Krannert dinner to honor alumni, feature talk by NASA’s Kranz

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Krannert School of Management will honor six Purdue University alumni and faculty during its 14th annual Leadership Speakers Series dinner Sept. 26.

Gene Kranz, the legendary NASA flight control director who led the effort to save Apollo 13, will give the keynote address. Purdue President Mitch Daniels and Krannert interim Dean David Hummels also will make remarks.

The awards and recipients are:

 * Krannert Business Leadership Award to Jane Brock-Wilson, managing director, Berkshire Partners. She earned a bachelor's degree in industrial management in 1978.

* Distinguished Alumni Award to John Hoffner, retired chief financial officer and executive vice president, Jack in the Box. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management in 1970.

* Distinguished Service Award to Steve Betulius, regional director, client services, Pharmacy Systems. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management in 1978.

* John S. Day Distinguished Alumni Academic Service Award to Javier Gimeno, Aon Dirk Verbeek Chaired Professor in International Risk and Strategic Management with international business school INSEAD. He earned a doctorate in 1994.

* Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurship Award to George Garrick, startup company investor, board member and adviser, G2 Consultants. He received a master’s degree in industrial management in 1975.

* Young Alumni Award to Kara Eschbach, editor-in-chief and publisher, Verily magazine. She earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 2007.

Also during the event, Daniels will present the Pinnacle Award to Jim and Barbara Hayes. Jim Hayes is a managing director of alliances for Accenture. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management in 1984. Barbara Hayes has been an elementary school teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts in 1984.

The Pinnacle Award recognizes donors who have given more than $1 million to support Purdue.

In 1983, Kranz was named NASA director of mission operations, with responsibilities for all aspects of mission design, testing, planning, training and spaceflight operations. He also led design, development, maintenance and operations of all related mission facilities, as well as the preparation of the Shuttle flight software. He was responsible for more than 6,000 employees and an annual budget of $750 million. He retired in 1994.

He is perhaps best known for his leadership of the Houston-based flight team during the 1970 Apollo 13 mission to the moon. The three-member crew was forced to return to earth when they encountered a problem in their orbiter, Odyssey. Kranz and his team helped bring them back safely.

Tickets for the dinner, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms, are available to the general public for $100 per person, $75 of which qualifies as a charitable deduction. Net proceeds from the event go to Krannert undergraduate and graduate scholarships. Specially priced tickets are available for Purdue students, faculty and staff.

To reserve tickets, contact Lou Underwood, Krannert assistant director of alumni relations and special events, at 765-494-0901, lmunder@purdue.edu. More information about the Leadership Series and this year's event is available at http://www.krannert.purdue.edu/events/LSS/  

Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu 

Source: Tim Newton, Krannert director of external relations and communication, 765-496-7271, tnewton@purdue.edu 

Note to Journalists: Media interested in covering the event should contact Tim Newton, Krannert director of external relations, at 765-496-7271, tnewton@purdue.edu. No video or audio-taping will be allowed.