Fisher Alumni Awards

Inspired by Max M. Fisher’s legacy of leadership and dedication to others, this award is presented to an alumna or alumnus who has served as a principled leader in their company and their community. They are service-oriented catalysts who affect positive change in their profession and seek to advance the common good.

R.H. (“Ric”) Dillon (BSBA ’77, MA ’86)
Chief Executive Officer
VELA Investment Management LLC

Ric Dillon began his investment career after graduating from Ohio State in 1977. He continued his education while working, earning his MBA from the University of Dayton, his CFA designation and a Master of Arts from Ohio State.

Ric worked for Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and Loomis Sayles before becoming the CEO of a publicly held company in 2000 that became Diamond Hill Investment Group. During his 15-year tenure as CEO, the company’s annualized shareholder total return was 24 percent, ranking it in the top 1 percent of all public companies for that period.

In 2019, he became co-founder and CEO of VELA Investment Management.

This award is presented to an alumna or alumnus whose leadership inspires others to rise. Through purposeful action, this individual amplifies voices, nurtures growth and creates access to opportunity. Their legacy is reflected not only in organizational success, but in the countless individuals whose paths they’ve shaped and empowered to lead.

Mae Smitherman-Smith (BSBA ’90, MBA ’95)
Executive Director, Global Supply Chain Finance
Ford Motor Company

Mae Smitherman-Smith is executive director of supply chain finance at the Ford Motor Company, where she leads a global team that focuses on lean transformation to deliver competitive material cost, raw material and supplier risk management.

She previously served as controller of global manufacturing, MPL and warranty, and in treasury as the director of automotive strategy, risk management and affiliate finance. She was responsible for the strategy of Ford’s automotive balance sheet including cash and liquidity, debt and shareholder distribution framework. In addition, Mae led strategy and execution for foreign exchange and commodity risk as well as balance sheet strategies for Ford’s regional affiliates including funding.

She began her career with Ford as an intern in the summer of 1994 and officially joined the company in August 1995 as a Finance Ford College Graduate. She has held 14 positions in nine organizations during her 31-year tenure at the company.  

Mae serves the Ford community as the executive champion for FAAN Finance, leads Finance Recruiting and is a Women of Ford Mentor. She has been honored as a Top Woman in Finance by the Women of Color STEM Conference and received the Champion for Diverse Talent Award from the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement (CADIA). In 2023, she was featured in Automotive News for her work in diversity, equity and inclusion.

She serves on Fisher’s Alumni Board and its Student Engagement Committee. She also serves on the board and finance committee of Alternatives for Girls, a Detroit nonprofit.

Mae and her husband, David, have three children, including two enrolled at Ohio State. 

This award is presented to an extraordinary alumna or alumnus who has demonstrated a consummate commitment to service — to their alma mater, in their local community and to humankind.

Amy Werner Chronis (BSBA ’83)
Charter Trustee, The Ohio State University
Vice Chair and U.S. Energy & Chemicals Leader (retired), Deloitte LLP

Amy Chronis retired in June 2024 from Deloitte LLP, where she was the vice chair and U.S. energy and chemicals industry leader. She served as a senior advisor to some of Deloitte’s largest global clients and oversaw the U.S. industry practice, including strategy and growth. She is also the immediate past managing partner for Deloitte’s Houston practice, leading more than 3,400 professionals and driving significant growth. Under her leadership, the Houston marketplace increased revenue by more than 50 percent and earned recognition as a top workplace.

Throughout her 30-year career, Amy advised organizations ranging from venture-backed startups to global enterprises, sharing her expertise in strategic planning, business transformation, technology and enterprise risk management. An active civic leader, she currently serves as an independent board member of Kinder Morgan, Inc. and AAA (Automobile Club Enterprises) and has served numerous other nonprofit boards, including the Greater Houston Partnership (2021 chair), the United Way of Greater Houston, March of Dimes, the Texas Business Hall of Fame and The Ohio State University Board of Trustees’ Audit and Finance Committees.

