The 2012 Salute to Business Achievement Awards were presented during a reception April 19 at UMSL. Recipients of this year’s awards are (from left) Rex Carter, Lyle Gilbertson, Nicole Colbert-Botchway, Janet Nava Bandera and Douglas M. Mueller. (Photo by August Jennewein)
Five University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Business Administration alumni were honored Thursday for their outstanding achievement and success.
The 2012 Salute to Business Achievement Awards were presented during a reception at UMSL. Recipients of this year’s awards are Janet Nava Bandera, Rex Carter, Nicole Colbert-Botchway, Lyle Gilbertson and Douglas M. Mueller.
Keith Womer, dean of the College of Business Administration at UMSL, said the college’s alumni are successful in many ways.
“We have so many outstanding alumni, many of whom are here in the St. Louis area,” Womer said. “By saluting our alumni, we are letting them know that we recognize their achievement and are honored to have helped in their journey to success.”
This is the fourth time in seven years the college has presented the awards to alumni who accomplish career and personal achievements. The event is slated to become annual. 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.
Bandera, who received the Entrepreneurial Spirit award, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1992. She is the owner of Bandera Law Firm in Clayton, Mo., and senior vice president of National Advisors Trust. She is a board member of the Moneta Group Charitable Foundation and chair of the UMSL Planned Giving Committee and a member of Missouri, Illinois and Florida Bar Associations.
Carter, who received the Outstanding Volunteer award, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1989. He is director of finance and payroll for the St. Louis Cardinals, LLC. Carter has continued to stay connected to UMSL by volunteering and serving on various groups and boards, including UMSL Alumni Association, African American Chapter and College of Business Chapter.
Colbert-Botchway, who received the Rising Star award, earned a master’s of business administration in 2002. She is an assistant attorney general for the State of Missouri, working in the financial services division for Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster. Colbert-Botchway worked as part of the trial team that prosecuted and won the $31 million settlement for the state in a Medicare fraud case.
Gilbertson, who received the Outstanding Leader award, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1975. He is senior vice president of Cassidy Turley. Since 2004, Gilbertson has managed facilities for Edward Jones Investments and oversees all leasing and facility maintenance for the company’s 11,600 U.S. and Canada branches. He joined Cassidy Turley in 1993.
Mueller, who received the Distinguished Career Leader award, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1978. He is president of Mueller Prost PC. Mueller is an industry-known and nationally recognized CPA. He has more than 30 years of experience working with clients to structure assets and decrease tax burdens. He’s a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of CPA.
