Role models for a new generation of leaders

Jim Brailean paused shortly after he stepped onstage to receive the most prestigious award of the night.

“I just need a second, sorry,” he said.

Brailean (’85 CECS) eventually composed himself and accepted University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award on Friday, Oct. 28. But instead of gloating about his laundry list of professional accomplishments, Brailean paid homage to the other seven alumni award winners that night.

“Listening to the seven other folks that came before me, and their backgrounds and their stories, it’s quite humbling to be up on this stage,” he said.

That’s coming from Brailean, cofounder, president and CEO of PacketVideo, the world’s leading provider or carrier-grade infrastructure software. PacketVideo software can be found in 400 million devices worldwide, said Kim Schatzel, dean of the University’s College of Business.

“How many people here own a cell phone? How many of you have ever taken a picture with your cell phone, listened to music, watched a video? Over 400 million handsets carry the very software that Jim imagined and can probably be found on many of the phones in this room tonight,” Schatzel said.

Brailean and seven other UM-Dearborn alumni were honored Friday at the University’s Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems building. All eight alumni were awarded because they make a positive impact in their workplaces and communities, and serve as strong role models for a new generation of UM-Dearborn student leaders.

Like Brailean, Tom Wille also paid homage to the other alumni award winners. Wille (’10 CASL) received the Young Alumnus of the Year award for his work as owner, director and producer of Constant Motion Productions, a local production firm.

“All I can really say is ‘Wow,’ it’s a complete honor for me to be in the same room receiving an award on the same night as all of you,” he said.

Here’s a complete list of the 2011 UM-Dearborn Alumni Award winners:

Young Alumnus of the Year: Tom Wille (’10 CASL) and Matthew Zelman (’01 COB)

School of Education Alumnus of the Year: Tracy Blakely-Thompson (’92 SOE)

College of Engineering and Computer Science Alumnus of the Year: Nancy Gioia (’82 CECS)

College of Business Alumnus of the Year: Alan Schultz (’81 COB)

College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters Alumnus of the Year: James Miller (’78 CASL)

Jeanette Schumacher Alumni Service Award: Tine Russette (’93 CASL)

Distinguished Alumnus of the Year: James Brailean (’85 CECS)

 Photo by Karl Ford.