distinguished Service Award in 2012.
Hall of Fame Inductees: 2000-2009
2008 Inductees
Sean T. Boston (1992 BS Marketing – SIU)
Division Vice President
Sears Holdings Hoffman Estates, Illinois
John Chen (1985 BS Marketing – SIU)
Managing Director
Foster Partners Southeast Asia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
At the time of induction, Chen served as founder, partner and managing director of Foster Partners Southeast Asia, a leading executive search firm. Foster Partner caters to multinational companies in a broad spectrum of industries, ranging from niche manufacturing firms to Fortune 500 companies.
Elizabeth F. Kepuraitis (1981 BS Accounting SIU)
President
F&B Manufacturing Phoenix, Arizona
At the time of induction, Kepuraitis served as president of F&B Manufacturing, a premier manufacturer of formed metal products. Customers included General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell, Boeing, LAM Research, NASA and the United States Military. Kepuraitis has served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board.
Richard Klassen (1972 Aviation – SIU; 1975 BS Marketing & Management – SIU)
Chief Marketing and Sales Officer
Delta Dental of Missouri St. Louis, Missouri
At the time of induction, Klassen served as chief marketing and sales officer for Delta Dental of Missouri, a provider of dental benefits for 1,300 companies serving more than 500,000 primary subscribers. Klassen has served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board.
Susie Rashid (1987 BS Accounting - SIU)
Consultant
SWR LLC Evanston, Illinois
At the time of induction, Rashid was the chief administrative officer/chief financial officer for Element 79 Partners, LLC, a leading full service advertising agency who strategically partners with clients to solve their marketing communications challenges. Rashid has served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board and was inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as a member of the SIU Women’s swim team.
Robert Siracusano (1995 BS Marketing – SIU)
Senior Financial Advisor and Branch Manager
Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC
Robert Siracusano serves as senior financial advisor and branch manager of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC in Naperville, Illinois. His office offers financial advisory, brokerage, investment management and other financial services nationwide. Siracusano formerly served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board and was inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the SIU diving team. He graduated in 1995 with a BS in Marketing from SIU.
2006 Inductees
Betty L. Brennan (1989 BS Marketing – SIU)
Co-Founder & President
Taylor Studios, Inc. Rantoul, Illinois
At the time of induction, Brennan served as co-founder and president of Taylor Studios, Inc. Taylor Studios, established in 1992, was a custom exhibit design and fabrication firm specializing in natural history exhibits for museums and nature centers. Brennan has served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board.
Harry Lee Crisp III (1992 BS Business Administration – SIU)
President and Chief Operating Officer
Pepsi MidAmerica Marion, Illinois
At the time of induction, Crisp served as president and chief operating officer of Pepsi MidAmerica. He was responsible for the welfare of over 700 employees, covering five states.
Patrick H. Dudasik (1977 BS Accounting - SIU)
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Calamos Asset Management Naperville, Illinois
At the time of induction, Dudasik, CPA, served as executive vice president and chief financial officer at Calamos Asset Management in Naperville, Illinois. He has been a member of a six person executive steering committee.
Edward A. Hamilton (1988 BS Finance – SIU)
Chief Marketing and Sales Officer
Delta Dental of Missouri St. Louis, Missouri
At the time of induction, Hamilton served as managing director of Banc of America Securities, LLC. Hamilton joined the bank in 1997 and has been responsible for a team of traders, research analysts and loan closers who made up one of the largest and most active loan trading desks in the market at that time. Hamilton has served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board He and his family have also endowed the Hamilton Family Faculty Fellowship in finance.
Rick E. Winningham (1981 BS Finance – SIU)
Chief Executive Officer
Theravance, Inc. South San Francisco, California
At the time of induction, Winningham served as chief executive officer of Theravance, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company with discovery and development programs in infectious disease, asthma/COPD, and overactive bladder disease and gastroprokinetic disorders.
