04-24-2026
On April 17, 2026, the Mitch Daniels School of Business hosted its “Legacies and Leaders” event at the Purdue Memorial Union, honoring distinguished alumni and expressing gratitude to the donors who help advance the school’s mission. The celebration brought together students, alumni, faculty and friends of the Daniels School for an evening of recognition and reflection.
The evening began with remarks from Diego Legoas, a junior in accounting and finance, who welcomed attendees, and the school’s Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean Jim Bullard, who highlighted the importance of leadership, innovation and service to the school’s community. Jennifer Liu, a 1998 Purdue graduate and the 2025 recipient of the Daniels School’s Distinguished Service Award, presented this year’s slate of honorees.
Michael R. Berghoff Business Leadership Award 
Dave Manly Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurship Award 
Gail F. Farnsley Distinguished Alumni Award 
Don MacKay Distinguished Service Award 
Jeffrey J. Reuer John. S. Day Distinguished Alumni Academic Service Award 
Chandra Chittineni Young Alumni Award
Michael R. “Mike” Berghoff has spent his career building things that last — companies, teams and institutions. As founder, president and CEO of Lenex Steel, Berghoff has helped shape some of the Midwest’s most significant construction projects while also playing a transformative role in higher education leadership and governance.
A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Berghoff arrived at Purdue University with an interest in analytical problem-solving and a curiosity about how things work. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management in 1985, but his education extended far beyond the classroom. Living in Owen Hall and joining the Theta Chi fraternity provided some of his earliest leadership opportunities, including serving a term as fraternity president. Those experiences helped shape Berghoff’s leadership style and his appreciation for teamwork.
“Purdue challenged me academically — physics was one of my favorite subjects and helped shape the analytical thinking I’ve relied on throughout my career,” he recalls. “The people I met and the leadership opportunities I had here made a lasting difference.”
One of Berghoff’s earliest and most memorable experiences on campus also involved a mentor who would leave a lasting impression. “One of my favorite memories is meeting Father Phil Bowers my first day on campus,” Berghoff says. “He had a big influence on many of us and was someone students could always count on for guidance.”
During his time at Purdue, Berghoff also met his future wife, Kristin, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in shared values and a strong connection to the university. Together they raised three children, all of whom followed in their parents’ footsteps and graduated from Purdue.
After graduating, Berghoff gained experience in the steel and construction industries in Indianapolis and Detroit, where he developed a deep understanding of the operational and logistical complexities behind large-scale construction projects. In 2003, he took a leap into entrepreneurship and founded Lenex Steel.
Under Berghoff’s leadership, the company has grown into one of the Midwest’s largest design-build structural steel fabrication firms. Lenex Steel has contributed to major stadium expansions, convention centers, bridges, hospitals and large industrial facilities throughout the region. With production facilities in Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Vincennes, and offices in Indianapolis and Chicago, the company has built a reputation for tackling complex projects through strategic acquisitions, automation and a relentless focus on operational excellence.
While building Lenex Steel into a regional industry leader, Berghoff also committed himself to public service and higher education. In 2009, he joined the Purdue University Board of Trustees, beginning a 15-year tenure that included nine years as board chair from 2015 to 2024. During this period, Purdue experienced significant institutional growth, expanding research activity, infrastructure and national recognition while maintaining its long-standing tuition freeze.
His connection to Purdue remains deeply personal. Berghoff points to places on campus that carry special meaning, including the Purdue Memorial Union; Berghoff helped support its recent renovation. “It’s always been a central gathering place on campus,” he says. “I enjoy seeing students and alumni continue to use it as a place to connect when they return.”
Despite his many professional accomplishments, Berghoff measures success in human terms. “My greatest achievement is being a husband and father,” he says, “along with building teams and organizations that create opportunities for other people to grow and succeed.”
That philosophy — focusing on people, teamwork and long-term impact — has defined Berghoff’s career. Whether guiding a company, helping shape a university or supporting his community, he has consistently focused on building institutions that open doors for others.
For more than four decades, Dave Manly has helped turn innovative ideas into beloved consumer brands. From revolutionizing the way people drink coffee to helping build household names in automotive security and boating, Manly has spent his career shaping products that millions of people use every day.
