ALUMNI HONORED BY BUSINESS SCHOOL FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
The University of Montana School of Business Administration will honor three alumni for outstanding career achievements in May. The honorees will share secrets of their success with business students at the school’s 62nd Annual Donor Recognition and Scholarship Awards Banquet.
John S. MacMillan ’58 has been named an Outstanding Distinguished Alumnus. A native of Kalispell, MacMillan retired as president and chairman of the board of Glacier Bancorp in 1998. He was instrumental in the bank’s decision to go public in 1984 and continued to serve as chairman of the holding company until 2006. In 2009, Glacier Bancorp was ranked No. 1 among the top 150 performing banks in the nation by Bank Director magazine.
MacMillan has held many board positions in Montana and his community, including the State Board of Investments and several University of Montana boards. He continues to serve on the board of Pacific Steel and Recycling. He and his wife Ellen make their home Kalispell, Montana. They have two sons, Scott and Mark, who are also graduates of the School of Business Administration.
Joseph S. Valacich ’82 MBA ’83 has been named an Outstanding Alumnus. A native of Great Falls, Valacich is the Hubman Distinguished Professor of MIS at Washington State University. He is a leader in his academic discipline, chairing international efforts on model curriculum design and accreditation standards. He has conducted executive development programs for organizations including Boeing, FedEx, Microsoft and Xerox.
Valacich is a prolific scholar who has authored with nearly 200 journal and conference articles as well as several best-selling textbooks. His primary research interests include technology-mediated collaboration, human-computer interaction and mobile technologies. He resides in Moscow, Idaho with his wife Jackie (Judson) ’84 and their two children, Jordan and James.
Dallas B. Neil ’99 MBA ’00 has been named an Outstanding Early Career Alumnus. A native of Great Falls, Neil is a former halfback and punter for the NFL. He attended the University of Montana on a football scholarship and was the punter on the 1995 Griz National Championship team.
Neil caught the “entrepreneurial bug” when he wrote his first business plan while attending the School of Business Administration. He used that plan to launch Kinetic Sports Interactive, a fitness software company, which was sold in 2007. Since then he has launched and co-founded several successful businesses. Neil is the co-founder of Nova Biosource Fuels, Inc. and recently purchased a Missoula fitness facility, The Gym on North Reserve. He lives in Missoula with his wife Jenifer and their three daughters.
The University of Montana School of Business Administration is accredited by AACSB International, the most rigorous accrediting body for business degree programs. The school’s faculty include renowned scholars recognized for pioneering contributions to their field. Graduates continue a strong tradition of leadership at the highest level in entrepreneurial ventures and leading corporations.
The School of Business Administration offers undergraduate programs in accounting, finance, management, marketing and information systems; graduate programs in management and accounting; as well as certificate programs in entrepreneurship and entertainment management. Experiential learning opportunities prepare students to address real-world business problems and deliver value to their employers in today’s global economy.
