Campus Connection

Four CBA staff, faculty receive Hetzel Strategic Impact Awards

Four staff and faculty members from the College of Business Administration (CBA) have been selected to receive Hetzel Strategic Impact Awards.

Established through a gift from former vice chancellor for Administration & Finance Bob Hetzel, the awards recognize staff and faculty who have made outstanding contributions to supporting student success, advancing the mission of the college and improving the broader community.

Originally honoring the accomplishments of early-career professionals, the awards were expanded this year to celebrate impactful contributions throughout the college.

This year’s recipients are:

Erin Dingrando

Erin Dingrando, associate teaching professor of accountancy, was recognized for advancing the college's goal of community and industry engagement by creating opportunities for students to interact directly with accounting professionals.

Through organizing student visits and professional engagement activities with KPMG, she has helped students explore career opportunities, understand the accounting profession firsthand and build connections with industry leaders. Her work has also strengthened the college's partnership with KPMG, one of the profession's leading firms.

Katie Fries

Katie Fries, academic advisor, was recognized for advancing student success and building a stronger culture of peer-to-peer mentorship through the development of the CBA’s Peer Advisor Program. 

Fries established the hiring, training and supervision structure for the program, creating a new layer of support for students while strengthening advising across the college. The program has improved the student experience and established a sustainable model for peer-to-peer support that will continue to benefit future students.

Anne Hlavacka

Anne Hlavacka, director of the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UWL, was recognized for advancing the college's goal of community engagement through her leadership of the center.

Under Hlavacka, the center received the 2025 SBDC Excellence and Innovation Center Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Wisconsin district, recognizing its efforts to support small businesses, foster entrepreneurship and promote economic growth throughout the region.

Aaron Koepke

Aaron Koepke, assistant teaching professor of marketing, was recognized for advancing the college's goal of providing transformational learning experiences through his work with the CBA Sales Team and the Eagle Sales Competition.

His efforts have created valuable opportunities for students to apply classroom knowledge in competitive and team-based settings, while strengthening communication and presentation skills essential for successful careers in sales.