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Chris Speh Presented Executive MBA Alumni Merit Award

A 1991 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill's EMBA program, Speh received the award at Kenan-Flagler's fifth annual Alumni Association Awards dinner on Nov. 7. Since its inception in 1999, the awards program has honored alumni who have made outstanding contributions to Kenan-Flagler, to the business community and to the broader society. Kenan-Flagler recognized seven distinguished alumni with awards this year.

Kenan-Flagler Dean Steve Jones noted that the achievements of recipients set the standard for the school's core values of excellence, leadership, integrity, community and teamwork.

"The award recipients, through their actions, are honoring the devotion of our faculty and staff, showing the way forward to our students and elevating the value of all our programs for past and future generations," he said.

Speh co-founded Resource Solutions, Inc., (RSI), a specialty clinical research organization, just a year after completing his EMBA. Speh and Co-Founder Joan Reese formed RSI to provide services to North American-based pharmaceutical and device companies. Constella acquired RSI on Oct. 1, and Speh now serves as acting president of Clinical Informatics, the new business unit created as a result of the RSI acquisition.

"The EMBA program has enabled me to turn my education from a credential into accomplishments," said Speh. "I am extremely proud to have been named a recipient of this award."

Speh began his career as a foreign service officer with the Department of State in Washington, D.C., where he helped automate embassies and consulates around the world. He then served as senior manager and marketing manager for the Washington, D.C., consulting practice of Deloitte Haskins & Sells (currently, Deloitte & Touche), and later as vice president and chief financial officer of Clintrials Research Inc.

Speh has authored and contributed numerous publications to clinical research and regulatory scientific literature and is a frequent lecturer, presenter and keynote speaker at numerous industry conferences and exhibitions across the nation. He is a member of the Drug Information Association and recently served as a vice president of the Pharmaceutical Specific Interest Group of the Project Management Association.

In addition to his EMBA, Speh received his bachelor's degree in languages from Bowdoin College and his master's in public policy from The State University of New York.

Other 2003 honorees included:

• Rollie Tillman, Jr. of Chapel Hill, N.C., honored with the Kenan-Flagler Business School Leadership Award. The award recognizes an alumnus who demonstrates exceptional achievement in a career field, personal endeavor and/or service to Kenan-Flagler.
• J. Alston Gardner of Atlanta awarded the Global Leadership Award. The award honors an alumnus or friend of the school whose global participation and initiative advance the school's education, research and public service mission.
• David W. Jernigan of Atlanta awarded the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. This award honors an alumnus of the past decade who demonstrates leadership in career accomplishments and exceptional commitment to the school.

• Kimberly P. Ellis of Raleigh, N.C., received the Master of Accounting (MAC) Alumni Merit Award.
• George Smedes York of Raleigh, N.C., awarded the MBA Alumni Merit Award.
• Edwina D. Woodbury of Chapel Hill, N.C., received the BSBA Alumni Merit Award.

Susan Acker, Constella's Chief Executive for Corporate Development and a 1997 graduate of the Kenan-Flagler School of Business, was named the 2002 EMBA Alumni Merit Award.

About Constella Group, Inc.
Constella Group is a leading provider of professional health services worldwide, now celebrating 20 years of enhancing human health through innovative science, technology and knowledge solutions. Constella's three business units—Health Sciences, Clinical Informatics and Health Strategies—create and provide health intelligence to help industry and government clients identify and address critical issues affecting human health. With Constella as the parent company, the three business units comprise dynamic points of collaboration that build support, create momentum and add value from idea to impact across the full continuum of human health.

The company's 675 employees serve clients from company headquarters in Durham, N.C., and from offices in Research Triangle Park, N.C., Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Morgantown, W.Va.; Bethesda, Frederick and Silver Spring, Md., and in Santa Monica, Calif., Herndon, Va., and Cambridge, Mass.