Jeffrey S. Backal, MBA 1993, and
Merrick B. Rosenberg,
MBA 1992
Jeffrey Backal and Merrick Rosenberg met while working on their MBAs at Drexel and are the founders of Team Builders Plus, where they currently serve as CEO and President/Chief Learning Officer, respectively.
Before graduating from Drexel, the partners formed Team Builders Plus. Since 1991, Team Builders Plus has worked with one-third of the current Fortune 100 companies. Its client lists boasts organizations, such as: Aramark, Bank of America, Campbell Soup, Colgate-Palmolive, Comcast, Drexel University, Ford Motor Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Hewlett-Packard Company, Lockheed Martin, L'Oreal, National Institute of Health, Nextel, PECO Energy, Pepsi, Rohm and Haas, Waste Management, and all four branches of the U.S. armed services.
Recently, Team Builders Plus purchased Teambuilding, Inc. With fifteen employees, Team Builders Plus is the largest training and development consulting firm in the Philadelphia area. The Philadelphia Business Journal has named it in the "South Jersey 25" for two consecutive years, in the "Philly 100" as one of the fastest growing companies in the region, and as one of the best places to work in the Philadelphia region.
Its team-building programs range from fun team retreats to intensive team interventions and everything in between. Its leadership development programs target basic supervisory skills, as well as the higher-level competencies needed by senior executives. Team Builders Plus also integrates training sessions with one-on-one coaching to help individuals achieve maximum results. Its programs are fun, memorable, and create lasting results. Team Builders Plus assessment services help individuals, teams and organizations to gain a clear perspective of their strengths and challenges. Their survey design experts turn 360-degree feedback processes, team evaluation, and organizational satisfaction surveys into the foundation for success.
Robert R. Buckley,
Trustee, BS 1958 Civil Engineering
Since 1972, Robert "Bob" Buckley has been Chairman and President of Buckley & Company, Inc., a family-owned heavy construction firm founded in 1928. In 1997, Mr. Buckley was named "Person of the Year" by the American Society of Highway Engineers. He received the National Association of Women in Construction Award of Appreciation in 1996. Mr. Buckley has been a member of the Drexel University Board of Trustees since 1994 and previously served on the Alumni Association’s Reunion Committee and the Corporate Involvement Committee. He is a past recipient of the A.J. Drexel Paul Award and the College of Engineering Alumni Achievement Award, and is a charter member of the College of Engineering Alumni Circle of Distinction. Mr. Buckley is a member of the Drexel Athletic Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Drexel 100 in 2003. He is an avid supporter of Drexel Athletics, having established the Buckley Recreational Field, Buckley Green and, most recently, Buckley Field at the Vidas Athletic Complex.
George F. Krall, Jr.,
Trustee, BS 1958 Mechanical Engineering
George Krall retired as President and CEO after selling his pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging group to a Fortune 500 company. Previously, he was founder and President of a nationally- recognized management consulting firm after working for IBM. Mr. Krall holds an MBA from the Wharton School and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the Kenan-Flagler School at the University of North Carolina. He received the Alumni Association’s prestigious A.J. Drexel Paul Award, is a member of the Drexel 100, was elected to the National Commission for Cooperative Education Hall of Fame, is a recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award, is a charter member of the College of Engineering Alumni Circle of Distinction, and served on the Alumni Board of Governors. He and his wife established the George and Lois Krall Center for Executive and Corporate Education at Drexel.
John D. Rittenhouse,
BS 1958 Electrical Engineering, Honorary Degree 1988
John Rittenhouse is retired, having served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of General Electric Aerospace (GE). He had previously held a number of executive positions within GE and RCA Corporation, including Division Vice President of the RCA Picture Tube Division and Executive Vice President of RCA Aerospace and Defense. Mr. Rittenhouse served as a member of the Drexel University Board of Trustees from 1985 through 1991 and was inducted into the Drexel 100 in 1992. He had previously served on the Alumni Association Board of Governors and its Reunion Committee. In 2000, he established The John D. Rittenhouse Endowed Scholarship Fund at Drexel, which provides scholarships for College of Engineering undergraduate students. Mr. Rittenhouse has given a number of guest lectures on campus and is a charter member of the College of Engineering Alumni Circle of Distinction. Mr. Rittenhouse was the recipient of the 1990 Electrical & Computer Engineering Alumni Award and, in 1988, was awarded an honorary degree at Drexel.
