2017 Alumni Award recipients

Recognizing the incredible impact that alumni have had on business, their communities and at Fisher, five alumni were recently honored at the college’s 2017 Alumni Awards ceremony.

The event, held at the Blackwell Inn and Conference Center, honored Sunil Doshi (BSBA ’94), Brad Hunstable (WPMBA ’05), Craig Bahner (BSBA ’86), Judy Tansky (BS ’68, MAcc ’75, PhD ’91) and Paula Bennett (BSBA ’71).

“These alumni are shining examples of the unique characteristics that — for more than 100 years — have distinguished Ohio State business graduates as among the most successful and generous alumni groups in the world,” said Anil K. Makhija, dean and John W. Berry, Sr. Chair in Business. “As we begin a second century of excellence in business education at The Ohio State University, our alumni — more than 78,000 of them living and working around the world — remain our college’s greatest legacy.

“These are alumni who have become leaders committed to the Fisher ideal whose accomplishments I know will inspire us all.”

2017 Alumni Award Recipients

  • Open/Close Sunil Doshi (BSBA ’94) — Professional Achievement Award

    2017 Alumni Award - Doshi

    Doshi serves as the chief financial officer of Zoe’s Kitchen, a fast-casual restaurant chain with more than 203 locations in 17 states. Prior to joining Zoe’s Kitchen, Doshi was CFO for Fossil Americas, served in leadership positions at L Brands and worked for several multinational companies, including BP and EY. He is an active member of Fisher’s Alumni Board and a former Pace Setter Award recipient.

    At Fisher, Sunil is an invaluable member of the college’s Alumni Board, providing guidance, input and expertise as Fisher works to deepen the connection and engagement we have with its alumni. A supporter of student scholarships at Fisher, Doshi is also passionate about leadership education and is dedicated to helping Fisher establish itself as the destination for principled leaders.

  • Open/Close Brad Hunstable (WPMBA ’05) — Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award

    2017 Alumni Award - Hunstable

    Hunstable is the founder and CEO of Ustream, an IBM company and a leading video platform serving the needs of enterprises and media companies around the world. Hunstable has been recognized by a number of publications as a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, including as one of the San Francisco Business Times’ “40 Under 40” influential leaders, and among the Hollywood Reporter’s 50 “Digital Power Players.”

  • Open/Close Craig Bahner (BSBA ’86) — Global Business Excellence Award

    2017 Alumni Award - Bahner

    Bahner is president of U.S. Morning Foods at the Kellogg Company and a member of the company’s Global Leadership Team. Prior to joining the Kellogg Company, Bahner was chief marketing officer of Wendy’s, where he was responsible for all brand building marketing, and culinary innovation efforts for the Wendy’s brand. Bahner is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at Fisher and former Pace Setter Award recipient.

    He is a friend to the college and its students, regularly serving as a speaker at Fisher's student-led Association of Marketing Professionals’ annual conference. His support of Ohio State students extends to the Bahner Scholarship Fund, which provides funding for internships for undergraduate students. And he is a trusted voice and dedicated member of the Dean’s Advisory Council.

  • Open/Close Judy Tansky (BS ’68, MAcc ’75, PhD ’91) — Excellence in Service Award

    2017 Alumni Award - Tansky

    Tansky is a senior lecturer at Fisher and has been instrumental in creating, fostering and supporting the college’s social entrepreneurship program and curriculum. A triple Buckeye, Tansky is a popular leader in the classroom, teaching courses on human resources in small and entrepreneurial firms, employee development, career development, the contingent workforce, reward systems, benefits and compensation theory.

    As the go-to faculty member for all things non-profit and social entrepreneurship-related, Tansky has served as an advisor on student projects that have tackled issues ranging from teen homelessness, sustainable housing in countries like Honduras and human trafficking.

  • Open/Close Paula Bennett (BSBA ’71) — Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award

    2017 Alumni Award - Bennett

    Bennett is president and CEO of J.Jill, a women’s specialty clothing retailer. As CEO, Bennett led efforts to reinvigorate J.Jill’s marketing strategy from a primarily catalog-based operation to a multifaceted, publicly traded company. She is an avid supporter of the college and Fisher students, sharing her insights in classroom visits, at women’s leadership events and providing philanthropic scholarship support in honor of her mentor at Ohio State, the late marketing professor Dr. William Davidson.

    Lessons from these experiences have shaped the educational experiences of Fisher students and friends, as Bennett is a regular visitor to campus. In just the past year, she has delivered the keynote at the Women’s Leadership Forum, sponsored by the Center for Operational Excellence, and she was part of a speaker series that connected her with Fisher students.

    In addition to the insights she provides, Bennett is a supporter of students in other critical ways. Recognizing the impact that Dr. Davidson had on her academic development and wanting to do more for students at Fisher, she created the William Davidson Undergraduate Scholarship. In all, more than 15 students have received scholarships as a result of Bennett's generosity, cementing her legacy as a supporter of Fisher and as someone personally invested in the leadership development of Fisher students.

 

2017 Alumni Awards

 

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