The UConn School of Business Hall of Fame ceremony offered a collection of stories, both funny and moving, an abundance of heartfelt gratitude, and enough great business advice to fill an Adam Grant bestseller.
The annual event drew more than 300 people to the Hartford Marriott Downtown on Friday night to honor and celebrate five of the school’s most successful alumni and share the excitement of the school’s achievements.
The five honored alumni were:
Inductees recognized as leaders with resilience and heart
In opening remarks, UConn president Radenka Maric described the inducted alumni as incredible people who are resilient and lead with their hearts. They set an example for students and other young people because of their hard work, commitment to big ideas and perseverance, she said.
David SouderSenior Associate Dean of the School and master of ceremonies said this year’s celebration, as in the past, was tremendously well received.
“We had a full house to celebrate these wonderful alumni inducted into our Hall of Fame. Each gave heartfelt and inspiring comments that illustrate why they are so deserving of this honor,” Souder said. “The energy in the room was palpable and many people told me how happy they were to have been able to attend.”
Siller shared a funny story from the early days of his career
Perhaps the funniest story of the night came from Siller, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Cabinet, who described a challenge he faced early in his career. Two of your company’s executives were invited to speak at a large conference and illness prevented them from doing so. Siller, who had only been working at accounting firm Touche Ross for just six months, had to give the keynote address.
He prepared by playing the theme song from the movie “Rocky” in his car to boost his confidence. His colleagues asked him to speak slowly so that there would be no time for questions at the end of the talk. But Siller was nervous and rushed through the presentation, leaving 20 minutes at the end for questions that he, as a newcomer, was not prepared to answer.
One of the senior partners came to his rescue, running onto the stage and saying, “I’m sorry. Mr. Siller has an emergency to attend to! ” and led him away.
From that experience, Siller said, he learned to always be “game on” and have emergency contingency plans. Be careful who you listen to, he said, as they may not be as knowledgeable as they appear. And always play motivational music when you need to gather courage.
The audience laughed loudly at his story. He ended his comments on a serious note, urging the business audience to support philanthropy and telling students, “If you work hard, take risks, and have a little luck, you can achieve anything!”
Elliott: ‘He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself’
“Now that I’m here, it makes perfect sense why I chose business over public speaking,” Elliott joked upon accepting the award. As a student at UConn, Elliott played 135 games for the women’s basketball team, including the 1995 season when the team won the NCAA National Championship.
This year, she completed her sixteenth season as head coach of the UConn women’s basketball team. She also served as the women’s basketball coach at Cincinnati from 2009 to 2018.
Elliott cried as she credited her late mother, Charlotte, with instilling in her the importance of education. Her father, James, who attended the Hall of Fame dinner, provided unwavering support and never missed a basketball game.
She also thanked the UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemmawho attended the ceremony, for “seeing something in me that I didn’t see in myself”. Former teammate and roommate Jennifer Rizzottinow president of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, was also sitting at Elliott’s table.
Maric said Elliott has a tough job when he has to get his boss, Auriemma, off the court before he says something inflammatory, a comment that delighted the audience. She said the women’s basketball team and its coaches, who reached the NCAA Final Four despite losing six players to season-ending injuries, are all champions because they “accomplished the impossible.”
Elliott said the neighborhood where she grew up in Washington, D.C., didn’t offer many options for upward mobility. Basketball and a strong work ethic became her ticket to greater things.
“Where you come from doesn’t define where you go in life,” she told the audience. “I have had many unforgettable moments and this is one of them. I am filled with gratitude.”
Boucher and Family Champion Entrepreneurship
When she took the stage to accept her award, Boucher said that never in her wildest dreams did she imagine being inducted into the Hall of Fame. She vividly remembers sitting in the back of an elementary school classroom, not understanding a word of English.
She overcame the language barrier and served for 22 years in the Connecticut legislature. She dedicated much of her speech to honoring her late husband, Bud, who had an unstoppable determination and optimism. She said she hopes students will follow her example and be fearless in their pursuit of success.
“Many years ago, my husband, Bud, and I took a chance on a very risky startup,” she said. “We moved forward even when everything seemed lost. Bud is my inspiration and greatest example… of never giving up, even when everyone else has given up on you. He was brave enough to fail even after countless failures… until he succeeded beyond what we originally imagined.”
Boucher, who was accompanied by her son Chris and other relatives, is a firm believer in entrepreneurship and the economic benefits it provides. The Business School’ Boucher Management and Entrepreneurship Department it is named in honor of the couple.
McChesney’s Career Advice: Never Stop Learning
McChesney recalled that in the early 1990s he needed a place to thrive, be challenged and encouraged. He found all of this at UConn, which he says shaped his career and his character. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance before earning his MBA from UMass.
McChesney has built his career around understanding what makes a company or organization successful and identifying ways to create value for all stakeholders. He quickly rose through the ranks at Stanley Black & Decker, eventually becoming CFO of the Security and Tools business units, which include the DeWalt, Stanley, Craftsman and Black & Decker brands. He was also instrumental in the merger of The Stanley Works and Black & Decker and the acquisitions of Craftsman and Newell tools.
Today he is senior vice president and chief financial officer of MSA Safety Co., which focuses on protecting people, places and planet. His family and friends came from all over the country to celebrate his inauguration.
He encouraged students to never stop learning. “I’ve learned more in the last five years than I did in the previous 20,” he said. He also urged the audience to “hold high the legacy of UConn” and to be attentive and helpful to the community in which they live.
Fortin tells students ‘Dare to dream big’
Fortin, the daughter of Italian immigrants, grew up with English as her second language. She was the first in her family to go to college, and UConn opened her world to great possibilities.
She credited accounting professors Dick Kochanek and the late Larry Gramling for providing tremendous support, influence, and encouragement during his college years.
“Sometimes angels see our potential more clearly than we do,” said Fortin, who serves in the Dean’s Advisory Office.
Fortin said he never imagined he would receive such a significant award and encouraged students to imagine themselves on that stage one day. Take advantage of resources, dare to dream big, be curious and set big goals, she said.
“Create your life plan and celebrate victories because there will be times when you will face setbacks. How you respond to these adversities will define you,” she said. “Be brave, keep looking ahead and plan your next move.”
“Destiny is not a matter of choice,” she said. “It is not something to be expected, but something to be achieved. Your future is waiting for you to seize it!
The event also honored fellow students Douglas Sisko ’24 MBA; Mariella Magan ’24MS FinTech, Christian Chlebowski ’24, and Carolyn Cumello ’24.