Manly’s path to business leadership began in the Midwest. A native of Kokomo, Indiana, he earned a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University before enrolling at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management — now the Daniels School of Business — where he completed a Master of Science in Marketing in 1979.
At Purdue, the transition from a liberal arts background to a rigorous business curriculum proved challenging, but ultimately transformative. One of his earliest lessons came in a marketing case-study class. “We had to review a case before class and be ready to present it to the group if called upon,” Manly recalls. “It was a bit of terror.” After volunteering once in hopes of avoiding future scrutiny, he quickly discovered the strategy wouldn’t work. “The professor knew my game and called on me again the next class,” he says. “Luckily, I had prepared.” The experience helped him learn to think conceptually about business problems, an approach that would define his career in consumer marketing.
Other courses pushed him even further outside his comfort zone. Coming from a liberal arts background, Manly admits his quantitative skills were “frankly…non-existent.” Statistics with professor Gordon Wright proved particularly daunting. “I recall reading the textbook three or four times before I could get it,” Manly says. But perseverance paid off, and the rigorous curriculum ultimately gave him a foundation for business leadership. “I like to say I got a master’s in marketing at Purdue and my PhD at Procter & Gamble.”
After Purdue, Manly launched his career at Procter & Gamble, where he refined his marketing expertise managing major consumer brands such as Pringles and Crisco. The experience prepared him for leadership roles across multiple industries, where he became known for building brands that resonate with consumers.
One of his most significant achievements came at Keurig, where he played a key role in helping transform the company from a startup into the leading single-serve coffee maker brand in North America. Today, nearly half of U.S. households own a Keurig machine, allowing consumers to brew a fresh cup of coffee in less than a minute with virtually no cleanup.
Manly also left his mark at LoJack, where innovative marketing helped make the stolen-vehicle recovery system a household name, and at Boston Whaler, where strategic consumer marketing helped double sales for the iconic boat brand.
While Manly is proud of the brands he helped build, he finds even greater satisfaction in the human impact of his work. Reflecting on Keurig’s growth, he notes that the company’s success created opportunities for hundreds of employees. “We were so successful at Keurig that we were able to help our employees prosper in their own lives,” he says.
Despite a career filled with high-profile achievements, Manly views success through a personal lens. “No doubt it is enjoying a 47-year marriage and raising three wonderful and well-rounded children and now three grandchildren,” he says. “That is what life is all about.”
Looking back, Manly credits Purdue with helping launch the career that allowed him to make a lasting impact. The lessons he learned in West Lafayette — about preparation, persistence and leadership — continue to guide him decades later. As he puts it simply: “It all came together nicely.”
When Gail F. Farnsley, who earned her master’s from Purdue’s business school in 1997, reflects on her career in technology leadership, one theme stands out: the people who helped her see possibilities she hadn’t yet imagined for herself.
“As a female, immigrant, and first-generation college student, no one expected me to go to college, much less get a master’s degree or become a corporate vice president,” she says. “Throughout my career I have always been mindful of the people who helped me along the way.”
Today, Farnsley is a retired IT executive, advisor and advocate for women in technology whose career has spanned major corporations, global leadership roles and higher education. Her professional journey includes leadership positions at companies such as Georgia-Pacific and Cummins, as well as serving as vice president and CIO of Cummins’ global IT organization. She later joined Gartner as vice president and executive partner, where she advised CIOs and executive teams as a trusted strategic advisor.
Farnsley’s path to leadership began with a foundation in computer science and years of experience in manufacturing and logistics. But it was her decision to pursue a master’s degree at Purdue that broadened her perspective and helped accelerate her career.
“One of the main reasons I selected Purdue for my MBA was the pragmatic focus,” she says. “I liked the fact that so many students and faculty were interested in companies that made things.”
While earning her degree, Farnsley balanced the demands of graduate school with raising two young children — a challenge that required both determination and support from the Purdue community.
Faculty mentorship also played a pivotal role. Farnsley credits professors such as Steve Green and Carolyn Woo with helping shape her academic experience. During her second year, Woo supported Farnsley’s interests by helping her design an independent study that allowed her to explore a topic of personal interest while ensuring she could graduate on time.
After decades in corporate leadership, Farnsley eventually returned to Purdue in a different capacity. Taking what she calls a “reverse sabbatical,” she served as a visiting professor in Purdue Polytechnic, where she co-taught a Women in Technology course, created a CIO leadership course and launched a study abroad program in India focused on the global IT services industry.
