On Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at the Gateway Center on the UNT campus, the Professional Leadership Program honored students who fulfilled the requirements of the program; publicly thanked donors and sponsors; and recognized members of their Advisory Board, mentors of the PLP Mentoring Program and Faculty Liaisons within the College of Business. The keynote speaker was Dr. Helen Harkness (’78 Ph.D.) of Career Design Associates, Inc. Dr. Harkness used her whit and humor to discuss “Designing Your Career for Maximizing Meaning and Money: Determining the Purpose You Can Pursue with Passion.”
Twenty-five students completed the rigorous and elite program and were officially recognized as graduates of the PLP. Those honored included second year members who held leadership positions as Executive Officers and Ambassadors for the year. The Professional Leadership Program is proud to announce its class of 2007:
Executive Officers & Ambassadors
- Andrea Baker (Ambassador), Real Estate
- Kelli Billups (Executive Officer), Speech & Hearing Sciences
- Craig Brein (Ambassador), Emergency Management
- Amar Hajeri (Ambassador), Business Administration
- Sean Johnson (Executive Officer), Entrepreneurship
- Eric Norman (Executive Officer), Hospitality Management
- Blake Panknoien (Executive Officer), Biology
- Sabrina Pojar (Executive Officer), Biology/Pre-med
- Endurance Wali (Executive Officer), Finance
- Monica White Eagle (Executive Officer), New Product Development
Graduating Members
- Lauren Banchetti, Hospitality Management
- Sara Draznin, Mathematics
- John Eckhardt, Decision Sciences
- Camille Johnson, Finance
- Thomas Kisner, General Business
- Mitra Mahdavian, Computer Engineering
- Charanne Marshall, Accounting
- Jason Mayfield, Marketing
- Tassi Mendek, Entrepreneurship
- John Myers, Accounting
- Christian Reinke, Finance
- Toby Riggs, Marketing
- Rana Rizvi, Economics
- Precious Ruffen, Development/Family Studies
- Lindsey Turner, Fashion Merchandising
In addition to graduating from the program, four students were awarded the Sue & Henry Hays (with Virginia Anderson and Jean Bush) President’s Council Scholarship. Recipients were:
- John Eckhardt
- Jason Mayfield
- Rana Rizvi
- Endurance Wali
Additional recognition was given to our corporate and individual sponsors and donors. The PLP is proud to be associated with the following:
2006-2007 Donors
- Platinum Member ($12,000 and above), DaimlerChrysler
- Gold Member ($4,900-$11,999), Frank Bracken; Centex Homes
- Silver Member ($1,000-$4,899), Jerry Pinkerton; Target; Harvey Zimmermann
- Bronze Member ($350-$999), Consolidated Electrical Distributors; Beth Ruffing
2006-2007 Advisory Board
- Frank Bracken (Chair), Haggar Clothing Company (retired)
- Scott Ball, Duro Bags
- Jay Crutcher, Scheef & Stone, L.L.P.
- Philip Dana, Centex Homes & Kaye/Bassman International
- Tim McRay, DaimlerChrysler
- John Norman, Ackley Financial Group
- Jerry Pinkerton, TXU (retired)
- Beth Ruffing, PBS&J
- John Schinske, Johnson & Johnson
- Calvin Stephens, SSP Consulting
- Julie Willems-Espinoza, UNT College of Business
- Jeff Wittenberg, Kaye/Bassman International
- Hunter Youngblood, Ameriprise Financial
- Harvey Zimmermann, UNT College of Business
2006-2007 Mentors
- Scott Ball, Duro Bags
- Hunter Blanks, Colliers International
- Jay Burgin, Target
- Russell Crews, Starcast Wireless
- Jay Crutcher, Scheef & Stone, L.L.P.
- LaSandra Moore-Morris, Diversified Healthcare
- Kristine Ramirez, Frisco ISD
- Beth Ruffing, PBS&J
- Sharon Senna, Fidelity Investments
Since 1994, the Professional Leadership Program has been a cooperative effort between the UNT College of Business and corporate sponsors in the DFW metroplex community. The purpose of the program is to expose students to the skills they will need as they prepare for the complex world of employment. PLP provides students with the opportunity to meet with representatives from the corporate community and to attend the same training programs that are required for professionals in a wide variety of businesses and industries.
For additional information regarding the Professional Leadership Program, please contact the PLP Office at 940.565.3043 or plp@unt.edu
