Walter Dods and Jay H. Shidler receive AACSB's Influential Leaders Award

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Dolly Omiya, (808) 956-5645
Public Information Officer, College of Business-External Relations Office
Posted: Sep 22, 2015

Walter Dods, Chairman of the Board, Matson Inc.
Walter Dods, Chairman of the Board, Matson Inc.
Jay H. Shidler, Founder and Managing Partner, The Shidler Group
Jay H. Shidler, Founder and Managing Partner, The Shidler Group

The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is proud to announce that Walter Dods and Jay H. Shidler have been selected to the inaugural class of AACSB International’s 100 Influential Leaders.

AACSB International (AACSB) is the global accrediting body and membership association of business schools. The Influential Leaders Award commemorates the organization’s centennial anniversary by recognizing 100 notable alumni from AACSB-accredited schools who are making an impact in the world. The awardees will be honored tonight at the AACSB’s Annual Accreditation Conference in Chicago.

As graduates of the Shidler College of Business, Dods and Shidler were selected for their innovative mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and meaningful contributions to society. Dods currently serves as chairman of the board for Matson Inc. He is acknowledged as one of the most influential people in Hawai‘i business and has more than three decades of corporate experience at the highest levels of executive leadership. Although Dods continues to serve on the board of many of Hawai‘i’s largest companies, he is most recognized for leading Hawai‘i’s largest bank for three decades and growing it into one of the 25 largest banks in the nation.

Shidler is the founder and managing partner of The Shidler Group, a Honolulu-based investor focused on commercial real estate and credit-related investments. The Shidler Group has acquired and managed more than 2,000 properties in 40 states and Canada. Shidler founded and was the initial investor in more than 20 public and private companies, five of which have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2014, Shidler increased his initial gift to the Shidler College of Business from $25 million in 2006 to $100 million, making it the largest donation to the University of Hawai‘i from a private donor.

Dods and Shidler join individuals such as the CEO of one of the world’s largest global relief services, a visionary behind the revolutionary global coffee phenomenon, as well as an enterprising president attributed with reviving an international toy industry favorite. More than 20 industry sectors, from consumer products to healthcare to nonprofits, across 20 countries, are present in this year’s group.

“It is an honor for me to be recognized by AACSB,” says Dods. “My leadership decisions throughout my career were guided by my commitment to my institution, our employees, our customers and the greater Hawai‘i community. That’s what leadership means to me —working together for the benefit of all.”

 “I am truly honored to be selected by AACSB—an institution that promotes educational excellence in business schools,” says Shidler. “I made a long-term commitment to support the University of Hawai‘i because I believe education can transform lives, drive positive change and improve our community.”

From April to June 2015, AACSB-accredited schools submitted notable alumni who have made (or are making) an impact in the world. From the nominations, a selection committee reviewed and selected a sampling of the positive impact that business school graduates have made on society.

“It is my honor to recognize Walter Dods and Jay H. Shidler for their contributions as Influential Leaders, and to thank the Shidler College of Business for its dedication to providing a business education environment based on engagement, innovation, and impact,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “If told, the success stories of all business school graduates would fill immeasurable volumes. AACSB is honored to celebrate the collective 100 Influential Leaders as a representation of how business school alumni have positively influenced society, as well as the management education industry’s, past, present, and promising future.”

For the full list of recipients, visit www.aacsb.edu/Influential-Leaders.

About AACSB International
Founded in 1916, AACSB is an association of more than 1,450 educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations in 89 countries and territories. AACSB's mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership, and value-added services. As the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master's, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, AACSB offers a wide array of services to the management education industry. AACSB's global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA; its Asia Pacific headquarters is located in Singapore; and its Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 

For more information, visit: http://shidler.hawaii.edu/