Her commitment to expanding opportunities for others has extended far beyond the classroom. While working with the National Center for Women & Information Technology, she helped launch the Affinity Group Alliance, connecting organizations around the world to share strategies for recruiting, retaining and advancing women in technology careers.
Today, Farnsley continues to support students and young professionals through board service and mentorship. She serves on the University of Indianapolis Board of Trustees, the Purdue Polytechnic Institute Dean’s Council and the Krenicki Center Advisory Board at Purdue’s Daniels School of Business, among other roles.
For Farnsley, success ultimately comes down to helping others discover their potential. “As I think about my career,” she says, “what always stands out are the people who saw something in me that I didn’t yet see in myself.”
Now, she is determined to be that person for the next generation.
For Don MacKay, Purdue has always been more than a university. It’s a lifelong connection that began long before he stepped onto campus and continues today through his dedication to supporting the next generation of students.
“I grew up in western New York State knowing about Purdue —both my father and grandfather were alumni,” MacKay says. “I had an amazing experience as a student in the early 1970s and remain closely connected with several close friends from that time.”
That early connection grew into a career grounded in leadership, business insight and a commitment to helping others succeed. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Purdue in 1975 — along with a minor in industrial engineering — MacKay went on to build a successful career in retail and technology-driven organizations. He later earned an MBA from DePaul University’s Kellstadt School of Business, concentrating in systems analysis.
Over the course of his career, MacKay held leadership roles with major companies including Xerox Corporation, Montgomery Ward and Circuit City before joining Sears Holdings. During his 19 years with Sears, he served as Director of Business Integration and Director of Pricing for the company’s Home Services division.
Yet even while advancing professionally, MacKay remained closely connected to Purdue. One of the most meaningful ways he stayed involved was through recruiting efforts, helping Purdue students launch their careers.
During his time at Sears Holdings, he led the company’s undergraduate and master’s recruiting initiatives at Purdue, creating opportunities for Daniels School students to begin careers in business and retail leadership.
MacKay’s passion for mentorship and student success can be traced back to his own experiences at Purdue. Several professors played a pivotal role in shaping both his academic path and his approach to leadership.
“Dr. John Lovell was my academic advisor and mentor,” MacKay recalls. “He always made time for conversation and was an exceptional listener. His guidance went far beyond academics and left a lasting impression on me.”
MacKay also remembers the real-world insights he gained from Professor J. Fred McLimore, whose course emphasized executive presentations and networking with business leaders.
“The class gave me the opportunity to build confidence while networking with corporate executives,” MacKay says. “Those conversations were invaluable early in my career.”
After retiring from Sears Holdings, MacKay deepened his involvement with Purdue. Since joining the Daniels School of Business Alumni Board in 2014, he has remained highly engaged with students — offering guidance on career exploration, résumé preparation, interviewing and professional networking.
His commitment to the school and its students has been widely recognized. In 2022, MacKay received the Charlene Sullivan Transformative Impact Award for his service and dedication to the Daniels School community.
Purdue also remains central to MacKay’s family story. Three of his children earned Purdue degrees, including two from the Daniels School.
“My years of volunteering with Purdue students have given me a very fulfilling career after retirement,” he says. “Staying connected with students has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my Purdue journey.”
Through mentorship, service and a lifelong loyalty to Purdue, MacKay continues to embody the spirit of giving back that helped shape his own success.
Jeffrey J. Reuer has spent his career shaping how scholars and executives understand strategy, but his path began with a spark of curiosity ignited at Purdue University. Today, as a Distinguished Professor and the Blake Family Endowed Chair in Strategic Management and Governance at Purdue’s Mitch Daniels School of Business, he is recognized globally for his research, teaching and leadership in the field.
Reuer first arrived at Purdue as an undergraduate, earning his BS in 1990 before returning to complete his PhD in 1997. It was during those early years that he found his academic calling. “I had several instructors who got me excited about strategic management and case teaching as this field was really taking off,” he says. “So, I was hooked early on.”
That enthusiasm was matched by the intensity of Purdue’s academic environment. Reuer recalls “countless hours spent in the library and the 7th floor computer labs,” along with long winters immersed in study and research. What stood out most, however, was the culture among faculty and students. “There was this sense among the PhD students that we were part of something special that mattered — and we were,” he reflects.
