From senior-level executives at top corporations to highly successful entrepreneurs, we are proud to welcome our 2013-2014 College of Business Hall of Fame inductees back to Illinois State University to interact with students, faculty, alumni and industry partners. Their accomplishments and commitment to excellence not only reflect their professional dedication and service to others, but also add value to our programs and the Illinois State brand for all of our graduates. For past inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Hall of Fame [Read More...]
Holding this induction ceremony and luncheon during Business Week provides students, faculty, and other alumni the chance to interact with the inductees and learn from their experiences.
2013-2014 Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees
Duane W. Bell '74
Duane Bell is the former President and Chief Executive Officer at Tectura Corporation. As a Certified Public Accountant, he began his career with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (now KPMG) in 1974 after receiving his B.S in Accounting from Illinois State University. He spent 20 years with KPMG during which he advised numerous clients on various strategy and business matters. While at KPMG he served as chief financial officer for KPMG Consulting for two years during which the consulting business was separated from the audit and tax business in preparation of an initial public offering of the consulting business. Prior to joining Tectura, Bell served as Chief Operating Officer and/or Chief Financial Officer for several services organizations, two of which successfully completed initial public offerings of common stock during his tenure.
Tectura Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of business consulting and implementation and integration services relating to Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM products. The Company employs over 1,300 people in 65 offices in 30 countries around the world. Tectura is the largest and only global Dynamics partner focused solely on the Dynamics platform. The Company provides services primarily to companies in the manufacturing, retail and health care/life sciences industries.
Throughout his career Bell has served on the Boards of Directors of various civic, social and business organizations.
Mike DeWalt '80
Mike DeWalt is a vice president of Caterpillar Inc. with responsibility for the Strategic Services Division. In this position, he leads a team responsible for strategic planning, Mergers & Acquisitions, investor relations, economics, business risk management and competitive analysis.
Prior to being named a vice president by the Caterpillar Board of Directors, DeWalt was the corporate controller. His responsibilities included corporate accounting, business analysis, corporate forecasting and planning and investor relations.
DeWalt joined Caterpillar in 1981 as an accountant. Over the next 15 years, he held a series of positions with increasing responsibilities in the accounting and budgeting and forecasting functions. In 1996, DeWalt was named a senior vice president of Finance and Planning for F.G. Wilson, based in Northern Ireland, and in 1998 became the finance director for the Perkins Engine Company in Peterborough, UK. In 2004, DeWalt was named director of strategic investments, leading Caterpillar's corporate mergers and acquisitions group. In 2005, he was named director of investor relations for Caterpillar and in 2012 was named corporate controller.
DeWalt has completed the Caterpillar Advanced Management Program and the Executive Program at the University of Michigan. He obtained his bachelor's degree in accounting from Illinois State University in 1980. Mike has remained involved with Illinois State University having served many years as a member of the College of Business Advisory Council.
Robert Lakin '73, '77
Bob Lakin is the President of Commerce Bank in Bloomington, Illinois. Commerce Bank is a $700 million dollar bank offering a broad spectrum of banking services, and specializing in commercial and institutional banking products. In addition, Commerce bank is an industry leader in Agri-Business and Food Processing banking services throughout Illinois. Commerce Bank has grown considerably during the past 8 years, nearly doubling its size. Prior to Commerce Bank, Bob established his career working for Mercantile Bank, St Louis and Rockford. Bob earned his MBA from Illinois State University and a distinguished recognition from the Graduate School of Banking in 1985.
As an active community leader, Bob serves on the Boards of the Economic Development Council (past chairman), The Illinois State University Foundation Board, including the Investment Committee, United Way of McLean County, and served as the 2011 United Way Campaign Chairman, Mclean County Chamber Board, and has participated in , or chaired numerous not-for-profit fundraising campaigns. Bob was raised in Glenview, Illinois, and has 2 sons, residing in Toledo and New York City.
Bob remains a strong supporter of Redbird Athletics and the College of Business, currently serving on the College of Business Advisory Council.
Sandra Reese '80
Sandra Reese ‘80is a Senior Vice President of McKinsey Recovery & Transformation Services, based in Chicago. She has more than 25 years advising global, middle market and distressed companies on performance improvement, business growth and transformation, restructuring advisory, and crisis management. Her experience spans Europe, Asia and the Middle East in addition to North America.
Throughout Reese’s career she has advised a major multinational bank on its strategic options for a distressed Real Estate Investment Trust with more than 80 shopping centers and $1.2 b in US assets. Additionally, she developed long-term international joint venture plan for a worldwide specialty paper manufacturer seeking to expand into Asia while completing business planning, research, fieldwork and diagnostics.
As Interim CFO to a publicly held finance company, completed an operational turnaround including a significant restatement of financials, and assisted regulators with investigations.
While CFO of an underperforming national media services company, Reese moved from negative to positive EBITDA in an expedited timeframe and re-engineered all enterprise processes over two years.
As Crisis Manager for a USD1 b global marketing communications company assessing strategic and financial options, she secured new equity and renegotiated senior and subordinated lending arrangements.
Sandra Reese has also devised and executed all aspects of the wind-down of a global internet consulting firm. Creditors were repaid 100% plus interest and a surplus of almost $1m was donated to charities. In addition to creating a comprehensive business process and technology strategy for an international fashion retailer in order to support growth and technology goals, while innovating into a multichannel operating model.
Reese’s additional background includes serving in leadership roles at Grant Thornton LLP and co-founded a consulting firm with offices in Chicago and Shanghai, advising companies on turnaround and transformation strategies. She is also a Certified Turnaround Professional and Certified Public Accountant, she began her career at KPMG.
Stuart Schuette '86
Stuart Schuette is Chief Operating Officer of US Foods. In his role, he oversees the operational and administrative functions of more than 60 divisions. Stuart also plans and directs all operational strategies, policies, objectives and initiatives to achieve the goals of US Foods while positioning the company for future growth.
During his 20-year career at US Foods, Stuart has held a variety of executive positions including Region President; Zone President; Division President; Division Vice President, Finance; Manager, Financial Operations; and Manager, Planning. Prior to joining US Foods, he was an executive at Martin Brower, a subsidiary of Reyes Holdings, LLC., and the world’s largest distributor of products to more than 8,400 McDonald’s restaurants.
Stuart was also Senior Financial Analyst at Heller Financial and began his career in the Small Business Division of Arthur Andersen in Chicago. Stuart holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and business administration from Illinois State University.