Lyn Boocock-Taylor,
BS 1984 Business Administration
Lyn Boocock-Taylor is the Vice President for Development for the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network. Ms. Boocock-Taylor serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and oversees all fund raising activities including capital campaigns, government grants and contracts, and private sector philanthropy.
Previously, Ms. Boocock-Taylor served as President of the Arthritis Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania. During her tenure, fundraising more than doubled, services were greatly expanded, and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator was achieved. Other accomplishments included assisting Pennsylvania to develop an Arthritis Action Plan and becoming the first state in the nation to have an Arthritis and Osteoporosis Caucus.
She has worked in the Advancement field for more than 30 years and has held positions at the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, Friends Hospital, and Hahnemann University. She has raised millions of dollars for projects in the Philadelphia area.
At Drexel, Ms. Boocock-Taylor has served on the Alumni Association Board of Governors, the Special Services Committee and as an Advisor to the Evening Dragon and Lexerd. She also serves periodically as a guest lecturer. Her early career included working for Drexel’s Office of Institutional Advancement.
Professionally she is involved in the Advisory Board, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and Innovation in Large Organizations. She is a member of the Center for Urban Health Policy & Research and is a reviewer for the Pennsylvania Association of Non-profit Organizations. She has held numerous board positions for various non-profits and is currently a member of the board of the Patient Access Network Foundation.
Alex G. Mitchell,
BS 2006 Teacher Education
As a student, Alex Mitchell joined the Undergraduate Student Government Association as the senator from the School of Education. There, he worked closely with the Future Educators of Drexel (FEDs), to promote events and help build a sense of community among the undergraduates. During his senior year, he served as president of FEDs where he worked with faculty, staff, and students to hold networking, educational, and social events for the School of Education community.
In 2006, Mr. Mitchell graduated and moved to Los Angeles with only a contract from the Los Angeles Unified School District. Within a week of moving, he was hired by Valley Alternative Magnet School in Van Nuys, CA.
Now in his second year, Mr. Mitchell has found a niche at the school. He shares mutual respect with his coworkers and administrators. Mr. Mitchell has also forged a good relationship with his students who know that he expects the best from them but are not afraid to have a conversation or play around with him on the P.E. field or campus.
Mr. Mitchell has also taken on more administrative responsibilities by becoming the Intervention Coordinator to provide support for struggling students and joining the School Leadership Committee.
Outside of school, he has been working on transferring his credentials to the state of CA by taking classes through the University of San Diego and UCLA. He goes rock climbing regularly and enjoys being a part of the rock climbing community in the L.A. area.
Jeffrey T. Gardosh,
Class of 2008, Information Systems
Jeff Gardosh is President of the Undergraduate Student Government Association, where he has overseen the execution of a repositioning campaign that encompassed branding, engagement and visibility. He is also the Chair of the Steinbright Career Development Center Student Advisory Committee and, within the The iSchool, has served as a Peer Mentor Leader and an Alumni Board Undergraduate Representative.
Jeff is also a member of Kappa Theta Epsilon National Co-Op Honors Society and serves on the Drexel Alumni Association’s Grants Program Committee.
Lynn Hickle, Associate Dean for Student and Academic Support Services in The iSchool, writes, "I am so proud to call Jeff one of our students. He never lets us down. He is not only a superb IT professional, but most importantly, he is a wonderful human being."
Kelly Anne Lopez,
Class of 2008, Biological Science
Kelly Anne Lopez has served for two years as the Vice President, and currently as President, of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Under her leadership, the chapter earned the recognition of being one of the most active student organizations on Drexel’s campus.
Kelly also serves as a Writing Intensive Tutor for Pennoni Honors College and is the Event Planning Chair for Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honors Society. She was recognized for her impact on student life at Drexel with the Office of Student Life’s STAR Leadership Award.
"Kelly is a role model for her peers,” writes Shannon Gary, Assistant Dean in Pennoni Honors College. He adds, “Kelly is the quintessential student leader: poised, gracious and committed."
Nicole A. Cashman,
BS 1994 Design & Merchandising
Nicole Cashman is CEO, President and sole proprietor of Cashman & Associates, a public relations and special events firm representing clients in the fashion and beauty, entertainment and gaming, restaurant an beverage, and real estate industries.
Ms. Cashman began her career as Public Relations Director at Bloomingdale’s, then as Director of Special Events and Public Relations for twenty-eight Strawbridge’s stores. She opened a boutique public relations firm in 1999, which was responsible for events surrounding the 2000 Republican National Convention, before launching Cashman & Associates in 2001.