2004 Inductees
Rodney W. Kinzinger (1987 BS Accounting – SIU)
Partner
Enterprise Risk Services, Deloitte & Touche LLP Parsippany, New Jersey
At the time of induction, Kinzinger served as partner in the Enterprise risk services division of Deloitte & Touche. Deloitte, one of the world’s largest accounting firms serving over one-half of the world’s largest companies, specializes in audit, tax consulting and advisory services.
Greg A. Lee (1972 BS Marketing – SIU)
Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Sears, Roebuck and Company Hoffman Estates, Illinois
At the time of induction, Lee served as senior vice president of human resources at Sears, Roebuck and Company in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. He has been responsible for leading Sears through culture change to embrace diverse high-performance work styles and productivity advancements through people strategies. Lee has served on the College of Business Dean’s advisory board.
Michael " Mickey" B. Levitt (1961 BS Accounting – SIU)
Chief Executive Officer
Consolidated Foam Inc. Lincolnshire, Illinois
At the time of induction, Levitt served as owner and chief executive officer of Consolidated Foam, Inc., a manufacturer of lawn and garden products for consumer and commercial use. He has also served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board.
Thomas A. Mowatt (1963 BS Management – SIU)
President
Champion Laboratories, Inc. Albion, Illinois
At the time of induction, Mowatt was recognized for his services as president of Champion Laboratories, Inc., a provider of filtration products for automotive, industrial, marine, fuel dispensing and hydraulic applications. Mowatt was also the founder of CST, Inc., in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
Scott M. Pranger (1986 BS Marketing - SIU)
Senior Vice President and General Manager
Digital Insight Corporation Atlanta, Georgia
At the time of induction, Pranger served as senior vice president and general manager of Digital Insight Corporation, the leader in internet banking services. Digital Insight offers profit-generating opportunities to its clients through secure, reliable, and scalable products and services.
Gus E. Smith (1977 BS Finance - SIU)
Partner
Accenture San Francisco, California
At the time of induction, Smith served as managing partner in the Western Region of Accenture in San Francisco, California. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with net revenues of $11.82 billion in 2003. Smith has also served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board.
2002 Inductees
Kenneth H. Hannah
Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis
The Boeing Company St. Louis, Missouri
At the time of induction, Hannah served as vice president of financial planning and analysis for The Boeing Company. He was responsible for providing leadership in the development of the company’s integrated long-range business plan. Hannah has also served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board. || 1990 BS Finance – SIU
Kirk E. Siefkas
Chief Information Officer
Deere & Company Moline, Illinois
At the time of induction, Siefkas served as chief information officer of Deere & Company, the premier producer of agricultural equipment since 1963. Previously, Siefkas was as a founding partner with Diamond Management & Technology consulting as well as chief executive officer at John Deere food Origins. || 1980 BS Management – SIU; 1981 MBA – SIU
2000 Inductees
Stephen W. Brodt (1970 BS Accounting – SIU)
President and Owner
Western DuPage Landscaping, Inc. Naperville, Illinois
At the time of induction, Brodt served as president and owner of Western DuPage Landscaping, Inc., a company he established in 1976. The company provided landscape architecture, landscape construction and lawn maintenance services for both the commercial and residential markets.
Lancert A. Foster (1974 BS Accounting – SIU)
Vice President of Finance & Administration
Ralph G. Moore & Associates Chicago, Illinois
At the time of induction, Foster served as vice president of finance & administration at Ralph G. Moore & Associates. He began his career at Arthur Andersen & Co., subsequently started his own company, a private practice providing financial consulting and accounting services in the areas of business development, contract compliance and financial management.
John S. Heakin (1971 BS Marketing - SIU)
Retired Senior Vice President of Real Estate
Heakin Research, Inc. Olympia Fields, Illinois
At the time of induction, Heakin was recognized for his services as senior vice president of real estate for Heakin Research, Inc., a large national marketing research service that operated 36 interviewing offices in 16 states at that time. Heakin has also served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board and the department of Marketing External Advisory Board.
John M. Renfro (1982 BS Management - SIU)
Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Gateway, Inc. San Diego, California
At the time of induction, Renfro served as senior vice president of human resources for Gateway, Inc. Gateway, a Fortune 200 company, was the leader in the consumer PC industry at that time. Renfro has also served on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board.