Herbert J. Davenport Society welcomes new members

The Herbert J. Davenport Society met to induct new members during a special celebration Sept. 26 at the Country Club of Missouri. The event was held in conjunction with Mizzou’s annual Homecoming weekend.

Founded in 1989, the Davenport Society works to ensure the continued preeminence of the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business. Since its establishment, Davenport has grown to 1,178 members who have contributed more than $195 million in support of the college and its programs. 

During the 2025 Davenport Society dinner, the organization inducted 13 new members (see end of article for full bios): Jeremy Baker, Jeff Dietrich, Chad and Liz Gorsuch, Dr. George H. Lucas, Mark Prouhet, Mike and Kim Rogers, Tony and Valerie Spratte, Chris and Brooke Tucker, and Allyson Witherspoon.

The Davenport Society also recognized several advancing members, including Paul and Lynn Ann Vogel, Steven Lanham, Steven and Lisa Trulaske, Don and Shea Walsworth, Jeffrey and Martine Gray, Doug and Kelly McHoney, Karen O’Connor Corrigon on behalf of O’Connor Insurance, and Gregory Rottjakob.

Balaji Rajagopalan, Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. Dean of the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business, updated members on the college’s continued success.

“In the last two years, Trulaske has seen the incoming undergraduate class rise by 26%, the first-year retention at 92% (its highest since 2009), MBA enrollment up 15%, and the business minor up 10%,” Rajagopalan said. “And I am excited to announce that Trulaske broke into the top 50 public business schools in the country at number 40, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report ranking.”

Rajagopalan said that while the momentum at the Trulaske College of Business is unmistakable, the true mark of the college’s success isn’t external accolades, but rather its transformative power in the lives of students.

“Whether a student comes from Bowling Green, Moberly or Springfield, Missouri; Madison, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Baltimore, Maryland; whether they come from families with little means or they are the first in their generation to go to college; or they have traveled across the world from Serbia to attend Trulaske, as our Chess Grandmaster, Luka did; our obsession is with their success,” he said.

Chuck Hutchins, BSAcc ’84, served as chair of this year’s Davenport Society. Special guests at this year’s event included University of Missouri President Mun Choi, UM Curator and Board Chair Robin Wenneker, Vice Chancellor for Advancement Chris Smith, John Bechtold and family, and Jeanne Trulaske Dalba and family.

Student hosts helped greet guests and introduced the inductees. They included Autumn Barber, Ian Gariss, Connor D. Grossenburg, Claire Guillemot, Donovan Herrion, Ashlyn Hicks, Christian Kronk, Zoie Lee, Chase McQueary, Matthew Micek, Aebra Parker, Neel Patel, Alex J. Sanderson and Hasanjon Sherbadalov.

The celebration concluded with a fireworks display by the Bechtolds and Spirit of ’76 fireworks.

New member bios

Jeremy Baker: A graduate of the University of Missouri, Jeremy serves as senior vice president and head of product management for Omnium Platform Services at Northern Trust. His leadership reflects a strong focus on innovation, service, and efficiency in the evolving investment management industry.

Jeff Dietrich: Jeff is a partner in BPM’s assurance practice in Irvine, California, bringing nearly 25 years of experience serving clients in industries ranging from aerospace and defense to retail and consumer products. Prior to joining BPM, he was a partner at PwC, serving in multiple U.S. offices.

Chad Gorsuch: Chad graduated from Mizzou in 1996 with BAs in economics and statistics and serves as managing director and the head of real estate investment banking for Stifel. Liz graduated from Mizzou in 1997 with a BS in communication science and disorders from the School of Health-Related Professions and works as an SLP.

Dr. George H. Lucas, PhD: For more than 30 years, Dr. George H. Lucas, PhD has advised companies and associations worldwide on sales, negotiation, and leadership development, most recently serving as director of business development at Fred C. Church Insurance in Lowell, Massachusetts. Lucas earned his bachelor’s, MBA, and PhD in business administration from Mizzou, and has authored and co-authored numerous books and articles.

Mark Prouhet: Mark graduated from the University of Missouri in 2001 and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy. He currently serves as assurance quality leader for the St. Louis and Decatur offices of Forvis Mazars.

Mike and Kim Rogers: Mike Rogers founded Valued Pharmacy Services in 2007 and served as chief strategy officer until his retirement. Kim earned her degree in fashion merchandising and has dedicated time to charitable service with World Pediatrics and Colton’s Cause.

Tony and Valerie Spratte: Tony is a member of the Commercial Products Practice and serves as the managing partner of the St. Louis and Central Illinois Forvis Mazars practice. 

Chris and Brooke Tucker: Chris Tucker graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in accountancy and has served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of ESCO Technologies since 2021. Brooke is also a proud Mizzou alum and graduated in 1994 with a degree in textile and apparel management. 

Allyson Witherspoon: Allyson Witherspoon graduated from Mizzou with a degree in business administration and serves as chief marketing officer and global brand advisor for Nissan Motor Corporation. Widely recognized as a leader in the automotive industry, Witherspoon was named “Automotive Marketer of the Year” by “MediaPost” and honored as a Global Leading Woman by “Ad Age.” 

The Davenport Society was formed to encourage private participation in the support and development of the college, and its membership is dedicated to securing the future of the Trulaske College of Business. 

Mizzou’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business prepares students for success as global citizens, business leaders, scholars, innovators and entrepreneurs by providing access to transformative technologies, offering experience-centered learning opportunities and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.