alumni awards

Outstanding Alumnus: Assemblyman Jose Medina ’74

kmcnally — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 23:11:19 +0000

Outstanding Alumnus: Assemblyman Jose Medina ’74 kmcnally Mon, 01/14/2019 - 15:11 More Blog Posts January 14, 2019 Riverside, Ca

Assemblymember Jose Medina ’74, MA ’84 was presented with the UCR School of Business “2017 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award,” by Yunzeng Wang, Dean of the UCR School of Business.

The award was presented to Assemblymember Medina after his guest lecture to a packed auditorium of business students in Professor Raj Singh’s Organizational Behavior class. Assemblymember Medina outlined to the class his professional journey from university to becoming Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education.

He spoke of the campaigns he had run in the past, that did not succeed. Then he spoke of his determination to keep trying, and he was successful in future campaigns. He shared with the class what he believes to be key traits to a fulfilling life; persevere and follow your passion.

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Maurice Kenner ’16 MBA, West Point USMA Commander

kmcnally — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 23:06:59 +0000

Maurice Kenner ’16 MBA, West Point USMA Commander kmcnally Mon, 01/14/2019 - 15:06 More Blog Posts January 14, 2019 Riverside, Ca

After a very selective process, Maurice Kenner MBA ’16 was chosen to become the next regional commander of admissions for the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Captain Kenner is eager to apply business knowledge learned at UCR School of Business in his new assignment where he will be helping to strengthen the country’s Army by selecting the best candidates to be our future military leaders. Captain Kenner aspires to rise through the Army’s ranks, one day earning the rank of General.

“Taking classes spanning from finance to business to management will help me be a top level officer in today’s army, using business techniques and theory to advance our nation’s men and women in uniform,” said Kenner. Maurice Kenner earned his MBA at the UCR School of Business A. Gary Anderson

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Chris Lam ’91, San Francisco Times' “40 Under 40”

kmcnally — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 23:05:26 +0000

Chris Lam ’91, San Francisco Times' “40 Under 40” kmcnally Mon, 01/14/2019 - 15:05 More Blog Posts January 14, 2019 Riverside, Ca

Chris Lam ’91, Named In Top “40 Under 40” by San Francisco Business Times

Chris Lam, the President and CEO of Pucci Foods, is recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the “40 under 40” for his success at Pucci Foods, a wholesale seafood distribution company.

Just seven years after graduating with his MBA, and working his way up the ranks in the seafood industry, he took a gamble and mortgaged his house to purchase the 98-year-old Pucci Foods. He was only 33 at the time.

In 2016, Lam shook up the highly traditional seafood industry by merging his business into the tech world with the addition of an online next-day seafood delivery service. Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and a Bachelor of Art in Economics (BA) from University of California Riverside. He earned his MBA from California State University, San Bernardino.

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Chester Yang ’92 Speaks at Business Commencement

kmcnally — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 23:00:25 +0000

Chester Yang ’92 Speaks at Business Commencement kmcnally Mon, 01/14/2019 - 15:00 More Blog Posts January 14, 2019 Riverside, Ca

Chester Yang ’92 Speaks at UCR School of Business Commencement 2017

The University of California, Riverside School of Business welcomed international business powerhouse and alumnus, Chester T. Yang, as their 2017 School of Business Commencement Speaker.

The ceremony, held on campus, brought together graduates, families, faculty, and staff to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating class. Having an alumnus of Yang’s stature return to address students underscored the values of leadership, perseverance, and community that are central to the School of Business mission.

Chester T. Yang, ’92 alumnus, is the CEO of Bunge China and oversees Bunge Asia Operations for Bunge Limited, a $60 billion company. Headquartered in New York, Bunge Limited is a global agribusiness and foods company with more than 47,000 employees in over 50 countries. His leadership in this role has not only influenced the growth of a multinational company but has also positioned him as an example of the global impact UC Riverside alumni can make in their careers.

Mr. Yang is not only a leader in the agricultural business in China, but also an agent of change through his philanthropic work. He transformed a primary school in an impoverished community in a rural part of China that carries his father’s namesake, Shangrao Wang Yang Lin Hope Primary School, in Jiangxi. He not only provided water, power, desks and chairs, he raised teaching salaries, changed the curriculum, and used his business connections with Lenovo to bring in the latest learning technology. His work in this area demonstrated that leadership extends beyond the corporate sphere and into service that directly improves lives.

“We turned a little school that was in the middle of nowhere into the top tech elementary and middle school in the Jiangxi province,” Yang says. “Even though these kids came from uneducated families, every year our students would rank in the top 3 in the Chinese national exams within the municipality.”

His academic background reflects his commitment to lifelong learning and excellence. Chester has a PhD in Law from the China University of Political Science and Law, an MBA from Rutgers University, State University of New Jersey, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California at Riverside. He has also completed Executive Leadership Programs with the Management and Business Schools of Harvard University and Washington University. This combination of global academic experience has helped shape him into a versatile and forward-thinking leader.

Prior to joining Bunge, Chester worked for Cargill Inc. for 14 years across various locations in management and merchandising positions in the USA and China. Before joining Cargill, Chester worked for Kleinwort Benson PLC in New York, London, and Hong Kong, in both corporate finance and equities. This international trajectory gave him insight into diverse business cultures and practices, preparing him for the challenges of leading a major agribusiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Chester T. Yang’s exemplifies the School of Business’ mission to create world-class leaders that also manage and sustain opportunities for growth in their community,” Dean Yunzeng Wang explains. “We are honored to have our alumnus return to the university to inspire the next generation as they embark on their journey after graduation.”

For the graduating class of 2017, Yang’s message was more than a keynote address; it was a powerful reminder that success is defined not only by professional milestones but also by the impact one has on others. His journey from UC Riverside to global leadership served as inspiration for graduates to embrace opportunities, remain resilient in the face of challenges, and give back to the communities that shape them.

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David Gutierrez ’04

kmcnally — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:53:00 +0000

David Gutierrez ’04 kmcnally Mon, 01/14/2019 - 14:53 More Blog Posts January 14, 2019 Riverside, Ca

David Gutierrez ’04 Receives Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

Presented to alumni 35 years and younger with a significant record of career and/or civic achievement and promise in their profession.

David Gutierrez has over a decade of experience working with Fortune 500 as well as early stage, high-growth companies as a trusted finance and accounting leader. David is the corporate controller for Radiology Partners, the largest hospital based radiology physician practice in the country.

He also manages GA Investment Holdings and actively invests in entrepreneurial businesses, including Convoy Technologies, an international technology company based in Orange County that was recently recognized by the Inc 5000 and the OC Business Journal as one of the fastest growing companies.
David is also Partner at Gutierrez & Anderson, a boutique business advisory and accounting firm providing services to clients throughout Southern California.

David is committed to the community, serving on the board of directors of the Bresee Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles that helps low-income youth, adults and families, as well as the Youth Business Alliance, an organization focused on connecting high school students with real
experiences of local business leaders.

He remains active on campus at the University of California Riverside as an active mentor to students and guest lecturer. In addition, David serves as a member the Dean’s Advisory Council for the A. Gary Anderson School of Management, at the University of California Riverside School of Business.

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