Mentorship proved pivotal. Working with scholars such as Kent Miller and Dan Schendel, Reuer developed both his research skills and his intellectual ambition. Schendel, in particular, left a lasting impression. “He pushed all of us in grad school and beyond to think bigger and earn our stripes,” Reuer says.
After completing his doctorate, Reuer built an academic career that spanned leading institutions around the world, including INSEAD, the University of North Carolina, Ohio State University and the University of Colorado, before returning to Purdue. His research, grounded in organizational economics, focuses on how firms grow through strategic alliances, acquisitions and international joint ventures.
His influence extends beyond the classroom and scholarly journals. Reuer has led executive education programs for organizations ranging from startups to global enterprises such as Eli Lilly, Pfizer and the World Bank, translating complex strategy concepts into actionable insights for leaders. His work has also appeared in prominent outlets like Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review, reinforcing his role as a bridge between academic research and real-world practice.
A prolific contributor to his field, Reuer has published extensively and authored or edited 11 books. His achievements have earned him numerous honors, including being named a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society. “Becoming a Fellow is a meaningful recognition of impact by one’s peers around the world,” he says.
Yet, for all his accolades, Reuer places the greatest value on his role as an educator and mentor. “As a strategy professor day-to-day you can change the way that many students and executives think about business decisions,” he notes, underscoring the lasting influence of teaching.
Purdue remains central to both his professional and personal life. It is where he met his wife, Larissa, and where a lifelong network of colleagues and collaborators began. Reflecting on that experience, he says, “Purdue opened many doors and adventures for us.”
Chandra Chittineni’s career path is not the product of a carefully engineered plan, but rather a series of bold decisions guided by curiosity. That instinct — to explore, to question and to step into the unknown — has taken him from mechanical engineering in India to consulting, from Purdue to leadership roles in fintech. Along the way, he has built a career defined not by predictability, but by purpose.
“I think every turn in my journey was driven less by a master plan and more by curiosity,” Chittineni reflects. That mindset first revealed itself early in his career. After earning his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, he chose not to follow a traditional technical path. Instead, he joined Think Tankers, a boutique consulting firm, where he spent four years tackling complex business challenges across industries.
That willingness to pivot led him to Purdue, where he pursued not one but two graduate degrees simultaneously — an MBA from the Mitch Daniels School of Business and a master’s in engineering management. The dual focus allowed him to connect business strategy with human behavior and decision-making. But for Chittineni, the most meaningful lessons extended beyond academics.
“Every person you interact with at Purdue leaves an imprint that changes you forever,” he says. Among his most formative experiences was serving as president of the Krannert Graduate Student Association. “Learning to work alongside people who had voted against me — and eventually becoming the thickest of friends with them — taught me more about leadership and humility than any textbook could.”
Chittineni also sought out hands-on opportunities that challenged him to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. Through experiential learning courses, he worked on product marketing with Microsoft and market entry strategy with IKIO. “Purdue always has opportunities for those who seek them,” he notes, emphasizing the value of initiative.
Some of his most unexpected growth came outside traditional roles. As a student life photographer, he connected with alumni across industries, gaining insight into a wide range of career paths. “I was meeting a new alum almost every week. That consistent exposure to excellence and diverse career paths was something no syllabus could offer,” he says.
After graduating, Chittineni joined Capital One’s highly selective Leadership Development Program, where he spent three years working across credit risk, analytics and technology transformation. The experience helped him build a versatile skill set at the intersection of strategy, data and execution.
In 2025, he made another leap — this time into the startup world — joining Yendo as director of credit risk strategy. The move reflected the same philosophy that has guided his journey from the start: growth lies just beyond comfort.
That lesson traces directly back to Purdue. “Purdue taught me that discomfort is often the price of growth,” he says. “That lesson has guided every major decision in my career since.”
For all his professional accomplishments, however, Chittineni measures success in deeply personal terms. Reflecting on his life and career, he points not to titles or milestones, but to a moment shared with his family. “The achievement that matters most to me isn’t on my résumé,” he says. “It’s that I finally got to make my mother’s wish come true.”
It is a perspective that underscores both his humility and his drive — a reminder that behind every unconventional path is a story not just of ambition, but of meaning.
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