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Howard F. Rudd Jr. Business Person of the Year Award

Celebrating our alumni leaders

The Howard F. Rudd Jr. Business Person of the Year Award recognizes graduates who have made significant contributions as business leaders to their industries or professions, communities, and the College of Charleston, and who have exhibited great integrity in their business and personal lives. The School of Business selects this award recipient.

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2024 Howard F. Rudd Jr. Business Person of the Year Award

Otis Robinson ’90

Otis Robinson ’90 is the Founder and Managing Principal of Robinson Business Consulting, LLC (RBC), a certified minority-owned business that provides business and supply chain process improvement services as well as coaching for supervisors, managers, and executives. Mr. Robinson earned his BS in business administration from the College in 1990 and his MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 1993.

With more than 25 years of experience in supply chain and business improvement practices, Mr. Robinson formed RBC to help companies promote growth, reduce costs, increase profits, and improve service levels. His industry experience and expertise include consumer products, wholesale distribution, transportation management, and paper manufacturing. His skillset includes senior management coaching and identifying and resolving issues hindering growth and performance.

Since 2021, Mr. Robinson has served on the College of Charleston Alumni Association Board of Directors and currently holds the positions of Vice President and Chair of the Finance Committee. Mr. Robinson and his wife, Angela Cooper-Robinson, reside in Chapin, SC, with their dog, Maxx, and are stalwart supporters of our alma mater. Their endowment of the J. Waties Waring Scholarship has inspired many other alumni to give back to the College, fostering the next generation of leaders.

Howard F. Rudd Jr. Business Person of the Year Award Past Recipients

1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2002
2007
2008
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Robert C. Heffron, Jr. ‘67 *
Daniel Ravenel ‘72
John M. Jordan, Jr. ‘62 *
William T. Clowney ‘59
Lynne Mohrmann Bernthal ‘67
Martha Harbeson Bryan ‘76
Sam Kirshtein ‘45
Gregory D. Padgett ’79
Christine Smith Breves ’78
Steve D. Swanson ’89
Justin R. McLain ’98
Harry T. “Trey” Harvin III ‘92
J. West Riggs ’93
Scott A. Cracraft, Sr. ’83
Paul W. Steadman ’83
Penny Jones McKeever ’69
R. Keith Sauls ’90
Bobby R. Creech ’86
Sharon Brock Kingman ’80
Marcia Howie Snyder ’93
Vic Howie ’83
Michael S. Shemtov ’00
Eric Cox ’93
Richard Maclean ’88

* Deceased