WKU News

Gordon Ford College of Business recognizes three alums at its annual awards reception.

Terry Wright ('78) received this year's Alumni Achievement Award. Mr. Wright is a Business Administration and Management Information Systems graduate. Department Chair of Management, Dr. Whitney Peake, said he is a trusted source of advice for the department and is now giving back to WKU through his service on the Management Department Advisory Council. Mr. Wright had a more than 43-year career in business, with 40 of those years involving management responsibilities. Mr. Wright has led more than 20 mergers and acquisitions, both domestic and global, valued from $25 million to $5.7 billion. During this time, he established and managed an enterprise center in India. Beyond financial services, his career included 20 years in the manufacturing, gas and oil industries. Mr. Wright also boasts 20 years in Information Technology roles, which included application development, information resource management, and IT infrastructure.

Additionally, Mr. Wright provides a large amount of service to his community. He and his wife, Lisa, have been foster parents for the past 15 years. He is active in his church community, Special Olympics volunteer (which he began as a WKU student), and Habitat for Humanity volunteer. 

GeMonee Brown ('15, '17) received this year's Recent Alumni Award. Mr. Brown is a Management and MBA graduate. Upon graduation, he worked as a manager for Ryder Truck Rentals while pursuing his real estate license. He has found great success in real estate as an agent and landlord. Mr. Brown frequently earns top agent honors for Crye-Leike, locally and nationally. He is focused on giving back to WKU with his time, talents, and money. Mr. Brown established a scholarship for GFCB, is an active member of the GFCB Associates, WKU Young Alumni Council Member (2019-2022), an active member of the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation, a frequent sponsor of WKU football and basketball games, and a guest speaker on campus. 

Chase Carpenter (' 12) was recognized by AACSB-International-the world's largest business education alliance and GFCB's accrediting organization, as a member of its 2023 Class of Influential Leaders. Mr. Carpenter is one of 25 business school graduates honored. He is an Entrepreneurship graduate. Since graduation, he has successfully opened three new businesses, each with a mission to impact the community and the next generation. He opened Bundles of Joy Preschool in 2012, co-founded Like Us Academy, and opened One Roof event space in 2022 with his business partners. It is the first African American-owned business in downtown Bowling Green Fountain Square Park in the city's 224-year history. As an Alumni, Chase continues to give back to the Gordon Ford College of Business and the WKU Community. He openly shares his journey into entrepreneurship through an open and honest dialogue that includes professional mistakes, discrimination, persistence, gratitude, and success. Additionally, Chase is a mentor at the Jonesville Academy and spends significant time mentoring young minority men.