Executive Education Awards recognize corporate partners, faculty

An orthopedic manufacturer, an
improv group and a CEO from an investment bank in Puerto Rico were among the
diverse group of award recipients during the annual Notre Dame Executive Education awards banquet, held June 14 inside Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce
Center at the University of Notre Dame.

“The banquet is our opportunity to
celebrate with our faculty, alumni, clients and partners who, in very real and
meaningful ways, contribute to our success,” said Sharon Keane, director of
Executive Education, which is part of the Mendoza College of Business. “We
honor their contributions and appreciate their support.”

Keane also highlighted some of the department’s recent accomplishments,
including the new Stayer Center for Executive Education, a new 64,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility scheduled
for completion in February 2013, and No. 6 ranking of the Executive MBA program
in The Wall Street Journal – The
Best Executive MBA Programs (2010).

The list of 2011 awards and recipients are as follows:

·       
Outstanding
Leadership in Executive Education – Executive Programs: Biomet, a
manufacturer and marketer of orthopedic and other products. In 2007, Biomet and
Executive Education began a partnership to design, develop, and deliver a
customized global leadership program. To date, more than 100 Biomet leaders
from around the world have experienced this program. The award recognizes
exemplary corporate leadership, as well as a commitment to executive education
and the development of global leadership, among other criteria.

·       
Partner
in Innovation Award: Spark Creative, a Chicago-based corporate
entertainment group that offers a variety of business training programs designed
to facilitate creative thinking and group interaction. The Spark Creative team
has collaborated with Executive Education for a decade to foster executive
learning through creative sessions in the Executive Integral Leadership
program.  The award recognizes a
strategic business partner to Executive Education who demonstrates innovation
and creativity.

·       
Distinguished
Alumni Award: Jose Fernandez, the president and chief executive officer of
Oriental Financial Group Inc. (ND ’85). Fernandez led the acquisition of failed
competitor Eurobank from FDIC receivership in April 2010, which helped
stabilize the banking industry in Puerto Rico. The award recognizes an alumna
or alumnus for demonstrating creativity in addressing business-related issues
and for generosity with ideas, time and other resources.

·       
Arnie
Ludwig Outstanding Teacher Award: John Affleck-Graves, professor of finance
and executive vice president of the University of Notre Dame.  The honor goes to a faculty member chosen by
Executive MBA students in the South Bend program and is named for a former
Executive Education director. This marks the fifth time that Affleck-Graves has
received the outstanding teaching award.

·       
Leo Burke
Outstanding Teacher Award: Charles E. Bamford, adjunct professor of
Strategy in the Department of Management at Notre Dame and professor of
Entrepreneurship and Strategy with the McColl School of Business at Queens
University of Charlotte.  Executive MBA
students in the Chicago program choose the winner of this award, which is named
for a former Executive Education director.

·       
Inspiring
Educator Award – Executive Programs: Mel Dowdy, program faculty member in
Executive Education and former executive director of the Center for Organizational
Excellence, Bon Secours Richmond Health System.  Dowdy was recognized for superior performance
in the classroom within non-degree programs. He teaches in several custom as
well as two signature programs: Executive Integral Leadership, a values-based
approach to leadership for executive leaders with 15-plus years of experience;
and Unleashing Your Leadership Potential, which provides high-potential emerging
leaders with support and knowledge key to  making the transition from individual
contributors to managers.

Founded in 1980, Notre Dame Executive Education provides
leaders in the executive and management ranks the opportunity to develop and
strengthen their leadership abilities and business acumen skills through both
degree and non-degree programs. In keeping with the Notre Dame mission, the
program emphasizes values-based leadership in addition to academic rigor.

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