Trulaske College of Business awards Citations of Merit to alumni and partners
The University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business awarded Alumni Citations of Merit and Special Citations of Merit during its annual Honors Dinner in April. Recipients were selected by a vote of the entire faculty of the college and were chosen based on their professional accomplishments, engagement with the college, and financial support of the institution.
“The Trulaske College of Business continues to be one of the top business schools in the nation,” said Balaji Rajagopalan, Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. Dean of the Trulaske College of Business. “Our success is a reflection of alumni, partners and supporters like this year’s Citations of Merit honorees, who continue to drive us in our pursuit of excellence.”
Recipients of Trulaske’s 2026 Alumni Citation of Merit Award
HIS EXCELLENCY MOHAMMED AL-SOWAIDI, BSBA ’04
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
QIA
His Excellency Mohammed Al-Sowaidi was appointed as chief executive officer of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) in November 2024, bringing over 19 years’ experience in global investments and financial strategy.
Directly prior to his role of CEO, His Excellency Mohammed Al-Sowaidi served as QIA's chief investment officer for the Americas and spent five years as head of QIA Advisory in New York since establishment.
Since joining QIA in 2010, His Excellency Mohammed Al-Sowaidi has also led various teams including the Private Equity Funds team, Technology, Media & Telecoms team and Industrials team. Before joining QIA, His Excellency Mohammed Al-Sowaidi was director of Corporate Banking at Masraf Al-Rayan. His Excellency Mohammed Al-Sowaidi started his career at ExxonMobil in Qatar. He currently holds several board roles both globally and in Qatar, including at Qatar National Bank, Qatar Airways Group, Ooredoo, Volkswagen and Harrods.
In addition to being a CFA Charterholder, His Excellency Mohammed Al-Sowaidi holds an executive MBA from the TRIUM Program and bachelor’s degrees in statistics and finance from the University of Missouri.
LEON BACKES, BSBA ’79
FOUNDER & CEO
PROVIDENT
After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1979, Leon Backes moved to Texas to begin his career in commercial real estate. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, he formed his first real estate firm just three years later and, in 1991, founded Provident, a Dallas-based real estate development and investment firm, with a focus on acquiring distressed assets from failed banks and savings and loans during a period of significant market disruption.
Under Leon’s leadership, Provident grew into a highly respected real estate development and investment firm, building a diversified portfolio valued at more than $7.5 billion. Over the past three decades, the firm has developed and invested across a broad range of property types, including data centers, master-planned communities, hospitality, industrial, and multifamily, reflecting a disciplined approach to opportunity, risk, and long-term value creation.
Leon’s career is marked by his ability to identify opportunity in challenging environments and to build lasting platforms for growth. In recognition of his contributions to the industry, he was inducted into the North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame in 2021. Leon resides in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Jane.
RICHARD KOCHANEK, PHD ’72
PROFESSOR EMERITUS
THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
Richard Kochanek is an emeritus professor in the accounting department at The University of Connecticut. He received his BBA and MBA from the University of Massachusetts and his PhD from the University of Missouri in 1972. He joined the faculty at The University of Connecticut in 1972 and retired in December 2015. During his 43 years at UConn, Dick was promoted to full professor of accounting, served as department head in accounting, and also served as an associate dean in the Business School. His favorite teaching responsibility was teaching the Intro to Financial Accounting course in mass sections of more than 250 students. Dick taught over 1,000 students each year. His teaching ratings were always at the highest level.
GEORGE LUCAS, BSBA, MBA AND PHD
A Kansas City, Missouri native, Dr. George Lucas received his bachelor’s degree from Mizzou and subsequently served in multiple field sales positions. He returned to Mizzou, completing his MBA and PhD in Business Administration – Marketing. His teaching and research career began at Texas A&M University and continued at the University of Memphis, where he helped launch the first MBA level curriculum in B-to-B negotiation skills.
In 2013, Dr. Lucas joined Baker Growth Specialists, LLC, where he served as the firm’s president and chief learning officer. From 2019 to 2023 he served Fred C. Church as the organization’s director of Business Development.
George is author and co-author of several successful books, including “The One Minute Negotiator “with Don Hutson; a New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today International Best Seller. Based on this book, he launched Mastering Negotiation Skills, a four-course/34-chapter interactive learning experience produced and hosted by USLearningVT. He is also featured in the audio series, “The 17 Biblical Principles of Success,” with his topic being courage. In fall 2025 he was honored by receiving The Herbert J. Davenport Society recognition for service to the Trulaske College of Business.
