2009 Alumni Achievement Award

Ralph Kilzer '57, civil servant

Whether it's the operating room or the state capitol, Ralph Kilzer has been serving the people of North Dakota for decades. An orthopedic surgeon in Bismarck, he served two years in the State House before being elected to the North Dakota Senate every term since 1999.

Kilzer has also been an active volunteer with the Knights of Columbus and the University of Mary, which gave him its McCarthy Award and the Schafer Excellence in Healthcare Award. He's also been recognized professionally with the Friend of Nursing Award from the N.D. Nursing Association and by St. Mary's High School, which gave him its distinguished service award.

Don Hall '59, stockbroker and volunteer

A retired stockbroker and investment counselor, Don Hall has used his talents in many ways, crossing international and ecumenical boundaries. He has been a board member, fundraiser, donor and active member with Common Hope (supporting schools and clinics in Guatemala) and Sister Parish (adopting parishes in Central America); he also helped launch the CSB/SJU Cyril Paul Scholarship for Caribbean students. Hall helped rebuild the steeple at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis and Stella Maris Chapel on the shores of Lake Sagatagan. He's also served on the North Side Peace Force in Minneapolis, the Archdiocese Christian Sharing Fund and the League of Women Voters.

Hall is also an author: his book, A Man Learns, recounts his youth in Central Minnesota, often using humor to trace the challenges of growing up.

Ken Roering '64, professor and chair

Former chair in marketing and a professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, Ken Roering is a highly sought-after consultant. He has shared his expertise in marketing strategy, planning and inter-organizational relations with 3M, Whirlpool, Cargill, Motorola and other companies as well as at lectures at universities across the country and in France and Poland. He has also published more than 70 articles, edited three collections of scholarly writings and written two books. His pedagogy has been recognized with various teaching and research awards including the University of Minnesota Outstanding Graduate Teacher honor.

Roering is a Regent of Saint John's University and sits on several corporate boards of directors.

Fr. Bob Flannery '69, priest and ecumenist

Fr. Bob Flannery credits his interest and leadership roles in international ecumenism to his days at Saint John's-as an undergraduate and seminarian (ordination in 1973). Pastor at St. Francis Xavier Church in Carbondale, Ill., he has been the diocese's ecumenical and interreligious officer since 1998. He is presently serving his second three-year term as president of the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers. Flannery is also a member of the Catholic delegation to Christian Churches Together in the USA. He earlier was president of the National Association of Diaconate Directors, which recognized his leadership by giving him its highest award.

John Hooley '74, business executive

Over a 33-year career with Supervalu, John Hooley served the Twin Cities-based company in a number of leadership positions. He held marketing and merchandising positions with Cub Foods before being promoted to Supervalu's corporate vice president of merchandising. He became president and chief operating officer of Cub Foods and later its chief executive officer. He was also Supervalu executive vice president and president of its Retail East operation. Hooley, known in the industry for his retail expertise, was named 1997 Minnesota Outstanding Grocer by the state's grocer association.

Among his volunteer activities, Hooley has been a SJU Regent and a member of the McNeely Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Committee.

Tom Schnettler '79, business executive

Tom Schnettler is president and chief operating officer at Piper Jaffray, an international middle market investment firm based in Minneapolis. Over his 20 years with Piper, Schnettler co-founded and led the healthcare investment banking group; headed the investment banking and the corporate and institutional services business; and served as vice chairman and chief financial officer. He has a law degree from Harvard. Schnettler is active in leadership roles with the board of directors at Catholic Charities in the Twin Cities and on the SJU Board of Regents.

John Wiehoff '84, business executive

John Wiehoff has guided C.H. Robinson Worldwide to become one of North America's largest third-party logistics companies, providing truck, rail, boat and air transportation around the world. He has been chief executive officer since May 2002 and was named chair in 2007. He's also been company president and a director, rising from earlier positions as chief financial officer and treasurer.

C.H. Robinson has nearly 8,000 employees and 224 offices. The company received the Outstanding Growth Award from the Minnesota Association for Corporate Growth in February.

Wiehoff serves on the board of directors of Polaris Industries and Donaldson Co. and is active with a number of non-profit organizations.

Jim Goodman '84, community leader (posthumous)

Jim Goodman left his mark on a lot of people. A wrestler at Saint John's, he is fondly recalled by Jim Smith, Johnnie basketball coach. President and chief executive officer of a marketing research firm in Des Moines, Goodman shared his expertise on a local weekly radio show, "The Iowa Business Hour," and as an adjunct professor at Drake University, teaching entrepreneurship and marketing research. Recognized as one of Des Moines' "Top 40 Under 40" business leaders, he was named 2008 Mr. Habitat for Humanity, was president of the East Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and volunteered at a hospice. He was active in leadership positions with Saint John's Chicago and Des Moines alumni chapters and the Alumni Association Board of Directors. He annually competed in the varsity alumni wrestling match, going home once with a dislocated shoulder.

Goodman died in June 2008 while competing in a triathlon. His nomination for the SJU Alumni Achievement Award was made by many classmates, who cited his intellect, his friendliness, his great sense of humor and his loyalty. One classmate wrote: "Jim was the epitome of Saint John's. He lived it, breathed it and praised it to all."

Goodman's Alumni Achievement Award will be accepted by his wife, Lisa, and daughters, Natalie, Ellie and Rubie. 

Kyle Loven '89, FBI agent

Kyle Loven is chief division counsel for the FBI in Minneapolis.  Following law school, Loven joined the bureau in 1995 and was chosen by his peers to be class speaker at graduation from the FBI training program.  He has worked as a special agent on a violent crimes squad and on white collar and cyber cases. Loven has been an instructor for the International Law Enforcement Academy, giving classes in Hungary and El Salvador and has taught ethics for the Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota divisions of the FBI.