• 2025: Antonio M. Alvarez III, MBA ’91
• 2024: Anne Chow ’88, MEng ’89, MBA ’90
• 2023: Angela Hwang, MBA ’94
• 2020: Mark Bissell, MBA ’82
• 2019: Peter B. Orthwein ’68, MBA ’69
• 2018: Anne Estabrook ’65, MBA ’66
• 2016: George G. Gellert ’60, MBA ’62, JD ’63
• 2014-2015: Kyung-Bae Suh, MBA ’87
• 2013: Irene Rosenfeld ’75, MS ’77, PhD ’80
• 2012: H. Fisk Johnson ’79, MEng ’80, MS ’82, MBA ’84, PhD ’86
• 2011: Daniel Hesse, MBA ’77

• Lifetime achievement award that recognizes extraordinary alumni for their exceptional vision and leadership and a track record of sound business sense throughout their careers.
• Award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to their communities, making a positive impact beyond their professional endeavors.
• The award may be given to alumni who have assumed leadership roles and made unique and noteworthy contributions to their industry.
• Service to Johnson as a volunteer and/or leader in engagement opportunities is not required.
• Alumni are honored because of the significant impact their leadership has had on their industry and the broader community.
• Consideration is given to the length and depth of the individual’s activities.
• Honorees are chosen from candidates proposed by the Johnson community (alumni, faculty, and staff).
• University Trustees are not eligible for consideration until they are no longer active members of the board.
• A maximum of two awards may be presented annually, should qualified candidates be nominated.

To nominate an alumna or alumnus for the L. Joseph Thomas Leadership Award, please fill out the online nomination form.

• 2025: Katherine P. Ward Feld, MBA  ’82, JD ’83
• 2024: Barry W. Ridings, MBA ’76
• 2023: Gail A. Cañizares and Roberto M. Cañizares ’71, MBA ’74
• 2020: Jack Neafsey ’61, MEng. ’62, MBA ’63
• 2019: Kenneth T. Derr ’58, MBA’60
• 2018: Hirschel Abelson ’55, MBA ’56
• 2016: Nelson Schaenen Jr. ’50, MBA ’51
• 2015: Charles L. Jarvie ’58, MBA ’59
• 2013: Jack M. Ferraro, MBA ’70
• 2012: Henry P. Renard ’54, MBA ’55
• 2011: Karen Keating ’76
• 2010: Jeffrey Berg ’79, MEng ’80, MBA ’81
• 2009: J. Roger O’Neil, MBA ’61
• 2008: Bob W. Staley ’58, MBA ’59 and Tom Mulligan ’73, MBA ’77
• 2007 – Inaugural Award Recipient: Richard Marin ’75, MBA ’76

Open to alumni who graduated more than 20 years ago

• Lifetime achievement award that recognizes extraordinary alumni for their sustained and exemplary commitment to Johnson and its alumni.
• Award honors alumni who have demonstrated continued engagement with Johnson through long-term volunteer activities within the broad spectrum of Johnson’s alumni engagement opportunities.
• Service may be reflected in the leadership roles that the individual has assumed, or through the unique contributions made by the person as a part of his or her service to Johnson.
• Service to Johnson as a volunteer and/or leader in many engagement opportunities is required, such as the advisory council, regional clubs, reunion, class activities, career management center, admissions, and guest class lecturer (no meant to be exhaustive).
• Alumni are honored because of the significant impact their volunteer service has had on the school.
• Consideration is given to the length and depth of the individual’s activities.
• Honorees are chosen from candidates proposed by the Johnson community (alumni, faculty, and staff).
• University Trustees are not eligible for consideration until they are no longer active members of the board.
• A maximum of two awards may be presented annually, should qualified candidates be nominated.

To nominate an alumna or alumnus for the Samuel C. Johnson Distinguished Service Award or the Robert J. Swieringa Young Alumni Service Award, please fill out the online nomination form.