He and his wife Kelly live in Winchester, Tennessee. He has two grown sons and two grown stepsons. He enjoys serving in his role in leadership for Gideons International, community service, travel, writing, and helping people advance the success in all aspects of their lives.
JENNY RAMSEY, BS ACC/M ACC ’00
PARTNER
PWC
Jenny Ramsey is a partner at PwC with more than two decades of experience serving Asset & Wealth Management (AWM) clients. She began her career with PwC in Kansas City in 2000 and later transferred to Los Angeles in 2008, where she continued to serve AWM clients before returning to Kansas City in 2010. She was admitted to the partnership in 2014.
Jenny specializes in serving a diverse range of clients, with particular expertise in SEC-registered products, including mutual funds, ETFs, and business development companies. Her experience also spans corporate asset managers, private equity funds, and hedge funds, working with organizations ranging from start-up managers to global, multi-billion-dollar firms.
In addition to her client service work, Jenny is a partner in PwC’s Trust Solutions Chief Auditor Network, supporting audit quality initiatives and identifying emerging technical matters. She also leads the PwC Kansas City Women’s Inclusion Network and serves as Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of Hope House.
Jenny earned both her BS Acc and M Acc from the University of Missouri–Columbia. She is a Certified Public Accountant in Missouri and California and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri CPA Society.
DAVID WASINGER, BS ACC ’85
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
STATE OF MISSOURI
David Wasinger was elected Missouri’s 49th Lieutenant Governor in 2024. A lifelong Missourian raised in Hannibal, he credits his upbringing with instilling the values of faith, hard work, and service.
A proud graduate of the University of Missouri–Columbia, Wasinger attended Mizzou on a merit-based Curators’ Scholarship and earned an accounting degree from the Trulaske College of Business. His time at Mizzou laid the foundation for his leadership and commitment to public service. He later earned his CPA and a law degree from Vanderbilt University.
David later joined a small firm that became Wasinger Daming in Brentwood, Missouri, where he specialized in business law with a clear focus on defending the interests of Main Street, directly benefiting hard-working Missourians and others around the country.
He previously served on the University of Missouri Board of Curators, helping guide the future of the state’s flagship university system.
A lifelong Tigers fan, he remains committed to expanding opportunity for Missouri students and families. He and his wife, Colleen, have two sons.
Recipients of Trulaske’s 2026 Special Citation of Merit Award
ED CLARK
PRESIDENT & CEO
COLIBRI GROUP AND BECKER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Ed Clark serves as president for the Accounting & Financial Services ecosystem at Colibri (Becker Professional Education and Colibri’s Financial Services brands OnCourse Learning, Securities Training Corporation, Boston Institute of Finance, and XCEL) and is based in New Orleans.
Ed is a senior executive with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, P&L management, strategic planning, sales, marketing, and operations. Ed’s portfolio of professional education and software businesses consistently demonstrated high employee engagement, as well as market growth and improved earnings.
Ed joined Colibri Group in 2019 after a 26-year career at Kaplan. At Colibri, he has led businesses across the Accounting and Financial Services education landscape, with a focus on delivering first-class learning experiences and measurable outcomes for professionals and enterprise partners. In his current role, Ed is accountable for setting ecosystem strategy and priorities; aligning product, technology, sales, marketing, and operations around the end-to-end learner and customer experience; and ensuring the portfolio of exam review, continuing education, and skills training solutions (including CPA, CMA, EA, CIA and financial services licensure and CE offerings across Securities, CFP, Insurance, Mortgage, GRC and Bank Compliance) delivers quality, engagement, and growth. Ed earned higher education degrees in accounting, marketing, finance, and business from Loyola University New Orleans.
Ed and his wife Angela have three adult children, Kingsley, Tommy, and Camille, and his new grandson, Clark. Ed loves to fish, sail, travel, and cook. On any given early Saturday morning you’re likely to find Ed with a fishing pole in his hand. Ed was born and raised in New Orleans and he, Angela and their three children spent 13 years living in northwest Atlanta, then three years in Manhattan.
JEANNE DALBA
PRESIDENT
ROBERT J. TRULASKE, JR. FAMILY FOUNDATION
As president of the Robert J. Trulaske, Jr. Family Foundation, Jeanne Dalba’s primary focus is carrying forward her father’s philanthropic vision.
Jeanne holds degrees in fine art and art History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following college, she worked at a St. Louis-based art gallery. At the same time, Jeanne served on committees for nonprofit arts organizations such as the Kemper Museum and the Saint Louis Art Museum.
