Alumni Accolades & Accomplishments

 

 

All the President's Men (and Women)

 

President Barack Obama appointed two Haas alumni and one professor to two influential advisory panels this year.

 

Adobe Systems CEO Shantanu Narayen, MBA 93, was appointed to the President's Management Advisory Board, which held its first meeting March 11. The advisory board's mission is to provide advice on how to implement best business practices on matters related to federal government management and operation.

Meanwhile, Intel CEO Paul Otellini, MBA 74, and Prof. Laura Tyson were appointed to the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, which met for the first time in February. The council is focused on finding new ways to promote growth through investments in American business in order to help the U.S. labor market.

 

Prof. Carl Shapiro also was confirmed this spring as one of two members of the president's Council of Economic Advisers.

 

 

 

Three Young Grads Honored at Gala

 

The Cal Alumni Association awarded the Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement by a Young Alumnus to three Haas graduates at its annual gala in April: Victor Pineda, BS 03, MCP 06 (City Planning), and Kristin Richmond and Kirsten Tobey, both MBA 06.

 

Pineda was honored for helping to educate and inspire disabled young people to overcome their challenges. Since founding the Victor Pineda Foundation in his dorm room in 2002, he has been steering his wheelchair away from preconceptions and limitations and making it his life's work to help others do the same.

 

By mobilizing partnerships with UNICEF and others, Pineda has been able to put over $1.6 million towards educating and inspiring youth with disabilities, particularly in the Middle East. His World Enabled Initiative has even been recognized by the United Nations.

 

Richmond and Tobey were recognized for launching a new movement to provide fresh, affordable, healthy foods in public schools.

 

The pair launched their venture, Revolution Foods, as Haas students. A few months after receiving their MBAs, they won the grand prize in the 2007 Global Social Venture Competition.

 

After starting in three California schools, Revolution Foods expanded to currently serve more than 40,000 student in several states. Richmond serves as CEO of the Oakland-based company and Tobey is chief innovation officer.

 

 

 

Let There Be Lanterns

 

Question: What do underwear, Haiti, lanterns, and Bill Clinton have in common?

 

Answer: Jeff Denby and Jason Kibbey, MBA 08, the founders of PACT Underwear, an organic underwear company that gives 10 percent of its revenue to social causes.

 

Earlier this year, PACT sent 750 solar-powered lanterns to Haiti, purchased with proceeds from the company's Winter Lights Collection.

 

The effort drew fan mail from high places. In a letter to PACT, former President Bill Clinton quipped, "What a creative way to make a difference!" Praising the company for focusing on sustainability, Clinton added, "Keep up the good work!"