Heather Kreager, MBA 03, is something of an expert in significant generosity through the enhancement of a community or an educational institution, one of the criterion for the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Achievement Award, of which she is a 2015 recipient.
Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International, recognizes one to three outstanding business people each year with this award. Other criteria are continuing and/or further service to humanity beyond the acts of generosity and presenting a model of ethical business leadership in ones career. One must exemplify the highest honor and integrity consistent with the ideals of Beta Gamma Sigma. Kreager has these all covered.
After receiving her B.A. in English from Vanderbilt University and her J.D. from Southern Methodist University, Kreager came to UD for her MBA. She is currently the CEO of Sammons Enterprises Inc., where she has worked for more than 30 years. Since she began at Sammons, she has carried out the late founders wishes and orchestrated the transition of the company to a 100 percent employee stock ownership plan while still preserving Sammons unique culture of ethics, integrity and entrepreneurial spirit.
Another accomplishment of Kreager's in her time at Sammons has been bringing cohesion to Sammons vast and varied holdings. What was once a collection of diverse companies with very little collaboration among them is now a much more interactive business, with all of the divisions working together across the enterprise.
The Sammons culture, led by Kreager, is one of community involvement and support. Employees are encouraged to volunteer in their local communities. The Sammons employee stock ownership plan has made over $125 million in gifts to to six Dallas/Fort Worth charities. Kreager herself made a major individual gift to the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business, and she serves on the boards of KDC and Guggenheim Capital as well as playing a visible role in the holding company Briggs Equipments annual support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's "Light the Night" event.
What Ms. Kreager has accomplished at Sammons is the epitome of excellence in both business and leadership, said Satish and Yasmin Gupta College of Business Dean Robert Scherer. Were extremely proud of her achievements; the culture she has helped create at Sammons directly reflects our mission of developing principled and moral leaders. This award also recognizes Ms. Kreager's embodiment of Beta Gamma Sigma's principles and values: earnestness, honor, integrity, service and the pursuit of wisdom. Ms. Kreager is an outstanding example to the global business community as well as to our current and future students of management.
Beta Gamma Sigma presented Kreager with the award Friday, May 8, during a ceremony at UD. Several UD undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma at the same time. The society inducts new members annually.
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