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Since 2001, the Milgard School of Business has hosted the Business Leadership Awards. These awards recognize local business leaders for outstanding service to their company and the community and for exemplifying the Business School's five core competencies: integrated business knowledge, strategic thinking, communication, teamwork and professionalism.
2022 Business Leadership Award Winners
2020 Business Leadership Award Winners
2019 Recipients
2018
recipients
2017
recipients
2016 recipients
2015 recipients
Business Leader of the Year
Paul Ellingson, President and CEO, Bargreen Ellingson
Small Business Leader of the Year
Bill Evans, Owner, The Pacific Northwest Shop
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
Jane Taylor, The Geneva Foundation
2014 recipients
Business Leader of the Year
Gordon Rush, Founder, The Rush Companies
Small Business Leader of the Year
Hal Russell, President and CEO, Commencement Bank
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
Stephanie A. Stebich, Director, Tacoma Art Museum
Lifetime Achievement Award
B. Corry McFarland, McFarland Cascade
2013 recipients
Business Leader of the Year
Richard Brandsma, President & CEO, Sound Credit Union
Small Business Leader of the Year
Janine Terrano, CEO, Topia Technology
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
Joseph W. Wilczek, CEO, Franciscan Health System
Lifetime Achievement Award
Brian Sonntag
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Michael P. Slevin III, Director, Environmental Services Department, City of Tacoma (MBA, University of Washington Tacoma – 2004)
2012 recipients
Business Leader of the Year
Luke Xitco, President and CEO, Associated Petroleum Products
Small Business Leader of the Year
Tony G. Panagiotu, President, Panagiotu Pension Advisors
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
John R. Peterson, President, Bellarmine Preparatory School
2011 recipients
Business Leader of the Year
Greg Biersack, Vice President of Operations, Burkhart Dental Supply
Small Business Leader of the Year
Brian Haynes, President and CEO, Rainier Connect
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
Diane Cecchettini, RN, President and CEO, MultiCare Health System
2010 recipients
Business Leader of the Year
Melanie Dressel, President and CEO, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
Small Business Leader of the Year
Mohsen Aliabadi, President and CEO, South Tacoma Auto Sales, Inc.
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
Charles Shelan, Executive Director, Community Youth Services
2009 recipients
Lifetime Achievement Award
James A. Milgard, Executive Vice President, Milgard Windows and Doors
Business Leader of the Year
William Matthaei, CEO and Director, Roman Meal Company
Small Business Leader of the Year
Brian Forth, President and Founder, SiteCrafting, Inc.
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
David Ottey, Director, Emergency Food Network
2008 recipients
Business Leader of the Year
Michael A. Tucci, Chairman of the Board, Tucci & Sons
Small Business Leader of the Year
Ben I. Pentecost, Co-owner, Rickabaugh Pentecost Development, LLC
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
George Cargill, Chairman of the Board, United Service Organization of the Puget Sound Area
2007 recipients
Lifetime Achievement Award
George H. Weyerhaeuser, Retired, Weyerhaeuser
Business Leader of the Year
Ray Tennison, President, Simpson Investment Company
Small Business Leader of the Year
Joe Stortini, President, Joeseppi's Italian Restaurant, Deli, and Catering
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
Bob Ecklund, President and CEO, YMCA of Tacoma-Pierce County
2006 recipients
Business Leader of the Year
Dan Absher, President, Absher Construction Company
Small Business Leader of the Year
Michael L. Miller, President, Rice Fergus Miller Architecture and Planning
Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year
Terry A. Hayes, CEO, Tacoma Goodwill Industries
2004 recipients
Lifetime Achievement Award
Bill Philip, Retired CEO, Columbia Bank
Business Leader of the Year
Robert Magee, Chairman, American Shipping Group, Inc.
2003 recipients
Lifetime Achievement Award
Fred Haley, Chairman-Emeritus, Brown & Haley, Inc.
Business Leader of the Year
Don Johnson, Vice President and General Manager, Simpson Tacoma Kraft
Rising Star Award
Thaddeus Martin IV, Partner, Gordon Thomas Honeywell Malanca Peterson & Daheim
Leadership Award
Melanie Dressel, President and CEO, Columbia Bank
John A. Hall, President and CEO, Rainier Pacific Bank
Andrea Riniker, Executive Director, Port of Tacoma
Randy Rushforth, CEO, Rushforth Construction Co.
Linda Thomas, Executive Director, Gordon Thomas Honeywell Malanca Peterson & Daheim
Janeanne Upp, CEO, Tacoma Art Museum
2002 recipients
Lifetime Achievement Award
Gary Milgard, Chairman, Milgard Manufacturing Inc.
Business Leader of the Year
Mark Crisson, Director of Utilities, City of Tacoma and CEO, Tacoma Public Utilities
Rising Star Award
Josi Callan, Founding Director, Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art
Leadership Award
Donald R. Anderson, President, Washington Architectural Hardware
David Graybill, President and CEO, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Ross Hjelseth, Headmaster, Life Christian School and Academy
Jeffrey S. Lyon, President and CEO, GVA Kidder Mathews
David Morris, CEO, Dillanos Coffee Roasters and Atomic Distributing
Tom Seigel, Superintendent, Bethel School District
Mike Wallingford, Vice President and Regional Manager, Wells Fargo
2001 recipients
Lifetime Achievement Award
George Russell, Chairman of the Board, Frank Russell Co.
Business Leader of the Year
Bruce Greene, General Manager, Advanced Tel-Com Group
Rising Star Award
Janine Terrano, President, Business Internet Services
Leadership Award
Rick Allen, President, United Way of Pierce County
Joe Guizzetti, General Manager and CEO, Buffelen Woodworking
Chuck Miller, President and CEO, Bratrud Middleton Insurance
Clare Petrich, Owner, Petrich Marine Dock LLC
Mark Rake-Marona, Director, Franciscan Health System Hospice Program
David Senner, Owner, Abolins Inc.
Juli Wilkerson, Director, Tacoma Economic Development Department
