Over 450 Attend 50th Birthday Bash Event

10 Alumni Honored with Charles Lamden Rising Stars of Business Award

On March 8, the College of Business Administration held its 50th Birthday Bash at the House of Blues. Over 450 guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, an open bar and live music by Sue Palmer and Her Motel Swing Orchestra.
           
During the event, 10 alumni were awarded the inaugural Charles Lamden Rising Stars of Business Award. Honorees graduated within the past 15 years and were selected as the top rising stars in the business community. Gail Naughton, Dean of CBA, presented the awards while emcee, NBC’s Kimberly King, introduced the recipients to the audience.

“The success of our 50th Birthday Bash truly illustrates the connection our students, both past and present, have had with the college,” said Gail Naughton, dean of the CBA. “It was truly a memorable evening for everyone in attendance and a wonderful way to honor the accomplishments of our up-and-coming alumni.”

The Charles Lamden Rising Stars of Business Awards were named in honor of Dr. Lamden who began his career at SDSU as a professor of Accounting in 1946. From 1950 to 1951 he served as chair of the Accounting and Management Department. In 1954, he became the first dean of the CBA and served until 1965. After leaving SDSU to work in the private sector, Dr. Lamden returned as professor from 1977 to 1991. Members of the Lamden family, including his widow, Trudy, were in attendance during the event to see Dr. Lamden’s legacy honored.

The 10 Rising Stars honorees are:

• John Crisafulli (’92, Finance), president of Behind the Scenes catering;

• Brian Dunphy (’95, Accounting), director of business development of Qualcomm;

• Mike Erwin (’91, Finance; ’98, MBA), a broker specializing in industrial property at Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial;

• Toby Gaerin (’91, Management), senior loan officer at The Corky McMillin Companies;

• Kirk Imamura (96, EMBA), president of Avatar Studios and 411 Records in Manhattan;

• Christopher Kozo (’04, MBA), associate vice president of investments of Wachovia Securities;

• Jaime Mautz (’00, MBA), president and co-founder of Pacific Ink, Inc.;

• Dina Maxwell (’00, MBA), business systems analyst of Union Bank of California;

• Christine Shimasaki (’00, EMBA), executive vice president of sales and marketing of San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau; and

• Jim Wade (’92, Finance), Vice President of Comerica Bank.

To see photos from the event and read more about each of the Rising Stars honorees, visit www.sdsu.edu/bizbirthday.

email: business@sdsu.edu