Alumni Awards

These graduates are "Difference Makers" who have continued the University's legacy of leadership in their lives and careers. View past award winners.

This award will honor a graduate of the College of Business who has shown outstanding professional accomplishments in their field, and demonstrated public service and leadership. The candidate will be engaged in the mission/advancement of the College of Business and its respective alumni community.

Jeffrey Smith, ’77 BBA, is a seasoned business consultant with more than four decades of automotive industry leadership. As principal of Jeffrey R. Smith LLC, he provides expert guidance in sales, business development, strategic planning, and business transformation.

Jeff retired in 2012 following a 31-year career with Johnson Controls (JCI) and Adient, where he served as vice president and general manager of the Global Toyota Customer Business Unit, overseeing operations and partnerships on multiple continents with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion. Earlier in his career, he held key roles at Ernst & Whinney, Hoover Universal, and JCI, with assignments that included Ann Arbor, Kentucky, and the United Kingdom.

As an engaged alum, Jeff has made significant contributions to the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business. From 2012 to 2025, he served on the Board of Advisors, playing an active role in shaping the College’s mission and supporting its students. Jeff devoted his time to mentoring future business leaders, conducting mock interviews, and serving as a judge in student club competitions, all while offering invaluable guidance to student organizations and faculty. His dedication has left a lasting impact on the UM-Dearborn community, helping to enrich the experiences and professional readiness of countless students.

Jeff is also a dedicated community leader. He has been active in the Northville Rotary Club as president and foundation leader, and founded the Golf de Ville Charity Golf Classic. He volunteers with AARP Tax-Aide, Free Bikes 4 Kidz, and serves on the Board of Directors for iQUE Insurance Company.

Jeff also earned a master’s degree in taxation from Walsh College in 1986. He and his wife, Donna, reside in Michigan and cherish time with their two daughters (MSU Spartans) and seven grandchildren.

This award will honor a UM-Dearborn alumni-owned business that has made an impact and has showcased its commitment within the community.

Pop Daddy Snacks is a Michigan-based company recognized for its adventurous approach to snacking. Founded in 2013 by Mark and Erin Sarafa, Pop Daddy began with a quest to create delicious, better-for-you popcorn in their family basement. With encouragement from Erin and their children, J.T. and Grace, Mark transformed his homemade recipes into a fast-growing business guided by the mantra, “Bold Snacks made with Big Heart.”

Built on a foundation of local sourcing and premium ingredients, Pop Daddy features signature Ruby Red popcorn kernels from a nearby family farm, popped in olive oil and seasoned with creative blends—never anything artificial. In 2018, the launch of their seasoned pretzels propelled Pop Daddy into new realms of popularity, fueled by viral attention and customer demand for bold, unique flavors. Today, Pop Daddy offers over 25 snack varieties, free of MSG and artificial additives.

Mark Sarafa, ‘89 BBA, brings over twenty years of experience in the food and beverage industry, building Pop Daddy’s national presence through strategic leadership and innovation. The company now employs more than 140 people across a 56,000-square-foot production facility in Howell and a Novi distribution center, supplying snacks to over 30,000 retail locations in the U.S. and six countries worldwide.

Mark’s commitment to his alma mater, the University of Michigan-Dearborn, shines through his exceptional generosity and engagement with the campus. He has donated Pop Daddy Snacks to signature events such as the Alumni & Family Picnic and the Dreams in Practice: A Soiree in the City, and recently served as a judge for the UM-Dearborn Business Idea Pitch Competition. While engaging within the community, Pop Daddy Snacks also stays connected in outreaching through local sponsorships and offering fundraising programs for community groups.

Pop Daddy Snacks continues to redefine snack time—blending Michigan pride, bold flavors, and heartfelt quality in every bag.

This award will honor a UM-Dearborn graduate who provides important leadership and service to the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Successful nominees will have distinguished themselves by the energy, effort and creativity they demonstrate in addressing a challenge.

Mary Lore Brown, ’79 BBA, is an internationally recognized thought leader, author, and public speaker who has made extraordinary contributions to the University of Michigan-Dearborn while building a distinguished professional career spanning more than four decades. A proud College of Business alum with a degree in finance and a minor in philosophy, Mary is deeply committed to advancing student, alumni, and community success at UM-Dearborn.

Her strong connection to the university is shown in years of leadership and service. Mary received the Distinguished Alum of the Year award and served as a founding member of the College of Business Dean’s Board of Advisors from 1993 to 2015, rejoining in 2024 to lead the Executive Skills Task Force, which works to boost executive skill development in the curriculum and prepare future leaders.

Professionally, Mary has excelled as a CPA, senior executive, startup and turnaround expert, and mentor to corporate leaders. She serves as an expert resource for Vistage International, leading leadership workshops for CEOs and emerging executives worldwide since 2018. As the award-winning author of “Managing Thought,” her work is endorsed by business leaders and educators globally. She was named one of Michigan’s Top 25 Women Business Owners of Distinction, and her company was recognized as one of Metro Detroit’s Future 50 Companies for three years.

Mary’s vision has driven alumni and student engagement. She founded the Celebration of Excellence in 2002 to re-engage alumni and support vital endowments, and led fundraising for the Richard E. Czarnecki Scholarship and Collegiate Professorship Celebration Event in 2020. As a college ambassador, she makes industry introductions, mentors students and young alumni, and represents UM-Dearborn’s values through her networks.

Mary has delivered numerous seminars and workshops for UM-Dearborn on leadership, self-awareness, entrepreneurship, and career success, and continues to champion the university through mentorship, education, and service, exemplifying its spirit of leadership and engagement.