UMSL alumni (from left) Cletus Glasener, Sheila Burkett, Jolene A. Lampton, Sean C. O’Donnell and Orvin Kimbrough received the 2014 Salute to Business Achievement Awards from the College of Business Administration at UMSL. (August Jennewein photo)
Five University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Business Administration alumni were honored May 6 for their outstanding achievements and success.
The 2014 Salute to Business Achievement Awards were presented during a reception at UMSL. Recipients of this year’s awards are Sheila Burkett, Cletus Glasener, Orvin Kimbrough, Jolene A. Lampton and Sean C. O’Donnell.
The annual event spotlights alumni who have accomplish career and personal achievements. Nominations are made to the college by alumni, friends, businesses and organizations throughout the area. A selection committee chooses award recipients for each of the five categories: Entrepreneurial Spirit, Outstanding Volunteer, Rising Star, Outstanding Leader and Distinguished Career Leader.
Burkett, who received the Entrepreneurial Spirit award, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1989. She is a founder and managing partner at Spry Digital, a technology startup. Along with her husband Steve, she is also founder and president of Tuxedo Park Leasing, a property redevelopment company. Prior to creating Spry Digital, Burkett was a partner at Edward Jones with more than 20 years of experience in their information systems division. She serves on several community boards, including UMSL’s Information Systems Advisory board and the Arts and Education Marketing committee.
Glasener, who received the Distinguished Career Achiever award, earned a master’s degree in business administration in 1983. He is vice president, chief finical officer and treasurer of Elbit Systems of America, a leading provider of innovative products and systems solutions for the defense, homeland security, commercial aviation and medical instrumentation markets. He has extensive aerospace and defense financial management experience, having began his career with McDonnell Douglas as a pricing administrator preparing proposals for the F-15 program. He is a certified public accountant, a certified management accountant, a charted global management accountant and is certified in financial management.
Kimbrough, who received the Distinguished Community Service award, earned a master’s degree in business administration in 2002. He is the president and chief executive officer of United Way of Greater St. Louis. Prior to being president and CEO, Kimbrough held various positions within United Way. He was most recently senior vice president for major gifts and planned giving, while also leading the marketing and communications division. When he started in 2007, he had planned on staying only a few years. He had worked with a number of not-for-profits before joining the United Way, including a stint as executive director for Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls. Born in East St. Louis, Ill., and raised in north St. Louis, he gives back everyday to the very community he came from.
Lampton, who received the Distinguished Service to Education award, earned a master’s degree in business administration in 1994. She is an assistant professor of management and accounting at Park University in Austin, Texas. She has researched and written extensively in the area of accounting and management including her book, “Board Micromanagement of Administrative Affairs in Community Colleges: Analysis of Reasons That Boards Micromanage Administrative Affairs in Public American Community Colleges,” and her paper “The CPA’s Guide To Ethical Behavior.”
O’Donnell, who received the Outstanding Leader award, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1996 and a master’s degree in business administration in 1998. He is vice president and general manager of Charter Communications and oversees Charter’s day-to-day operations in Missouri and Illinois. Prior to joining Charter, he was senior vice president of regional operations for Bresnan Communications/Cablevision Systems in Billings, Mont. Before that, O’Donnell was a member of Charter’s corporate team in St. Louis, serving in key roles for four years, including vice president of information technology and vice president of operations.
