Nazareth College’s School of Management (SOM) is proud to announce the establishment of the SOM Distinguished Alumni Award, along with the Dr. Will Kuchta Excellence in Human Resource Management Award.

James Ockenden ’83 is the recipient of the first SOM Distinguished Alumni Award. He graduated with a bachelor’s in management from Nazareth and currently serves as partner in the Visory Group, which specializes in network engineering, consulting, security, and technology solutions. Ockenden was chosen based on his entrepreneurial and business success, service to others, commitment to ethics and social responsibility, and his long and unwavering support of Nazareth College.

Nazareth College has made a tribute to Will Kuchta, vice president of organizational development at Paychex by renaming the Excellence in Human Resource Management Award the Dr. Will Kuchta Excellence in Human Resource Management Award. Kuchta has made tremendous contributions to the Nazareth SOM and the master’s in human resource management program. He will be retiring from Paychex in October 2011.  The award is given to a graduate of the human resource management program.

 Karen Sims, vice president of people and development for Dixon Schwabl, will be graduating this May with a master’s in human resource management from Nazareth College and is the recipient of the Dr. Will Kuchta Excellence in Human Resource Management Award.  Sims was chosen because she exemplifies the qualities of the award in academic, communication, team and leadership skills. Most importantly, she has a desire to create a better learning environment for others through engaged and spirited involvement in the MS HRM program.

View more: Management, Recognition