Each year, Thunderbird recognizes its distinguished alumni with the following four awards
- Rising Star Award to a graduate who is fewer than ten years out, but making great strides in his or her career.
- Career Achievement Award to a graduate who has excelled in his or her chosen career.
- Alumni Volunteer Award to a graduate who has given his or her time to support Thunderbird, including Chapter or Council leadership, speaking engagements, offering advice to students or other alumni, recruiting, fundraising or organizing events.
- Jonas Mayer Outstanding Alumnus Award to a Thunderbird graduate who demonstrates the ultimate in professional achievement, civic service and Thunderbird activity. This award is the highest honor that Thunderbird bestows on a T-bird.
If you would like to nominate a graduate for any of these awards for 2007-2008, simply submit an online Nomination Form. Deadline for nominations is November 1, 2007.
Here are Thunderbird's 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award winners:
Jonas Mayer Award
Steven Lee Novkov '69
Vice President
CIGNA International
Steve is a vice president with CIGNA International and serves as a member of CIGNA's Asia management board. For the past eight years Steve has been based in Jakarta, where he was the chief executive officer for the company's Indonesian subsidiary, PT Asuransi CIGNA. Steve is currently transitioning to a new assignment based in Bangkok where he is the chief executive for CIGNA's three new business entities in Thailand and leads the company's emerging market activities in the neighboring countries.
Steve joined CIGNA International in 1969 in New York City. Over a period of 37 years, postings in Asia have included the Philippines, Guam, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Indonesia. During this period, executive management responsibilities have also included Korea, Taiwan, Macau, Micronesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Pakistan.
In 1998 Steve helped found Thunderbird's Asia-Pacific Council and served as a council member and later as council president until 2002. He is now a chapter leader in Jakarta. As an alumni leader, Steve has participated in numerous reunions, business forums and fundraising dinners on the Glendale campus and throughout Asia. In 2003 Steve was instrumental in working with a task force to develop strategies for increased leadership giving at the School.
Steve holds a BBA from the University of Miami in addition to his degree from Thunderbird.
Rising Star
Genichi Tamatsuka '98
Managing Partner
Revamp Corporation
Upon graduation from Thunderbird, Gen joined Fast Retailing, a leading retail chain specializing in casual clothing, headquartered in Tokyo. Starting as general manager, he was tapped to run the company's U.K. division in 2001, then assumed the role of president and COO in 2002, overseeing 700 retail stores selling the UNIQLO brand. In 2003 Gen was a featured speaker during the Thunderbird Global Business Forum in Tokyo.
In 2005 Gen and a partner established Revamp Corporation, a consulting firm for companies facing business challenges. Through a unique hands-on approach, Revamp reengineers their clients' management practices and boosts their profitability.
In addition to his Thunderbird degree, Gen holds a B.A. in Law from Keio University and an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.
Alumni Volunteer
Christopher J. Fussner '82
Owner and Founder
TransTechnology Pte Ltd.
TransTechnology Pte Ltd is a major distributor of surface mount technology and semiconductor capital equipment with 145 employees and offices in fifteen Asian cities. In addition, Chris is owner and founder of Certain Cellars Pte Ltd in Singapore, distributor/importer of fine wines.
Chris began his international career in Ouagadougou (Upper Volta) Burkino Faso, West Africa as a program assistant with Catholic Relief Services. Subsequently, he devoted his time to the Church World Service as a refugee resettlement officer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, being fully responsible for the Vietnamese refugee resettlement process in refugee camps in Malaysia. Chris also taught English at Hyundai Corporation in Seoul, Korea.
Chris' many contributions to Thunderbird include hosting a donor dinner in 2000, organizing and directing Thunderbird's Southeast Asia Business Winterim in Singapore and Thailand in 2003, and lecturing in the Thunderbird Global Entrepreneurship program. Chris also funded the School's Southeast Asia Initiative, which includes recruiting students, establishing business relationships, and strengthening the alumni network in the region.
Chris is active with a number of community groups, including Republicans Abroad, American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, Surface Mount Technology Association Singapore Chapter, the Elliott School International Affairs Advisory Council, and the Jesuit Mobile Medical Clinic in Nepal.
Chris is married to Annie Chen, a jewelry designer and real estate developer, and is the father of three children. Fluent in Chinese, he also has a high proficiency in French and Spanish and knowledge of Korean.
Career Achievement
Deborah M. Kielty '81
President and Executive Director
World Trade Center Institute
Following a 20-year international career with Procter & Gamble, Deborah joined the World Trade Center Institute in Baltimore in 2001. As head of the institute, Deborah leads the largest international business network in the mid-Atlantic region, serving more than 2000 clients across the private, diplomatic, government and academic sectors. She is responsible for overall strategic leadership, financial management, and organizational development.
Immediately prior to joining the World Trade Center Institute, Deborah served as vice president of Global Alliances & Licensing and general manager of Worldwide Strategic Planning for Procter & Gamble Beauty Care, based in Maryland. She also served as managing director of Procter & Gamble Health & Beauty Care Europe, based first as associate advertising manager in Rome and later as managing director of cosmetics in London. Prior to that, Deborah served as brand manager and associate advertising manager of Procter & Gamble de Mexico based in Mexico City.
Deborah serves on many boards, including the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs, the Governor's Sub-Cabinet for International Affairs, and the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business CIBER (Center for International Business Education and Research). She has two young children adopted from China and in 2002 assumed the CEO position of Families with Children from China in Maryland. She is active in the Federal Hill neighborhood community in Baltimore, and in 2003 was chosen as one of Baltimore's Top 50 Leaders.
A Thunderbird Barton Kyle Yount Award recipient, Deborah has traveled and conducted business in more than 50 countries, and speaks several languages.
Career Achievement
John S. Donnelly '70
Chairman of the Board
Grupo Zurich Mexico
John is presently chairman of the board of Zurich Financial Services in Mexico. Previous banking activities included chairman of the board of Bank of America Mexico, board member and consultant of JPMorgan Chase Mexico, and managing director and country manager of Chase Manhattan Bank from 1996 - 2000. John served as managing director and country manager of Chemical Bank activities in Mexico from 1992 through its merger with Chase Manhattan Bank.
Prior to the merger of Chemical Bank with Manufacturers Hanover Trust in 1992, John served as representative of the bank in Central America, Colombia, Panama, Spain and Mexico. John was also at Manufacturers Hanover as managing director and co-country manager in Brazil, serving as the bank's representative in the joint venture investment bank, Mantrust, SRL.
John has occupied prominent positions within Mexico having been president of the Foreign Bankers Association and vice president of the Mexican Bankers Association, director of the American Chamber of Commerce, and board member of various corporations in Mexico. John has also been a member of the Thunderbird Global Council since 2004.
A native of Panama, John is married to the former María Margarita Camacho and has two children, Eduardo and Felipe. Eduardo is a Thunderbird graduate from the class of 2005.