Ms. Cashman has worked with a roster of major talent and brands, including Georges Perrier, HBO, Live Nation, Comcast, Kiehl’s Since 1851, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation, Puma, Stephen Starr, Esquire Magazine, as well as The Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa, and more. Cashman & Associates currently has offices in Philadelphia and New York City with a network that extends through all major media markets across the country.
Ms. Cashman is involved in a number of professional and community organizations. She has been the recipient of the CCPA New Small Business Award, the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award, and the Drexel University Young Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Entrepreneur Award. She has been named one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s "Women of Distinction," and recently received the Next Generation of Women Leadership Award from the City of Philadelphia. As well, she has been included in Philadelphia STYLE Magazine as "100 Ones to Watch" and Philadelphia Magazine’s "50 People to Watch."
Joan McConnon,
MS 1989 Taxation
Joan McConnon is the co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of Project H.O.M.E. (Housing, Opportunities for Employment, Medical Care, Education). Project H.O.M.E.’s mission is to empower adults, children and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable all individuals to attain their fullest potential as individuals and members of the broader society.
Ms. McConnon worked as an accountant before returning to Philadelphia in 1987, where she began volunteering at Mercy Hospice, doing outreach work with the Philadelphia Committee for the Homeless.
In 1989, she co-founded Project H.O.M.E. with Sister Mary Scullion, R.S.M. The organization addresses the root causes of homelessness through its neighborhood-based community-revitalization programs in North Philadelphia. Since its establishment, the organization has helped more than 6,000 adults and children in Philadelphia by providing them with a continuum of care, which has led to 95% of the men and women who live in Project H.O.M.E.’s permanent, supportive housing staying off the streets. Project H.O.M.E.’s continuum of housing and social services includes treatment facilities for substance abuse, short term and permanent housing, and opportunities for home ownership. Also, H.O.M.E. offers direct social services – street outreach, case management, employment counseling, job training, after-school and adult-learning programs, a free health clinic, art programs, financial literacy programs and housing counseling.
In 2007, Ms. McConnon was recognized by the Philadelphia Daily News as one of the "Seventy-Five Greatest Living Philadelphians." She has also been the recipient of the Leadership for Change, Spirit of Philadelphia, and the Catherine McAuley Spirit of Mercy Awards.
Klas C. Haglid, P.E.,
BS 1990 Mechanical Engineering
Klas Haglid, P.E. is Principal of Haglid Engineering & Associates, a firm providing HVAC, Mechanical and Structural services for commercial and industrial properties. He also serves as CEO and President of Building Performance Equipment Company and has invented and been awarded patents in the United States and Canada for highly efficient and very reliable energy recovery equipment. The 90%+ efficient energy recovery units have been field proven with several hundred units in Northern America.
Mr. Haglid holds professional engineering licenses in 11 states and is also is a NCEES National Engineering Record Holder. He is past Chairman of ASHRAE Technical Committee 5.5 Air to Air Energy Recovery and past Chairman of ASHRAE Technical Committee 7.8 Owning and Operating Costs of Commercial Buildings.
As an active member of ASHRAE, he has moderated forums, seminars and presented at several ASHRAE Annual Meetings and published extensively on issues surrounding owning and operating costs for buildings, energy recovery and building-related HVAC issues. He has worked in Central Research for DuPont, Trane, Staff Consultant for Atlantic Electric and The United States Department of Energy for Ecolinks. Projects providing energy efficient retrofits and solving many different Structural, Mechanical and HVAC challenges has provided him practical experience to solve challenges.
Haglid Engineering and Building Performance are both companies that enjoy improving peoples’ lives through excellence in engineering and creative thinking that allow buildings to work more efficiently while improving indoor air quality and peoples’ comfort. By using sustainable, renewable and recovering energy we can use less of our scarce resources today and save them for tomorrow’s use by our children and the generations to follow.
Kathleen P. Chimicles, ASA,
BS 1983 Finance
 Kathleen Chimicles, ASA, is President and CEO of GlenDevon Group, Inc., a company specializing in corporate financial consulting and new business development.
In her 13-year tenure with the complex litigation firm of Chimicles & Tikellis, Ms. Chimicles served as the firm’s in-house financial specialist and, for several years, as Managing Director.
While an undergraduate at Drexel, she began a decade long investment banking career specializing in closely held businesses and litigation support.
She is active in community organizations including various arts organizations, serves on the WHYY Board of Directors, and the investment committee of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund.
At Drexel University, Ms. Chimicles serves as Chair of the LeBow College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, is a member of the Board of Trustees Campaign Planning Committee, a judge for the Baiada Center’s annual business plan competition, and is a past member of the Alumni Association Board of Governors.