Since 2008, Jeanne has overseen the distribution of $20,000,000 in grants; the majority of these funds have supported programs in Missouri. On an ongoing basis the Family Foundation evaluates and addresses a wide range of environmental and community-based needs. Over time, the Family Foundation has established itself as a leader in natural resource conservation in Missouri. Recognition has included the Land Conservancy Award from the Open Space Council of St. Louis and the Greensfelder Award from the Missouri Botanical Garden. A secondary focus area for the foundation is the preservation of historic buildings in St. Louis. Ranging from the Campbell House Museum to The Muny, this funding area has fostered the successful completion of dozens of projects and protected beautiful examples of St. Louis’ architectural history.
Since its inception, the Family Foundation has championed St. Louis Life, an independent living program serving adults with developmental disabilities. Approximately 25% of the foundation’s total grants have funded capital improvements and programs at St. Louis Life.
Throughout her life, Jeanne has enjoyed visiting the University of Missouri-Columbia where she has attended sporting events with her family. She will always be a Tiger.
RYAN KENNEY
AGENCY SALES LEADER – MISSOURI CENTRAL EAST TERRITORY
STATE FARM INSURANCE
Ryan Kenney has dedicated over 27 years to State Farm Insurance, holding a variety of roles including auto underwriting team leader, agent, agency field consultant, developmental agency field executive, and agency sales leader for the Missouri-Central East Territory.
Throughout his career, Ryan has received numerous honors at State Farm, including ranking as the #7 New Agent and the #1 Developmental Agency Field Executive nationally. He has qualified for the Ambassador Club program 22 consecutive times due to his leadership in financial services sales. Additionally, he has earned the Senior Vice President’s Club award eight times and the Chairman’s Circle award twice.
He has been actively involved with the university, serving on the Personal Financial Planning Department Advisory Board. In 2012, he began working with the Marketing Department by coaching students in the State Farm Sales & Marketing Competition and now serves on the Center for Sales & Customer Development Advisory Board. He has showcased his musical talents through lead roles in the Mizzou Summer Repertory Program in 2022 and 2023. Ryan has also managed the distribution of over $1.2 million in philanthropic support from the State Farm Companies Foundation to Mizzou.
Ryan and his wife Kimberly live in Columbia, Missouri. They are proud parents of three children: Lucas, a Culinary Arts student in Overland Park, Kansas; Emerson, a senior at Hickman High School and incoming vocal music performance major at Mizzou; and Adler, a freshman at Hickman High School who also enjoys performing.
KEN KOSKAY
HEAD OF GLOBAL SALES (RETIRED), BECKER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
SENIOR VP AND GENERAL MANAGER, LEARNING SOLUTIONS, THOMSON REUTERS TAX & ACCOUNTING
Ken is the former head of global sales at Becker Professional Education and senior vice president and general manager, Learning Solutions, for Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting. During Koskay’s tenure at Becker he launched multiple successful product lines and grew revenues by double digits annually. While at Thomson Reuters, Koskay and his team created the largest for-profit CPE provider in the United States. Koskay and his team were also credited for the innovative strategy and development of the leading online training platform for CPAs. Koskay was recognized with a successful patent for the Checkpoint Learning platform in 2017.
Koskay is a CPA and CFP with decades of accounting, tax, financial planning, and business consulting experience both in public practice, ownership of his own tax planning and financial planning practice and with Thomson Reuters. During his 23-year tenure with Thomson Reuters, Koskay served in a number of executive roles including head of new market development and senior vice president / general manager of the Learning Solutions business and its tax value segment of products.
Ken is married and has two adult sons. He enjoys physical exercise, bourbon, poker and is an avid sports fan.
KIRK RIMER, BA ’80
EXECUTIVE MANAGING DIRECTOR
CRESSET
Kirk serves as an executive managing director at Cresset. In this role, he collaborates closely with clients to gain a deep understanding of their personal and financial aspirations, offering tailored solutions that effectively address their needs.
In 2024, Cresset acquired CH Investment Partners, where Kirk served as co-president and oversaw the Partner Advisory and Operations teams. He played an integral role in helping develop the firm’s investment strategy and in expanding its partner base since founding the firm in 2011. Kirk previously spent 21 years at Goldman Sachs where he worked with individual investors and corporations, with a focus on risk management and equity investments.
He served as managing director and Southwest regional manager for the Private Wealth Management Division. Prior to that, Kirk spent nine years as a naval aviator for the United States Navy.
Kirk serves on the executive board of Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business and is a member of the university’s endowment investment committee. In 2025, he joined the board of Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper Bottling Company. Kirk is also a former senior trustee of Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Kirk received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri in 1980 and an MBA from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School 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.