Krannert Leadership Speakers Series
Alumni awards and honorees
Fall 2019
Purdue University Krannert School of Management
The following alumni were recognized at the 19th annual Krannert Leadership Speakers Series on Sept. 19 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis. To view a tribute video of each honoree, click on their corresponding photo.
KRANNERT BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARD
Bill Kassling, Lead Director, Wabtec
Bill Kassling has enjoyed a stellar corporate career with an entrepreneurial twist. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from Purdue and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.
After working at Clark Equipment, Boston Consulting Group and Parker Hannifin, he joined American Standard. Kassling became vice president in charge of the company’s railway products group. Eventually, he led a group of management members who purchased the rail equipment business from American Standard, forming the Westinghouse Air Brake Company (later named Wabtec). For 15 years, he was chairman, president and CEO of the company.
Kassling serves on the boards of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Texas Rangers. He was selected as a Purdue Old Master in 2005 and received an honorary doctorate the following year.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Tim Coleman, VP and Information Officer, Medicines Development Unit, Eli Lilly & Co.
A native of Charleston, West Virginia, Tim Coleman came to Purdue through the Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program. He was active on campus, participating in the Society of Minority Managers, Iron Key and the Black Voices of Inspiration, as well as serving as a student responder at commencement. He later earned an MBA from Northwestern University.
Upon graduation, he took a systems analyst position with Eli Lilly and has been with the company ever since. He has held several roles in the global information technology sector as well as positions in human resources and sales and marketing. In his current role, he supports research and development business areas.
Coleman has received several accolades, including a “Top 50 Under 50” Young Corporate Executive Award from Diversity MBA Magazine. He has a passion for STEM education and has served on several computer science advisory boards.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Susan Jischke, Compensation Progam Manager, IBM
Susan Jischke is a third-generation Boilermaker. After earning a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, she received a master’s degree in human resource management from the Krannert School. She immediately began working for IBM, first as a generalist HR partner and eventually moving into her current role as a compensation program manager.
Jischke is actively involved with both Krannert and Purdue. She has served on the Krannert School alumni board since 2013 and helped plan several events, including the Krannert Global Toast, which she has hosted in West Lafayette for five years. She is a tireless advocate for the MSHRM program, recruiting several of its students to IBM.
She has organized the Hammer Down Cancer Luncheon to raise money for the Purdue Center for Cancer Research. An advocate for women in business, she served as keynote speaker at the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana’s Women’s Equality Day Luncheon.
JOHN S. DAY DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI ACADEMIC SERVICE AWARD
Kwei Tang, Chia-Lun Lo Chair, National Chengchi University
Kwei Tang earned a bachelor’s degree in his native Taiwan before coming to the United States. He received a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a doctorate in management from Purdue.
Tang joined the faculty at Louisiana State University, rising to the rank of full professor and receiving a Presidential Young Investigator Award. He joined the Krannert School in 2000 as a professor of quantitative methods, becoming the Allison and Nancy Schleicher Chair in Management. In addition to earning teaching awards, he took on several administrative roles, including area coordinator, director of international initiatives and associate dean for academic affairs.
Tang’s administrative career continued in 2011 when he returned to Taiwan to serve as dean and University Chair Professor for the College of Commerce at National Chengchi University. He served as dean until 2017 and remains a member of the faculty.
BURTON D. MORGAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD
Tiffany Sauder, Founder and President, Element Three
Tiffany Sauder earned a bachelor’s degree from the Krannert School and immediately began her career as an analyst with Eli Lilly. But at age 25, she pivoted to found Element Three, a full-service marketing agency in Indianapolis.
The company’s growth has been nothing short of phenomenal. Element Three has been included on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies for five straight years, boosting annual revenues by more than 1,000 percent since its inception. Element Three took home a Best of Show award at the 2019 Indianapolis American Advertising Awards.
Sauder was included in the Indianapolis Business Journal 40 Under 40 list in 2018, and that same year received Indy’s Best and Brightest Award in the field of media, sports and entertainment. She has served on several corporate and non-profit boards and judged numerous award programs in the state.
YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
David Fox, Principal, The Blackstone Group
David Fox was a 3 + 2 student at Purdue, earning a bachelor’s degree from Krannert in 2006 and an MBA in 2007. He prepared for a finance career by participating in the Finance Club and the Student Managed Investment Fund, where he received the 2006 Stock Picker Graduate Award.
Fox began his corporate career with Credit Suisse in New York and London, serving as a vice president for strategic partner fund solutions. He became a principal with Blackstone in 2013, working with the company’s secondary private fund of funds business. He currently works with originating, evaluating and structuring private equity transactions and co-investments.
Fox has helped prepare future Purdue students for finance careers by serving on the alumni advisory board of the Finance Workshop. He also has hosted several students at Blackstone and mentored those who are interested in private equity.
BOILER BUSINESS EXCHANGE BUSINESS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Herschel and Mary Cook, Co-owners, Harry’s Chocolate Shop
Jay Ricker, Co-founder, Ricker’s
Bruce White Founder & Chairman, White Lodging
FATHER PHIL BOWERS AWARD
Tyler Trent, Purdue Superfan and Inspiration, Forever Our Captain
