UC Alumni Association names top alumni award winners

Jeffrey L. Wyler, Bus ’65, Hon ’11 – William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement

Jeff Wyler is the founder and CEO of the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, one of the country’s top 50 dealership groups employing 1,300 and selling more than 40,000 vehicles annually — a far cry from the fledgling dealership he took over in 1973 at age 32 with 12 employees and first-year sales of 383 vehicles. The phenomenal growth was a product of Wyler’s dogged determination, calculated risk-taking, innovative spirit, and unerring customer focus. An early turning point came when he began to use TV advertising to draw customers to his Clermont County dealership where, he promised, “cars, like eggs, are cheaper in the country.” A decade later he introduced the “automall” concept combining his multiple domestic and foreign franchises. By de-emphasizing specific brands in favor of greater convenience, wider selection and lower pricing, he built a more user-friendly car-shopping experience as well as greater equity in his own brand. Through the years, Wyler has been extremely engaged in the community and a champion of his alma mater, including helping to elevate the UC academic experience while chairing UC’s Board of Trustees.

William Wiesmann, M.D., A&S ’68, Hon ’08; Sandra Wiesmann, CECH ’66 – Robert E. Dobbs Distinguished Service Award

Seeking to make a personal impact on new generations of Bearcats, Bill and Sandy Wiesmann created the Next Generation Leadership Scholars program in which exceptionally talented undergraduates with financial need can engage in multi-year scientific research opportunities at Bill’s California-based biotechnology firm. Scholarship recipients are students of the STEM disciplines within Bill’s College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education within Sandy’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. Beyond financial support, Next Generation Leadership Scholars work summers with professional scientists as they explore groundbreaking research. Students learn essential procedures that reinforce and expand concepts covered in their UC classes — building their resumés and life skills to help position them for greater success. The Wiesmanns also offer ongoing personal guidance, providing insight on career paths, personal growth and professional contacts. They feel this opportunity to get to know the scholars personally, thereby deepening their investment in the students’ futures, is a gratifying and driving force behind their philanthropy.

Christopher T. Lewis, M.D., Med ’00 – Marian A. Spencer Mosaic Award

Serving an international health elective in Tanzania in 2003 was so moving to third-year UC medical resident Chris Lewis that he founded the Village Life Outreach Project to “unite communities to promote Life, Health and Education.” Thus began a partnership that continues to transform lives in the East African country. He has since led more than two dozen trips to a trio of Tanzanian villages with UC and UC Health faculty and students. They treat the sick, establish methods of ensuring clean water, build schools, create feeding programs for the schoolchildren, and help village leaders craft systems by which they can sustain the work and its benefits. Beyond the on-the-ground impact, Lewis derives satisfaction from Village Life’s reciprocal nature; the experience changes everyone it touches. Now UC’s vice provost for academic programs, he feels the UC participants receive more than they give. “We have our lives changed by the lessons we learn in Tanzania — lessons in humanitarianism, the importance of community, what poverty and wealth really mean.”

Anndréa M. Moore, Bus ’10 – Jeffrey Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award

Anndréa Moore’s professional career has taken her to Google, Apple and Facebook. From consulting with businesses on digital marketing strategy to launching global product features impacting millions of users, she shares her expertise in digital marketing, product storytelling, email engagement, and customer journey optimization. Her tech industry experience led her to see potential in a formal peer network, so she founded Black Tech Women, growing it from a small online community to an organization of more than 3,000 members internationally and partnering with many premier tech companies to help black women become senior leaders in the technology space. Moore also actively mentors others in their professional journeys, including advising with the Management Leadership for Tomorrow Career Fellows Program and coaching more than a dozen juniors across the country to secure internships. She has been a panelist and speaker at SxSW 2018, Tech Inclusion, the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurship Conference and the Google Online Marketing Challenge Summit.