Her many honors include Fisher’s 2024 Pace Setters Executive Award, the Bob Onstead Leadership Award from the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO award and induction into the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. Amy was a four-year scholar athlete on Ohio State’s indoor and outdoor track teams and a recipient of the Jack W. Stephenson Scholarship, a student Pace Setters award.

This award is presented to an alumna or alumnus recognized nationally and internationally for significant contributions to business — and for helping to advance the global learning of Fisher students.

Steven Trulaske, Sr. (MA ’80, MBA ’82)
Owner
True Manufacturing Co.

Steven Trulaske is the owner of True Manufacturing, a leading global refrigeration company founded in 1945 by his father, Bob Trulaske, and headquartered in O’Fallon, Missouri.

Since joining the family business in 1982, Steven has held a variety of leadership roles spanning finance, product strategy and international market development. In 2007, he was appointed chief executive officer, guiding the company’s continued growth and innovation while expanding its presence in domestic and international markets.

Steven and his wife, Lisa, live in St. Louis and are the proud parents of Steven, Kay, Jack, Lucy and Slater.

This award is presented to an alumna or alumnus recognized for significant contributions to the entrepreneurship community through the development, launch and investment in successful new ventures. This award also recognizes outstanding commitment to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Craig Baldwin (BSBA ’10)
Co-founding Partner
Upsourced

Craig Baldwin co-founded Upsourced in 2012 with partners Ryan Watson and Ryan Baker. They provide high-quality, scalable accounting services to small and mid-market businesses through cloud-based software and tooling.

An accounting major at Fisher, Craig transitioned to marketing and sales after starting Upsourced and leveraged his experience across other ventures and roles. Today, Upsourced serves more than 140 marketing agencies throughout the United States with its accounting, advisory, tax and transaction services and provides a new pathway for accounting grads seeking public accounting experience.

Prior to establishing Upsourced, Craig spent two years at Deloitte.

This award is presented to an alumna or alumnus in their early to mid-career who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in business, civic involvement and service to the college. 

Ciare L. James (MBA ’07)
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Bob Evans Farms

Ciare James is a dynamic consumer-packaged goods executive with 20 years of experience driving growth, innovation and transformation across leading organizations. She has proven success in managing billion-dollar portfolios, building winning teams and delivering breakthrough results through consumer-centric marketing and general management prowess.

She is currently the chief marketing officer for Bob Evans Farms. Previously, she held leadership roles at Conagra Brands and Procter & Gamble, owning design, delivery and global initiatives for brands including Febreze, Gillette, Reddi-wip and Banquet.

She is a proud wife, mother and active community member, serving the Fisher community as a member of the Fisher Alumni Board and as an Executive in Residence. Outside of Fisher, she is part of the United Schools Board of Trustees.

Fisher’s corporate partners invest in the college through their time, talent and philanthropic support. They engage with the college by offering internships to students, hiring recent graduates, guiding students through mentorship programs, and creating avenues for students to enhance their leadership capabilities. These actions exemplify how these organizations actively invest in advancing business education at Fisher. This award acknowledges an organization that exhibits an exceptional dedication to fostering the achievement of Fisher's students, faculty and educational initiatives.

Battelle

Battelle is the largest independent, nonprofit applied science and technology organization in the world. Its mission is to solve the nation’s greatest scientific challenges and support the next generation of scientists and engineers through its philanthropic commitment to STEM education.

Battelle translates scientific discovery and technology advances into societal benefits, delivering when others can’t. They conduct research and development, manage laboratories, design and manufacture products, and deliver critical services for their clients — from multinational corporations to small startup organizations or government agencies. Battelle uses scientific and technological principles to create new innovations that drive societies and economies forward. Its teams include thought leaders in applied science, technology, discovery and development. The company’s strength is rooted in people who take on some of the world’s most pressing problems.