Alumni Association, Jepson School of Leadership Studies present awards to seven during Reunion Weekend

June 5, 2014

The University of Richmond Alumni Association and Jepson School of Leadership Studies presented distinguished service and other awards May 31 during the university’s annual Reunion Weekend.

Receiving Distinguished Service Awards from the UR Alumni Association, given to alumni who have distinguished themselves, and therefore, the university, through service to their profession, community or alma mater, were:

  • Cambria W. (Cammie) Dunaway of San Jose, Calif. Dunaway is U.S president and global CMO for KidZania, an entertainment concept focused on children’s role-playing activities. The company currently has attractions around the world and is expanding the business in the United States. Dunaway previously was executive vice president for Nintendo and chief marketing officer for Yahoo! where she ran consumer, enterprise and partnership marketing initiatives. She received a bachelor of science in business administration degree from Richmond in 1984 and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
  • James E. (Jack) Wilberger of Sewickley, Pa. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in journalism summa cum laude from Richmond in 1974, Wilberger earned an M.D. degree with highest honors from the Medical College of Virginia. He is chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Drexel University College of Medicine and holds the Jannetta Endowed Chair in Neurological Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital. He has distinguished himself in the field of neurotrauma through his efforts to improve treatment and outcomes from both spinal cord and head injury. He serves as chair of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. Wilberger inaugurated the neurosurgical residency training program at Allegheny General Hospital and directs neurosurgery for the seven hospitals that comprise the West Penn Allegheny Health System/Allegheny Health Network. He serves on the national task force on regionalization of neurotrauma care.

Zoë Romano, a 2009 graduate of the university who lives in Richmond, received the Distinguished Recent Graduate Award, which recognizes a graduate of not more than 10 years for outstanding achievement in business, community service or service to the university. Originally from Portland, Maine, she in an innovative ultra runner and adventure philanthropist who became the first person ever to run the entire 2,000 miles of the Tour de France route. She accomplished it by averaging 30 miles a day – more than a marathon – covering 100,000 feet of elevation change and raising nearly $200,000 for World Pediatric Project, a children’s charity based in Richmond. In 2010, she successfully ran across the United States, becoming, at age 23, the first female to complete this transcontinental run unsupported, raising funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Romano graduated magna cum laude from the university with a B.A. degree in Spanish and international studies. Currently she is a writer and speaker and is collaborating with filmmaker Alexander Kreher to bring her experiences from the road to the screen. In addition to being a featured speaker at marathons, conferences and schools around the country, she tutors Spanish and mentors youth and adults on entrepreneurial fundraising and cause-marketing efforts. Her work has been featured on the Today Show, CNN, NBC Sports, NPR and National Geographic Radio.

The Jepson School presented the following awards:

  • Timothy M. Bezbatchenko, a 2004 graduate, received the Tenth Year Alumni Award. Bezbatchenko, who lives in West Toronto, is general manager of Toronto FC soccer team, for which he has made a number of key acquisitions through signings and trades. Previously, he was senior director of player relations and competition with MLS and an attorney with Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York, where he worked in the mergers and acquisitions group. In addition to his degree from Richmond, he holds a law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
  • Matthew B. Zemon, a 1994 graduate, received the Alumni Award. A resident of Chapel Hill, N.C., he is founder, president and CEO of American Support, a telesales provider to five of the top 10 cable companies in America. Under his leadership, the company was named one of the “Top 10 Places in the Cable Industry to Work” by CableFax magazine. Zemon also is co-president of Jobs4America, a coalition of businesses working together to create 100,000 U.S.-based jobs and is Entrepreneur in Residence for the national Military Spouse Network. His other business ventures have included founding Red Sky Productions, which provided talent for and produced Broadway’s “Annie Get Your Gun” and founding The Brand Factory, which provided marketing services to governments and tour operators in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico. He also served as COO of The Original Canopy Tour, franchising a small eco-tourism experience in Costa Rica to Jamaica, Belize, Mexico and Nicaragua. 
  • Robert S. Jepson Jr. and Alice A. Jepson of Savannah, Ga., received the Jepson School Award for Leadership and Service. Robert Jepson, who holds bachelor’s, master’s and honorary degrees from the university, and his wife Alice, are active philanthropists whose donations established the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, the first school of its kind in the nation. Robert Jepson is chair and CEO of Jepson Associates Inc., a private investment firm he founded in 1989. He is former head of The Jepson Corporation, a NYSE-listed, Fortune 500 diversified manufacturing conglomerate. He has served on numerous corporate boards and the University of Richmond Board of Trustees. Alice Jepson is an ardent arts and education advocate who holds undergraduate and honorary degrees from the University of Mary Washington. She is chair of the board of the Telfair Museums in Savannah, serves on the Savannah Philanthropic Advisory Board and is a founding member of The Children’s Hospital Charter Circle at Memorial University Medical Center.

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