COBI recognizes Russell Ely as outstanding Marketing Department alum
Russell Ely was honored on April 13 as the Marketing and International Business Department recipient of the University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation’s first Departmental Alumni Recognition event. One outstanding alum from each department within the college received the award.
“Each of these individuals is a tremendous representative of our college,” noted COBI Dean Gary Insch, “We established this new award to thank them for their commitment to the UT College of Business and Innovation and to congratulate each of them on their professional success…all built upon what they learned here at COBI.”
“I want to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to the University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation Marketing Department Awards Committee for recognizing me as the inaugural Marketing Department Outstanding Alumnus,” Ely said. “Your selection of me was a surprise and is very humbling. I thank you for this recognition but believe the credit should go to the many wonderful UT professors and staff who encouraged and challenged me.”
“Russell is a true friend to the UT College of Business and to the Marketing Department in particular,” Dr. Thomas Sharkey, Chair of the Marketing Department, said. “He has generously and frequently made himself available to our students, and has helped several COBI alumns in their careers. We thank him for his kind and continued support.”
Ely is currently Director of Business Development for Palmer Conservation Consulting, an energy conservation consultancy, where he has been for five years. Prior to that he was an analyst, OEM at Libbey Owens Ford (now NSG/Pilkington); K-12 marketing manager at Siemens; and branch manager, Toledo, at Johnson Controls.
While at UT he was a VP of Student Government; freshman camp director at the University YMCA; VP of Inter Fraternal Council; active with Sigma Phi Epsilon; and a faculty advisor to Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs (ACE).
Russell served as the College of Business Alumni Affiliate President in the late 1980’s and served on the UT Alumni Association Board in the 1990’s, including as president in 1996-97. He has volunteered at UT, with various programs within his profession, and in the community, including with the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce, FOCUS (Family Outreach Community United Services) and the Boy Scouts of America.
“My wife Catherine and I very much appreciate the many ways we celebrated the day of the award,” Ely said. “I felt honored to lecture in Dr. Zhang’s multimedia class, spending time with leaders from the Marketing Department, and, of course, the awards ceremony and reception; certainly a day I will cherish forever.”