Ms. Chimicles is a previous recipient of the Harriet E. Worrell Alumni Award and an honorary inductee of Beta Alpha Psi.
Patricia C. Woody,
MS 1993 Engineering Management
Patricia Woody is the Head of the Machinery Research and Engineering Department at the Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center. She also serves as the Core Equity Leader for Machinery Systems under the Ships and Ship Systems Product Area and is responsible for overall technical and managerial direction for all machinery programs related to ship, submarine and vehicle systems.
From 1982 to 1986, Ms. Woody travelled extensively on ships and aircraft carriers and was responsible for the overhaul and upgrade of all control systems for the steam facilities. She has held positions as a Test Engineer, Associate Test Manager and Joint Test Group Representative for the Improved Performance Machinery Program. In 1991, she became the Manager of Emerging Programs, responsible for development of new surface ships and submarines and new acquisition program development before being promoted to head the Major Programs Branch.
Ms. Woody was then promoted to lead the Programs and Platforms Division and later was assigned additional duties as the Deputy for Machinery Engineering. From 2004-2006, she guided a team of engineers and program managers in instituting a NAVSEA Warfare Center Product Area Customer Advocate process within the $1.1 billion, 3300 person Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center and the Ships and Ship Systems Product Area.
She is the Department of Defense/Department of the Navy 2006 Women’s History Month Award recipient for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and has also been the recipient of the Women In Science and Technical Achievement Award, the Philadelphia Federal Executive Board Woman of the Year Award, and the Pennsylvania State University Presidential Excellence Award.
Anthony J. Bracali, AIA,
BS 1999 Architecture
Anthony Bracali, AIA, is a Principal of Friday Architects/Planners, Inc. in Philadelphia. Friday has a 38 year history and Mr. Bracali’s role is to guide the firm to a new generation of service and creativity. Prior to joining Friday, he devoted five years to building his own small design practice with work in a variety of areas including the community, public, institutional, educational and academic realms. During that time, he won a major commission to design a new public space for skateboarding for the City of Philadelphia. His subsequent design and the philosophy that helped to shape it have gained the project increasing national attention.
Mr. Bracali was a member of the second class of Drexel’s 2+4 Architecture program. He had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects with a number of local firms, including Venturi Scott Brown & Associates, Ewing Cole and Nalls Architecture.
He has served on the Board of Directors of AIA Philadelphia and is the current Board President for The Charter High School for Architecture and Design (CHAD). He also served as an advisory member of the DOO-WOP Preservation League, and the Allen High (Allentown, PA) Engineering Academy. Bracali continues to teach as an adjunct professor at Drexel University and has also taught at Community College of Philadelphia and Philadelphia University.
In 2006, Mr. Bracali received the AIA Philadelphia’s Young Architect Award, and was one of the youngest architects ever to be so honored. He has lectured on a variety of topics concerning architecture, public space and skateboarding locally and nationally and he has garnered design awards from AIA Philadelphia and AIA Pennsylvania for his professional work.
Joseph S. Mozino Blue and Gold Award
C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni,
Trustee, BS 1963, MS 1966 Civil Eng., Honorary Degree 1992
Five-Year Attainment Award
Mary C. Moretz,
BS 2003 Business Administration
Twenty-Year Attainment Award
David Gardellin, P.E.,
BS 1968 Mechanical Engineering
Specialty Award
Joseph A. Nicholson,
BA 1985 Architecture
Key “D” Award
Joseph G. Fetterman,
BA 1987 Architecture
Joseph L. Vetter Service to the University Award
Martin P. Madden,
BS 1957 Mechanical Engineering
Mary S. Irick Drexel Award
Ambrose Kozolowski,
BS 1981 Civil Engineering
Distinguished Member of the Mary S. Irick Drexel Society
Arthur H. Adams ,
BS 1981 Architecture
Boots Cooper Community Service Award
Mary Ann Cohen, M.D.,
MD 1966 WMC
HU Distinguished Alumnus Award
Richard Satava, M.D.,
MD 1968 HU
Lifetime Achievement Award
Wilbur Oaks, Jr., M.D.,
MD 1955 HU
MCP Achievement Award
Clifford Hudis, M.D.,
MD 1983 MCP
Outstanding Researcher Award
Margaret Stineman, M.D.,
MD 1983 HU
Outstanding Teacher Award
Dennis Novack, M.D.,
MD 1972 HU
Service to the Association Award
Barbara J. Williams,
Archivist, MS 1966 Library Science (Drexel)
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