Ten Graduates to Be Honored

Cleveland State University’s Distinguished Alumni Awards program will celebrate its 26th anniversary on Friday, September 30, by honoring 10 outstanding graduates for their service, leadership and career achievements. This year’s honorees are: Annette G. Butler, David J. Fornari, Zachary G. Green, James D. Heckelman, Bonnie E. Raquet, Susan L. Tullai-McGuinness, Ann M. Frangos, Grace Gallucci, Kenneth C. Ricci, and Krista G. Freeman.

“CSU has an amazing group of alumni, now living all over the world, who have made and continue to make significant contributions to all areas of society,” notes Ronald M. Berkman, President of Cleveland State. “Our honorees for the 26^th annual Distinguished Alumni Awards exemplify the passion, dedication and impact that is a hallmark of a CSU alum.”

The awards ceremony will be held at the Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Center, 2000 Prospect Ave. Tickets are $125. The evening includes a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards program at 6:30 p.m. Valet parking is included. For reservations, call 216-687-2078.

The 2016 honorees are:

George B. Davis Award for Service to the University

Annette G. Butler, JD ’70, has been the Assistant Director of Law for the City of Cleveland since 2014. Her career also includes service as an Equal Opportunity Specialist for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare’s Office of Civil Rights; associate attorney with the law firm Guren, Merritt, Sogg and Cohen; 24 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office; hearing officer with the Cuyahoga County Board of Revision, and Judge on the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Butler was a member of the University’s Board of Trustees from 1982-1989, followed by 23 years as a member of the Cleveland State University Foundation Board of Directors. She remains active with the Foundation as an Emeritus Director. She lives in Cleveland.

College Awards

Monte Ahuja College of Business

David J. Fornari, BBA ’76 and MBA ’80, retired from Deloitte Consulting LLP after 31 years, including 22 years as an Energy Consulting partner with 10 years as the Global or U.S. Energy and Resources Consulting Leader. As a Deloitte Eminence Fellow, he was a frequent speaker and author on energy and resources strategy and management. He lives in Kirtland Hills.

College of Education and Human Services

Zachary G. Green, MEd ’83, is a professor of practice, leadership studies at the University of San Diego, and an executive coach with the World Bank Group. A clinical psychologist, he specializes in systems analysis and strategy, organizational transformation, leadership development, and crisis intervention. He lives in San Diego. 

Washkewicz College of Engineering

James D. Heckelman, BSEE’62, is the founder of Dan-Mar Company, Inc. in Norwalk, Ohio. As president and chief executive officer for over 40 years, he led the firm in developing custom electronic products for the medical, automotive, military, mining and automotive industries. He holds nine patents. He lives in Norwalk.

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Bonnie E. Raquet, MA ‘73, served as Corporate Vice President, Corporate Affairs, at Cargill, Incorporated in Minneapolis from 2000 until her retirement in 2011. She led operations in 60-plus countries, including government relations, media, communications, brand management, marketing services and corporate responsibility. She joined Cargill in 1982. She lives in Williamsburg, Virginia. 

School of Nursing 

Susan L. Tullai-McGuinness, BSN ’86 and MPA ’90, retired from Case Western Reserve University in 2013 as an associate professor but continues to teach there and at Breen School of Nursing at Ursuline College. Her career includes working as a public health nurse, teen project coordinator for Family Planning of Lake County, an administrator of the Visiting Nurse Association of Cleveland’s private duty program, and positions with University Hospitals’ Home Health Agency. She lives in Painesville Township. 

College of Sciences and Health Professions

Ann M. Frangos, MS ‘77, retired from AT&T as Assistant Vice President – Credit and Collections, where she was responsible for accounts receivable management for commercial accounts worldwide. She oversaw operations in seven call centers across the United States and in three international centers in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and India. She lives in Westlake

Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs

Grace Gallucci, MSUS ‘04, has been the Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) since July 2012. Her career also includes 15 years with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, including five years as Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget. She lives in Cleveland. 

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law 

Kenneth C. Ricci, JD ’86, is a Principal of Directional Aviation Capital. He was named one the most influential people in aviation by Aviation International News and in 2015, received the Aviation Week Laureate Award, recognizing his innovation in aircraft remanufacturing. He is an Arizona resident,

Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors College

Krista G. Freeman, BS ’11, is studying for a Ph.D. in physics at Carnegie Mellon University. Her interdisciplinary research in physical virology has brought her to laboratories in Sweden and Switzerland and to the 2015 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting which brought together 70 Nobel Laureates with 672 young scientists from 88 countries.

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