• 2025: Gregory G. Gatta ’97, MBA ’12
• 2024: Marques Zak, MBA ’10
• 2023: Cara D. Petonic, MBA ’13 and David Pisacich, MBA ’10
• 2020: Geoffrey Lim, MBA ’00
• 2019 Angela Mwanza, MBA ‘00
• 2018: Jamey Edwards ’96, MBA ’03
• 2016: Shari Aser, MBA ’10
• 2015: Kimberly S. Stevenson, MBA ‘01
• 2013: Kenyattah Robinson, MBA ’06
• 2012: Jeffrey Marx Kabel, MBA ’97
• 2011: Meredith Ryan-Reid, MBA ’07
• 2010: Scott Weiss ’00, MBA ’05
• 2009: Sarah Brubacher, MBA ’99
• 2008: Tim Takacs, MBA ’99, and Brett Blumenthal Wax ’96, MBA ’04
• 2007 – Inaugural Award Recipient: Kenneth W. Gurrola, MBA ’95

Open to alumni who graduated less than 20 years ago

• Recognizes extraordinary alumni for their exemplary commitment to Johnson and its alumni since graduation.
• Award honors alumni who have demonstrated continued engagement with Johnson through volunteer activities within the broad spectrum of Johnson’s alumni engagement opportunities.
• Service may be reflected in the leadership roles that the individual has assumed, or through the unique contributions made by the person as a part of his or her service to Johnson.
• Service to Johnson as a volunteer and/or leader in many engagement opportunities is required, such as the advisory council, regional clubs, reunion, class activities, career management center, admissions, and guest class lecturer.
• These alumni are being honored because of the significant impact their volunteer service has had on the school.
• Consideration is given to the length and depth of the individual’s activities as a recent alumna/us.
• Honorees are chosen from candidates proposed by the Johnson community (alumni, faculty, & staff.)
• University Trustees are not eligible for consideration until they are no longer active members of the Board.

To nominate an alumna or alumnus for the Samuel C. Johnson Distinguished Service Award or the Robert J. Swieringa Recent Alumni Service Award, please fill out the online nomination form.

This award was originally known as the Wilbur Parker Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognized African-American alumni who demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to their community. In 2025, it was renamed the Wilbur Parker Inclusion Award, which recognizes alumni who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a strong commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within Johnson and the business world. Through their leadership and contributions, they inspire others to embrace diversity and create thriving communities for all.

About Wilbur Parker

Wilbur Parker ’50, MBA ’50, was Cornell’s first African-American MBA Graduate and inaugural recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Johnson’s Black Graduate Business Association, which was subsequently named in his honor. Mr. Parker spent his career working to make a difference, combating racial injustice and helping others. A World War II veteran, he was one of the U.S. Army Air Force’s famed Tuskegee Airmen. In 1954, he became the first black CPA in the state of New Jersey and went on from there to break new ground in his hometown of Newark as the city’s first African-American budget director in 1962, then the first African-American secretary of its Board of Education in 1970. Parker marched with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Washington, D.C., central mall in 1963.

• 2025: Inaugural recipient of the Wilbur Parker Inclusion Award: Shartoyea Scott Dixon, MBA ’06
• 2022: James Nixon Jr. MBA ’05
• 2020: Conrad Kenley ’74, MBA ’75
• 2019: Marmeline Petion-Midy’ 95, MBA’00
• 2018: Marques E. Zak, MBA ’10
• 2017: Tyeise Huntley Jones, MBA ’10
• 2016: Kenyattah A. Robinson, MBA ‘06
• 2015: John Bonhomme, MBA ‘07
• 2014: Percy Allen II, MPA ’75
• 2013: DeVerges Booker Jones ’74
• 2012: Maynard Brown ’76, MBA ’83
• 2011: Angela Noble-Grange, MBA ’94
• 2010: Joseph T. Wilson Jr., MBA ’86
• 2009: Jeffery J. Weaver ’86, MBA ’90
• 2008: Felix Rouse, MBA ’03
• 2007: Angela Mwanza, MBA ’00
• 2006: Laura Wilkinson MBA ’85, JD ’86
• 2005: Earle L. Bradford Jr., MBA ’71
• 2004: John Clark Sr., MBA ’72
• 2003: Inaugural Recipient and Namesake: Wilbur Parker, MBA ’50

To nominate an alumna or alumnus for the Wilbur Parker Inclusion Award, please fill out the online nomination form.

