UAB’s National Alumni Society, in partnership with the Birmingham Business Journal, has presented the inaugural UAB Excellence in Business Top 25 awards to firms owned or operated by university alumni.
UAB President Ray Watts was keynote speaker for the Friday, March 8, awards luncheon held at the UAB Alumni House to identify, recognize and celebrate the success of these graduates of the university. Andy Wallace of the Alumni Affairs staff emceed the event, and National Alumni Society President Brandy Lee (1996 master of accounting) welcomed and congratulated all of the recipients before introducing Watts.
“The truest testament to a university’s success is the success of its graduates, and you all do UAB very proud,” Watts told the group. “You are exemplars of that entrepreneurial spirit that’s in the very DNA of this institution – and that we continue to foster campus wide.”
Watts told the business executives receiving the awards that they are an inspiration to current UAB students who are looking to translate their education, no matter the field, into rewarding business careers. He also praised the contributions they make to UAB, the Greater Birmingham community and beyond.
“Your success is helping spur economic growth for our community, state and nation,” Watts said. “You are helping to generate revenues and jobs amid uncertainty, and helping Alabama and the United States remain competitive in an increasingly global, knowledge-based marketplace.”
The top three fastest-growing businesses among the honorees also were recognized. Each company was required to submit certified annual revenues that could be calculated to determine the cumulative annual growth rate over a three-year period, and each was presented with a crystal star signifying its achievements.
Read more about those being honored.
