The 16th annual Alumni Awards Gala brought together students, staff, faculty, and alumni at the Knoxville Convention Center on Friday, November 7, 2025. The evening recognized three alumni and one company for outstanding contributions to the college and to business in the state. The event, benefitting the College Fund for the Haslam College of Business, honored The Beall Family (Outstanding Entrepreneur Award), Deloitte (Outstanding Corporate Partner), Hancen Sale (Outstanding Young Alum), and Greg Smith (Distinguished Alum).

Outstanding Entrepreneur

The Beall family has a rich history with UT, and the East Tennessee entrepreneurial community. Mary Celeste Beall (HCB, ’99; MAcc, ’00) embraces this history as proprietor of Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain, acclaimed resorts in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains.

Sandy Beall, Mary Celeste’s father-in-law, launched Ruby Tuesday in Knoxville in 1971, growing the restaurant into a successful chain with locations across the U.S. and abroad. Sandy and Kreis Beall purchased Blackberry Farm in the early 1970s to create a special place for hosting friends and family. The inn developed slowly and organically, earning a reputation for hospitality and culinary excellence.

“For Sandy and Kreis, it has always been about creating experiences to share their personal interests and passions with others,” Mary Celeste explains. “Our roots are as a family-run inn with a focus on genuine hospitality.”

Sam Beall, Sandy and Kreis’s son and Mary Celeste’s late husband, grew up on Blackberry Farm and guided its expansion. After Sam passed in 2016, Mary Celeste carried his vision forward, stepping into the role of proprietor and supporting its growth. In 2019, the family opened a second hotel property, Blackberry Mountain. “That was a major milestone for us as a family and a business. It was something we dreamed about together,” she says.

The Blackberry operation has expanded, as well, from 300 team members in 2016 to around 1,200 in 2025. Blackberry Farm now spans 4,200 acres, and Blackberry Mountain encompasses 5,200 acres, with half of both properties protected in conservation. The brand expansion has also included the launch of a biannual magazine, the construction of a special event venue, and an exciting calendar of events that brings in visiting personalities from around the world. “It’s amazing how we’ve grown while staying close to our roots,” Mary Celeste says. “Conserving the land is a strong motivator for us.”

For the Haslam alumna and entrepreneur, the greatest reward is seeing her family business provide meaningful careers for team members. “I see the power of what it means when someone believes in you,” says Mary Celeste says. “I’ve experienced that from my in-laws, and I get to pass that trust and confidence on to our team.”

Outstanding Corporate Partner

Deloitte,1 an industry leader in audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services with more than 170,000 professionals, has forged deep relationships with UT and Haslam.

The organization is one of Haslam’s top alumni employers, recruiting graduates from accounting, business analytics, finance, and other disciplines. Deloitte professionals also contribute their time and talent, serving on the college’s advisory boards, mentoring students, and strengthening the bridge between industry and academia. Deloitte and the Deloitte Foundation have a long-standing relationship with the university. Donations from Deloitte professionals matched through the Deloitte Foundation Matching Gifts Program support scholarships, professorships, and curricula that enriches the student experience.

Karen Bowling (HCB, ’94), audit and assurance partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP, believes the recruiting relationship is a natural fit. “Haslam students bring so much more than technical skills,” she says. “They’re problem solvers with creativity, hands-on experience, and the ability to collaborate well. These are skills that we look for when sourcing talent for Deloitte.”

A graduate of Haslam’s accounting program, Bowling is a dedicated and active alumna of the college. She serves as a mentor, keynote speaker, member of the Department of Accounting and Information Management’s Accounting Roundtable, and Deloitte’s lead recruiting liaison. She also is part of a long tradition of UT alumni making an impact at Deloitte, including a retired partner of the firm who served as chief accountant for the Securities and Exchange Commission, to countless graduates who have built careers at the organization.

The legacy of alumni success is only part of the story. What excites Bowling most is Deloitte’s ability to support the university in ways that extend beyond recruitment. “We want to help graduates find their right path, whether at Deloitte or elsewhere,” she says. “Helping prepare students for their careers and ensuring they find the right home for their talents is what matters most to us.”

Outstanding Young Alum

Hancen Sale (HCB, ’20) grew up surrounded by the Volunteer Sprit as a Knoxville native and member of a multi-generational UT family. During his turn as a UT undergraduate, Sale was mentored by Marianne Wanamaker, professor of economics and dean of the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, who introduced him to the fields. A few years later, he helped launch the Baker School’s Institute of American Civics.

After graduation, Sale began work as the government affairs and policy director for East Tennessee Realtors, one of the area’s largest professional trade associations. He managed government relations across 12 counties, advocated for housing reforms in the City of Knoxville, and provided research that informed policymakers and the public. His efforts contributed to Knoxville’s new publicly owned Covenant Health Park, and his analyses have appeared in The Washington Post, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, and The Tennessean.

Sale joined Reworld Waste, a sustainable waste solutions company, as director of federal government relations in 2024. Based in Washington, D.C., he leads legislative and regulatory strategy, representing the company before Congress, federal agencies, and the presidential administration. His work spans issues such as climate and clean energy policy and renewable energy tax incentives. “Government doesn’t work without business, and business doesn’t work without government,” Sale says. “Being the liaison between the two is exciting and fulfilling, especially in a time when we need people to be more even-handed about issues.”

In 2025, Sale was appointed to the board of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, which oversees affordable housing statewide. “It’s a critical role for setting the path on how affordable housing gets funded in Tennessee and who has access to resources,” he says. “I’m excited to serve.”

Distinguished Alum

Greg Smith (HCB, ’85) has more than 35 years of supply chain and operations experience at companies including ConAgra Foods, Quaker Oats, and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. In 2017, he became executive vice president of supply chain at Walmart, leading one of the world’s largest logistical operations. There, he led supply chains for both brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce, overseeing planning, warehousing, and transportation.

Smith joined Medtronic as executive vice president of global operations and supply chain in 2021 and now also serves as the company’s executive vice president of enterprise operations. Medtronic develops healthcare technology to treat more than 70 conditions, including Parkinson’s and diabetes, with devices such as insulin pumps and pacemakers. “Our products help alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life,” Smith says. “It’s a very rewarding place to work because of the impact on people’s lives.”

Today, Smith leads 55,000 supply chain-focused team members with a servant leadership approach. “My goal is to engage, enable, and empower associates to reach their fullest potential,” he says. “Then I get out of their way so they can achieve what they didn’t believe was possible.”

Smith also serves on the board of Advance Auto Parts and on the Haslam Dean’s Advisory Council. In 2016, he and his wife, Lisa, established the Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholars (Smith GLS) program through a naming gift. The college’s premier honors program, Smith GLS promotes international awareness, leadership development, and professional growth. The Smiths remain active mentors, investing in the next generation of business leaders. “We’ve been successful and blessed. Helping others in ways that can improve their lives is very important to us,” he says.

His advice to today’s graduates: embrace agility and digital tools. “Learn AI, be a problem-solver, and take full advantage of digital capabilities.”