The Mitch Daniels School of Business will recognize donors and honor alumni at a celebration in the Purdue Memorial Union on April 11, 2025.
The “Legacies and Leaders” event includes opening remarks by undergraduate Filippa Rodriguez, a junior majoring in Business Analytics and Information Management, and Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean Jim Bullard. This year’s honorees are:
Business Leadership Award, the highest honor given by the school, presented to an individual who has achieved success in business and the community: William H. Strong (BSIM 1973) began his business career with Price Waterhouse & Co. in Chicago before embarking on a 40-year investment banking career with Salomon Brothers and then Morgan Stanley. His work took him to New York, London, Chicago and ultimately Hong Kong, where he concluded his full-time career as co-CEO of Morgan Stanley’s businesses in Asia with responsibility for approximately 5,000 professionals and as a member of Morgan Stanley’s Global Management Committee.
Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurship Award, which recognizes achievement and creativity in the field of entrepreneurship: Rex Gingerich (BS 1987) has more than 40 years of automotive experience and is the founder and CEO of Chariot Automotive Group, a family-owned automotive network with five dealerships located in Tipton, Kokomo and Lafayette. He started working at his family’s car dealership when he was a student and worked his way up to his current position. He has attended GM’s Dealership Management Development Program as well as the NADA Dealer Candidate Academy.
Distinguished Alumni Award, presented to graduates who have demonstrated success in their professions, community service achievements, and service to Purdue University and the Daniels School: Ted Jackson (MS 1998) is president of performance solutions at Novolex, a leading provider of innovative packaging and performance film solutions. Jackson also serves on the board of Coregistics, a rapidly growing contract manufacturer and logistics services company. A senior executive with over 25 years of experience, he has also been a board member, interim manager, investor and results-oriented management consultant for various private equity-backed and mid-market companies.
Distinguished Service Award, presented to individuals who have given distinguished service to enhance the visibility of the Daniels School and the quality of its programs: Tim Newton (BA CLA 1981) is director of external relations and communications at the Daniels School of Business. He is also the play-by-play voice of Purdue football, a role he took over in 2010 after serving for 15 years as host and producer of the broadcasts. Newton recently finished his 35th year as play-by-play voice of the Purdue women’s basketball team and was voted by his peers as the 2021 Indiana Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
Distinguished Service Award, presented to individuals who have given distinguished service to enhance the visibility of the Daniels School and the quality of its programs: Jennifer M. Liu (BS 1998) is the vice president of operations for PCI Government Services' Professional Services sector. PCI Federal is the government contracting arm of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, providing a variety of services to federal agencies and other government entities. Liu leads the operations and service delivery for three LLCs and various joint ventures under PCI-Federal Services, focusing on continuous improvement and scaling operations through process automation to drive ongoing growth.
John S. Day Distinguished Alumni Academic Service Award, which recognizes an outstanding graduate whose service within the academic community reflects the spirit and service of former Dean John Day to Purdue University and the Daniels School: Dominique Hanssens (MSIA 1976, PhD 1977) is a Distinguished Research Professor of Marketing at the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management. He has served as the school’s faculty chair, associate dean and marketing area chair. From 2005 to 2007, Hanssens served as executive director of the Marketing Science Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His research focuses on strategic marketing problems, in particular marketing productivity.
Young Alumni Award, presented to an individual, age 40 or under, who has shown exceptional progress and early career achievement: Chris Comstock (BS 2006) is a partner in the Chicago office of the global law firm Mayer Brown LLP. As a member of the firm's litigation and dispute resolution team, he oversees major complex litigation and class actions, including drafting pleadings, motions, and appellate briefs; managing complex e-discovery and document management projects; and advocating for clients before juries, judges, arbitrators, and mediators, and practicing in both trial and appellate courts throughout the country.