This alumni award, originally known as The Carlos R. Quintanilla Distinguished Latino Alumni Award, is awarded to Johnson alumni for their exceptional achievements and significant contributions to their professions, community, and society as a whole, for their demonstrated commitment to Johnson, and for promoting the advancement of Latinos in the business world. In 2025, the Quintanilla Distinguished Hispanic Business Leadership Lecture & Award was elevated to a lecture series in honor of Carlos R. Quintanilla‘s dedicated alumni service and outstanding commitment to Johnson. This lecture series brings high profile Latin American business leaders to Ithaca to speak and engage with the Johnson and greater College of Business Community. To nominate an alumna or alumnus for the Quintanilla Distinguished Hispanic Business Leadership Award, please fill out the online nomination form.

• 2025: Ragnhild “Randy” Melzi ’77, MBA ’80
• 2024: Gil Gidron ’78, MBA ’80
• 2022 Christine Monjer, MBA ’14
• 2020: Laura E. Sandoval, MBA ’05
• 2019: Eduardo Padilla Silva, MBA ’81
• 2018: William J. Restrepo ’80, MBA ‘85
• 2017: Adrienne Rose Martinez ’01, MBA ’08
• 2016: Roberto Canizares M.’71, MBA ’74
• 2015: Felipe Garza, MBA ‘80
• 2014: Joseph Alvarado, MBA ’76
• 2013: Luis Carlos Sarmiento, Jr. MBA ’85
• 2012: Hernan J. F. Saenz, MBA ’98, MILR ’98
• 2011: Carlos R. Quintanilla, MBA ’80
• 2010: Inaugural Award Recipient: Ken Gurrola, MBA ’95

The Out in Business Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 2019, recognized alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to the LGBTQ+ community in business and society, attained outstanding professional achievement, and made a significant impact on the Cornell MBA community.

*In 2025, this award was combined with the Wilbur Parker Inclusion Award. This award is now given annually to one alumnus/na who demonstrates the values that the award’s namesake, Wilbur Parker, MBA ’50, stood for.

• 2022 Michael Beck, MBA ’13
• 2020: Jason Tauber, MBA ’04
• 2019:  Inaugural Recipient Larry Ruff, MBA ’82

• 2021: Johnson Club of New York City – President: Morgan Jones, MBA ’15
• 2019: Johnson Club of Houston – President: Krishna P. Jonnalagadda, MBA’14
• 2018: Johnson Club of the Bay Area – President: Richa Sood, MBA ’12
• 2016: Johnson Club of Korea – President: Chulyoung Cho, MBA ’98
• 2015: Johnson Club of New York – Co-President: Lisa Bonk, MBA ’11, Co-President: Dana Price, MBA ’11
• 2013: Johnson Club of Seattle – President: Pam Spier ’05, MBA ’11
• 2012: Johnson Club of Rochester – President: Donna Spinella ’78, MBA ’86
• 2011: Johnson Club of China – President: Geoffrey Lim, MBA ’00
• 2010: The Johnson Club of New York – President: Oded Anderman, MBA ’04
• 2009: Johnson Club of the United Kingdom – President Tim Takaacs, MBA ’99
• 2008: Johnson Club of Boston
• 2007: Inaugural Award Recipient: Johnson Club of Chicago

• Regional clubs engage more Johnson alumni each year than all other forms of engagement added together. Most alumni initially renew their engagement with Johnson via a regional event because it’s close to where they live and work
• Regional clubs offer programs that help alumni; alumni, in turn, assist the school.
• Regional clubs offer programming that enables alumni to network with one another.
• Regional club leaders can play a key role in recruitment and admission of new students.
• Regional club leaders can set an example for others to follow in giving back to Cornell.

• Percent of local alumni who have attended at least one regional event
• Total number of events conducted per hundred alumni in region
• Innovation and creativity of regional club’s programming
• Diversity of events (hold at least one event in each category: faculty speaker, local alumna or alumnus speaker, social event at a local attraction, or happy hour)
• Admissions support (interviewing, hosting reception, contacting admitted students)
• Embrace programs and activities that support goals of Johnson
• 100 percent Annual Fund participation by all regional board members each year
• Fiscal responsibility (club spending stays within proposed annual budget)